Arslan Ahmad

March 20th, 2025

Best Resume Formats for FAANG & Top Tech Companies (2025 Guide)

See which resume styles impress recruiters at Google, Amazon, and other elite tech companies—and learn how to choose a format that showcases your skills and passes ATS scans.

Landing a job at a top tech company like Google, Amazon, Facebook (Meta), Apple, or Netflix is highly competitive – acceptance rates at FAANG companies are often under 1%, and many candidates never get past the initial resume screen.

The key to avoiding the reject pile is having the best resume format for tech jobs that highlights your qualifications and is optimized for both humans and ATS software.

In this guide, we'll break down effective resume formats for different experience levels, how to make your tech resume ATS-friendly, what FAANG recruiters look for, common mistakes to avoid, and how tech resumes differ from general resumes.

Let's get started!

Understanding Tech Resume Formats (Chronological vs Functional vs Combination)

Resume format refers to how you organize your information (experience, skills, education, etc.) on the page. There are three main formats: reverse-chronological, functional, and combination. Here's what each means and which is best for tech roles:

Reverse-Chronological Format: This is the traditional format that lists your work experience starting with the most recent. It's the most popular and practical format in 2025 and the one recruiters prefer because it provides a clear timeline of your roles. Crucially, a reverse-chronological resume will “beat” Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software in almost all cases. For most tech job seekers – from entry-level to executives – this is the safest bet. In fact, 90%+ of the time, you should use a reverse-chronological resume.
Functional Format: A functional (or skills-based) resume organizes your experience by skill clusters rather than by time. It de-emphasizes your job titles and dates in favor of highlighting specific skills. This format might be useful if you're a new grad with no work history or switching careers into tech, but beware: ATS systems often have difficulty reading functional resumes. Tech recruiters also tend to be wary of purely functional resumes because they obscure your work history. Use this format sparingly, if at all.
Combination (Hybrid) Format: The combination format blends elements of both chronological and functional. Typically, it might start with a summary of skills or accomplishments and then go into a chronological work history. This can work well for senior professionals or executives who want to spotlight both their extensive skills and long experience. For example, you might include a "Key Skills" or "Career Highlights" section up top, followed by your job listings. The combination format is essentially a chronological resume with an added skills summary – it still includes dates and job titles (important for ATS), but also puts critical skills front and center.

So which format is best for tech jobs?

In almost all cases, stick with reverse-chronological. FAANG and other tech companies expect to see a clear work history, and ATS software is optimized for the traditional format.

Only consider a hybrid approach if you have a compelling reason (like 15+ years of experience you want to summarize upfront), and even then ensure the work history is still plainly listed.

Avoid going fully functional, as it may confuse both the hiring manager and the ATS.

Effective Resume Formats by Experience Level

One size does not fit all when it comes to resumes. The stage of your career dictates what to emphasize and how to structure your resume. Let's look at entry-level, mid-level, senior, and executive tech resume formats and what each should include:

Entry-Level Tech Resume Format (New Grads / Junior Roles)

If you're early in your career, you likely have more education and projects to show than paid work experience. Use a format that showcases your potential:

Keep it to one page. With limited experience, a concise one-page resume is ideal. Hiring teams scan dozens of junior resumes, so you want yours to be brief and easy to digest. Include sections like Education, Skills, and Projects in addition to any internships or part-time work.
Emphasize education & relevant coursework. For entry-level candidates, education is often a strength. Mention your degree, university, graduation year, and any academic achievements. List relevant courses or academic projects (especially if you did something like a capstone software project or research) to demonstrate knowledge in key areas.
Highlight technical skills. Make sure you have a Skills section that lists programming languages, tools, and frameworks you know. This helps the reader (and ATS) quickly see your core competencies. Tech resumes differ here from other fields by listing specific hard skills upfront.
Add projects to showcase experience. Since you might not have much work history, include a Projects section. Detail a few coding projects, hackathons, or open-source contributions. Treat them like job entries: give each project a title, a one-line description, and bullet points about what you did or learned (e.g. "Developed a full-stack web application using React and Node.js that serves 2,000+ users"). This shows initiative and practical skills beyond coursework.
Use a clear objective or summary (optional). A short objective statement can help clarify what role you're seeking, but make it specific. For example: "Objective: Junior Software Engineer role where I can apply my skills in Python and cloud computing to real-world problems." Avoid vague statements. An unclear or generic objective is a common mistake that creates ambiguity – if you include one, tailor it to the exact job or field you want.

Overall, entry-level tech resumes should scream "I have the foundation and passion to grow in this tech role" – so focus on education, relevant skills, and any hands-on experience you can show (even if it's not from an official job).

Keep the format simple and structured, since you don't have a long work history to organize yet.

Mid-Level Tech Resume Format (Professional Roles)

As a mid-level professional, you have a few years of experience to draw from. Recruiters will expect a deeper work experience section with concrete achievements:

Professional experience comes first. List your work history in reverse chronological order and highlight your accomplishments in each role. Use bullet points to describe not just what you did, but the impact of your work. For example, instead of "Implemented APIs for mobile app," say "Implemented 5 RESTful APIs for a mobile app used by 500k users, improving data fetch speed by 30%."
Still keep it concise. Aim for one page if possible (common in tech for up to ~5-7 years of experience). If you have a lot of relevant experience or multiple roles, it's acceptable to spill over to a second page, but make sure every line earns its place. A cluttered, wordy resume will turn off busy recruiters who spend only a few seconds per resume.
Incorporate a summary or highlights. At this stage, a brief Summary at the top can be useful. 2-3 sentences or bullet points summing up your key qualifications (e.g. "Full-stack developer with 5 years of experience in fintech. Skilled in Java, Python, AWS. Led development of X feature that drove 15% increase in user retention."). This acts as an elevator pitch and can grab attention quickly.
Show progression. If you've advanced in your career (from junior to mid-level positions), make that clear. Even if you stayed at one company, note promotions or increased responsibilities. Mid-level resumes should assure the reader that you've grown and delivered results over time.
Relevant skills & education. Continue to list your technical skills, updating as they grow. You might move the Skills section below your experience since by now your work speaks louder, but ensure it's there (many recruiters still glance for specific keywords). Education becomes less prominent as your graduation gets further in the past – you can place it after experience for mid-level. Include degrees and any important certifications (e.g. AWS Certified Developer) but you can drop minor details like coursework.

Mid-level candidates should balance experience and skills – your format should make it immediately clear what technologies you're proficient in, and provide evidence of how you've applied them in your recent roles.

At this point, content matters more than fancy design; a simple chronological layout with strong bullets will outperform a creative format with weak details.

Senior-Level Tech Resume Format (Staff/Lead Roles)

For senior roles (e.g. Senior Engineer, Tech Lead, Architect), your resume will typically be more achievement-heavy and may be a bit longer:

Consider a two-page resume. Many senior professionals have 10+ years of experience; it's okay if your resume goes onto a second page to adequately cover your accomplishments. Tech recruiters won't penalize a two-page resume at this level, as long as it's all relevant. (Tip: If you go to two pages, make sure the most important info is on page 1, and use the second page for additional experience, earlier jobs, or other details.)
Lead with a professional summary. At senior level, start your resume with a powerful Summary or Profile that outlines your expertise, years in the industry, and key achievements. For example: "Software Architect with 12 years of experience in scalable distributed systems. Proven track record of leading teams to build cloud services handling 20M+ daily requests. Skilled in Go, Kubernetes, and ML integration." This gives context to the rest of your resume.
Highlight major accomplishments. Under each role in your Experience section, focus on the impact you've had: e.g. "Drove a refactoring initiative that reduced cloud costs by 30%," or "Managed a team of 5 engineers to deliver X project 2 months ahead of schedule." Quantify whenever possible. By now, simply listing responsibilities isn't enough – demonstrate leadership and results.
Use a combination format if useful. Senior candidates might use a hybrid format, adding a "Key Skills" or "Career Highlights" section at the top (a brief bullet list of career-defining achievements), before listing detailed work history. This can draw attention to your biggest selling points immediately. For instance, you might have 3-4 bullets like "Patent holder in cloud security", "Scaled system to 50M users", etc., front and center. This is an optional tweak; you can also stick to the traditional layout. Just remember Cody's advice (an ex-Google recruiter): "The top of the resume is prime real estate. Put the shiny bits up top to grab the recruiter's attention.".
Keep formatting conventional. Senior folks sometimes try to differentiate their resume with a unique design or multiple columns to fit more info – resist that urge. Even at a senior level, recruiters and ATS prefer the standard, single-column format that reads top to bottom. You can get creative in how you word your achievements, but not in how you format the document.

By the time you're senior or staff level, your resume should tell a story of expertise and impact. The format can be a bit more flexible (you have more content to organize), but clarity is still king.

Many senior candidates find success with a clean chronological layout supplemented by a summary of qualifications up front.

Executive Tech Resume Format (Director/VP/CXO)

For executive positions in tech (like Engineering Director, VP of Product, CTO), the resume becomes more of a leadership brochure. You want to emphasize strategic achievements and leadership skills:

Use an executive summary. Start with a strong Executive Summary or Summary of Qualifications that encapsulates your career in a few bold statements. For example: "Technology Executive with 15+ years of experience leading software organizations. Spearheaded cloud transformations and built high-performing teams, resulting in 2 IPOs and 3 successful acquisitions." This should read almost like a mini bio, conveying the scope of your responsibility and impact.
Stick to reverse-chronological format. Even at the executive level, reverse-chronological is the ideal format. Companies want to see your recent roles and track record. List your positions (e.g. CTO, VP Engineering, etc.) with the achievements under each. If you have a lot of early-career experience, you can summarize or omit roles beyond a 15- or 20-year window (e.g., a brief "Prior experience includes..." line).
Focus on high-level impact. Quantify business outcomes: revenue growth, user growth, cost savings, product launches, team sizes, etc. An executive resume is less about the individual technical tasks and more about strategy and results. For example: "Drove a $50MM increase in annual revenue by launching X platform", or "Built and mentored a global engineering team of 50+, improving delivery speed by 40%." These kinds of metrics make a strong impression.
Keep it two pages (max). Most executive resumes are two pages. It's expected given the career length, but very senior candidates might be tempted to go longer – try not to. Recruiters and hiring committees still appreciate conciseness. A focused two-page resume that highlights the most relevant executive accomplishments will beat a three-page exhaustive CV. Cut older or irrelevant details and stick to the biggest wins.
Avoid functional format or fluff. At this level, absolutely avoid a functional resume – it will raise red flags (what are you trying to hide?). Companies hiring execs want transparency into your roles and achievements. Also, avoid unnecessary sections; for instance, an exec resume usually doesn't list coursework or minor skills. Every part of the format should reinforce your leadership and strategic value.

Learn about the XYZ format for resumes.

Remember, an executive tech resume is often read by other executives or board members, not just recruiters. They will skim for evidence of leadership, vision, and tangible success. Format your resume to make those elements jump out.

A crisp layout with clear sections (Summary, Executive Experience, Education if relevant, Key Skills or Certifications) will present you as organized and detail-oriented – traits expected from top leaders.

ATS-Friendly Resume Formatting for Tech Applications

Getting your resume into the right format is not just about pleasing the human reader – it’s also about appeasing the machines.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by almost every major tech company to sift through resumes before a recruiter ever sees them.

In fact, over 99% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS software for recruitment.

An ATS will scan your resume and filter or rank it based on keywords and formatting. Shockingly, an ATS rejects about 75% of applications – often even qualified ones – due to mistakes in resume format or keyword optimization.

To ensure your resume makes it through this digital gatekeeper, follow these ATS-friendly formatting tips:

Use a simple, clean layout. Fancy designs can choke an ATS. The best ATS resume template is "simple and clean, with a straightforward layout that avoids complex formatting". Stick to a single column of text (no multi-column layouts), with standard headings like "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills" etc. A minimalistic design not only helps the ATS parse your info correctly, it also looks professional to human eyes. Remember: in tech resumes, clarity trumps creativity in format.
Label sections clearly. Many ATS algorithms look for specific section titles to find information. Use the conventional headings – e.g. Professional Experience, Education, Skills, Projects – so the system can identify your info. For instance, an ATS will look for your experience section to determine your work history and may try to auto-detect your total years of experience. If you get cute with section names (like "My journey" instead of "Work Experience"), the ATS might miss it.
Avoid headers, footers, text boxes, and tables. Any information placed in a document header or footer might be invisible to an ATS. The same goes for content in text boxes or tables. Many ATS can only read plain text and will skip over content in headers, footers, columns, tables, images, or graphics. For example, if you put your contact info in the Word document header, an ATS may not capture it – meaning you could vanish from the system due to a formatting choice. Keep all essential info in the main body of the resume.
No fancy graphics or images. As noted earlier, design features like photos, icons, or graphics can prevent ATS from correctly scanning your resume. Even things like logos or skill proficiency charts can throw off the parsing. Stick to text. (And as a bonus: in the U.S. and many other countries, including a profile photo is frowned upon for bias reasons – so it's best to leave it out anyway, which conveniently makes the ATS happier too.)
Use standard fonts and minimal styling. Use a common font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, etc.) and avoid overly fancy styling. ATS systems don't care about aesthetics, but they do care if they can extract text reliably. Unusual fonts or lots of italics and shapes might get garbled. A straightforward approach – black text on white background, no background colors or weird symbols – works best.
Include relevant keywords (but naturally). ATS filters are largely keyword-driven. They scan for specific skills, job titles, or technologies that the job description emphasizes. This means you should tailor your resume for each tech job by integrating important keywords from the posting. For example, if the job requires "React, Node.js, and AWS," make sure these words appear in your resume (assuming you have those skills). A great spot to sprinkle keywords is your Skills section or in your project descriptions. However, don't "keyword-stuff" unnaturally – the text still needs to read well to a human. Use a mix of the exact terms and synonyms, and ensure context around them. The goal is to match the job description's key terms so the ATS flags you as a strong match. (Pro tip: also include both the spelled-out and abbreviated forms of terms once, e.g. "Continuous Integration (CI)" – some ATS check for one or the other.)
Be careful with acronyms and jargon. Tech resumes inevitably have acronyms (API, SQL, IoT, etc.). It's good to include them, but also consider an ATS might not understand uncommon ones. Stick to standard acronyms and if it's something obscure, write it out at least once. For example, mention "AWS" but also somewhere have "Amazon Web Services (AWS)" in case the ATS is matching on the full phrase.
Choose the right file format. Many tech companies request PDF resumes, as PDFs keep formatting consistent. PDF is generally fine for ATS too, but not all ATS can handle PDFs perfectly. Some older systems prefer a .doc or .docx (Word format). Check the job application instructions: if they allow PDF, you can use it (most modern ATS can parse PDF text). If you're unsure or if the system explicitly says to use Word, save your resume as a .docx to be safe. Never upload an image scan of your resume – that definitely won't parse. Always ensure the text is selectable/copyable in the file you submit (that means the ATS can read it).
Test your formatting. If you want to be extra sure your resume is ATS-friendly, try copying and pasting all the text from your resume into a plain text editor. If it jumbles the order of things or loses info, that could be how an ATS sees it. There are also online tools that will preview how an ATS parses your resume. Taking a few minutes to test can confirm if your format is truly machine-readable.

By following these guidelines, you'll create a resume that both humans and algorithms can easily read.

An ATS-friendly format increases the chances that your resume actually lands in front of a recruiter at FAANG or any other tech firm. After all, the best resume in the world won't do any good if the computer misfiles it!

Check out the ATS-friendly resume guide to land FAANG interviews.

What FAANG Recruiters & Hiring Managers Look For in a Tech Resume

Formatting aside, let's talk about content.

What are tech hiring managers and recruiters actually looking for when they read a resume?

Whether it's a FAANG company or any competitive tech firm, certain resume elements consistently make a positive impression:

Technical Expertise and Skills: At top tech companies, technical skill is the cornerstone of your candidacy. Recruiters scan for the core technologies and programming languages you know that match their needs. They want to see a solid foundation in relevant domains (e.g. web development, machine learning, cloud, etc.). Make sure your Skills section and your job bullets reflect the key skills listed in the job description. If you're a software engineer applying to a backend role, for instance, highlight those Java or Python skills and related frameworks. Your resume should quickly answer, "Does this person have the technical chops for the job?" If the answer isn't obvious in 10 seconds, you might be passed over.
Project and Work Experience (with Impact): It's not enough to rattle off a list of technologies; you need to show you've used them to build something meaningful. Hiring managers look for candidates who have applied their skills in real-world projects. This means your experience section (or projects for entry-level) should showcase what you built or achieved at each position. Did you create a new feature that improved the product? Optimize an algorithm to run 50% faster? Handle scaling an app from 1,000 to 1 million users? Concrete accomplishments stand out. Wherever possible, quantify your impact – e.g. "Improved database query performance by 25%," or "Led migration to cloud resulting in 30% cost savings". Data-driven results prove that you don't just hold skills on paper, you know how to use them effectively. FAANG recruiters love to see goal-driven, result-oriented information on a resume.
Relevant to the Role: Top tech companies hire for specific roles, and they want to see relevant experience. A common pitfall is using one generic resume for all applications – instead, tailor your resume to the job. Emphasize the parts of your background that best fit the role you're applying for. If you're applying to be a Mobile Developer at Facebook, that volunteer web project from 5 years ago is less important than the Android app you built last year. Make sure the most relevant experience is detailed the most. Recruiters will be scanning for keywords and experiences that match the job description, so align your resume content with the position whenever possible.
Clear Career Progression and Stability: FAANG companies in particular will notice your career trajectory. They like to see that you've grown (either taken on more responsibility or progressively harder challenges) in your past roles. If you've been promoted or moved up to lead positions, highlight that. It signals that you were valued by previous employers. On the flip side, if you've job-hopped a lot, be prepared to address that (sometimes frequent moves are common in tech, but try to show significant contributions at each stint). Stability and progression can indicate you're likely to stay and grow in the new role as well.
Leadership and Ownership: Even if you're not applying for a management position, tech companies value leadership skills at all levels. This doesn't necessarily mean people management – it can be technical leadership or taking ownership of projects. Did you mentor junior devs, coordinate a cross-functional project, or serve as the go-to person for a certain technology? Point that out. FAANG companies often operate in team environments and look for those who can lead initiatives or drive results independently. If you're entry or mid-level, "leadership potential" counts too – so mentioning times you took initiative or solved a big problem on your own can help.
Collaboration and Cultural Fit: Tech companies care about teamwork and culture fit, not just raw coding ability. Your resume should give hints that you're a collaborative, communicative person. Mention working with cross-functional teams (e.g. "collaborated with designers and product managers"), or any team achievements. If you have experience in agile/scrum environments, that can subtly convey you're used to cooperative workflows. Also, extracurriculars like hackathons, tech meetups, or volunteering can showcase passion and culture fit (though keep these brief or at the bottom). The key is to project that you'll mesh well with the company's way of working and values. Top firms often say they're looking for people who are strong communicators and team players, so try to reflect that through examples on your resume.
Adaptability and Learning Ability: The tech world evolves quickly – new frameworks, new challenges – so companies prize candidates who learn and adapt quickly. You can convey this by showing a range of skills or domains you've picked up, or a progression into new areas. Even listing a personal project in a new programming language, or noting that you self-taught a new technology, can signal that you have a growth mindset. Certifications or courses (if recent and relevant) can also demonstrate continuous learning. Essentially, you want to reassure employers that you can handle the rapid change of tech. As one FAANG hiring manager put it, they're often looking for "individuals who can learn and adapt to new technologies or challenges on the fly."
No Red Flags: Finally, tech recruiters also keep an eye out for certain red flags that your resume might inadvertently raise. For example: sloppy formatting or typos (suggests lack of attention to detail), overly verbose descriptions (might indicate poor communication), unexplained large employment gaps or numerous short stints (concerns about stability, though you might explain those in a cover letter or interview), or obviously exaggerated claims. Make sure your resume is honest and polished. Have a friend or mentor review it to catch mistakes. Sometimes what you leave out is as important as what you include – you don't want the hiring team questioning your resume's credibility.

In summary, hiring managers at top tech companies look for a mix of hard skills, real accomplishments, and signs of your work style. They want to be able to quickly answer: Can this person do the job effectively, and will they thrive on our team?

Your resume format and content should work together to deliver that answer with a resounding "Yes!" (And remember, if the fundamentals are there – strong skills and solid experience – a well-formatted resume ensures those strengths don't get overlooked.)

Common Resume Formatting Mistakes to Avoid (Especially for FAANG Roles)

We've covered a lot of do's – now let's go over some don'ts. Many candidates unknowingly make mistakes in their resume format that can hurt their chances, particularly when aiming for elite tech companies.

Here are some common resume formatting mistakes to avoid:

Going Generic or Vague

A resume that isn't targeted to the role, or an opening summary that is too generic, won't impress anyone. For example, using a one-size-fits-all objective like "Seeking a challenging position in a dynamic company" is a missed opportunity.

FAANG recruiters want to see your purpose and fit.

Don't use a generic objective or summary – if you include one, make it specific to the job or at least to your tech career goals. Likewise, ensure your listed experience and skills align with the positions you're applying for.

A tailored resume shows focus; a generic resume looks like you just spammed it out.

Hiding Key Info or Burying the Lead

As mentioned earlier, recruiters spend mere seconds scanning a resume. If in those seconds they can't find the important stuff, you have a problem.

Don't bury your most relevant experiences at the bottom.

Also, make your role and experience level obvious. For example, if you have 8 years as a software engineer, don't make the reader guess that – state it clearly in your summary or under your latest job title (e.g. "Senior Software Engineer – 8 years").

A big mistake is making the reader dig for basic info like your skills, years of experience, or education. Present those prominently.

Remember, "recruiters are lazy. Don't make us dig around for the key info – we want to see if you meet the job requirements in the first 10 seconds!". Heed that advice.

Listing Responsibilities Without Results

This is a very common issue. Your resume bullets should not read like a job description of duties. Avoid writing only what your job was, without saying what you achieved.

For example, a weak bullet might say, "Developed features for mobile app". That tells us nothing about your success.

Instead say, "Developed 5 new features for a mobile app used by 2M users, which increased user retention by 10%." The second version gives outcome and scale.

Recruiters at tech firms want to see proof of your impact, not just activities. If you find your resume is just a list of tasks, revise each bullet to add a result or context – even if the result is simply that the feature launched successfully or you completed the project on time.

No proof of impact is a big mistake that will make your resume blend in with mediocre ones.

Too Long or Wordy

Tech recruiters are often pressed for time, and a lengthy resume can be a strike against you. Don't overstuff your resume with irrelevant or older information.

As a general guideline: one page for early career, two pages for very experienced candidates. If you're entry or mid-level and you have a two-page resume, you're probably including too much fluff.

One major mistake is including every project or job you've ever done, whether relevant or not – this just dilutes the important content.

Keep your resume ideally to one page (unless you truly have a lot of pertinent experience). Also, avoid big blocks of text or long paragraphs. Recruiters will skip over a dense paragraph.

Use bullet points and concise language. Each bullet should ideally stay on one line or two lines max. Being succinct is harder than being verbose, but it pays off.

A crisp, focused resume is far more impactful than a novel. As one guideline puts it:

"Scan through the resume and remove all the content that is not relevant ... avoid lengthy paragraphs and divide your information into smaller chunks under proper headings".

Check out 10 tips for tech resume writing.

Using a Fancy or Complex Format (that isn't ATS-friendly)

This ties into the ATS section above. Avoid overly designed resume templates, no matter how pretty they look.

Many candidates make the mistake of using templates with multiple columns, graphics, or non-standard layouts to "stand out." Unfortunately, what often stands out to a tech recruiter (or ATS) is a garbled, hard-to-read resume.

We can't emphasize enough: a simple format with clear headings and consistent structure will always beat a fancy design in a tech hiring context.

As a Reddit user noted after consulting a FAANG recruiter: *"As long as you have a simple clean format, the content is what matters."*Creative formats are better left for portfolios or fields like marketing/design.

For software engineers, product managers, data scientists, etc., stick to the tried-and-true format.

Also, as mentioned, fancy formatting can confuse the ATS – columns, images, icons, etc., might get your resume misparsed or discarded. So it's a double whammy: humans find it off-putting and machines might not read it at all.

Typos, Grammar Slips, or Formatting Inconsistencies

This might seem obvious, but it's worth stating since it's such a common killer of otherwise decent resumes. A resume with typos or bad grammar looks unprofessional.

Tech roles require attention to detail (nobody wants a coder whose code is full of mistakes either!).

Similarly, inconsistent formatting – like irregular bullet styles, misaligned text, inconsistent date formats – can make you look careless. These might be small things, but they leave a negative impression.

Always proofread multiple times. It's often helpful to have someone else review your resume; a fresh pair of eyes can catch errors you missed.

Also, consider using tools or even the spell-check in Word/Google Docs. Eliminating errors is the easiest improvement you can make – it won't get you the job on its own, but it will ensure you're not ruled out for something silly.

Including Irrelevant Personal Info

Major tech companies (especially in the US) do not expect to see personal details like your photo, age, marital status, or full address on a resume. Including a headshot or personal demographics is not only unnecessary, it can even violate anti-bias hiring rules, so most recruiters dislike seeing it.

At best, it's wasted space; at worst, it can get your resume tossed. Stick to the professional basics in contact info: name, city/region, email, phone, and maybe your LinkedIn or GitHub link. Nothing more.

Likewise, unless hobbies or personal interests directly relate to the role or culture, they aren't needed on a tech resume. Use that space for more relevant information.

Avoiding these common pitfalls will already put you ahead of many applicants.

A well-formatted resume with strong content and none of these red flags makes the recruiter's job easy – and making their job easy is exactly what you want. It means they'll quickly see you're a fit and move you to the next step.

Learn 3 major mistakes to avoid in your resume.

Tech Resumes vs General Resumes: What’s the Difference?

If you've used a generic resume for all industries, you might wonder how a tech resume differs from others. While many good resume practices are universal, tech resumes have some unique features and emphases:

Heavy Emphasis on Technical Skills

A tech resume is expected to prominently display your hard skills – specifically, programming languages, tools, frameworks, and other technical proficiencies relevant to the role.

In a non-tech resume (say for a sales or teaching job), you might just have a brief skills section or weave skills into the experience. In a tech resume, it's common to see a dedicated Technical Skills section, often categorized by type of skill (e.g. Languages: Python, Java, C++ | Web: HTML, CSS, React | Database: MySQL, MongoDB, etc.). This gives a quick snapshot of your toolkit.

Tech recruiters and hiring managers will often scan this section to see if you check the basic skill boxes. General industry resumes may focus more on soft skills or general abilities, whereas tech resumes zero in on specific technical competencies required for the job.

Projects Section and Personal Projects

In technology fields, projects (outside of your work experience) carry a lot of weight. It's normal – even encouraged – for tech resumes to include a Projects section highlighting personal coding projects, open-source contributions, hackathon projects, or noteworthy academic projects. This is especially true for students and new grads, but even experienced engineers might list a significant personal project or an active GitHub repository. These projects demonstrate passion and practical experience beyond your day job.

In contrast, a general resume in another industry might not include a separate projects section (for example, an accountant or nurse wouldn't have "projects" outside work to list, typically).

The presence of a Projects section (and the nature of those projects) is a distinguishing feature of tech resumes.

Quantitative and Detail-Oriented

Tech companies love data.

Tech resumes often quantify achievements more rigorously – e.g., performance improvements, scale of systems, number of users affected, revenue impact, etc.

While any good resume uses some numbers, tech roles often provide ample opportunities to measure impact (e.g., "Improved algorithm efficiency by 40%", "Supported 3x traffic surge with no downtime"). General resumes might lean a bit more on descriptive achievements (e.g., "improved customer satisfaction" in a service job is harder to quantify than "improved page load time from 2s to 500ms" in a tech job).

The best tech resumes read almost like case studies in efficiency or innovation, filled with concrete metrics. This quantitative focus aligns with the data-driven mindset of many tech organizations.

ATS Optimization is Crucial

All big companies use ATS, but tech companies in particular receive huge volumes of applications online, so the initial ATS screening is almost a given.

Tech resumes, therefore, tend to be highly optimized for ATS: plain formats, keyword-rich, no weird formatting.

In some other fields, people still use creative resume designs or include headshots (e.g., some marketing or design professionals might). But in tech, there's a fairly standard expectation for a clean, ATS-friendly resume.

In short, tech resumes are generally more standardized in format due to the prevalence of ATS and the technical nature of the info, whereas outside of tech you might see a bit more variation in style.

Jargon and Acronyms (Context Matters)

Tech resumes will naturally include industry jargon (like "microservices architecture", "CI/CD pipeline", "Agile/Scrum", etc.) and acronyms that tech recruiters understand.

In a general resume for a different industry, heavy use of technical jargon could confuse the reader.

The key for tech resumes is to include the jargon when it's relevant – it can actually be a positive, showing you're fluent in the industry language – but also provide context to a layperson when appropriate.

For instance, you might mention you used Kubernetes for container orchestration (so even a non-developer HR person reading it knows what context Kubernetes is used in).

Tech recruiters will expect and look for specific terminology (often matching the job description), whereas resumes for other industries might emphasize more general descriptors.

Essentially, tech resumes speak the language of technology and assume the audience (or at least the ATS) is literate in that language.

Use of Online Profiles and Portfolios

In tech, it's common to include a link to your GitHub, personal website/portfolio, or LinkedIn at the top of your resume (often in the header with your contact info). These links allow recruiters to see your code or projects directly.

In many other industries, candidates might only include a LinkedIn, if that – personal portfolios are less common outside fields like design. The presence of a GitHub link is a dead giveaway it's a software/tech resume.

If you have a strong online presence (like a published app, an engineering blog, or significant open source contributions), definitely link it – it's expected in tech. Just ensure the rest of your resume can stand alone, too (the resume should not just say "see my GitHub"; use it as a supplement).

Education vs Experience Balance

In tech, the weight given to education versus experience can differ from other fields. Many tech companies value skills over formal education.

It's not uncommon to see dropouts or people without a related degree in tech roles if their experience/projects are stellar. Therefore, a tech resume might not put as much detail into the education section (especially after a couple years of experience) compared to, say, an academic CV or a field where specific degrees/certifications are a must.

Tech resumes often list degree and school, and maybe GPA for new grads, but they typically won't list every course taken (beyond a few key ones for entry-level) or a full academic transcript.

Meanwhile, they will put more detail into internships, hackathons, and coding bootcamps attended, which are directly relevant. This focus on practical experience is a hallmark of tech hiring.

In general industry resumes, if you're in a field like finance or law, the school pedigree might matter more and thus be more prominently featured.

In tech, what you can do often matters more than where you learned to do it.

In a nutshell, a tech resume is a highly targeted marketing document for your technical abilities and accomplishments. It's expected to be skimmable by computers and humans, laden with keywords, and backed by evidence (numbers, projects).

A general resume in another field might spend more time on soft skills or job responsibilities, whereas a tech resume drills into technical specifics and outcomes.

If you're transitioning from a non-tech field to tech, be sure to adjust your resume to these norms – speak the tech language and format it in the tech-friendly way.

(One more thing: if you're coming from a non-tech resume template, double-check that you're removing any elements that don't fit the tech context, and adding those that do, like a skills section. The differences aren't huge, but they are significant enough to impact your chances.)

Learn resume optimization techniques.

Leverage a Resume Review Service for an Extra Edge

Even after you've crafted what you believe is the perfect tech resume, it can be incredibly valuable to have it reviewed by professionals – especially those who have been on the other side of the hiring table at FAANG companies.

A fresh, expert pair of eyes can spot subtle issues or improvements that you might overlook. This is where a resume review service can be a game-changer.

For example, DesignGurus.io resume review service is one option tailored for tech job seekers. It connects you with seasoned engineers from top FAANG companies who will review your resume and provide detailed feedback. The benefit of such a service is that you're getting input from people who have been the hiring managers or interviewers at companies like Google, Facebook, etc. They know what those companies look for, and they can tell you if something in your format or phrasing might raise an eyebrow.

What does an expert resume review typically offer?

In the case of DesignGurus.io, the reviewers dive deep not just into formatting and keywords, but also the technical content of your resume.

They might point out if you're underselling a project, or if your bullet points aren't clear enough, or if you're missing some buzzwords that an ATS or recruiter would expect for a given role.

You'll receive personalized, actionable feedback – for instance, which statements to reword for more impact, where you could add a metric, or how to better showcase a particular skill.

Crucially, they focus on aligning your resume with what top tech companies want to see, optimizing it for both ATS scans and human readers in the tech industry.

Using a service like this can give you peace of mind and often a confidence boost.

If you're continuously applying to FAANG-level jobs and not getting responses, an expert review can help diagnose whether your resume format or content is part of the problem.

Sometimes a tiny tweak (like reordering sections, or changing a job title to match industry standard) can make a big difference in how your resume is perceived.

Of course, a resume review service is optional – plenty of candidates land jobs without one – but it's a worthy investment if you feel stuck or just want to ensure you're putting your absolute best foot forward.

Think of it like getting your resume tuned up by a professional mechanic before a long road trip; you'll head into the job search knowing your resume is optimized and error-free.

If you're interested in such a boost, check out the Design Gurus Tech Resume Review. Many candidates have found that feedback from ex-FAANG hiring managers helped transform their resumes into a format that finally started landing interviews.

Check out 10 tips for tech resume writing.

Conclusion: Crafting Your FAANG-Ready Resume

Writing a resume for tech jobs in 2025 might feel daunting, but remember that it ultimately boils down to showcasing your fit for the role in a clear and compelling way.

Use a format that is straightforward and ATS-friendly (mostly likely reverse-chronological), tailor your content to highlight the skills and accomplishments that top tech companies care about, and avoid common pitfalls that can distract or confuse the reader.

Your resume is often your first impression on a recruiter – it's worth taking the time to get it right.

The best resume format for tech jobs is one that emphasizes relevance, results, and readability. Keep the design simple, the sections well-organized, and every bullet point focused on what you achieved and why it matters.

When in doubt, refer back to the basics and tips covered in this guide: they are drawn from the practices of successful FAANG applicants and the expectations of tech hiring teams.

Finally, don't be afraid to seek feedback. Whether it's using a professional service like DesignGurus.io or getting input from a mentor or peer, polishing your resume with outside perspectives can provide that final 10% improvement that makes a 100% difference.

Armed with a strong resume, you'll significantly increase your chances of landing interviews at your target companies.

Good luck with your applications, and remember – in the tech world your resume is your code, so make it clean, efficient, and effective. Happy job hunting!

FAANG

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