How to Create a Professional CV for the Software Industry

karlmontgomery • May 17, 2018

In this article we will show you how to make a professional CV for people looking for work as Software Developers and other IT jobs Peterborough has available; however, the below tips can be utilised across most industries to help create your best CV.

How to lay out your Professional CV

The aim of your CV should be to portray yourself as the best candidate possible. Don’t make the recruiter or hiring manager work too hard to find the information they want. Hiring managers and recruiters see dozens of CVs a day, and so you must make the important information stand out!

This article should help articulate all the professional CV do’s and don’t’s for those in the software industry.

Format

Honestly, recruiters generally don’t really care what your CVs look like. As long as it is neat and tidy and contains all the information required, then fancy fonts, text boxes, pictures, diagrams and colours are all a bit irrelevant.

NB – If you work in UI/UX/Design then a bit of flare is expected – but don’t go overboard.

Photos – most recruiters recommend you do NOT include a photo of yourself on your professional CV. This is due to the simple fact that your appearance should not be a factor when it comes to offering you a job.

Personal details

Address

You don’t necessarily have to list your entire address but the town/city in which you are currently based in vital. You should also state where you are willing to commute to – for example, you may be based in Peterborough but more than willing to stay away in Bristol during the week, or perhaps even relocate. However, if you don’t mention this on your CV then recruiters may not consider you for the role as it appears you are too far away.

VISAs

If you have a VISA to work in the UK, regardless of what type it is, you should state it on your professional CV. You should also state your VISAs expiry date if applicable. This includes (but is not restricted to):

ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)
Tier 2 Dependent
Tier 2 General
Tier 4 (Student VISA)

You can get more information about VISA restrictions and requirements at
https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

If you do not require a VISA because you are a British National or EU Citizen, state this on your CV.

Contact information

RALWAYS include an email address. This should be a professional email, for example;

joe.bloggs@gmail.com

NOT

rockstarbloggs86@gmail.com

It is vital you include a working mobile number on your professional CV. You’d be surprised how many mobile numbers are incorrect on an applicants CV or simply not there! Make sure it works, make sure it is on your professional CV. Also, if you are restricted answering the phone, feel free to mention something along the lines of

Only available for calls between 11am-2pm and after 5pm.

I have limited access to my phone during the day, I would recommend emailing me and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

References

It is perfectly normal to withhold your reference information on your CV and simply write – References available on request.

GHere at Recruit Mint, we will help any person to find their dream job. Our IT specialists are well versed in what clients want from candidates, so if you’re looking for a new role as a Software Developer or any role in fact, then please either get in contact now or register today. Browse our software jobs currently available or click to view every job in Peterborough we are recruiting for.

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