# CVs  --- ## 1. Layout Choose a simple layout that is mainly or exclusively, text based. With the widespread use of Applicant Tracking Systems, you need to make sure that your CV is ATS-readable. --- ## 2. Keywords Where appropriate, use words and phrases in your CV the are relevant to the description of the job you are applying for. ###### (ATS again) --- ## 3. Keep it simple. Keep it short. At this stage in your career, keep it to one page (probably). --- ## 4. Personal statement What drew you to software development and what sets you apart. Keep it short. --- ## 5. *Professional experience* Clearly distinguish any work, whether paid or otherwise, done for a third party. ###### Summarise the contribution you made in your role, the languages, libraries and tools you used (perhaps highlighted in bold, for easy human scanning), and the value you personally added to each project. Make sure that you mention the technical, as well as any non-technical, contributions you made. --- ## 6. *Previous career* If you are looking for your first role as a developer, this may be the most interesting thing about you. ###### List your most recent role(s) and focus in a single sentence on the value you added. Relate it to the skills that you might need to be a good developer. Be ready to talk about it at interview. --- ## 7. Career gaps Simple solution: remove dates from your CV. --- ## 8. *Side projects*. Put any side projects and relevant courses you have completed on your CV. ###### If you have not already done so, think up a side project, put it on your CV and put time aside each week to make enough progress to talk intelligently about it at interview. If possible, find somebody to pair with on the project in order to demonstrate your capacity for teamwork. --- ## 9. *Education and training*. If you have completed any technical certifications or have professional qualifications, list them. ###### If you have a degree or degrees, name them. Mention the grade if you have a II.i or higher. If you left university or any other training without graduating, only list it if you have a good story for why you left that you want to talk about at interview. ###### Only mention the school you went to and subjects taken if you got good grades. If you didn't leave school with A-levels or equivalent, then omit any reference to your schooling unless you have a good story about it. --- ## 10. *Interests (+achievements)* If you do not have any relevant outside interests, find one, start participating in them and put them on your CV. An easy place to start is tech-focused meetup groups or community engagement, such as mentoring at FAC meetups. ###### If you have any achievements such as playing representative sport or achievement awards at school or running a successful charity fundraiser or something similar, then add *"and achievements"* to the title of this section and list them in brief. --- ## 11. Email Consider using a me@mydomain email address. Gmail is acceptable. Addresses with providers like hotmail or yahoo might not make the right impression. --- ## ✅ Wrap-Up Homework: - Do a first draft of your CV - Add your personal statement to your GitHub and LinkedIn profiles. - Update your [Information for employers](https://airtable.com/appWtDT26F38ZnUbh/pagn7Sn7Ut0tIiE2q/form) - Next session: CV and profile reviews