Crafting an IT CV takes more than just being an IT professional, no matter how skilled and experienced you are.
Most companies now use applicant tracking systems to scan resumes for relevant keywords. If your CV doesn’t have the correct keywords for skills, the chances are you will not be selected for an interview.
So how can you make sure you have the right keywords on your CV? By tailoring it to the job and highlighting the required skills from the job description.
Every job will be a little different. That’s why so many people hire professional IT CV writers. However, if you don’t have the time or resources for that, you can at least include some of the most sought-after skills for IT jobs.
Below, we highlight the best skills to include in your IT CV.
Software development
If you work in software development, you will know how important technical skills are. Any employer is going to want to know the exact stack you have been using to determine what kind of engineer you are.
Here are 10 common CV skills to include for software development:
Android developer
iOS developer
C++
PHP
JavaScript
WordPress
HTML
Quality assurance
Scrum
Agile
Software developers typically require the highest level of technical skills. Since software developers are hands-on engineers, the programming stack and tools used are highly relevant.
Technical support
Technical support staff are responsible for providing help with specific problems related to a product or service. They are the front line for any employee or customer issues. The skills required for technical support staff are more focused on customer service than programming.
Here are 10 common CV skills to include for technical support:
Oral communication
Written communication
Customer service
Windows/Mac
Product knowledge
Basic programming
Linux/Unix
NoSQL
Call centre
Support tickets
While technical support engineers should still have basic programming skills, the technical requirements are much less than those expected of software developers.
IT project management
IT project management professionals are essentially the middlemen and women between the business teams and the technical teams. Project managers are responsible for achieving goals and meeting project deadlines. In a technical setting, it’s common for project managers to work with software developers to achieve the company’s goals.
Here are 10 common CV skills to include for project management:
Agile
Scrum
Leadership
Project planning
Scheduling
Risk management
Budgeting
Communication
Quality control
Technical acumen
Project management skills are a mix of developer and upper management skills. A combination of leadership and technical skills are required to be a successful IT project manager.
Cyber security
Security for technology jobs is very different than security for non-technical jobs. Security professionals in IT are not big, strong men guarding an entrance. Not physically at least. IT security professionals are responsible for maintaining digital security, reducing cyber threats and ensuring data is secure at all times.
Here are 10 common CV skills to include for cyber security:
CISM certification
CISSP certification
Malware analysis
Programming
Risk analysis
Cloud security
Security analysis
Intrusion detection
IP setup
Ethical hacking
Cyber security professionals require a high level of technical knowledge and often certifications. The best cyber security professionals will be able to think like a hacker to prevent malicious attacks from ever occurring.
Executive IT leadership
Executive leaders who work in information technology often come from backgrounds in technical roles such as software development or cyber security. It’s extremely useful to have some technical knowledge to understand all the moving parts.
Here are 10 common CV skills to include for IT executives:
Leadership
Database management
Innovation
Programming languages
Collaboration
Mobile development
Budgeting
Network security
Creativity
SEO/SEM
Executive positions in IT require the lowest amount of technical skills to do the job. Information technology executives will need to highlight their leadership and management abilities more than their ability to code.
Where to include technical skills in your CV
Now that you know what technical skills you should be including on your CV, it’s important to know where to add them. There are a couple of key places to add skills to your CV.
Add skills to your “areas of expertise”