The Insider's guide to Tech hiring.

The tech world is booming, but landing your dream job can feel tricky. This article cuts through the confusion with advice straight from Ndiga Njeru, a Senior Technical Recruiter at Google with experience at Microsoft and Andela.

Making Your Resume Shine

Your resume is your first shot at impressing a recruiter, so making it count is key.

Recruiters only spend a few seconds on each resume, so you need to grab their attention fast. Here's how Njeru says to do it:

• Ditch the One-Size-Fits-All: Don't just send out the same resume for every job. Read the job description carefully and tailor your resume to show how your skills and experience are a perfect match for what they're looking for.

• Read Between the Lines: Think about the problems they're trying to solve with this job. Highlight the skills and experiences in your resume that show you can solve those problems.

• Dress to Impress (Your Resume, That Is): Consider the company culture and the job you're applying for when designing your resume. A clean, easy-to-read format is always a good choice.

Work Experience: Show, Don't Just Tell

When it comes to your work experience, focus on the jobs that are most relevant to the one you're applying for. Here's Njeru's take:

• Focus on What Matters: Only list jobs that show skills you can use in the new job. For example, if you're applying to be a software engineer, leave off your experience as a salesperson.

• Newcomers Welcome: Even if you don't have traditional work experience, volunteer work or activities (like student clubs) can show you're responsible and have transferable skills.

• Numbers Talk: Don't just list your duties. Use numbers to show what you accomplished in your previous jobs. For example, instead of saying "increased website traffic," say "increased website traffic by 20% through SEO implementation."

• Freelancers Take Note: If you freelance on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, list your projects like jobs. Give yourself a job title for the project, describe what you did and what you achieved, and mention the company or project name.

Beyond Tech Skills: What Recruiters Look For

There's more to getting a tech job than just knowing how to code. Njeru breaks down achievements into three categories:

• Tech Skills: These are the technical skills you need for the job, like programming languages or software you know how to use.

• Getting Things Done Skills: These are skills like organization, budgeting, and working well with others. (Think of these as the skills needed for jobs like Njeru's, Senior Tech Recruiter!)

• Leader of the Pack Skills: These are skills like taking charge, solving problems, and motivating others. (Think of these as the skills needed for leadership roles like CEO.)

Finding Your Dream Job: Websites to the Rescue

Job searches can feel overwhelming, but don't worry! Here are some websites Njeru recommends for finding tech jobs:

• Google Careers

• Microsoft Careers

• Andela Talent

• Upwork

• Pariti Jobs

• IBM Careers

• The Jitu

Common Mistakes to Avoid: Proofread Like a Pro

A great resume goes beyond just listing your skills and experience. Here are some things to avoid, according to Njeru:

• Typos and Grammatical Goofs: Missing words, misspelt words, and incorrect punctuation make you look careless. Double and triple-check your resume for errors before you send it out!

• Education in the Wrong Spot: Your work experience should come before your education on your resume.

• Date Juggling: Use the same date format throughout your resume for a clean look.

• Ellipses Overload (...): Replace those dots with proper periods (.).

These might seem like small things, but they can make a big difference. Your resume is your chance to make a good first impression, so make sure it's polished and error-free.

By following these tips from Ndiga Njeru and putting in the effort to craft a great resume, you'll be well on your way to landing your dream job in the exciting world of tech.

Extra Resources

• Practice Interviews with AI

• Interview Tips

Remember, the tech industry is always changing, so keep learning new things to stay ahead of the curve!