If you are looking for a job in an IT sphere, be it your first job or you want to switch fields, you should know how to correctly prepare for this process. One of the most important things you start with is creating a resume. This is the first impression about you and the document that will basically decide whether you’ll be invited to the interview or not. If you want to have a perfect resume without any problems, it is best to address top IT resume writing services that will help you with this task.
Common Errors in the Resume
A recruiter’s acquaintance with a candidate begins with a resume, and, unfortunately, often ends at this stage. Here is a list of the points where newbies usually make mistakes: they don’t pay attention to their LinkedIn profile, they don’t draw up a CV correctly, they write more than two pages, they don’t proofread for mistakes, and they leave unnecessary information.
Sometimes candidates use LinkedIn just as a secondary social network – and that’s a mistake. Make it a rule to systematically, for example, every three months, update your career and training history and add skills and achievements. A well-completed profile presents you as a professional, and in the case of a job search, you can simply transfer information from LinkedIn to PDF format – and get a ready-made resume.
Size and design
The logos of the companies you worked for do not enhance the impression but they take up space on the page, so it is enough to list the names. Sometimes candidates try to grab attention with a non-standard design. It turns out badly because the employer does not understand where to look: how to find contact information, where to look for information about education, what skills the candidate has.
Better perceived is a one-page and predictable CV, which can be quickly scanned in 10-15 seconds. If HR has seen the data necessary for the vacancy during this time, the candidate gets to the next step.
Job title
For some reason, candidates forget to write what position they are applying for and from the list of past jobs or studies, this information is not always clear. A person could work in the banking sector, then took IT courses, retrained, and now wants to get the position of a business analyst. It doesn’t seem obvious to the employer, even if the business analysis courses are listed on the resume.
Mistakes in the text
Typos and mistakes create the impression that the applicant is unprofessional or inattentive. Not only words can be incorrect but also data: for example, one city or even a country is indicated, and you live and are looking for a job in another one.
How to Write a Resume: Check List
- Write down everything that you already know: all achievements, education, courses, certificates, skills, in order to see the whole map of your knowledge and experience.
- Highlight the key points: you may have solved a problem, made an optimization, or successfully introduced an innovation.
- Determine in which companies you want to work and find out the expectations of a particular company, usually they are voiced in the vacancy itself. Then you should go to the site, study a blog with a mission and values, maybe something does not suit you or, on the contrary, your experience does not meet the expectations of the employer.
- Describe the skills as expected. A simple principle works here: read the job description and write what skills and experience match the expectations of the employer. This will help you to stand out from the rest.
- Do not list your job responsibilities in a past job; talk about achievements that are suitable for this job: what you have successfully implemented or changed.
The very first thing, figure out what direction or specialization you want to work in. Over time, the goal may change, just think about where to start now, and later, expectations can be adjusted.