A technology director oversees and manages the IT department. Their role is to optimize operations and promote innovation. That’s why they will plan upgrades for hardware and software, perform testing to assess vulnerabilities in the system, and negotiate with vendors to get the best deals for resources.
Technology directors oversee networks, computer systems, storage, hardware, and software. Hence, they control all operations in the IT department. That’s why some people use the terms “CIO” and “technology director” interchangeably. However, it’ll depend on the complexity of the organization; some companies have both a CIO and a director of technology, and others have a single role.
To become a technology director, you should have a bachelor’s degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You should also have extensive industry experience since this is a managerial role. BLS also estimates that the demand for technology directors is expected to increase by up to 16 percent which is considerably fast compared to most occupations’ outlook.
However, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t intense competition out there, so it’s important to make your resume stand out. Today, we’ll help you do just that by providing you with relevant tips and three resume templates.
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A technology director helps integrate new technology and improve computer systems in an organization. This is a managerial role, so you would be in charge of the IT team. That’s why it’s important to highlight your communication skills on your resume. You must be able to guide the team and implement conflict resolution when needed.
It is crucial to indicate your managerial skills on your resume. You can include skills like coaching, conflict resolution, negotiation, and agile. This last one is actually a set of principles that help the team improve their efficiency and it’s widely used in the technology industry.
If you want to make your accomplishments stand out, you should use metrics that complement them. This way, recruiters have a clear idea of what to expect when working with you, and you can precisely illustrate your value.
A director of technology is a key element in the IT department. They are in charge of operations such as technology integration, maintenance, system up-time, and employee training. Directors of technology set and follow industry policies, so it’s important to indicate your familiarity with IT regulations on your resume.
A director of technology manages budgets in the IT department. They estimate the costs and budget needed to obtain resources. Additionally, they must negotiate with vendors to get the best agreements. That’s why having budgeting skills is crucial for this role, and you should mention it in your resume.
One of your main responsibilities as a director of technology is to ensure that systems are secure. You might have to orchestrate testing operations to identify vulnerabilities or flaws in the system. That’s why having some cyber security skills is essential in this position.
As a Senior Director of Technology, you'll need a resume that highlights your breadth of experience and your ability to lead and innovate in an ever-changing tech landscape. The tech industry, more than any other, is full of companies looking for leaders who not only understand the current trends but can predict the next big thing. It's crucial to communicate your technical expertise, strategic planning abilities, and a knack for driving the adoption of cutting-edge solutions. Secondly, don't forget your role is a blend of technical and managerial skills. Your resume must clearly present how you've managed teams, budgets, and projects, alongside your tech prowess.
As a potential Senior Director of Technology, showcasing your technical skills is a must. List specific technologies you're proficient in, your abilities in system architecture or data management, and any relevant certifications that enhance your credibility.
You should emphasize your strategic leadership experiences, specific examples of how you've driven tech initiatives or led teams through complex projects. Placing emphasis on the strategic goals you’ve achieved, or the company-wide changes you've spearheaded gives employers a sense of your leadership style and effectiveness.
A senior director of technology is an experienced manager of the IT department. They have direct contact with the executive team and actively participate in the development of new strategies. Due to the nature of this position, you should have excellent decision-making skills. That’s why it’s a good idea to highlight your business analytics and business intelligence skills on your resume.
A technology director should have advanced training in IT and extensive industry experience. That’s why it is important to highlight your education on your resume. You can also include relevant certifications that validate your technical skills or your managerial competencies. Some of the most relevant ones are the ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library), the ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner), and the Project Management Professional (PMP) certifications.
Your work experience should be the focus of attention on your resume since you are expected to be a veteran in the field. However, you should try to keep it specialized and include only relevant work experiences in the information technology field.
We spoke with hiring managers who recruit for technology director roles at companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. They shared insider tips on what makes a technology director resume stand out. The following tips will help you create a compelling resume that showcases your technical expertise and leadership skills.
Emphasize your experience leading technical teams and projects. Provide specific examples of how you:
Avoid simply listing your responsibilities without providing context or impact. Instead of saying:
A resume summary is an optional section that goes at the top of your resume, just below your contact information. While it's not a mandatory part of your resume, it can be a valuable tool for technology directors looking to provide additional context or highlight key qualifications that may not be immediately apparent from the rest of their resume.
When writing a summary for a technology director role, focus on your most relevant experience, skills, and achievements. Avoid using an objective statement, as these are outdated and often fail to provide value to the reader. Instead, craft a concise, targeted summary that showcases why you're the ideal candidate for the position.
Your work experience section is the heart of your resume as a technology director. It's where you show hiring managers how you've applied your technical knowledge and leadership skills to real-world situations, and what kind of impact you've had.
In this section, we'll cover what to focus on in your work experience section, and how to make your accomplishments stand out.
Your technology director resume should be concise and focused on your technical expertise. Yet, this structure comes with limited space, so you must choose your words wisely. Action verbs can help you improve your word economy by precisely describing your professional experience.
That’s why action verbs can help you make a better impression on recruiters. However, it’s not only about choosing the right action verbs; you must also use varied vocabulary. We’ll help you with that. Below, you will find our selection of action verbs for your technology director resume.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
The skills section on your resume should reflect your expertise in the IT sector and your management skills. You should mention technical competencies such as cyber security, database management, networking, etc.
It is also important to indicate your familiarity with agile principles, which help managers improve productivity and efficiency in the IT department. However, you should only take this as a reference; always consult your potential employer’s requirements to include the relevant skills they are looking for.
You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Technology Director job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
