How to Write a

Technical Resume
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How to Write a Good
Technical Resume

And why is it important?

 Why is a good resume important?
• To prove that you are qualified for a specific
job
• To prove that you care about a specific job
• It represents your ability to communicate
• It is a tool Human Resources and hiring leaders
use to sort out the good candidates from the
bad applicants

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 3

 Let’s Talk Basics First
• Needs to be pleasing to the eye / reader
• Include the skills they are looking for
• Spelling and grammar are very important
– Let’s talk about those capital letters
• Format and use of space
• Should be 1 page (most of the time)
• Should not contain false statements

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 4

 Template vs. Word Doc
If you have never created a resume before a template
might help you get started, however:
•Templates will limit you in the future when you start
to add sections and more content
•Some company resume scanning systems misplace
data when you are using templates or tables in your
resume
•Tables, headers and footers don’t always transfer or
upload correctly. Avoid them if possible.

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 5

 One More Basic
Never use “I” in a resume

•NEVER NEVER NEVER

•They know the resume is about you.
•Don’t use “My” or “We” either

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 6

 New Resume for Each Job
YES REALLY
•If you really want the job you will put forth the
effort
•You need to show you are qualified for THAT
SPECIFIC JOB
•You are competing with 200 – 300 – or 500
other applicants

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 7

 The Order of Information
1. Contact Header (may include portfolio/LinkedIn link)
2. Summary or Profile
3. Education
4. Professional Experience (if you have it)
5. Academic Experience or Academic Projects
6. Publications
7. Technical Skills & Related Courses
8. Professional Society/Leadership/Volunteer

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 8

 Does the Format Really Matter?
Yes – You are being judged on how well you can
present information.
•Font – universal / easy to read
– Times Roman, Arial, Century, MS Sans Serif, Calibri
•Use Month – Year for work experience
– Jan 2011 – Jul 2013 or Feb 2012 – present
•Be consistent with format throughout
•Use Spring 20xx or Fall 20xx for academic projects
•Limit use of lines, borders, shading, tables

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 9

 2011 - 2012
If you use only year in your resume here is what
happens when the reader tries to figure out how
long you worked at a company.

Hmmm ….

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 10

 What do Companies Look For?
• There are typically two scans of your resume
– 1st scan by the computer. Converted into a
database, searching for key words and semantic
matches from the job description
– 2nd scan by the hiring manager – 10 seconds
• If they are interested, they will read the rest
TRY
Monster.com Power Resume Search Test Drive

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 11

 What else do they look for
• If you can actually follow the application
directions
• A one page resume (can you be succinct)
• Top ⅓ or ½ is the most important
• Good summary of your skills and strengths
• Skills that actually match the job description
• That your resume is not generic – you actually
care about the job
S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 12
Now Let’s Talk About Details

Good v.s. Bad

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 13

 SUMMARY or Profile
Summary = GOOD Objective = Not good
•What type of Engineer you are
•How many years of experience you have (doing
what)
•What industry are you in or targeting
•What you specialize in / passionate about
•What are your core competencies
IT SHOULD ALL RELATE TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 14

 EDUCATION
• The resume is about you, put your degree 1st
• Include date of graduation or estimated
graduation (not start date)
• Include School, City, State or Country
• GPA
– Typically if it is a 3.0 or better
– 75.4/100 (Est 3.6/4.0)
– Convert it if from non-US university
–
S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 15
 MAIN CONTENT
• Enough information vs. Not enough
• Convey to the reader your depth of
knowledge about the skills or concepts
• Include technical concepts, methods and tools
that you used
• Back up your areas of expertise with examples
• Show results and quantify them if possible
• Don’t cram every little thing in, focus
S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 16
Key Words Count – What do I mean?
The number of times the actual word
shows up in your resume !

KEY WORD BAD Resume GOOD Resume

Customer Service 1 5

Cash Handling 1 3

Fraud 1 2

Check Cashing 1 3

Sales 1 2
 USE STRONG ACTION VERBS
Start your bullets / sentences with strong action
verbs
If in the past Currently working on
•Designed . . . •Designing . . .
•Developed . . . •Developing . . .
•Fabricated . . . •Fabricating . . .
•Analyzed . . . •Analyzing . . .
•Optimized . . . •Optimizing . . .

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 18

 Examples – Strong Action Verbs
• Designed and developed embedded systems for use in a
hybrid vehicle using Matlab and Simulink
• Developed web applications for finance and accounting
functions using Agile methodology in Java and C++
• Designed the body of an automobile using 3D wireframe and
3D solid modeling techniques in AutoCAD
• Analyzed and tested various materials for strength and
durability including compression, tensile and shear stress

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 19

 Differences in Undergrad / Grad Resumes
DO As a Freshman
•List your college education
•Include your major and DON’T
anticipated graduation date •Include personal info
•Include school projects •Include references
(homework assignments) •Include pictures or designs
•Include clubs or organization you (unless you are a graphic
belong to design student)
•Demonstrate comm skills •Have embarrassing info on
•Include jobs or volunteer your Facebook
experience you have with
relevant transferable skills
S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 20
Resume Example
Sophomore

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 21

 Differences in Undergrad / Grad Resumes
Sophomore
• Remove references to High
School unless it was truly
remarkable.
• Include subjects and
concepts you are learning in
the Academic Experience
section
• Include professional club
memberships and summer
jobs
Junior / Senior
• Include more project
related work or internships
• Include leadership
experiences and projects
you may have done in
professional clubs
• Include more academic
projects or technical
examples and skills that are
related to your field

S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT 22

 Differences in Undergrad / Grad Resumes
Graduating Senior
• Be very specific about the
job you are targeting and
tailoring your resume to
that job and company
• A majority of your resume
should contain internship
examples and academic
projects that directly relate
to the position you are
applying for
S: Presentations/Nov 2013 Resume PPT
Masters Student
• Include your specialization
and the skills you know very
well in the summary
• Provide a link in your
resume to your portfolio
(LinkedIn or web page)
• Have details supporting
your specialization
• Provide examples of
leadership, societies, and
research
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 For More Information
To get some ideas, there are examples on the
Engineering Career Center website
http://engineering.asu.edu/career

Do NOT copy these.

Use your own experiences, skills, projects and strengths.

Employers will discover if you were unethical in your resume and

you will be disqualified. If you misrepresent yourself on your
resume, it makes people wonder what else you would do.
      
 

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 For More Information
Connect with
Fulton Engineering Career Center

Phone: (480) 965-2966

Email: engineering.careers@asu.edu
Website:  http://engineering.asu.edu/career
Sun Devil CareerLink: MyASU>Campus Services>Jobs &
Careers>Sun Devil CareerLink
Facebook and LinkedIn: Engineering Career Center Arizona
State University                
 

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