How to write a technical CV: Plus tips and example

A typical technical CV is always short and clear and contains an accurate personal profile of the applicant. It also includes content tailored towards the requirements of the position you're seeking. If you're applying for the position of a web developer or IT consultant, having a technical CV is important, as this is what you're to present to the recruiter or your potential employer. In this article, we discuss what a technical CV is, review how to write one, provide tips for writing it and present practical examples to guide you.

What is a technical CV?

A technical CV is a document that contains your contact information, work history, skills and educational qualifications suitable for a technical position. It's a professional portfolio that introduces you to a recruiter and serves to showcase your technical expertise. Hence, a CV advertises you and demonstrates your skills and qualifications to your potential employer.

A perfect CV is short, ideally one or two pages. The most commonly found data in a CV include name, address, email, phone number, educational background and certification, hobbies, skills and references. It may not be necessary to reflect other information like age, nationality, health, marital status and full address of home or college or university on a CV. Also, depending on the type of CV, the format, style and information may differ.

Read more: The ultimate guide to CV basics (with example)

How to write a technical CV

Here are different information to include when writing a CV:

1. Add your contact information

A good CV contains the contact information of the job applicant. This comprises the applicant's full name, phone number, physical location, email address, links to your professional profiles or portfolio. During the hiring process, recruiters use the contact information provided by the applicant to give them information, such as an upcoming interview or the requirement to fill out paperwork. It's good practice to include your contact information at the top of your CV where the recruiter can easily access it.

2. Write a technical summary

To fill a vacant job position, most recruiters read numerous applications before they're able to select candidates that are the best fit for the job. It's therefore important to make your CV stand out to them. A good way of achieving this is to include a strong technical summary where you highlight your job title, years of experience, how you intend to help the company and your achievements so far. Including strong adjectives like hardworking, 'efficient' or solution-driven can also help you stand out to a recruiter.

3. Add hobbies and interests

Including your hobbies and interests in your CV comes with certain benefits. Some of these benefits include making your CV more personalised, reflecting your relevant skills in certain roles, plus it can serve as a possible discussion topic during the interview stage. It's crucial that you only include hobbies and interests that relate to the position you're seeking. Where you have achieved significant feats through these hobbies, you may also include this.

4. Always include your degree, qualifications and certificates

A technical degree is always relevant, hence ensure you include this in your CV irrespective of how long ago you acquired it. Besides your degree, also include all relevant technical courses and certifications you gained in the last five to 10 years, especially where any of them is from a notable organisation in that field. Doing so is proof that you're continuously learning and developing in your technical career.

5. List your relevant work experience

It's important to list your work experience in your CV. It gives the hiring director an idea that you're responsible, knowledgeable and experienced. It's not mandatory to state the details of the different companies where you've worked. You can use figures and data to briefly discuss your achievements and challenges at your former jobs. By doing so, the hiring director sees your strength and performance.

Read more: How to write work experience on a CV (tips and example)

6. Proofread and submit

The last step to writing a CV is to edit and proofread it. Try not to hurriedly submit your CV without proofreading it as this can also show inattentiveness to details. Here is a list of some other things to crosscheck before submitting your CV:

• technology keywords as it suits the tech industry

• highlighted skills

• short, easy to read and understand

• showcases your personality

• a balanced mix of technical and personal information about you

Tips for writing a technical CV

Below are different tips for writing a CV as a technological professional:

Be current

Most IT recruiters prefer candidates that are up to date with technological trends and information. This means being mindful of recent innovations in the technical and digital industry. You can decide to take IT courses to upgrade your knowledge and acquire certifications in the relevant field. Try to remember to remove redundant skills and information from your CV. This ensures that it remains current.

Do not use acronyms and jargons

Your CV is a professional and formal document. To ensure it retains a professional structure, try to avoid using acronyms and jargon so it's understandable for anyone reading it. If you can't avoid acronyms, it's best to write them out in full, especially the first time it appears on your CV.

Include a section on technical skills

A professional CV features a section for technical skills. Recruiters often choose applicants with technical skills and experiences that match the job position, so try to include all relevant tech skills in your CV. Where you have many technical skills, you can break down your skills section into categories, with the most relevant ones on top.

Read more: IT skills: definitions and examples

Balance technical experience with additional skills

When writing your CV, try to mention your technical experience together with other relevant skills, such as project management, leadership or communication skills. You may share your achievements from a project you've led previously. If you've helped raise funds for some organisation, you can elaborate on the details. All these can impress your interviewer and can show how much of an asset you can be to the company if employed.

Mention the methodologies

While applying for a technological job, you may mention some frameworks or methodologies. There are keywords you can use for your CV to be recognised by applicant tracking systems. You can use tech keywords like ITIL, waterfall and agile on your CV.

Customise your CV

Another good practice for writing a CV is to customise your CV for different job applications. Most recruiters from experience can identify CVs or cover letters that are generic and not tailored to the job positing. Taking the time to update your CV and include keywords that are unique to the job you're applying for, which tells the recruiter that you're intentional about your application and that you're determined to work with the organisation.

Technical CV example

Below is a good CV example for a technological professional:

Wilson James

Web Developer

(Crutched Friars, City of London, +44 7911 123456 Jamiewil12@gmail.com)

Summary

Passionate and highly skilled IT expert with five years of experience in software designing and maintenance of in-house IT systems. Possesses proven ability to learn and collaborate in diverse environments with a track record in formulating web solutions using technical coding skills.

Experience

(UX / UI designer Jan 2018-present)

IT project manager

• Plan and carry out timely IT projects with team members.

• Spearheaded UX/ UI design projects for marketing companies to achieve profit inflow for the company

• Coach and supervise team on agile techniques

• Provide written and verbal project communication

Education

University of Bedfordshire ( May 2015- September 2019)

• Bachelor of Science/ Information Technology with 2.1-degree result.

• Final-year group project: Best UX/ UI designer for a mobile app for school payments.

Highbridge College (2010-2014)

• A-level maths

• BTEC Level 3 ICT

Highbridge School (2006-2009)

• GCSE examinations in the English language, German language, science, maths, IT and history subjects.

Certificates

• MS Service Certification

• Certified Web Professional Web Developer

• Master Certified Web Professional - Designer (CWP)

• Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP)

IT skills

• Operating Systems: Android, iOS and Windows

• C++, SQL, TLearn and HTML (programming languages)

• MS Office, Dreamweaver and Photoshop

Other Skills

• Leadership skills

• Great verbal and written communication skills

• Baking

Hobbies

• Playing video games

• Graphics design

Language

Fluent in:

• English

• German

Employment

(Mathematics and Information Technology teacher at Springfield College London)

• Trained the overall best IT student at the interstate college competition.

• Developed a new website for school

• Best teacher of the year awards (2020-2021)

(Junior software developer and UX designer at technology Iris technology)

• The team leader of software development and design team designing and developing educational applications for schools.

• Field testing, implementation and evaluation of new IT projects

• Assist in German language training and documentation

Referees

(Names, contact and occupation of at least two or three professionals that can affirm these details about you)

Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

Related:

• How to get a technical support job (with qualifications)