Creating your CV – A 3 minute guide

So you want to write your CV. Everyone hates doing this, it’s tedious. I hate writing up my own CV and CV’s are literally my job. Here are a very few tips to follow which will take the pain off. Your mileage may vary – every recruiter / person / cat has a range of CV based opinions. These are the ones which we find work best for tech companies.

List achievements rather than duties.

• The difference between you and the worst person to ever do your job is what you achieved in your time in each position.
• List your most important projects or the projects you’re most proud of.
• If metrics are important in your role, list these and give an idea of how these fit within your team. (Average for team/ best in team)
• Highlight your individual impact, upskilling and team success.
• List the technologies used for each project (when relevant)

Don’t apply non-quantifiable metrics to your skills

• For example: Python: Excellent.
• No one will know what metric you are applying. Use other ways to demonstrate skills – describe projects completed using the skills, years of experience using the skill, courses/certifications obtained.

Tailor your CV to each position you apply for

• Write about skills and experience that highlight your suitability for that individual role and company. If the position concentrates on back-end Python development, add the back-end Python projects you worked on to your CV.
• You can keep a separate document with a list of projects / achievements and swap them in and out to your CV when required.
• This tip is a little more time consuming than the others but it is 100% worth it. You will get interviews if you follow this tip!

Limit the personal information you share.

• The only personal details that should be on your CV are: Email address, Basic address. Phone number if you are happy to be called without notice.
• Don’t include your exact address down to house number. The general area is fine. Putting your address on your CV is leftover from the days when you would mail in a job application. If the general area is there, then that gives recruiters an idea if the location of a role might suit. (If your CV is up on Monster or similar).
• Do not include any of the following: a photo of yourself, marital status, age, passport number, PPS number, number of children, or blood type.

Don’t include the names and contact details of your references

• You want to maintain control of when your references are called.
• Recruiters can also use these contact details as leads. Anyone who is a reference is usually fairly senior and might be in a position to decide on hiring matters. You don’t want them getting a Business Development call from an agency they don’t want!You don’t need to put “References available on request” on your CV, this information is assumed