Writing a tech CV that makes an impression is an essential part of your job search. According to indeed, it takes an average of 7-8 seconds for hiring managers to glance through CVs. This average is also affected by the number of applicants for the job role. To stand a chance, in this article we will discuss some of the techniques I have used to improve my CV.
Before we begin, I have 3 rules that target the presentation and style of your CV
- Make sure your CV is only 1 page
- Tailor your CV to the job you’re applying for
- Your CV should be minimalist, it’s not an art project 😉
How Many Sections Should My CV have?
The answer is; at least 4-5 sections
- Professional Summary – This is a summary of who you are/what you do. What is your value proposition? What are you looking for?
- Work Experience/ Projects – Where you detail any experience relevant to the job
- Education
- Achievement/ Certifications
- Skills – List both hard and soft skills
I will be using my CV to demonstrate the sections listed above to give you ideas for when you start drafting yours..
Professional Summary
Here, notice how I have kept this brief? I used 4 lines to make a good first impression. Within this paragraph I have stated who I am, what value I will bring to my team and what I am looking for. (this part should align what you need with what the business is trying to achieve).
Work Experience/ Projects
Have you ever heard of the XYZ formula? This is the formula that should guide you when you are writing what you do/did in your current/previous job. This section isn’t used to state duties, it’s used to show the impact of the work you have done. So the XYZ formula simply states:
I Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]
Questions to ask yourself when writing this section are:
- What was accomplished by the end of this task/feature?
- What was the impact of what I did? How can it be measured?
- What tools, techniques, languages, soft skills did I use to achieve this task?
If you follow these steps it should be easier for you to write this section. Analyse my example below using the XYZ formula.
Education
If you are still in university, or a bootcamp, this section can list courses and grades relevant to what the job role is looking for. An overall grade can be added, then an individual grade for relevant courses taken.
However, if you are an experienced professional, add your degree and honours, or bootcamp certification and achievement score. Your experience will do more of the talking for you.
Achievements/Certifications
Not a lot of CVs highlight achievements or certifications. If you ask me, I would say it’s a brilliant way to stand out. Showcase how impressive you are: remember, our goal is to stand out.
Skills
This section I always save for last, but it can also go just below the professional summary section. Make sure you list the technologies relevant to the job description, and your level of proficiency or if you have more experience how long you have been working with said technology.
In Summary One quote I heard that boosted my confidence to apply for these roles is –
“Men would apply for roles even if they are only 50% qualified for it, but women will apply when they are 100% qualified.”
With what you know now, it’s a great time to revamp your CV and start applying for that role! If you are interested in the template I used to design my CV you can find it on Etsy – It’s minimalist and easy to use.
