Creating a standout tech resume

In today’s competitive technology landscape, your resume is more than a summary of qualifications—it’s your personal brand statement, an invitation to peek into your unique blend of skills, passions, and values. Whether you’re a seasoned developer, a data enthusiast, or someone embarking on a tech career from a non-traditional background, an exceptional resume is the bridge between your potential and your next opportunity.

Understanding the Modern Tech Resume

The expectations for a technology resume have evolved. Recruiters and hiring managers are inundated with applications, many filtered first by automated systems before a human ever reads them. This reality makes clarity, relevance, and precision absolutely vital. But beyond the right keywords, your resume should communicate your story—your curiosity, your ability to solve problems, and your commitment to learning.

The best tech resumes are not simply lists of skills and job titles—they are carefully crafted narratives that showcase initiative, adaptability, and real impact.

An outstanding resume is accessible and inclusive, highlighting not just technical expertise, but also the soft skills and experiences that make you a valuable member of any team—regardless of whether you’re neurotypical or neurodivergent, a recent graduate, or a career changer.

Step 1: Choose the Right Structure

Traditional resumes follow a chronological format, but for many in tech, especially those with diverse backgrounds or project-based experience, alternatives may serve better:

• Chronological: Lists positions in reverse order. Best for those with a steady career progression in the field.
• Functional: Focuses on skills and projects, rather than job titles and dates. Ideal for career switchers, recent graduates, and those with gaps.
• Hybrid: Combines elements of both, allowing you to highlight key skills and projects while also showing job history.

Tip: For most tech roles, a hybrid format lets you give due prominence to projects—often the most persuasive evidence of your abilities.

Step 2: Craft a Compelling Summary

The summary or profile at the top of your resume is your first impression. It should be concise (2-3 sentences), tailored to the specific job, and radiate both confidence and authenticity.

Example:
Creative full-stack developer with five years’ experience building scalable web applications for e-commerce and healthcare. Passionate about user-centered design, collaborative problem-solving, and mentoring new talent.

Notice how this summary communicates not just technical ability, but also values and interests—qualities that resonate with modern employers.

For Neurodivergent and Non-Traditional Candidates

If you’re neurodivergent or coming from a non-traditional background, consider mentioning learning styles, communication strengths, or unique problem-solving approaches. This helps potential employers appreciate your full range of talents.

Step 3: Prioritize Projects Over Positions

In technology, what you’ve built often matters more than where you’ve worked. Even if your experience is mostly academic, freelance, or open-source, well-chosen projects can set you apart.

How to Feature Projects

• Title & Context: Give your project a descriptive name. Briefly indicate whether it was a solo, team, freelance, or volunteer project.
• Technologies Used: List programming languages, frameworks, or tools. This doubles as keyword optimization for applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Impact: Use quantifiable results wherever possible. Did your project cut load time by 40%? Increase user engagement? Automate a tedious process?
• Link: Whenever possible, provide a URL to a GitHub repo, live demo, or portfolio site.

Example:
Smart Inventory App (Personal Project)

• Technologies: React, Node.js, MongoDB
• Developed a web app to track home supplies, reducing waste by 20% for pilot testers.
• Integrated barcode scanning and notifications using Twilio API.
• View on GitHub

Don’t be afraid to highlight hackathons, class assignments, or collaborative efforts—these experiences showcase initiative and teamwork.

Step 4: Showcase Technical and Transferable Skills

Skill sections are more than just a bullet list of technologies. Group related skills together and contextualize them when possible. For example:

• Programming Languages: Python, JavaScript, Java
• Frameworks & Libraries: React, Express, Django
• Tools: Docker, Git, Jenkins, Figma
• Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure
• Soft Skills: Agile teamwork, technical communication, mentoring

Rather than just listing skills, reference them in your project or work descriptions to demonstrate proficiency in context.

Led a team of four in developing a Django-based analytics dashboard, improving reporting speed by 60% and earning positive feedback from stakeholders.

Remember: For those who are self-taught or have learned through non-traditional means, your ability to learn independently is a skill in itself—one that’s highly valued in the fast-moving world of tech.

Step 5: Detail Relevant Experience—But Focus on Outcomes

Even if your job titles aren’t directly related to tech, there are often transferable experiences worth highlighting: process improvements, automation, leadership roles, or situations where you solved a unique problem.

• Begin each bullet with a strong action verb: Developed, Automated, Led, Improved, Designed, Analyzed
• Quantify your impact wherever possible: numbers speak louder than adjectives.
• Highlight cross-functional collaboration, mentorship, or client-facing roles.

Automated monthly data reconciliation process using Python scripts, reducing manual labor by 15 hours per month and minimizing errors.

For candidates with career gaps or non-linear paths, including a brief note about personal development, caregiving, or self-directed learning shows self-awareness and initiative.

Step 6: Education, Certifications, and Continuous Learning

The education section should include degrees, relevant coursework, bootcamps, and certifications. In the technology sector, ongoing learning is essential—don’t hesitate to include online courses, workshops, or even independent study if it’s relevant.

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, State University (2019–2023)
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Scrum Alliance (2022)
• Coursera Specialization: Machine Learning (2023)
• Women Who Code – Leadership Program (2021)

For those who are neurodivergent, you might mention learning strategies or environments where you thrive, such as remote collaboration or asynchronous learning platforms.

Step 7: Tailor for Inclusion and Accessibility

Tech teams thrive on diversity of thought and experience. Your resume is an opportunity to signal your values and commitment to inclusion, whether you’re part of an ERG (Employee Resource Group), have mentored underrepresented talent, or contributed to accessibility initiatives.

• Accessibility Advocacy: Led initiative to improve app usability for screen readers, resulting in 30% more positive feedback from users with visual impairments.
• Community Involvement: Volunteer coding mentor for high school girls interested in STEM careers.

Use plain language and avoid jargon where possible. If disclosing a disability or neurodivergence, focus on strengths and accommodations that have contributed to your success.

Step 8: Polish for Precision and Authenticity

A standout tech resume is free from errors, clear in its structure, and authentic in its voice. Avoid clichés and generic phrases. Instead, let your genuine enthusiasm and curiosity shine through your achievements.

• Proofread for grammar, spelling, and consistency.
• Use a clean, accessible font and logical section headings (h2–h4).
• Keep your resume to one or two pages—enough to show depth, but concise enough to respect the reader’s time.
• Include links to your GitHub, LinkedIn, or portfolio, but only if they’re up-to-date and professional.

I believe in the power of code to make the world more inclusive, accessible, and imaginative. This principle guides both my work and my mentorship in the tech community.

Empowering All Voices in Technology

Whether you’re a woman breaking barriers in software engineering, a neurodivergent innovator with a knack for pattern recognition, or a lifelong learner pivoting from another industry, your resume is your platform to be seen and heard. The technology sector needs your perspective—your unique way of thinking, problem-solving, and collaborating.

By focusing on concrete achievements, real projects, and a genuine reflection of your skills, you craft not just a resume, but a compelling invitation: Here’s what I’ve built and how I can help you build the future.

Let your resume be a living document—one that grows with your experiences and aspirations. As technology continues to evolve, so will the stories you have to tell. Keep learning, keep building, and keep sharing your journey. The world of technology is richer for your presence.