Resumes for the Tech Industry || PGWS Recap

Let’s face it; the job market is tough right now. The competitive nature of the tech industry in conjunction with a saturation of talent makes for an overwhelming job search. While the current job search can feel overwhelming, here at DWC, we want to make it just a bit easier for you.

Resumes for the Tech Industry is a webinar that is a part of our Professional Growth Webinar Series, which launched in 2024 to provide free resources and expert advice to professionals seeking to upskill in current careers or break into new ones. This 3rd session of the series was led by Digital Workshop Center (DWC) founder, Stu Crair. Crair has been helping professionals in the tech workforce for over 18 years now, focusing on providing in-demand job tech skills through nontraditional ways like certifications and bootcamps.

As well as being DWC’s founder, he is also our lead career coach for current and recent graduates of our certificate programs. Throughout his career coaching career, Crair has developed the best practices for resume writing, job searching, and interviewing. He knows a thing or two about how the job search has been digitalized to the point of it seeming impossible for resumes to reach the hands of a real human. Because of that, Crair wanted to offer his best tips and tricks to help professionals get their resumes passed automated systems like Applicant Tracking Systems and into interview rooms.

Let’s dive into the highlights of our 3rd Professional Growth Webinar, Resumes for the Tech Industry!

DWC’s Best Practices for Writing Resumes for the Tech Industry

What should be included in a resume? 

A resume should include your basic contact information, your professional work experience including any measurable accomplishments, any volunteer or “other” experiences relevant to your unique professional journey, your education, and any relevant skills and professional interests.

Volunteer or “other” experiences can be helpful to include in a resume if you know you are lacking work experience for a particular role. Maybe there were projects that you worked as a volunteer or maybe there is a certain experience that shows you are capable of succeeding in the role being applied for. Highlighting any experience that is relevant will show hiring managers the versatility of your professional trajectory.

Although not required, a resume summary can be included only if it is adding to your overall professional story, not repeating what has already been listed. It should be easy to read, concise, and memorable. Similar to a LinkedIn-style headline, it should summarize your abilities and top skills. When considering adding in a resume summary, ask yourself: What would the person reading this want to know? 

What is most important is that your resume can be understood within 10 seconds. This means that the first half of your resume should show a hiring manager how relevant your expertise is to the job being applied for!

Writing and Designing Resumes for the Tech Industry

Your resume should be one column if possible, have clear section headers, and a consistent design that is well organized and easy to read. Your format can be flexible, but remember how important it is that your resume be understood within 10 seconds.

When writing and tailoring your resume for specific roles, focus on the experience section as this should be the bulk of your resume. It is the most important and relevant section! List all relevant experiences reverse chronologically (most recent to oldest) to highlight your career trajectory. Under each experience, there should be approximately 3-5 bullet points explaining the actions performed and the impact made in the role you were in. Listing experiences in context is far more valuable than a list of skills.

 8 tips for the experience section

1. Study the job listing to figure out what’s most important to the hiring manager.
2. Keep it brief! If you have an interesting experience, a hiring manager will want to talk to you more about it in an interview.
3. Start every sentence of an experience with an action verb. Examples: Managed, Controlled, Scheduled, Led, Organized
4. Demonstrate impact! Actions speak louder.
5. Use measurable accomplishments when possible.
6. Tailor your experience section to specific job descriptions. Don’t use up space detailing daily duties that aren’t relevant to the job for which you’re applying.
7. Include the hard skills & keywords found in specific job descriptions.
8. Don’t include every job. Stick to the most relevant to the job description and that shows off your career trajectory.

When writing out your resume, make use of the S.T.A.R (Situation, Task, Action, Result) Technique to show the actions taken in roles, the results of said action in context of your situation (experience). Here’s an example for a resume summary: “Merging a background in ABC, I help companies improve XYZ through 123” turns into → “Merging a background in social media marketing with seven years in the consumer tech space, I help companies improve their communications and brand awareness through data-driven, quality content and strategies that align with modern trends.”

When you have a resume you think is at its final stage, refine it by asking yourself a few questions. Does your resume reflect the similar experiences and abilities that show up on the specific job posting being applied for? Can you re-word any part of your resume so that it’s clear you’re capable of doing the job (and doing it well)? Your resume should be a living document until you have landed where you want to be.

Importance of Tailoring Resumes for Specific Job Postings

Crafting a tailored resume for each job application is crucial because it allows you to highlight your most relevant skills and achievements that align with specific role requirements. Employers typically spend only a few seconds scanning resumes and often use Applicant Tracking Systems to screen resumes for keywords that match keywords found on the job description. If your resume is too generic, broad, or doesn’t have any of the matching keywords, it may not make it past those initial reviews. 

Once past initial reviews, a tailored resume also shows hiring managers that you’ve put time and effort into the application, demonstrating a genuine interest in both the role and the company. This attention to detail can significantly increase chances of landing an interview, as it sets you apart from candidates who are using resumes that are not specific to the job they are applying for. 

Here are some steps to keep track of multiple resumes when in the job search:

1. Create a master resume: Develop a comprehensive document that lists all skills, experiences, and accomplishments of your entire educational and professional career. Use it as a reference to pull relevant details for each tailored resume, ensuring consistency while saving time.
2. Organize files accordingly: Use a naming system to differentiate resumes for each job. As an example, each resume document could be titled FirstName_LastName_Company Name_Position. Store them in clearly labeled folders, maybe along the lines of when the resume was submitted or by position titles. The naming system is up to you, but it should always streamline the job application process.
3. Utilize a tracking system: Maintain a spreadsheet or use a project management tool (like Trello) to track the details and due dates of each application. Make sure to include columns for company name, position applied for, date submitted, resume used, and if you heard back at all. This will enable you to monitor progress in your job search so you can follow up effectively.

DWC Career Search Resources

Building a strong, tech-focused resume is a crucial step toward standing out in today’s job market. By implementing these best practices, you can position yourself as a competitive candidate and showcase your value to potential employers. For more tips, check out the following blog posts:

This webinar is just one part of our Professional Growth Webinar Series, designed to help you advance your career with confidence. Don’t miss our upcoming sessions, covering topics like mastering the art of interviewing, creating a digital portfolio, and more!