Tips for a good graduate technical CV

Putting together a good graduate technical CV that will catch an IT recruiter’s eye is no mean feat, but employers notice when a CV is well structured and some thought has gone into the process.

The best graduate technical CVs are tailored for each job

Your CV should always be tailored for each graduate job you apply for. Recruiters will quickly pass over a generic CV that isn’t properly targeted.

Graduates technical CV that stand out have a clear and logical structure. In one quick glance you need to capture the reviewer’s attention and make them want give your resume another more considered look. Make sure key facts that show you meet the minimum requirements and have the right skills for the job are obvious.

Outline CV structure for IT jobs

For a graduate technical CV you could use the following structure:

• Personal details: name and contact details.
• Educational background and academic details – you may wish to list the names of key modules you have completed on your degree course that are particularly relevant to the job.
• Basic information on relevant courses/qualifications you have completed in addition to your university studies.
• Relevant technologies and skills, including brief information on your level of experience.
• Supporting information, including work experience, relevant projects and general skills that support your application.
• Further interests: include activities that show off general skills and show that you are a well-rounded human being.

Use bullet points to organise your information and keep your points clear and concise. You can find example CVs and covering letters to download here on targetjobs.co.uk.

Saying more about your skills

On your CV include key technical skills (programming languages, platforms, systems, etc) that are relevant for the job, but do more than just list them. Indicate your level of ability and include brief information on how you have applied each skill.

Use examples from university, work experience and home projects. (Important note: if you include links to web projects, make sure the content of such sites is suitable for viewing on a company’s network!)

Not all computer science and technical degrees cover the same content, so it can be helpful to provide brief information about modules and projects that you have completed, particularly if they are relevant to the job.

If you’ve taken the initiative to get some additional computing and technical qualifications make sure that you include these on your CV.

Don’t overcook your abilities and experience. The person reviewing your CV will have substantial technical experience and will quickly spot any flaws and inconsistencies in the information you include. You may also be tested on them at interview.

Use a covering letter to draw attention to particular abilities and experience

Always include a proper covering letter with your technical CV. A proper, well-written covering letter is your chance to give the recruiter more insight into you as a person, what you know about the role and why you have been motivated to apply.

If you are applying to an employer that is recruiting graduates into a range of areas you can also use your covering letter to clarify which role you wish to apply for and the relevant skills you have. For example, if you put: ‘I’m really interested in the test engineer position because... I’ve done... at university and I also developed... for my home use.’ This will help a recruitment manager make sure your CV gets to the right technical manager.

IT employers often want more than your technical ability

While technical skills and aptitude are obviously essential for a technical job, graduate employers view behavioural competences with equal importance.

Recruiters will want to see that you have the ability to:

• communicate well
• work with others
• complete tasks on time
• work at a high-quality level
• adapt and pick up new skills quickly
• think commercially
• be innovative.

If you have examples of when you have done a job well or solved a problem in a smart or new way, include a brief example on your CV or in your covering letter. Your interests and activities outside work are also useful indicators of how well you will fit into a team.

Make rigorous checks on your CV before you send it out

Details matter. Before you send out your CV and covering letter you should always check through the text with the same rigour that you check your code. Check:

• spelling and grammar carefully
• that what you have written makes sense
• that you’ve included the information the employer wants – evidence of skills, etc

It’s easy to let glitches slip through. IT employers look for smart, professional people, who can develop high-quality technical solutions. Use your CV and covering letter to demonstrate that you fit the bill.