The good news? Tech professionals are in serious demand right now. But with so many skilled people aiming for top roles, a basic resume just won’t cut it. So what exactly are recruiters looking for in a tech resume—and how do you make sure yours stands out?

A great tech resume isn’t just a list of skills and jobs. Recruiters usually only spend a few minutes (sometimes seconds) on each one, so your resume needs to give a quick, clear sense of who you are, what you’re good at, and what makes you different.

If you’re just getting into tech—especially after a bootcamp—your resume is a golden opportunity to highlight transferable skills and show how you can bring real value in a new role.

If the blank page is staring back at you and you don’t know where to begin, don’t worry—you’re not alone. That’s why we’ve pulled together the best tips, tricks, and examples to help you get that dream job.

Here’s what we’ll go over:

• Tech resume dos and don’ts
• How to build and format a strong tech resume
• Real-life resume examples
• Final takeaways

Let’s dive in.

Tech resume dos and don’ts

Writing a tech resume can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re switching careers. When you’re new to the field, your resume might be the only shot you have to prove you’re worth interviewing.

And while it’s tempting to cram everything you’ve ever done into one document, your resume doesn’t have to be flashy or overly complicated. It just needs to clearly and efficiently communicate your value.

Also, keep this in mind: your resume might not even go straight to a recruiter. With the huge volume of applications companies get, many use AI software to filter resumes before a human ever sees them.

That means if your resume isn’t readable, lacks keywords, or is formatted poorly, it might get filtered out before it reaches the hiring manager. It’s not fair, but it’s the reality—so it’s smart to play by those rules.

To help you avoid common pitfalls, here’s a quick list of do’s and don’ts:

Do:

• Tailor your resume for each job. Use the exact keywords and phrases from the job description so your resume stands out—both to recruiters and AI software.
• Highlight the tools you know. Whether it’s GitHub, Jira, Figma, or Trello—make sure to show your familiarity with relevant tools, especially if the job listing mentions them.
• Get other people to proofread it. A single typo can make your resume feel less polished. Ask friends, family, or mentors to give it a once-over before sending it out.

Don’t:

• Use large blocks of text. Keep things short, sweet, and scannable. Bullet points are your best friend.
• Go overboard with length. Ideally, your resume should be one page. Two pages max, but only if absolutely necessary.
• Make it overly design-heavy. Clean and clear beats flashy every time. Especially if an ATS (applicant tracking system) is involved, overdesigning can hurt more than help.

Remember: if you land the interview, your resume will likely guide the conversation. So be sure to only list skills and experience that you’re ready to talk about in detail.

Want to prep for that next step? Check out our guide to the recruiter phone screen.

How to build and format a strong tech resume

Now that we’ve covered what to do (and what to avoid), let’s get into actually putting your resume together.

We’ll break it down into two parts: what to include, and how to format it.

What to include in your tech resume

Your resume should cover these eight sections:

1. Name and contact info – Keep it simple. No need for your full mailing address unless location is a factor.
2. Personal summary – One or two sentences that describe who you are, what you specialize in, and what value you bring. Think of it like your elevator pitch.
3. Relevant links – Link to your portfolio, GitHub, LinkedIn, or personal website—anywhere that shows your work or professional presence.
4. Education – Stick to what’s relevant: degrees, bootcamps, certifications, or online courses that are applicable to the job.
5. Tools – List out the tools and platforms you’re familiar with, especially the ones that match the job requirements.
6. Skills – This section is critical. We’ll dive deeper into how to present your skills in the next part.
7. Work experience – If you’ve worked on portfolio projects during a bootcamp, showcase those. If your previous career included transferable skills, definitely include that too.
8. Fun, relevant extras – Do you blog about tech? Speak multiple languages? Run your own side project? Anything unique and relevant that helps you stand out belongs here.

You might be wondering: how can all of this fit on one page?

Well, it depends. You don’t have to include every section for every application. Focus on what’s most relevant for the job you’re applying to.

A few formatting tips can go a long way in making your resume stand out in a good way:

• Stick to the required format. Usually PDF or Word are safest, but always double-check the job posting—some companies are picky about this.
• Don’t go overboard with design. A bit of creativity is fine—especially for design roles—but your main goal is clarity. Use color sparingly, pick a readable font, and keep layout simple.
• Let your portfolio and cover letter do the extra storytelling. Your resume doesn’t need to say everything. It just needs to say the right things.

There are plenty of tools like Canva, Resume.io, and CakeResume that can help you design a polished layout—but keep in mind that some designs don’t play well with applicant tracking software. When in doubt, keep it clean and simple.

Real-life resume examples

Your skills section is where you can really shine—but only if it’s done right.

Recruiters aren’t just looking for a list of buzzwords. They want to see proof that you’ve actually used these skills in a meaningful way.

Let’s talk about the two types of skills you should be including:

• Hard skills – These are your technical abilities, like HTML/CSS, Python, data analysis, UX research, SEO, or using tools like Figma or Tableau.
• Soft skills – These include communication, collaboration, leadership, adaptability, time management—all the qualities that make you great to work with.

Even though soft skills might seem secondary in a tech role, they’re often what separates a good candidate from a great one. Especially if you’re switching careers, your past experience might showcase these really well.

Tips for highlighting your skills:

• Focus on quality over quantity. It’s better to list 4–6 well-matched, relevant skills than a long list no one reads.
• Use the job description as your guide. Match the language, but avoid sounding too generic. Skip phrases like “familiar with” or “proficient in”—instead, show impact.
• Give examples. Whether it’s a bootcamp project or freelance gig, tie your skills to something real whenever you can.

Final takeaways

The best way to know if your tech resume is working? Get feedback—especially from someone who’s already working in the field. If they can tell you whether it would make the cut in their team, you’ll be in a much better spot to improve before sending it out.

So that’s it—your complete guide to writing a standout tech resume. And yes, it can feel like a lot. When you’re new, it’s easy to overthink everything to the point of getting stuck. But you’ve got this. Stick to what works, focus on relevance, and let your personality come through in the right places.

Pair it with a solid career-change cover letter and prep for those interviews with the most commonly asked questions—and you’ll be well on your way to landing your first tech job.

Still figuring things out? These guides are a great next step:

• Ten Big Signs It’s Time for a Career Change
• How to Successfully Change Careers in 2025: Your Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Get a UX Design Job with No Industry Experience

You’re closer than you think. Keep going—your future in tech is waiting.