If youâre a technical professional working on your CV, hereâs a common pitfall to avoid: listing responsibilities without context, technology details, or impact. Your CV is more than just a log of what you did; itâs a chance to show how you made a difference, what tech you used, and why it mattered to the project or company.
Letâs take an example of what NOT to do using a made up CV:
Professional Experience December 2021 â Current Software Engineer
Independently gathering new tasks and formulating specifications for their successful execution.
Coordinating tasks among team developers, engaging in planning to meet tight deadlines.
Conducting code reviews across applications, optimizing code quality and best practices.
Optimizing application performance through refactoring and database tuning.
Orchestrating deployments and ensuring compliance with steps.
Assisting new developers by sharing expertise and providing guidance.
đ Whatâs missing here?
Without context, the above example sounds like a list of duties rather than achievements. Thereâs no indication of the specific technologies used, how they contributed to the project, or the actual impact on the organization. Each point should show why the work mattered.
Hereâs a more effective approach:
đ 1. Specify the Technology Used
Mention the tech stack, frameworks, or tools you used. Did you optimize the codebase with Python or tune databases in PostgreSQL? Details help hiring managers understand your technical strengths.
đ 2. Link Technology to Project Goals
Explain why you chose specific tech solutions and how they addressed the projectâs challenges. For instance, âImproved API response time by 30% using asynchronous processing with Node.js, enhancing user experience in high-traffic environments".
đ 3. Show Impact with Metrics
Whenever possible, add measurable outcomesâlike increased app responsiveness, reduced load times, or improved data accuracy. Example: âReduced database query time by 40%, accelerating report generation and boosting team productivity.â
đĄ Remember: Hiring managers want to see not just what you did but how you did it, why you chose that approach, and what impact it had.
Make sure each bullet point on your CV tells a story about your unique contribution and the difference it made.
đ Think of your CV as your professional story, not just a task list.
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