As an IT professional, you can be great at what you do, but if you are unable to present that information on a resume, it will impact you and your career greatly.
Your resume is a blue print of your abilities and experience to your prospective employer. For IT professionals, it is even more so an important element, as the new potential employer is not only looking for experience but also relevant technical IT skills that you might have which will be beneficial to the organization.
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With IT skills resulting in high paying jobs, it is vital to not only have the relevant skill set but also to be able to have a clear and concise representation of that skill set on your resume.
With that in mind, it is imperative for you as an IT professional to know, what, how and where to put your IT skills on your resume to catch the eye of your employer, (and being proficient in Microsoft Word is NOT a technical skill worth putting up on your resume!). Employers are flooded with resumes each day with numerous potential candidates’ day in and day out. That is why it is important that your resume should not only be accurate and precise, but should also be well presented.
The question now arises where to put your technical skills on your resume so that it is visible and relevant. The key to being accurate is to present a well-organized resume. According to Monster, organizing your resume and placing your skill section should come after your job objective and above your experience section. But that depends on your level of experience. If you are a fresh graduate, you should lay more emphasis on your education, certifications and internships. Avoid crowding your resume with irrelevant information. A long resume with irrelevant information will drastically affect your chances of gaining employment. The presentation of your resume needs to be organized, short and to-the-point.
There are three formats of listing your technical skills on your resume:
- Paragraph Format
- List Format
- List Format with years of experience
The Paragraph Format
The paragraph format is the most common format which helps to build your technical section if you have more technical skills. This format helps present a clear picture to the employer of what technical skills you are proficient at. (see below an example of paragraph format)
Technical Skills
Languages: Python, Ruby on Rails, PHP, JavaScript, IOS, SQL C++.
Tools: BeeWare, Adobe Photoshop, UltraEdit, C++Builder, SAP, XCode.
Operating systems: Windows 10 OS, Linux Mint, Android OS, IOS.
The List Format
The List Format is a good way to give a quick overview to the employer of what skill set you have in a clean presentable way. The list format makes your relevant skills stand out and gives a good understanding of your technical abilities. here’s what the list format looks like.
Technical Skills
|
Languages |
Tools |
Operating Systems |
|
Python |
BeeWare |
Windows 10 OS |
|
Ruby on Rails |
UltraEdit |
Linux Mint |
|
PHP |
Adobe Photoshop |
Android OS |
|
C++ |
UltraEdit |
IOS |
|
JavaScript |
C++Builder |
|
The List Format with Years of Experience
Another popular way of presenting your technical skills is to use the list format with years of experience, this gives an idea to the employer about how apt you are in each of your technical skills against the years of experience you have had or have with each technical skill. Here’s what this format looks like:
Technical Skills
|
Languages |
Years' Experience |
|
Python |
8 |
|
Ruby on Rails |
5 |
|
PHP |
6 |
|
C++ |
7 |
It is important to know where your technical skills need to be presented on your resume. This is the first step to pique the interest of your employer. To be able to stand out and communicate your ability to your employer will help you move up the stack. Once you have achieved that, and if you have the relevant technical skills, it will help you immensely to land a job that you wish to have.
How to Keep up with Changing Technologies
Given the pace at which new technologies are being introduced in the market, IT professionals need to keep their skills up to date. It is essential that you remain up to date with technology trends and information as it will also help you to be more marketable to your potential employer. You need to have the latest certifications and the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn at the drop of a hat. You should be able to determine your needs, understand which technology you work with and acquire updated information of it. You should then assess the resources available to you and figure out which of them are relevant and work for you best.
There are various on demand, online and self-paced courses and trainings available on the internet that will help you with your requirements. Explore your options and find out which courses are best suited for you and will help you gain knowledge. These online courses not only help you to remain updated, but also help you to remain relevant in the ever-changing technology market.
The advantage of such on demand courses is that you can pick and choose according to your level of expertise and focus on to improve your technical skills. With the advantage of such self-paced courses, you can easily maximize your level of expertise at your own pace, at your own timing and never feel outdated. Find the time to avail these courses and add them to your daily routine. If you think you need to add or polish up some of your technical skills, do check out our IT skills training subscription today.