How to write an IT CV

When writing a CV for IT roles there are important considerations to think about to ensure your CV performs well. It is a given that many IT roles have a degree of technical focus around them, however, this should not define your CV. It is what you do with those skills that is most important. The secret of how to write an IT CV is therefore to focus on the outcomes and results of your work and support this with specific examples backed by facts and figures.

Your CV needs to work for non-technical audiences too

It is important to write an IT CV in clear and plain English. Not everyone reading your CV is going to be a technical expert. A recruiter may have a sales background, an HR manager will work across many different job types. Therefore, a good IT CV will speak to all of these audiences in addition to a hiring manager who may be more familiar with the technical aspects of your role.

There are lots of different roles within IT

You should focus your IT CV towards the type of job you are applying for. From support roles to project managers, developers and analysts to CTOs, there are many diverse skill sets and requirements within IT. If you are a 3^rd level support engineer looking to apply for IT architect roles then you will need to demonstrate your understanding of how a business works and its integration with technology. Whatever type of role you are applying for, read the person specification carefully, this will tell you what skills and expertise are needed. Your CV needs to reflect this with either direct or transferable experience.

ATS systems

Many job seekers worry about getting their CVs through applicant tracking systems. All ATS systems are different and will be configured to suit the needs of each employer or job board.  There is no universal algorithm that will guarantee success. The best way to maximise your chances of getting your IT CV through the filters is to tailor the CV for every application and mirror the key terms and phrases within the job description.

Keep your IT CV to two pages

With less than 30 seconds spent on average reading a CV it is important to get your story over quickly and powerfully. A 2 page format is ideal as it encourages you to think carefully about what to include and what to edit out. If you have a long list of technical skills, many of which are very old, then delete these and only use the skills and expertise you know are in demand by employers today. There won’t be many employers using Windows 98 or 2000 now – so why include them in a CV?

Writing an IT CV is not a test of your technical ability. Therefore, simply stating the programming languages, operating systems or apps is not enough. Describe your achievements and write the CV in clear, plain English. Incorporate key words and phrases and tailor the CV for each application.

This article is written by Neville Rose, Director of CV Writers. Please do connect with me via LinkedIn.

Check out our CV writing service with details of our packages that include LinkedIn profiles, cover letters and more. You can get things started with a Free CV review. I am also a qualified career counsellor and provide Career Counselling services for people looking to change career paths.