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Posted: 8 Jan 2019
Regardless of what job you are applying for, a succinct CV that highlights your achievements and qualifications is a must-have.
The first point of contact a future employer has with you is usually your CV so it is important to make a good impression. However, if you find writing your CV a daunting task, you are not alone. Many job applicants struggle to find the right words to do justice to their skills and experience. Set out below are some tips to help you get the basics right when applying for jobs in the IT sector.
A successful CV is relevant, informative and brief (four pages maximum). Your future employer will more than likely review several CVs at the same time so it helps if s/he can scan the key points quickly and form an impression of whether or not you are suitable for the role. We recommend displaying your information in the following format:
It may sound obvious but your CV should include your name, email address and a contact phone number. If you are editing/updating a previous CV, make sure that these details are up-to-date and correct. You will not land an interview if a prospective employer can’t get in touch with you!
Your personal statement should be brief. The purpose is to highlight relevant skills and experience and show why you are a suitable candidate for the advertised role.
Example: Highly-skilled developer with five years’ experience in the IT sector. Strong team player with a proven track record building applications in a fast-paced environment. Currently looking to advance my career in an ambitious, innovative company where there are opportunities to collaborate and develop applications that scale.
If this is your first IT job, the work experience section of your CV is likely to be brief. Do not be tempted to pad it out with irrelevant content.
If you are working and/or have relevant previous experience, you should list these roles, placing the most recent at the top. Briefly describe what the role involved and list key achievements.
This is one of the most important parts of your CV, as it highlights your competencies. Employers will not necessarily expect you to have all the skills for a particular role however you should match at least 70 percent of the requirements. It is important to only include skills that you genuinely have and avoid listing outdated skills. Give specific examples of technical projects where you acquired and/or applied your skills and the benefits achieved. Use bullet points to make this section of your CV easy to scan and limit the information you provide to what is most relevant to the job that you are applying for.
If you are looking for your first IT job, it is important to list your academic qualifications and any other relevant formal or informal training you have undertaken. Previously on this blog we shared tips on how to enhance your potential to secure entry level roles in areas such as Java development.
Experienced candidates should resist the temptation to pour all their qualifications onto the page as this takes up valuable space and is unnecessary. What is often most important when applying for an IT role, is the qualifications you have attained while working in the industry. These show potential employers that you have expertise in a specific area.
Ireland’s IT sector is a vibrant and exciting environment with a wealth of opportunities at all levels. As Ireland’s specialist IT recruitment company, Eolas Recruitment is always happy to receive CVs. We have a strong track record placing IT professionals in many leading companies. Check out our reviews and do get in touch. One of our specialist consultants will contact you to help you find the job that’s right for you.
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