IT Help Desk resume examples & templates

The obvious approach to writing an IT help desk resume might emphasize your IT expertise. But it would be a mistake to downplay the help role that places you on both sides of the customer service equation. A winning resume demonstrates awareness of business needs and the ability to meet them — in this case, your track record of achieving satisfaction for consumers and employers alike.

Resume builders can be a great help in creating such a resume. The job search resources at Resume.io, for example, include more than 350 occupation-specific writing guides with corresponding resume examples. 

This step-by-step guide is backed by sample wording from an IT help desk resume you can adapt as you like. Here’s what we’ll discuss:

• What IT help desk professionals do and the job outlook
• Powering on — the right structure and the best format for your IT help desk resume
• Connecting with prospective employers in each resume section — header, profile, work history, education, and skills
• Layout and design tips for a dynamic visual impact

What does an IT help desk professional do?

Ever since computers became commonplace items barely three decades ago, consumers have gotten by knowing just enough as they need to about the hardware connections and software applications that keep our lives humming along at home and in the office. It all works like magic until suddenly it doesn’t.

Failing every DIY remedy that comes to mind — including “unplug and wait 10 seconds before plugging back in” — it’s reassuring to know IT help desk teams are standing by with the right diagnoses and fixes. The technical support expert who answers our phone call, online chat, or email, or greets us in person, is on the front lines of troubleshooting, helping to get our digital devices up and running again. 

The range of problems handled by IT help desk staff vary by employer and industry. Some work for large software companies or tech support providers, advising clients that use business-specific programs. Others work in call centers, providing step-by-step practical assistance, or in retail settings where computer products are sold.

How to write an IT help desk resume

With efficiency being an attribute of IT help desk specialists, you might appreciate how efficient and orderly resumes are by design. Each of these essential components serves a vital purpose:

• Header
• Summary
• Employment history section
• Education section
• Skills section

Economy of words is crucial so that your resume fits on one page. Strive for concise wording that’s precisely on-point. And make sure you incorporate the right keywords to prevent rejection by the applicant tracking systems (ATS) that many hiring organizations use to screen online document submissions.

The strongest keyword clues come from scrutinizing the advertised job requirements. This is also critical for customizing each version of your resume to the specific IT help desk hiring situation.

Choosing the best resume format for IT help desk professionals

Anyone with a straightforward job history in mostly employee positions is advised to use the chronological resume format. It’s the most common way to structure a resume by listing work experience highlights under employer headings, dated in reverse chronological order. Recruiters also prefer this easy-to-follow overview format.

A functional resume format enables you to emphasize specialized or transferable skills. A hybrid (combination) format allows even more flexibility.

Resume header

Your resume header should not be an afterthought. Don’t underestimate what an eye-pleasing design achieves off the top by visually putting your job application in a class of its own. For double the impact, use the same header on your cover letter.

As a personal branding label, the header leaves no doubt to whom your resume belongs. Its placement on the page, offset by white space, makes everything look more inviting to read. And by prominently displaying your contact information, the header makes it quick and easy for recruiters to get in touch with you.

Resume summary example

What does the hiring organization need most from the person filling this IT help desk position? An effective resume summary conveys immediately that you are the best person to meet those needs. By highlighting your most persuasive qualifications and personal qualities in that context, you create an immediate, direct connection with recruiters. That you’ve done your homework about the job and the employer will be obvious when you come across as a problem-solver, who offers valuable expertise.

Below is an IT help desk resume sample summary you can customize.

Employment history sample

Organize your work experience highlights in a way that shows growth and achievement. Be specific and selective in showcasing directly relevant examples for each position held. Again, this overview of what you’ve accomplished and contributed should be custom-tailored to the hiring organization’s needs, suggesting how you could be part of its future success story. 

Prospective employers are not interested in what you were responsible for, but what you actually did — especially the beneficial outcomes. Use facts and figures to quantify results that your efforts made possible — savings, efficiencies, and productivity gains, if not the number and diversity of customers served or tasks completed.

Below is an IT help desk employment history resume sample you can modify.

IT help desk resume education example

The education section is where you list computer-related degrees or other post-secondary technical programs you’ve completed, in reverse chronological order, from highest to lowest level. Only list your high school in the absence of education higher than a bachelor’s degree.  

Be sure to include relevant IT certifications, on-the-job training, and any other skills development programs. Also mention professional association memberships that offer opportunities for continuous learning and peer networking.

Below is the education section from an IT help desk resume you can modify.

Resume skills example

The technical abilities listed on your IT help desk CV should match the employer’s job posting. Double-check to make sure you’ve covered all those must-have hard skills, especially keywords. Besides being an ATS-proofing safeguard, it shows you are aware of employer priorities. 

That was the easy part. Now consider which soft skills are essential for IT help desk professionals to succeed in a customer service capacity, working independently or collaboratively.

Check out an IT help desk CV sample for the skills section below.

Resume layout and design

“Simple and spotless” provides the best assurance of an IT help desk resume that actually gets read. And that need not be synonymous with bland and boring. Just keep the layout, design, and formatting elements streamlined and uncluttered for a polished-looking page.

Set the bar high for reading ease and eye appeal, from font choices and margin widths to the sparing use of graphic elements that never distract. And it should go without saying that a tech specialist’s resume is character-perfect and bug-free in every sense, with the final version saved as a PDF so it looks the same on every digital screen. 

IT Help Desk text-only resume example

Key takeaways for an IT help desk resume

1. As long as computer users are stymied on occasion by problems needing a pro’s attention, IT help desk employment growth will continue.
2. Every IT help desk resume should be tailored to the specific job and employer’s needs, reflecting customer service skills and business awareness, as well as technical expertise.
3. The recruiter’s posted job requirements are the best source for customizing your resume and including the right keywords to avoid ATS rejection.
4. A simple but eye-pleasing layout and clean design elements are the keys to a reader-friendly resume page.