Your technical abilities must stand out as they qualify you for further examination. When searching through resumes often before your resume gets to a person with expertise in the area you’re applying to it’s reviewed by an administrative clerk or even a computer. These are both looking for specific keywords which let them know you have the core 1 or 2 skills they know someone needs to qualify for the job their looking to fill. Once they find these keywords they pass the resume on to someone more qualified to assess if you’re right for a job. Here are some tips to make sure your resume makes it through the first step:

1. List your skills at the top of the resume – try to mention these details early, don’t relegate them to a skills box at the very end of your resume

2. List relevant buzz words which reflect your knowledge and experience – words a non technical person may be looking for

3. Make your previous job titles match or similar to the job title you are applying for

4. Be specific – list all operating systems and UNIX flavors you know – list any languages you speak

5. Make it obvious at a glance where your strengths lie - whether it’s a glance from a hiring manager, a clerk, or a machine