
How to Write a Resume According to Science in 2023
How do you write a resume? With so many conflicting opinions out there, we’ve set out to find the ultimate answer to this question.
You manage information like a pro, but retrieving data for your IT resume is hard or even impossible? No more. Follow our examples with expert tips and make a job-worthy resume.
Some IT jobs are great, others… not so much. If you hope for a job more exciting than asking clients if they tried turning their laptops off and on again, it’s time to put some extra effort into your IT resume. You’re about to see how you can do exactly that.
In this guide:
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Kevin Park
IT Specialist
(218) 544-3609
kevin.park@resumelabmail.com
linkedin.com/in/kevin.park
Summary
Detail-oriented IT professional and certified IBM Cybersecurity Analyst with 7+ years of experience. Eager to ensure the safety of internal IT networks and data systems at PhillyEdu. At Stellar Ophthalmology Clinic, decreased the security risk by 27% by creating a custom risk management plan for a medical facility in 2021.
Work Experience
System Administrator
Stellar Ophthalmology Clinic, Philadelphia, PA
January 2017–Present
Key responsibilities:
Key achievement:
IT Support Agent
Piñata Tech, Philadelphia, PA
November 2015–December 2016
Key responsibilities:
Key achievement:
Education
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science,
Drexel University, Philadelphia
September 2012–May 2016
GPA: 3.81
Extracurricular activities:
Certifications
Coding Languages:
Skills:
Personal Projects:
IT professionals handle all computer, network, data systems, and tech security activities for their clients. A good IT resume highlights the candidate’s technical skills, knowledge of specialist software and hardware, problem-solving skills, and customer-oriented approach.
Follow the steps outlined below to write an IT resume that can pass recruitment firewalls:
You know very well that a computer needs certain parts to work. Guess what? Your IT resume needs some essential parts, too. But there’s more to a good information technology resume than just typing up your credentials. You also want to avoid making your resume look like an angry garden salad. Lucky for you, we have an easy formula to help you achieve that.
Here’s how to format a resume for IT professionals:
Remember to save your resume in a PDF or DOC file format. That will help to ensure you’ve got an ATS-compatible resume.
Writing a resume profile may sound like bragging about yourself, but trying to get a dream job is not the time to stay humble. You want to prove to recruiters that you’ve got what it takes to succeed on the job.
Here are the types of resume profiles you can go for:
There are two types of profiles, but there’s one bugproof formula to write them.
Follow this algorithm to write an attention-grabbing introduction for an IT resume:
Now, check the examples below to see the difference between a summary and an objective more clearly:
Detail-oriented IT professional and certified IBM Cybersecurity Analyst with 7+ years of experience. Eager to ensure the safety of internal IT networks and data systems at PhillyEdu. At Stellar Ophthalmology Clinic, decreased the security risk by 27% by creating a custom risk management plan for a medical facility in 2021.
This IT resume summary focuses on the candidate’s experience and accomplishments plus checks all the boxes from the above formula. Experienced IT professional with cybersecurity certifications. My expertise includes system infrastructure, server maintenance, and helpdesk support.
This example is wrong for several reasons: 1) it doesn’t provide any specific information, 2) the candidate didn’t say how the company can benefit from their work, 3) and they didn’t mention any accomplishments, plus 4) the second sentence uses the “my” pronoun.
Now, let’s see a sample objective for an IT resume:
Motivated Bachelor of Computer Science seeking an IT helpdesk position. Eager to put knowledge into practice by advising the customers of WeGotYou Inc. with hardware expertise and problem-solving skills. Gained customer support skills while running a coding club for high-school students.
This entry-level candidate knows how to highlight their skills to catch the recruiter’s attention. It’s also easy to see they understand what an IT helpdesk job entails. I am a recently graduated software engineer. I’d like to join your company as an IT helpdesk agent to gain experience working with customers. I’m hard-working and polite.
The applicant above sounds more amateurish. Their resume objective focuses on what they want to gain instead of what they can bring to the table. And that’s not something employers like.
It’s not a secret that most employers want candidates with experience. So your job is to prove with your IT resume that you’ve got it.
This is how you make a good work experience section in a resume for IT jobs:
Remember that everything on your resume must be relevant to the job you want. So if you decide to list a job that’s not clearly related to your current profession, highlight relevant technical skills or soft skills you’ve gained there. For example, working at a fast-food joint could teach you interpersonal and customer service skills that you can use for an entry-level IT support position.
Check the sample work experience section of an IT resume below:
System Administrator
Stellar Ophthalmology Clinic, Philadelphia, PA
January 2017–Present
Key responsibilities:
Key achievement:
That example includes all elements you’ve just read about: quantifiable achievements, resume power words, and key accomplishments for each position. IT Helpdesk Technician Possumcore Inc., San Francisco, CA 2013–2019
Sadly, this candidate decided to spam their resume with empty phrases that make them look super passive. They risk getting no interview invitations whatsoever.
What about candidates writing an entry-level resume? Don’t worry. There’s plenty you can put on a resume without work experience. Just refer to other relevant experiences, such as:
Whatever you decide to add, remember to emphasize the skills you’ve gained that can easily transfer to the position you want.
You saw that your work experience section should highlight the essential skills needed for your desired job. But there’s more to skills on your resume. You should also add them in other parts of your job application—and the best place is the skill section of an IT resume.
Check these sample skills for an information technology resume:
Hard skills
Soft skills
Hey—don’t just copy and paste this list onto your resume. That would make you look like a n00b. A good skill section must be selective.
Here’s how to make one:
If you need more in-depth info about IT skills, check this article: Best IT Skills for Any Resume
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Education is one of the critical things to include in a resume. And it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a bachelor’s degree is still the most popular entry-level education requirement for many IT jobs. The right way to list education on a resume can help you gain some easy wins.
Here’s how to add education to an IT resume:
See the example below:
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science,
Drexel University, Philadelphia
September 2012–May 2016
GPA: 3.81
Extracurricular activities:
All things in order. B.S. in Software Engineering, graduated in 2012
Ouch. A hiring manager will not be impressed.
So far, you’ve completed the core parts of your IT resume. You’ve installed the hardware. But there’s still something you can do to improve your application. Adding a few extra resume sections is like picking peripherals for your computer. They’re non-essential but still valuable.
Choose from the following resume sections to put them into your IT resume:
Have a look at the example below:
Certifications
Personal Projects:
That is valuable information for the hiring manager. An experienced IT specialist doesn’t need to add more than just a few lines of extra info. But if you’re an entry-level candidate, use the additional resume sections generously. Interests: Traveling, surfing, graphic novels Certifications: Programming certificate (2022), graphic design certificate (2021)
This example isn’t awe-inspiring. Why? Because the candidate provided generic information. It is pointless to list certifications without their proper name and the organization that issues them.
Expert Hint: Once your resume runs like clockwork, remember to create a cover letter. Yes—they’re still a thing, and a good cover letter can improve your chances of getting a job.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Here’s how to make a resume for IT jobs:
Got any questions about writing the perfect resume for information technology jobs? Not sure how to show your IT expertise on a resume? Leave a comment below—we’ll be happy to help!
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