How to Write a Professional Resume to Get That Job?

Can you pitch yourself so that all listeners or readers think: “Wow! I want to work with that guy/lady? ” Do not know for sure? Then this 7-minute-read article will be an investment in your future.

It is generally assumed that instructions on a resume writing are needed for the juniors or interns only. It’s a misbelief. The more experience a person has, the more time it takes to carry out a task called “Give a good showing to one’s skills and accomplishments in 1-2 pages.” Therefore, it’s also difficult for seniors to create a resume when they apply for the job.

Peculiarities of IT companies

There are several things worth mentioning as a preface. Firstly, there is an imbalance in the job market as a direct result of the high demand for technologies. And in practice, more often the authors of the savvy CVs are invited for the phone interview, not those who lucked out.

Secondly, it is the absence of a quality standard. For example, everything is pretty clear for the legal field or banking. But there are no generally accepted practices for IT companies. Naturally, writing an ideal resume is impossible. Coming up with a creative resume doesn’t always make sense, as well. And what is the way out?

On top of this, switching or cardinal change of speciality happens in IT more often than elsewhere. Every switcher is faced with the need to write a resume so as to interest the employer to get hired for the role, they have either no or little experience. But we will talk about this in detail at the end of the article.

Where to start putting together your resume?

You’ve been delaying for a week now, though you were asked to send information about yourself last Monday? Welcome to the world of procrastination! You got here because you have no idea how to compile your resume. Well, let’s find a way out to the light and a new job.

Step 1. Make a plan. Use the resume structure given below.

Step 2. Formulate your goal.

Step 3. Within 1-2 days, think and write down your key skills.

Step 4. And only after that start describing your previous experience.

• Structure:
• Contact info;
• Goal;
• Key skills;
• Work experience;
• Education;
• Additional Information.

How to indicate a goal in a resume

The true cherry on top is to connect your personal goal to business values. “Becoming a more qualified QA engineer” is a weak statement. “To master Node.js on e-commerce projects and design the test architecture from scratch” is clear, meaningful and to the point.

For some profiles it is more difficult to describe a goal from a business point of view. But difficult does not mean impossible. The better you can explain to the employer why your ambitions are beneficial for them, the more favourable conditions you can discuss.

Key skills or how attractively write about yourself in a resume

Not everyone got the point that information about yourself is not your grandfather’s resume. Long ago it was enough to list the ex-companies and education. Now it’s important to tell about your strengths.

Skills description tips:

• Write 3-4 entries;
• Do not turn geese into swans;
• Attach a link to the portfolio.
• Remember to include a link to the portfolio or your pet-projects.

Skills are sometimes confused with personal qualities. Remember that the recruiter evaluates you in terms of benefits for the company and the project. Therefore, to be invited for the interview, it’s more important that you built a compliance system, created an architecture for a highly loaded application or worked with budgets xxxxxx and a ROI of 120%, and not that you are a cool guy who plays basketball.

How to put personal qualities in a resume? At the very end. In our structure, this is the item “Additional Information”.

Work experience or achievements in a resume

A simple listing of companies and projects where you worked may only interest a data processor (for example, when applying for a work visa). People who read the resumes are usually interested in what you have done and how your employer benefitted from you.

The example of achievements description in CV:

Poor example

• Reporting for an enterprise of 300 people.
• Competitor analysis.
• Developed an application for Google Play.

Good example

• Developed a system for timely reporting for 300 people, reducing fines by 80%.
• Analysed and singled out the key segments and opened up opportunities for $45,000.
• Developed an Android application for pizza delivery for 100 thousand users from scratch.

If you apply for different positions (for example, a project manager and a business analyst), then it makes sense to slightly change the list of tasks and accomplishments to make them company-related. Do the math: if you are looking for a mechanic, will you hire a carpenter, even if he is a top-class specialist?

Can you “cut” employment history?

Yes, in a number of cases:

• when the experience is not profile-related (the UX designer is interesting from the design and behavioural psychology standpoint, not from selling TVs),
• when there are too many places of work (in this case, you can focus on the last 3-5),
• when you were employed not more than 6 months (for example, at the end of the trial period, you decided not to stay in the previous company).

Photo in a resume

This is a separate controversy- and legend-surrounded topic. Do I need to add my photo to the resume or text is enough? In the era of social networks that store a lot more information about us than just the last selfie, do you need to force a recruiter to search for you?

The topic is open to interpretation. For techies, the text-only format is more typical, whereas, for managers, the resume will benefit from the photo. Of course, if the image corresponds to the business norms.

If your resume is in English and you apply for the USA, Canadian, or a number of European companies, you can skip adding a photo. The local recruiters are likely to be surprised because the best practices require not to evaluate a person based on looks.

What to do if you have little experience?

Objectively, finding a job for a Junior specialist is no easy feat. Among entry-level applicants, competition is usually tough. Therefore, the resume should help you stand out.

So, your CV should include:

• Work samples of training projects or pet projects;
• A link to graduation thesis, if any;
• Passed training courses;
• Position-relevant experience and skills.

However, it is easier for a junior to get hired after some kind of “warm” contact: in-company studies, internships, talks at the conference.

What is not needed?

Even if you’ve seen some examples, you should not include in your resume:

• Full date of birth;
• Marital status, number of children;
• Irrelevant work experience;
• Portfolio screenshots (attach a link instead).
• Do not forget to write correct subject liner and always check the attachment before sending

Finisher

How to send a resume by e-mail to the employer and make a favourable impression?

1. In the subject line mention the desired position.
2. Title the resume file as (first letter of the name). (last name). (desired position)
3. Check the fonts: there should be no more than 2, and only the first and last name can be bold
4. Attach your resume as a .pdf or link. Text formats are a relic of the past
5. Before sending, check if you enclosed all files.

Now, if you are applying for a job, all you have to do is to add a short cover letter. And if you use Hirin.co, it will do without this formality.