Career Guide / Resume Writing

How to Write a Tech Resume That Gets Interviews

Your resume is your first impression. Make it count. A complete guide for developers and tech professionals.

Your Resume: The Gateway to Interviews

Recruiters spend an average of 6-7 seconds on initial resume screening. Your resume needs to communicate your value quickly and clearly. This guide covers everything from structure to content, with specific tips for tech roles.

Note: In Japan, companies may ask for both a traditional Japanese rirekisho (履歴書) and a shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書). This guide focuses on the Western-style resume format commonly used in tech, especially for foreign-affiliated companies and startups.

Resume Structure and Content

Contact Information

Include

  • Full name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • LinkedIn profile
  • GitHub profile

Avoid

  • Physical address (city is enough)
  • Date of birth
  • Photo (unless required)
  • Personal details (marital status, etc.)

Professional Summary

Include

  • Years of experience
  • Key technologies
  • Type of roles held
  • Notable achievements

Avoid

  • Generic statements
  • Objective statements
  • Personal pronouns (I, me, my)
  • Buzzwords without context

Technical Skills

Include

  • Programming languages
  • Frameworks and libraries
  • Tools and platforms
  • Proficiency levels

Avoid

  • Outdated technologies
  • Skills you barely know
  • Soft skills in this section
  • Every tool you've touched

Work Experience

Include

  • Company name and dates
  • Job title
  • Key achievements with metrics
  • Technologies used

Avoid

  • Just listing responsibilities
  • Irrelevant job details
  • Company descriptions
  • Vague statements

Writing an Effective Professional Summary

Bad Example

"Passionate and hardworking developer looking for opportunities to grow and learn. Team player with excellent communication skills who is eager to contribute to a dynamic organization."

Problem: Generic, no specific skills, no quantifiable achievements, could apply to anyone.

Good Example

"Full-stack developer with 5 years of experience building scalable web applications using React and Node.js. Led a team of 4 engineers to deliver an e-commerce platform handling 10,000+ daily transactions. Reduced page load time by 60% through performance optimization. Seeking senior engineering roles at product-focused companies."

Why it works: Specific technologies, quantified achievements, clear experience level, defined goals.

Writing Impactful Experience Bullets

Use the X-Y-Z Formula

Structure your bullets as: "Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]"

Example: "Reduced API response time by 40% (X) as measured by p99 latency metrics (Y) by implementing Redis caching and query optimization (Z)"

Weak Bullets

  • "Responsible for writing code"
  • "Worked on various projects"
  • "Helped with testing"
  • "Fixed bugs and improved code"

Strong Bullets

  • "Developed microservices handling 1M+ requests/day"
  • "Led migration to Kubernetes, reducing deployment time by 70%"
  • "Implemented CI/CD pipeline reducing release bugs by 45%"
  • "Mentored 3 junior developers through code reviews"

Power Action Verbs

Developed Implemented Architected Optimized Led Designed Automated Reduced Increased Migrated Refactored Built Deployed Integrated Mentored Collaborated Streamlined Launched

Presenting Technical Skills

Organize by Category

Languages: JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Go, SQL

Frontend: React, Next.js, Vue.js, Tailwind CSS

Backend: Node.js, Django, PostgreSQL, Redis

DevOps: Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, GitHub Actions

Tools: Git, Jira, Figma, Datadog

Proficiency Levels (Optional)

Some people include proficiency levels, but be careful - what does "intermediate" mean? Consider using years of experience instead:

Primary: React (4 years), TypeScript (3 years), Node.js (4 years)
Secondary: Python (2 years), Go (1 year), PostgreSQL (3 years)

Pro Tip: Tailor your skills section for each application. Put the most relevant technologies for the job listing first. ATS systems may scan for specific keywords.

Including Projects (Especially for Career Changers)

Project Entry Template

Project Name | Technologies Used | Live Demo | GitHub

Brief description of what the project does and your role

  • - Key feature or technical achievement
  • - Another notable implementation detail

Include 2-3 of your best projects. Quality over quantity. Make sure they're actually working and the code is clean.

Formatting and Design

Do

  • Keep it to 1-2 pages maximum
  • Use a clean, readable font
  • Maintain consistent formatting
  • Use bullet points for readability
  • Save as PDF to preserve formatting
  • Use a standard file name (Firstname_Lastname_Resume.pdf)

Don't

  • Use fancy graphics or images
  • Use multiple colors or fonts
  • Include headers/footers (can break ATS)
  • Use tables or columns (ATS issues)
  • Make it longer than necessary
  • Include typos or grammatical errors

Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Optimization

Many companies use ATS to filter resumes before a human sees them. Here's how to ensure your resume gets through:

  • 1. Use keywords from the job listing - If they say "React.js" use "React.js" not just "React"
  • 2. Use standard section headings - "Work Experience" not "Where I've Worked"
  • 3. Avoid graphics and tables - Stick to plain text formatting
  • 4. Use common file formats - PDF is usually safest
  • 5. Include both acronyms and full terms - "AWS (Amazon Web Services)"

Japan-Specific Considerations

Traditional Japanese Format

Japanese companies may require a rirekisho (履歴書) - a standardized format with photo, personal details, and chronological history. Shokumu keirekisho (職務経歴書) is the detailed work history document. These formats differ significantly from Western resumes.

Foreign-Affiliated and Startups

Foreign-affiliated companies and tech startups typically accept Western-style resumes. Some may want English only, others may request Japanese. Have both versions ready.

Photo Requirements

Traditional Japanese resumes require a photo. For Western-style resumes to international companies, photos are generally not expected and may even be discouraged to prevent bias.

Final Resume Checklist

  • Proofread for spelling and grammar errors
  • All links (GitHub, LinkedIn, portfolio) are working
  • Dates are consistent and accurate
  • Contact information is current
  • Tailored for the specific job you're applying to
  • Quantified achievements where possible
  • Asked someone else to review it

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