Okay, so this is where if you’re in IT, you’ll find advice on writing an IT CV or resume (same thing) and find an IT CV template.
A resume is by definition something somewhat briefer. More concise. To the point. Many CVs are like that anyway these days, so there’s not much difference. But an IT resume carries special challenges.
So here are some IT resume ideas, so you can make yourself globally marketable.
So here … you’ll find:
- 6 IT resume bash-down-doors ideas. And …
- A downloadable IT CV template.
Now … there are many facets in IT, from the business side like strategy, to management, to project management, to the more technical stuff, development (anything from Cobol to C# and Java), integration (major corporate systems), infrastructure (server rooms, etc), networks, hardware, software, support, etc … so you’ll have to apply the principles of what you learn here to your situation.
IT Resume BDD (Bash Down Doors) Idea 1
First, define your target. And then you can “fire” away, creating a promotional document that’ll help you hit that target.
What’s the job you want, then? Answer it. Now present yourself as that.
Want a Java Developer job … present yourself as one! The employer that wants a Java Developer is looking through IT resumes for Java Developers. Be one.
IT Resume BDD Idea 2
Are you starting your IT resume with “Personal Details” and then a second page of “Schooling and Education”! Don’t be average! Apply “Idea 1” – present yourself quick and fast for the position. Rather use a ‘front up’ approach, perhaps like this:
IT Manager, Group IT Manager, IT Operations Manager
Offering >10 years in IT Management, currently Group IT Manager, reporting to the CEO at the 2nd largest steel co. in SA, Tata Steel; highly skilled across the IT spectrum – Technical, Budgets, Strategy, Planning, Cost Savings, Business Alignment and ROI
That carries more punch, right?
So start your resume like that. Then move straight to your experience and record of positions held. That’s the real meat of your IT resume. When scanning your CV people look at a few things as a priority, and they’re influence their decision making big time:
1) Your job titles – “has this guy actually done the work?”
2) Companies you’ve worked for – is it mickey mouse or is it a big strong brand? It helps when it’s bigger, more high profile.
So get there immediately.
[Quick note: if you haven’t got much experience, if you don’t have big or high profile, impressive companies on your list, all is not lost. You have to make the best of what you do have, even it it’s your passion for IT. Keep reading.]
IT Resume BDD Idea 3
When you give your experience, don’t ramble. Give a 2 or 3 line quick overview of what you were responsible for. Give figures if you can. Maybe like this:
Heading IT for the company – incorporating 15 sites and 550 users – with full Strategic, Operational, Technical and Budgetary responsibilities.
Or …
Developing applications end-to-end as a member of a 3 man elite team, for clients such as MTN, CellC and Discovery; with ‘world-class’ quality standards and coding practices.
And then support that strong overview with a few supporting ‘bullets’ – try to break it down into the simplest compartments – for example a developer will perhaps have the following compartments: analysis, coding, testing, implementation, troubleshooting, customization, support and training.
So don’t write the ‘book’. Just give quick snippets of information that satisfy the scanning reader of your IT CV that you generally meet their requirements.
[Note – at some point you may decide that you’re fiddling around too much with your IT resume – you’re getting frustrated and wasting time. You should then perhaps enlist my help in getting your IT resume to where it should be. Go to www.wowcv.net/professional-cv-writing for more or just e-mail me on gerard [at] jobsearching.co.za.]
IT Resume BDD Idea 4
Focus on projects and achievements. This is really where your IT resume comes alive – what did you achieve, what did your projects achieve, how did your contribution add to the business? How did it solve problems? How did it make the business better? What was your unique contribution?
Spell it out clearly in your IT resume. Make it concise. And again, give figures if possible.
Have developed a reputation for hard work – averaging 40 – 60 hours overtime every month, being available to work weekends, ‘all nighters,’ etc;
Recommended a new back up strategy. When implemented, it resulted in reducing client data lost in the event of a crash from 1 day to 30 seconds.
Or …
Delivered a new server room, ramping up performance by 65%, reliability from 89% up-time to 99.5%, and coming in 15% under budget and 2 weeks ahead of schedule.
IT Resume BDD Idea 5
Use IT resume attention getters – yes, use the following ideas to create an impact, differentiate yourself and a much more powerful first impression:
- Use logos of products, companies, certifications and employers – embed them in the CV. Having Microsoft, Sun, Cisco, Novell logos creates an impression of professionalism. You ride on the back of those big brands. Make them small, put them in a sidebar or footer perhaps. Don’t make them the central focus. But have them there.
IT Resume BDD Idea 6
On most IT CV’s I see, there’s usually a 2 page IT Skills Matrix. And it frequently goes back to skills/knowledge such as Windows ’95. Aw, c’mon! Here’s what to do rather.
Make a shorter list by filtering out only the most relevant and up-to-date skills, technologies and methodologies you work with. And create a one page addendum to the resume with this stuff on it. OR what I like to do is to create a sidebar in the resume where you can have a heading such as “Advanced IT Skills” with a 3 or 4 point list of items divided up perhaps like this: “Programming” “Networks” “Software” “Hardware” “Security”, etc. And under each of these you list your knowledge of apps, etc.
IT CV Template
Okay, so now to an IT CV template or sample – please note: every resume is different, you are unique, so use the template/format/sample here wisely. Learn from the principles.
Or if you get stuck, contact me directly to write your IT resume for you. See www.wowcv.net/professional-cv-writing.
Here’s a link to the IT CV template – click and it’ll download.
IT CV Template Warning!
Please, just remember: a template is not the ideal. Trying to cram your ‘circley’ self into a square hole can be frustrating and ineffective. Use the principles you learn from the template though. Or get in touch with me and I can help – gerard@wowcv.net.
