IT engineer CV example

How to write a CV for an IT engineer

In the following sections, we’re going to explain to you how to write a CV for an IT engineer. The amount of information you’ll need to pack into a small document can be bewildering, but we’re here to show you how to present all of this in an efficient and engaging way. We’re going to take you through:

• Adding contact details to your IT engineer CV
• IT engineer CV personal statement
• How to present your work history on an IT engineer CV
• Top skills for your IT engineer CV
• Get education right on your IT engineer CV

Adding contact details to your IT engineer CV

It is a common mistake to fall at the first hurdle. Many candidates forget to add their contact information, which can lead to lost opportunities. If you’re hoping to get a call from a potential employer, it’s important to add a series of up-to-date contact information that is clear and somewhere near the top of your document. It’s a small part of your CV – but a very important one.

Here is a short list for you to remember:

• Your full name – you can leave out your middle name
• Your location – so the hiring manager knows where you are based
• Phone number – pick a mobile if you can, as this is more accessible
• Email address – make sure it is a professional email address

Example of contact section for an IT engineer CV

IT engineer CV personal statement

Your first impression is important! This is why most CVs include a personal statement. This is your chance to introduce yourself, to outline who you are as a candidate and why you should be considered. This might seem simple enough, but the difficulty with this intro section is you will need to cover a lot of information in just a few sentences. You will have a maximum of four sentences to grab the reader’s attention!

To write a clear and effective personal statement, we have a simple formula that you can follow. Start with a first sentence that introduces you to the reader, giving an outline of you as a candidate. From here, write a second sentence that gives an example of something you have achieved within the IT engineering field. You’ll want to use a real-world stat or example to catch the eye of the hiring manager.

Your third and fourth sentences should explain any special skills you have. By doing this, you’ll finish your personal statement by explaining how you are unique and entice the reader to look at the rest of your CV.

What do we mean by “real world” stats or examples in your second sentence? This is any fact or figure you can add that backs up your claim. For example, let’s say you updated the IT systems for a company that led to an uptick in efficiency. You should back this up with a stat like “reduced server downtime by 15%”. This is a tangible example that will catch the eye of an employer.

Keep the following tips in mind when crafting your personal statement:

• Write in the third person
• Use a professional font
• Try to use keywords from the job ad when you can
• Proofread your statement to ensure it’s clear and free from errors
• Use positive adjectives and action verbs to engage the reader

Example of personal statement for an IT engineer CV

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How to present your work history on an IT engineer CV

Work history is often one of the first parts of a CV that an employer will check. They’ll want to quickly gauge your previous experience to see if you’re the right fit for the job role. This is why it is important to include a comprehensive work experience section. To write an engaging work history section, you’ll need to be efficient and outline all your defining strengths and achievements.

The first step is to take a look at the job ad you are applying for. You’ll want to look out for keywords that you can use in your work experience section. They will likely outline key responsibilities – and this is your chance to respond to them to show you are the right fit for the job. As with your personal statement above, the challenge in this section is to try and keep your experience brief and clear.

Always try to pepper in stats and figures when you can. Let’s say you optimised a company’s IT systems to reduce downtime. This is something you should include along with a figure that will justify it. Using authentic stats is a great way to show authority as a candidate and it’s something other candidates often miss!

You need to ensure that the language you use throughout this section is concise and engaging. Use positive adjectives and action verbs to make your writing jump off of the page. Positive adjectives are more colourful ways to describe your qualities, for example you might be “punctual”, “efficient”, or “experienced”. Action verbs are words you can use to replace “responsible for”, like “boosted”, “optimised”, or “directed”.

Example of work experience for an IT engineer CV

Top skills for your IT engineer CV

Next up is the CV skills section of your document. This is where you can define important skills and shout about any specialisms you might have. Generally, you’ll want to add up to 12 skills on your CV, striking a balance between hard and soft skills.

So, what’s the difference? Hard skills are skills that have been picked up from direct experience or through education. Perhaps you studied how to improve server capacity – this would be a hard skill that you’ll definitely want to include.

Soft skills, in contrast, are more like positive character traits. These are things that define you as a candidate and give insight into what you’re like to work with. For example, perhaps you are great at “communication”, and “teamwork”. These are valuable skills to add to a CV as they show that you are easy to work with.

The idea is to combine both hard and soft skills to show that you are a well-rounded candidate. An employer will need somebody who has the practical skills to do well as an IT engineer, but they’ll also want somebody who has positive traits so that they fit into the company.

In short, IT engineers need to combine creativity with expert technical knowledge. Show your recruiter you have it all by including the following skills on your CV.

Get education right on your IT engineering CV

Education is the final section of your CV and should act as the foundation for all of your experience. Having the qualifications to back up your application will only make you more attractive to a potential employer.

So, what is the best way to get your educational history right on your CV? You’ll need to make sure you outline everything that is relevant to the job of an IT engineer. IT engineers generally have a background in software engineering or computer science – this is usually the required level of education to get a job in this field. However, it’s important to include the highest level of education that you have achieved (for example, a master’s degree) or any other professional training courses you have completed.

Here are some of the most important tips to get education right on your CV:

• Name of school, college, university, or other awarding body
• Study start and end dates
• Subject title
• Qualification level – e.g. Bachelor’s degree or A level
• Qualification result

Example of education for an IT engineer CV