Technical CV Example

A technical CV is a specific type of application document used by technical professionals, such as:

• engineers
• scientists
• IT project managers
• technical support professionals
• technical writers

There’s currently a shortage of IT professionals in the UK. So now’s a great time to get into the industry, as wages rise to meet the demand for workers with tech skills. To capitalise on the situation, you’ll need to make a CV that shows employers you’ve got the skills and experience they’re willing to pay for.

Here are three tips on how to write a good technical CV:

1. Showcase your hard and soft technical skills

When you apply for a job in a technical field, showcase your hard and soft skills on your CV to show recruiters you’re a well-rounded applicant who can both do the work and fit into the company culture.

Your hard skills are the specific, quantifiable technical skills that you’ve acquired through education or experience — your computer skills, for instance. Meanwhile, your soft skills are abilities that come naturally to you and are difficult to teach or measure. Your interpersonal skills are examples of soft skills.

One way to showcase your hard skills is to give examples of how you’ve used specific software programs or coding languages to complete projects in your CV work experience section’s bullet points. You can also include information about any relevant certifications or licences that you hold when you write your CV’s education section.

Here are more examples of hard skills to highlight on your tech CV, depending on your role:

• Cloud computing
• Artificial intelligence
• Cybersecurity
• Analytics
• IT skills

Your soft skills are just as important as your hard skills because many of the most essential tasks in technical fields require strong people skills.

For example, being able to communicate with team members, clients, and customers effectively is critical for many technical jobs. Other important soft skills include:

• problem solving
• critical thinking skills
• creativity
• leadership
• attention to detail

As with hard skills, you should showcase your soft skills on your CV by providing concrete examples of how you’ve used them in past roles. Here are three bullet points from a technical project manager’s CV that give specific examples of the applicant’s teamwork, communication, and training skills:

2. Choose the best format for your technical CV

The two main formats you can choose between for your technical CV are the chronological format and skills-based format. Which CV format you pick depends on your work history and skillset. Let’s take a closer look at each option:

Chronological CV format

The chronological CV format is the most-used option, as it lists your technical work experience in reverse chronological order (starting with your most recent position and working backwards). This format is a good choice if you want to showcase your tech career progression.

Skills-based CV format

Skills-based CVs focus on highlighting your skillset rather than your work history. Use the skills-based format if you don’t have much relevant work experience, are changing careers, or have employment gaps.

The skills-based format also allows you to highlight any transferable skills you’ve acquired through other experiences, such as volunteering or personal projects.

Ultimately, the best CV format for you is based on your circumstances. Consider your work history and skillset, and choose the option that best showcases your job-specific technical abilities.

3. Include hard numbers to make your technical CV stand out

Putting hard numbers on your technical CV presents your skills and achievements in a measurable way. Also, adding numbers sets you apart from other candidates who have similar qualifications but only listed job duties on their CVs.

So when you write your tech CV, use hard numbers to:

• quantify your achievements (for example, increasing sales or decreasing costs by a certain percentage)
• demonstrate your skills (like the number of hours you spend coding per week or the amount of money you manage)
• back up any claims you make about yourself (for instance, if you say you’re an expert in a certain software program, include the number of years you’ve been using it or the number of projects you’ve completed with it)

By quantifying your achievements on your technical CV, you can demonstrate exactly what you’re capable of and show employers that you’re the right person for the job.