Set Your Candidacy Apart With A Strong It Resume

Computers and information technology (IT) have become such a part of the workplace that there are very few jobs or careers where a strong computer background is not an asset. Knowing how to highlight your knowledge in the IT field can definitely increase your resume's ability to catch an employer's eye. This can be accomplished in two ways, the first one being the overall appearance of the resume and the second being the actual information provided on the resume.

Appearance

To provide a clean and professional looking IT savvy resume focus on the following:

• Make your resume easy to read at a glance. Use spacing on the page to separate categories rather than using borders or boxes. White space is important to avoid a cluttered looking resume.
• Use a consistent format. Bold or underlined words can be used for headings or sections. Use the same formatting for each section.
• Avoid using more than one font. Use a regular type font and avoid the fancy or written looking fonts, as they are difficult to read. The font should be no smaller than 10 point and no bigger than 12 point for the text.
• Simple is better, and professional is the best. A nicely centered, organized and spaced resume indicates that the person is able to complete and produce documents with a professional appearance.

Information

A resume is a sales tool to get a prospective employer interested enough in you to grant an interview. It is meant to highlight the skills that you possess that will be beneficial in the workplace. In order to do this is important to know the workplace you are applying to. Do some research and find out what computer programs or information technologies they use. VoIP phones, personal communication devices, broadband Internet as well as computer programs are all components of the IT category. Know what operating system the workplace uses. If necessary take a weekend class or online program to help your proficiency and understanding of IT areas.

In addition:

• Use specific language on the resume. Avoid using general statements such as "comfortable with computers" and try using specifics such as "proficient in the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint".

• Consider a specific category or heading to detail IT skills if this is an important part of the job description.

• Don't assume that the employer or human resource official will understand that you know how to use IT or a specific device, state it specifically on the resume.

• Keep descriptions brief but include any additional skills that you have. Perhaps the job application is for an office manager, but you have skills in networking. Indicate this on the resume as this may be a selling point for the employer.

It is important to keep the resume easy to read, short and concise. By highlighting your IT skills and knowledge you can enhance your basic resume by discussing important skills that are critical in most workplaces. Hiring IT experienced employees saves companies money and time, as they do not need to train new employees. There may even be a possibility of a company being able to use a strong IT employee in more than one type of employment.

To set your resume apart from the rest a strong IT component is definitely an asset.

Click here to go to the next career article - Make Your Experience Work For You