How to Write an Irresistible Technical Resume

How to Write an Irresistible Technical ResumeHow to Write an Irresistible Technical Resume In the midst of a record-low unemployment rate , the prospects for job seekers - especially for those with in-demand technical skills - have almost never been better. Today, there are more jobs available than qualified candidates, meaning job seekers have their veritable pick of the litter when it comes to choosing where they want to work next.Just because companies are urgently seeking employees, though, doesnt mean theyll hand out jobs to just anyone who wants them. Above all, recruiters are looking to hire people who are the right fit, so its still on job seekers to prove that theyre worth the investment.The best way to do communicate your talent is by crafting an impressive technical resume - with the right mix of relevant experience, accomplishments and skills, recruiters will be knocking down your door with opportunities. But what exactly are technical recruiters look ing for in resumes, and how can you best incorporate that?To find out, we reached out to the Talent Acquisition team at Northrop Grumman - heres what they had to say.A fancy-looking resume wont mean a thing if it buries what recruiters really want to see.A candidate has 20 to 30 seconds to capture a recruiters attention - so make koranvers your resume is well-formatted, easy-to-read and that your most noteworthy accomplishments/skills are captured near the top of page one, says Kortnie Sullivan, a Talent Acquisition Business Partner at Northrop Grumman, who primarily recruits information technology professionals.When looking at a technical resume, I look to see if the candidates technical skills/tools match or are comparable to the needs of the position. I also go over the two most recent positions to see if the candidate has experience doing the same or similar tasks that they would be doing in the new role. shares Albrenna Richardson, Talent Acquisition IT Recruiter.Other im portant things to prominently feature are education, certifications and clearance level, if you have one, says Melissa Wallace, a Talent Acquisition Business Partner who focuses mainly on engineering and other technical positions.I want to be able to quickly glance at a resume and make sure they meet the criteria for the level of position Im looking for and then if they do, Ill read their resume more closely, Wallace adds.A generic resume is a guaranteed way to lose a recruiters interest, so make sure that you take a good look at the specific job description(s) youre applying to in order to highlight what matters most.Taking time to build a strong resume that is customized to the position gives you more control in the process. It takes the guessing away from the recruiter and hiring manager and makes a clear, immediate case that you should be interviewed, explains Jessica DeVilbiss, a Talent Acquisition Business Partner at Northrop Grumman focusing on aerospace systems. Its wort h the time investment for roles that you are interested in and targeting for your next step.In particular, DeVilbiss recommends that job seekers read the specific skills that are listed in the position and include the applicable skills in your resume.And when detailing your work history, make sure to connect what youve done in previous roles with the job youre applying to.I like clearly-written resumes that allow the reader to have a thorough understanding of what they did and how it relates to the position that they are applying for, Richardson says.While its important to share your skills and the technical tools you use, its not enough to simply list them without providing any additional information. Richardson recommends that candidates provide specific detail on how they have used those tools under the description of their current and past positions.As a recruiter, I am looking to see that the tools you listed are something that you have actually used in your work or class proje cts and how you have used them. So instead of simply listing Java and Linux in the skills section , add a statement like this I developed X website using Java and Linux on the backend. You might also want to consider detailing exactly how familiar you are with the various tools and skills you mention.Its especially helpful if candidates rank their skill level with technologies from beginner to expert level, DeVilbiss explains.Beyond giving context to your skills, youll also want to give context to your achievements at work. One of the best ways to do that is by describing the concrete results of your efforts in your work history bullet points.I really like when a technical resume calls out specific examples using real data and numbers. It immediately builds credibility with me and the hiring manager, DeVilbiss shares.When considering which sorts of metrics to include, think about what would be important to an employer , Wallace recommends. If you saved the company money by someth ing you were responsible for, by all means, make sure it is on your resume.A few example bullet points from Sullivan includeOne other note on including metrics, in addition to numbers, percentages can tell a powerful story, especially if your experience is from a company of a different size than where you are applying. For example, saved the company 15 percent on annual expenses in X category due to Y activity/process.When looking at a technical resume, recruiters primarily care about relevant skills and experience - but that doesnt mean they wont notice typos, a clunky design or other common resume mistakes .One issue in particular that job seekers should watch out for is accidentally name-dropping the wrong company. There is nothing more cringe-worthy than a candidate expressing interest in your competitor when applying for a job at your company, Wallace says.Another tip to keep in mind Spell out technical acronyms, Richardson says. Technology is continuing to evolve at a rapid rate and it will assist the technical recruiter if the technology is clearly stated. Acronyms can mean one thing at one company and a different thing at another.Familiarity with the right skills and tools is critical for technical roles, but soft skills like communication , leadership and collaboration are often equally important. But when it comes to including soft skills on your resume, its best to be subtle about it.When highlighting soft skills , make them bulleted and targeted based on what the role is seeking, and then again, use facts and figures, if possible, to demonstrate your competency, DeVilbiss advises. For example, if you are saying you are a skilled lead, talk about the number of people youve led and mentored and/or your specific achievements in a project.A couple more ways you can show off your soft skills List a handful of extracurricular activities you are involved in and if youve had any leadership in those roles, and list some accolades youve received, for e xample, a top performance rating or an on-the-spot-recognition, Wallace says.One of the biggest mistakes Sullivan sees in technical resumes? Unnecessary length.I tell candidates to keep their resume to two pages - a recruiters eyes departure to glaze over if it goes beyond two pages, Sullivan explains. And really, that first block of experience/work history on page one is what needs to catch the recruiters eye.Theres no doubt that writing a technical resume is challenging. After all, its no easy feat to condense your years of experience, achievements and skills into one short document. But the importance of resumes in the job search cant be overstated. Theyre the number one tool you have to catch a recruiters attention and convince them that youre worth spending time on, so a little extra time spent tweaking it is well worth the effort. Keep these tips in mind, and youll be well on your way to an impressive technical resume - and hopefully, the job of your dreams.Want to learn mor e about Northrop Grumman and the opportunities available at their company? Check out their open jobs here