How to write a tech CV

Digital tech jobs have grown at more than twice the rate of non-digital tech jobs. And as the industry continues to grow, so does the demand for top talent. The industry is booming and shows no signs of slowing down.

In such a competitive environment, a CV is all the more important. It’s the stepping stone that decides whether you’ll be invited to an interview and be able to impress your potential employers face-to-face.

We’ve compiled our top tips to write a tech CV which will help you get your foot in the door, stand out from other candidates and sell your relevant skills.

Get the basics right

Firstly, some ground rules. Your CV needs to have a clear structure which makes it easy for readers to digest. Make sure you include a summary, career overview, skills overview, qualifications (whether they’re education or professional) and employment history.

Don’t make your CV too lengthy. Think quality, not quantity – two pages is enough. Employers sometimes make their mind up just by scanning the initial summary and skills of a potential recruit. For this reason, make sure you create that initial impact by outlining key achievements, skills and career goals in a few punchy sentences before you dive deeper into details.

Lastly, make sure your CV is readable. Use a simple font and stick to it. Bullet points, lists and using bold for key points will make your CV easier to read, so consider making use of them. Then, spell check and review again, again and once again. Typos are a no-no.

Tweak your CV for every job

It may seem easier to send the same CV to 10 different jobs that take your fancy. But just like your covering letter, your CV needs to be tailored to each specific job you apply for. It’s not as time-consuming as it sounds.

Create a robust template which you can customise slightly for each application, taking into account the job description and what the specific employer is looking for. This allows you to highlight relevant achievements and skills which help emphasize your suitability for the role.

Emily Heap, business manager at Computer Futures, said: “Employers in the IT industry will be looking for keywords in your CV to measure competencies and cultural fit, so you need to put together a CV that is a close match to the advertised job description.”

Describe your technical skills

If you’re writing a tech CV, your technical skills are critically important. But you should try to give more than just a list of general skills and qualifications.

Emily says: “The best way to describe your technical skills is to show how you use them on a day-to-day basis and give examples of projects you have worked on, particularly where you’ve used them as part of a team, and being specific about your level of involvement and responsibility.”

Again, make sure the skills you put forward are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Don’t include everything

When it comes to tech, professionals often want to include every single programming language or skill they’ve ever encountered on their CV. While it’s important to sell yourself and show off, make sure you’re not misleading employers.

If you include a skill on your CV, you need to be proficient in it. If you put something on your CV which you’re not completely confident in, an employer won’t be happy to see that you’re not able to complete the work or talk confidently about it during your interview.

It could be useful to specify how many years experience you have, for example, Database design (3 years) or JavaScript (5 years).

Use simple language

It’s important to remember that your CV and cover letter may well be first viewed by someone in HR or a talent acquisition department rather than someone in the tech industry. And that means they may not be familiar with all technical terminology. Try to use plain English – list languages and frameworks but avoid jargon where possible.

Don’t underestimate the power of a well-written, focused and customised tech CV. While it won’t guarantee you the job, it will up your odds and help you to stand out from other candidates. Need more guidance on your technical CV or struggling with your job search? Contact us today – we’ll be happy to help.