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If you are thinking about applying for a job in the tech industry, have you put enough thought into the thing that might clinch you the job – your CV? CVs are a tool; a well written and formatted CV will make the sharpest tool. For jobs in the tech industry, you need to take into consideration a few different factors when sitting down to construct it, to make it as relevant as possible to the job you are applying for; maximising your chances of securing the job overall. Contained in this article are handy nuggets of advice relevant to making your CV brilliant as possible.

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Customize your CV

When constructing a CV to send off to a potential employer, you should always sit down and analyse the company before you shoot your slip of paper off in the post or email. Research your job title within that company, and what it entails. For example, if you were applying to be a hardware developer you would think about pushing the skills you have concerning:

• Electronic Design (Schematics)
• Programming (Firmware/Software)
• Testing
• Working out cooling solutions (Mechanical Design)
• Design Ergonomics.

If you cannot think of anything you have done within in your career so far which relates to the specifics of the job role to include, then perhaps you should look at doing an internship. This would demonstrate to an employer a willingness to learn and engage within your chosen field, when a job perhaps hasn’t been available to you. There are plenty of agencies and companies that offer internships, which in turn make a CV look more attractive to an employer.


Think from the Perspective of the Employer

If you think about it, an employer sifts through hundreds of CVs trying to find the perfect candidate for the job – or a shortlist for it. An employer wants a CV which is not wordy, but short and sweet – something which they can pick up, grasp onto, and remember you by. Make them remember you by including achievements relevant to the job – no one cares about you being the year 9 high jump champion when you’re applying for a job in the IT industry. The shredder is what 90% of CVs will see after being looked at.


Template

A great way people graft their CV initially is to base it on a template. From a template you can take the basics and then build upon it to fit the needs of whatever job you are applying for. Here is a breakdown for what to include in a CV for a job for anyone wanting to be an electrical engineer – however, it is relevant as a template for anyone in the tech industry.

• Name / Address / Contact
• Objective – Package yourself in a sentence. For example, ‘Highly skilled engineer, with an extensive knowledge of constructing, developing and analysing electronic equipment. 20 years of hands on experience in the industry.’
• Area of Expertise – Here you list your skills relevant towards being an electronic engineer. For example, programming languages, broadcast management, ability to solve problems, circuitry work etc. 
• Professional History – List where you have worked, what your job specifics were, responsibilities and what the kind of projects you were working on. Remember to try and keep them as relevant to the job you are applying to as possible. Also if you picked up any qualifications during the job, list them here. 
• Education – No one cares that you got a D in P.E. when you’re applying for a job in electrical engineering. List all the grades you deem relevant. 
• Computer Skills – List all the certifications you have received which contribute towards the field of electrical engineering – computer programming etc. 

As you can see, the main thing you have to think about when constructing a CV is actually the job you’re applying for. If you do this, the employer will notice the initiative you have shown – and also pick up on the effort you’ve put into constructing a proper CV for a job in the tech industry.

About the Author:
Sarah Dobbs works in recruitment and specialises in the technology and sales sectors.