Get the Las Vegas IT Job You Want with These Resume Tips
When you work in a competitive industry like IT and technology, landing the job you want involves more than meeting the criteria for the position. You need to stand out from others. Use these valuable tips to create a memorable resume so you get the interview and land the IT job in Las Vegas of your dreams.
Create an Accurate Header
This is the first thing a hiring manager sees, so get it right. Include your full name, phone number, and email address. Some people include their city and state, but in today’s digital age it really isn’t a must.
Craft a Professional Summary
Hiring managers have little time, so don’t make it hard for them to understand what position you want and why you qualify for the IT job. Either compose a short paragraph or list the following in bullet points:
- The position you want
- Your level of experience
- Your relevant qualifications as required in the posting
Customize Your Resume Specific to the IT Job Position
According to Glassdoor
statistics, an average posting receives about 250 applications and many are highly-qualified. Don’t get lost in the crowd. Draft a generic resume that you will customize for every job application. Recruiters and hiring managers can spot a generic resume a mile away and most times it won’t properly address the posting for which they are hiring. So, you must customize your resume for every job application. While it may take slightly longer to do this, it drastically increases your chances of success. Usually, it’s just a matter of listing different skills for different positions.
Create a Skills List
This is the nitty-gritty of an IT job. Create a list of your skills relevant to the position. This is vital since many companies use keyword scanning tools that eliminate unqualified candidates. If you know many programs, platforms, databases, and coding tools, consider listing them by your level of expertise. For instance, if you’re an expert in C/C++, ASP.NET, CSS, and HTML, list these first. Next, list your intermediate skills applicable to the job and finally any skills you’re learning that directly relate to the work. Don’t add unnecessary information.
Push Your Accomplishments
While a potential employer will check where you worked, they’re more interested in what you can do for them now. Don’t tell a potential employer about past employers - tell them about the skills you gained and what you accomplished. Use statistics and powerful verbs to prove your worth. For instance, a Cloud Project Manager might state they “Managed a project budget of $2,000,000 and renegotiated vendor contracts to lower costs by 15 percent.”
Keep Work History Short and Sweet
Include the last three to five jobs or the last ten years of employment. Don’t leave gaps between jobs, even if the work doesn’t directly apply to the position. It makes it look like you’re trying to hide something.
Include Relevant Personal Information
Did you teach yourself an advanced program or code in your free time? If so, definitely include it in your resume. It shows initiative and makes you stand out from the crowd. Don’t include information that has nothing to do with your professional endeavors.
Toot Your Horn
If you have certifications, awards, or recognitions throughout your professional history, include them in your resume and use the proper designation so the employer can search them online. These accolades show you’re invested in your career and have the skills and initiative an employer wants.
Education Counts
Almost any IT job in Las Vegas demands advanced education, so include yours no matter which school you attended. If you attended a prestigious school, dedicate more space to your education. If you earned your degree elsewhere, dedicate less space, but definitely list it. If you’re older, you may want to leave off the graduation year too.
Conduct Research
When you understand the company that posted the job, you can tailor your resume to their corporate culture. Choose words to suit the business, whether they’re a start-up or an established Corporate leader. Google keywords and choose the exact language used for positions. For instance, don’t simply mention you’re a mobile developer. Say you’re an advanced Android app developer, fluent in Java.
Relevant Links
Links can be a great tool, but they don’t replace critical information in your resume. Hiring managers may look at them, but they may not. Use links to highlight relevant skills such as a portfolio of your work or a website you coded. A link to a current LinkedIn profile can provide in-depth information.
Format for Clarity
Divide your resume into clear sections. The usual order is the header, summary, skills, experience, and education. Capitalize each header in a larger font. Consistently space, punctuate and apply the same font and font size throughout the body copy. For instance, if you end a bullet point with a period, every bullet point should have a period. Your resume should be highly organized, easily navigable, and crystal clear.
Check and Double-Check
Definitely check your spelling and grammar and review industry-standard spellings and capitalizations. IT uses very specific language and there’s a big difference between C, C++ and C#.
Reach Out to Taurean Consulting Group for Next Your Las Vegas IT Job
If you’re looking for your next IT Job in Las Vegas, Taurean Consulting Group can help. With over 25 years’ experience connecting IT specialists to quality employers, we’ll help you prepare, review your resume, and match you to the best jobs for your needs.
Contact us and let us help you move forward on your career path.