How To Write An IT Resume That Gets You Hired In Tech (Even If You're Not A “Perfect Fit”)

If you’re applying for tech jobs—whether it’s as a cybersecurity specialist, software engineer, systems analyst, DevOps engineer, IT support specialist, or any other tech career path—your resume is your foot in the door. But in today’s ultra-competitive job market, simply listing your skills and experience isn’t enough.

Hiring managers spend just seconds scanning resumes. So the question is: how do you make yours stand out without turning it into a 10-page novel or stuffing it with buzzwords?

Here at Shtudy, we’ve helped thousands of candidates from non-traditional backgrounds land interviews (and job offers) at top-tier tech companies. We work directly with hiring managers and recruiters who tell us exactly what makes a resume rise to the top—or get instantly passed over.

This guide is a culmination of that insider knowledge. Whether you're early in your tech career or a seasoned pro making a transition, we’ll show you exactly how to build an IT resume that gets noticed, gets interviews, and gets you hired.

✅ IT Resume Do’s (and Why They Matter)

Do be succinct (2-3 pages max). Hiring managers don’t want your life story. They want evidence. Stick to the most relevant details that demonstrate your ability to solve problems and make an impact. A tight, well-structured resume beats a bloated one every time.

Do tailor your resume to the job description. This is the single most important thing you can do. Customize your resume for each role you apply to. Mirror the language in the job posting (without copying it directly). Emphasize the skills and experiences that are most aligned with the position.

Example: If the role emphasizes cloud architecture, highlight your AWS certifications, deployments, or containerization experience. Don’t make them dig for it.

Do frontload your resume with the good stuff. Your most impressive wins, skills, and results should be above the fold (the top 1/3 of your resume). This could include certifications, technical stacks, key projects, or summary bullets with impact metrics.

Do showcase your technical skills clearly. Use a dedicated “Technical Skills” section. Organize by categories (Languages, Frameworks, Tools, Platforms) and avoid rating systems (e.g. “Python: 3/5”). Just list what you can use effectively on the job.

Do include side projects and open-source work. Especially if you’re early in your career or self-taught, side projects show initiative, curiosity, and problem-solving ability. Link to GitHub repos, portfolios, or live apps if possible.

Do show you’re always learning. List ongoing certifications (e.g. “Pursuing CompTIA Security+”), online coursework, or recent upskilling. Tech changes fast—showing you’re keeping up is a huge plus.

Do include links. Got a portfolio site? GitHub? LinkedIn? Include clickable links at the top of your resume. Make it easy for hiring teams to explore your work further.

Do highlight communication and collaboration. Yes, technical skills are key—but they’re not everything. Tech teams don’t work in silos. Emphasize moments where you translated technical info for non-technical stakeholders or worked cross-functionally.

Do proofread it like your career depends on it. (Because it does.) Grammatical errors, misspelled frameworks, or formatting inconsistencies make you look careless. Use Grammarly. Ask a friend. Triple-check it.

❌ IT Resume Don’ts (and What to Do Instead)

Don’t use outdated or unprofessional contact info. If your email is still gamerboi1992@hotmail.com… it’s time for an upgrade. Use your name or initials and a modern provider like Gmail.

Don’t exaggerate or lie about your experience. Hiring managers will test you. If you can’t explain a skill or project in detail during an interview, it’s a red flag. Be honest—and if you’re light on experience, emphasize potential and passion.

Don’t rely on company-specific jargon. Not everyone knows what your “X-Tek Revamp Phase 2” project was. Use universal language and describe your impact: “Redesigned legacy system used by 10,000+ users, improving uptime by 22%.”

Don’t make it all about you. Employers want to know how you can solve their problems. Frame your experience in terms of value created: Did you save time, increase efficiency, reduce errors, or improve customer satisfaction?

Don’t forget to showcase soft skills. Yes, technical chops matter. But communication, leadership, adaptability, and empathy often make or break a hire—especially in cross-functional teams.

Don’t include irrelevant or outdated technologies. No one’s hiring you for Flash development. Focus on modern stacks and tools.

Don’t make your resume one giant wall of text. Use bullet points, clear section headers, and white space. Make it skimmable. Your layout should work for you, not against you.

📄 Sample IT Resume Breakdown

Let’s look at what a strong IT resume might include:

• Header with clean, professional contact info (name, phone, email, LinkedIn, GitHub)

• Professional Summary that’s concise and tailored to the job

• Key Skills/Technical Stack broken into relevant categories

• Work Experience listed in reverse chronological order, with bullet points focusing on outcomes and impact

• Projects or Freelance Work with live links or GitHub

• Certifications and Education (list ongoing courses here too)

Want an example? Shtudy candidates get exclusive access to our IT Resume Template Pack, used by our job seekers to land interviews at Amazon, Google, Salesforce, and more.

🔥 Bonus Tip: Show Passion

This one often gets overlooked. If you love what you do, say it. If you built an app for fun, mention it. If you volunteered to help build a nonprofit’s website, include it. Passion is infectious—and hiring managers notice.

🚀 Work With Us to Get Hired Faster

At Shtudy, we don’t just tell you what to do—we help you do it. When you create a profile with us, you’re joining a community of career-focused job seekers who get:

• 1:1 resume and LinkedIn reviews

• Warm introductions to hiring managers inside our network

• Ongoing job leads and coaching until you land a job

We work directly with top employers and vet every job for quality, culture, and alignment. Our mission is simple: Help you land a job where you’ll thrive.

If you haven’t already, create your free Shtudy profile here and get started.

We’ll be with you every step of the way.

Want more tips like this? Check out our Resume Tips Hub or attend our upcoming Job Search Success Webinar we send to new candidates.

You've got the skills. Let’s get you hired.