Technology CVs, cover letters, and tricky interview questions!

Craft a CV that stands out with these helpful tips for what to include and what to leave out

If you’re thinking about looking for a new technology job, you may be wondering “How do I write a CV  that effectively showcases my skills?” 

It doesn’t matter if you’re an established professional or are just joining the IT workforce, we could all benefit from taking a moment to consider how effective our CV is and whether it needs some improvement. 

We’re going back to basics to help you elevate and showcase your achievements so that you can land the tech role of your dreams. 

How to write or polish your CV for an IT role 

 1. Summarise yourself 

Hiring managers and employers often scan CVs quickly, spending less than 30 seconds initially, before deciding to read through more closely. At the top of your CV, you should write a short summary that encompasses who you are, what you do and your key skills and competencies. 

 2. Only reference roles that are relevant

If you're like most people and had some odd jobs before starting your IT or tech career, consider removing those roles from your CV, particularly if they are no longer technically relevant. If you’re just starting your career, the limited space on your CV might be better utilised discussing relevant education, skills, personal projects or extracurriculars than any irrelevant part-time work. If you have gaps in your CV for any reason such as a sabbatical, career break or unemployment, a simple one sentence explanation is all that’s needed. 

 3. Keep your tech knowledge and skills updated

 Perhaps it’s been a while since you last applied for a job. Don’t just dust off your old CV, slap your latest role on and think it’s good to go. Run through any previous descriptions of skills, duties and proficiencies and highlight current and new skills. Make sure you’re including key words and phrases that are up to date. Remember to be specific! Whilst automation skills are in high demand you should be clearly stating if your skillset is Dev-Ops or automation testing. 

 4 .List relevant personal projects and hobbies 

If you’re passionate about tech, you probably engage in personal projects and hobbies outside of work that could be relevant to a role. By including these you show your dedication, and they can also be useful if you are applying for a role that you don’t have direct work experience in. Remember to keep it relevant. Do include GitHub hackathons, don’t include your football 5-a-side team! 
 

Do I need a cover letter? 

Traditionally CVs were sent with a covering letter that would express your interest in the role, briefly run through your relevant experience and express why you thought an employer should hire you. However, the advent of online application forms have led many people to ask; do I even need a cover letter at all? 

The answer is yes... sort of. 

If you are sending your CV by email, you don’t need a separate cover document, but you should include your covering paragraphs in the body of the email. If you have been asked to fill in an online application form, you will often be given the opportunity to attach supporting documents, such as your CV. This is your opportunity to attach a covering letter as well. 

Remember: 

• Cover letters should be short, a few paragraphs only 

• Find out the hiring manager’s name and address them directly. Be formal and respectful! 

• This is your sales pitch. Use this chance to lay out why your qualifications make you perfect for the role 

• Tailor the cover letter to each job including key words and skills from the job description 

• End with a call to action encouraging the hiring manager to get back to you 

If you are applying through a recruiter, you may not need to include a cover letter with your CV. Good recruiters can act as your human cover letter, getting across your skills and experience and demonstrating to employers your cultural fit for a role. Recruiters have direct connections to internal hiring managers and can pair you with businesses and organisations where you will excel.  

Once you’re happy with your CV and cover letter you can start applying for jobs with confidence. If you’ve landed an interview for your perfect role, check out part two of this series for help answering tricky interview questions and impressing at the interview. 

Struggling to get your CV just right? We can help! 

At Fruition IT we want to help you boost your career not just in your current role, but in the next one, and beyond! We take the time to learn about you, your ideal role, and your long-term career aspirations.   

Contact one of our friendly consultants for a FREE CV review or explore our latest roles.