You're ready to take the next step in your career, and you are searching for the latest tech jobs. Before you can even start considering applying, you need to ensure your CV meets the highest standard to ensure you land your dream role.
The IT and tech industry is highly competitive, with highly skilled and experienced candidates fighting for the same positions. On top of this, hiring managers take an average of just 6 to 8 seconds to look at your resume, so ensuring it stands out above the rest is imperative.
To give you the best opportunity to land an interview for the industry's most exciting tech jobs, we have created this insightful guide on top CV tips. Our CV advice will explore what information you need to include, what structure should be in place, how to really market yourself, and the importance of meticulous attention to detail.
The job market has been and always will be competitive, so you must ensure everything is prepared to give yourself the best chance of landing your next role. So, let's get going on our top CV tips for tech jobs.
1. Start with your contact details and a strong personal statement
Even with all your experience and qualifications, you won't get very far without including all your relevant contact information. Your details should include:
Phone number
Email addresses
Address
LinkedIn URL (we'll discuss this in more detail later on in our guide)
Your personal profile serves as your opening statement and plays a pivotal role in demonstrating your expertise and your goals for your next IT and tech job. This is your opportunity to provide a glimpse of your identity as a tech professional.
Your personal summary should showcase how you aim to contribute and make a meaningful impact on your potential new employer. It's not just about who you are and what you do; it's about conveying your passion, knowledge, and vision for the future of tech.
Keep it concise and to the point. Make sure it is readable so that even a quick scan can readily highlight the critical areas vital for the role you're seeking.
2. Showcase your skills
Using the role specification for the tech jobs you are applying for can be a game-changer when it comes to highlighting the technical skills that matter the most. Skills can include your knowledge of coding languages, systems, and platforms. To effectively showcase your key strengths and categorise them based on their proficiency level, divide them into advanced, mid-level, and basic competencies.
A practical way to present these skills is by creating a specialised section within your CV, organised in bullet point format. This approach not only helps prospective employers quickly identify your relevant expertise but also aligns your qualifications with the specific requirements of the position you’re seeking, making your job application more tailored and impactful.
An example list of the overall technology stack is as follows:
Technical Skills:
Agile (advanced)
JavaScript (advanced)
Angular (mid-level)
React (basic)
3. Highlight your work experience emphasising successes
On top of your skills, this section is a chance to really sell your brand. Highlighting all your experiences and successful projects you’ve worked on. As with the other sections, it needs to be clear and concise and ready to catch the hiring manager's eye.
List previous positions on your CV and include bullet points explaining your exact role within the company, projects you executed, and what you accomplished. When filling in your experience, make sure to order them chronologically.
Make sure you emphasise the successes you’ve accomplished in your career working in tech. Companies receiving your job application want to find out how you have used your innovation and skills to make an impact. If you are highlighting projects you have worked on, you can go even further and add evidence by providing web links if the projects are available to view online.
You must avoid exaggerating or lying about your experiences, as this is dishonest and could backfire on you in the interview stage when questioned about it.
Do you have any IT and tech-based volunteer experience? Add it to your CV. Whilst this is not a necessity, voluntary work can help set your CV apart from your competitors during the job application and interview process. Voluntary IT and tech work could include mentoring in community learning programmes or maintaining open-source projects.
Research backs up this CV advice as those who offer their time and skills regularly on a voluntary basis are 27% more likely to succeed in securing a role. Also, 60% of hiring managers look favourably at volunteering when considering a candidate’s CV.
4. Feature relevant technical qualifications
It is vital to remember that if a role requires specific technical qualifications as outlined in the job description, it's a good idea to include them.
List your education, and if you completed a thesis, be specific about it – the objective, the process, the goal, and the technology stack that was involved. Your thesis gives a client an insight into your early interactions with computer science and a sense of your natural creativity outside the workplace.
Like the points above, including a technical stack to show what you used to complete the project and how you used each particular language, framework, etc. You should also list any supplementary courses you've completed, such as Coursera or Udemy courses.
However, it's important to be selective and include only the most relevant qualifications to avoid making your CV too lengthy. The tech industry is constantly evolving, so your CV should also adapt to these changes. Be aware of this and keep your skills and CV up to date to enhance your visibility. Your qualifications should reflect your current and applicable expertise, keeping pace with the ongoing changes in the tech field.
5. Keep your CV clear and concise
A common question we get asked by candidates when seeking CV advice, particularly those just starting their careers, is - how long should a CV be?
Well, in a survey conducted by Reed, 91% of recruiters reported that two pages were the ideal length for a CV. Keeping it to this length keeps it concise, sticks to the facts, and avoids unnecessary waffle.
It is important to keep in mind that the length of your CV depends on your experience. For instance, a recent university graduate may not have as much information to include as someone with two decades of industry experience. Therefore, for these less experienced candidates, a concise one-page CV is more appropriate than attempting to fill it with irrelevant details.
6. Use social media to elevate your CV
LinkedIn has been a game-changer for employees, businesses, and job seekers alike. It empowers you to connect and engage with a vast global business network while offering the opportunity to create a comprehensive personal profile and build your professional brand.
Given LinkedIn's widespread use in the business world, it's common for recruiters and hiring managers to assess your online presence in addition to reviewing your CV. According to a survey by The Manifest, 67% of companies examine candidates' profiles on LinkedIn. Including a link to your LinkedIn profile allows them to explore your professional persona beyond what's conveyed on your CV.
In light of this, it's essential to maintain an up-to-date LinkedIn profile, complete with an appropriate profile picture, to offer a more comprehensive view of your professional identity, distinct from your CV.
7. References are crucial but don’t need to be on a CV
So, why are references so important to employers? Checking references plays a crucial role in an employer's recruitment journey. It offers them a more comprehensive perspective of you as a candidate. Through reference checks, they can verify the accuracy of your CV and, significantly, assess whether you align with the company's culture, ensuring you won't be a disruptive addition to the workplace.
Traditionally, it was customary to include a reference's name and contact details at the end of your CV. Nevertheless, while references hold significant importance in your job application, including them on your CV is a matter of choice. However, there are benefits to not doing so.
Consider these three key points when it comes to references in a job application:
Since references are a critical aspect of a job application, hiring managers will request them at a later stage in the process. Therefore, including references on your CV becomes unnecessary.
Instead of including them on your CV, you can offer your references in written or verbal form during the interview process.
Importantly, by omitting references from your CV, you gain additional space to include content that can help convince the employer to grant you an interview and, ideally, the job.
Whilst it is not necessary to include your references on your CV, make sure you have them ready for when the employer asks for them.
8. Proofreading is the final but vital step
Having a CV full of spelling, grammatical, and layout errors heightens your chance of being rejected before you even get to the interview process. After working hard on all the tips we have given to produce a brilliant and tailored CV for the latest tech jobs, you don’t want to ruin all that by not having a high standard of writing.
A poorly written CV will make potential employers have doubts about your attention to detail and wonder if you’ll approach your job with the same lack of care that’s evident in your CV.
To ensure your CV is to the required standard, here are some top CV tips to make sure you have dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s:
Use a platform such as Grammarly to check grammar, sentence structure, and spelling.
Get someone else to proofread your CV. It is sometimes difficult to read your own work as it is easy to miss your errors. Whether it be a partner, friend, or family member, having a proofreader will provide a different perspective, spot errors, and give suggestions on layout.
If getting a proofreader isn't an option, read your CV aloud. This will make it easier for you to spot your errors and make sure it reads well.
Start writing an effective and tailored CV for tech jobs
As you prepare to take the next step in your career and seek out the latest IT and tech jobs, it's paramount to ensure that your CV is of the highest standard. The tech industry is fiercely competitive, with skilled candidates vying for the same roles. What's more, recruiters typically spend just 6 to 8 seconds reviewing a resume, underlining the importance of a standout and tailored CV.
Our comprehensive guide on top CV tips has been designed to provide you with the best chance of landing an interview for the most exciting IT and tech jobs in the industry. We've delved into the critical components, from the importance of clear contact details and a compelling personal statement to effectively showcasing your skills and work experience and featuring relevant technical qualifications.
By adhering to our expert CV advice, you can ensure that your CV stands out in a crowded field of candidates, setting you on the path to securing your dream tech job.
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So, after closely following our CV advice, you’ll have created an outstanding, eye-catching and tailored CV and are ready to apply for the latest IT and tech jobs. At Cpl, we are committed to making you feel valued and supported at every step of your job search journey, from our initial conversations to when you start your new role.
Our experts are ready to offer the latest IT and tech jobs that match your skills, career goals, and values. Contact the team today and take that step closer to your dream IT and tech job.