(Even If You’re Just Getting Started)
📌 Part of the ‘Land Your First Job in Tech’ Series
Why Your CV Still Matters
Even in a world of LinkedIn profiles and online portfolios, your CV is often your first handshake with a hiring manager. It’s your one-page pitch to say: “Here’s who I am, what I bring, and why I’m worth a shot.”
But what if you’re just getting started and don’t have years of experience?
Good news: you don’t need it.
With the right structure and language, your CV can stand out—even if you’re transitioning careers, fresh out of school, or coming in from a different industry.
Let’s break it down.
🚀 TL;DR: What Makes a CV Stand Out?
- Clear layout, no fluff
- Skills > experience when you’re new
- Real-world projects > generic course lists
- Highlight transferable skills (retail, hospitality, military, parenting—all count)
- Use outcome-based bullet points
- Link to your GitHub, blog, or homelab portfolio
1. 🔧 Structure That Works
Here’s a beginner-friendly, no-nonsense format:
1. Contact Info
Name | Email | Location (city is fine) | GitHub | LinkedIn | Portfolio
2. Personal Summary (3–4 lines max)
Tailor this to the job you’re applying for. Who you are, what you’re learning, and what value you bring.
3. Skills Snapshot
A bulleted list of technical and transferable skills:
- HTML, CSS, basic Python
- Linux CLI
- Git & GitHub
- Excellent customer communication
- Troubleshooting mindset
4. Projects (Even self-taught ones!)
Talk about what you’ve built, not just what you’ve studied. For example:
Self-Hosted PiHole (2024)
Set up DNS-based ad-blocking on Raspberry Pi for home network. Documented troubleshooting steps on personal blog. Learned about DNS, DHCP, and network management.
5. Work Experience
If it’s not in tech, that’s OK. Focus on transferable value:
Retail Assistant, Sainsbury’s (2021–2024)
- Supported 200+ customers per week in a high-pressure environment
- Trained 3 new team members on point-of-sale systems
- Maintained accurate stock using barcode scanners and handheld terminals
6. Education & Certifications
Don’t worry if it’s not technical. Just be honest. Add online certs (Coursera, Microsoft Learn, TryHackMe, etc.)
2. 🔁 Transferable Skills That Matter in Tech
You’ve probably built tech-relevant skills without realizing:
| From Where | Transferable Skill |
|---|---|
| Retail | Customer service, systems use, multitasking |
| Hospitality | Fast-paced troubleshooting, people skills |
| Military | Precision, protocol, chain of command |
| Parenting | Time management, problem-solving |
| Gaming | Logical thinking, systems understanding |
| Hobbies (3D printing, modding) | Technical curiosity, documentation |
3. 📍 What to Include (And What to Leave Out)
✅ Do Include
- A short, sharp personal summary
- Real projects with context
- Self-study, bootcamps, certifications
- Homelab experience
- Github link (even 2–3 repos is fine)
- Soft skills that align with tech roles
- Outcomes, not just tasks
❌ Don’t Include
- Irrelevant jobs without context
- Buzzwords with no evidence (“team player”, “hard-working”)
- A photo (not needed in UK/US markets)
- More than 2 pages (1 page is ideal for beginners)
4. 💡 Pro Tips for New Starters
- Use AI tools smartly: Let ChatGPT help refine bullet points, but don’t fake experience.
- Customize every CV: Tweak your summary and top skills per job description.
- Quantify everything: Numbers make things concrete: “Helped reduce queue time by 30%” is stronger than “helped customers.”
- Include homelab wins: Running a local server, setting up Docker, using Portainer—all show initiative.
- Pair with a cover letter: Especially early on, a personal note can bridge the ‘no experience’ gap.
5. 🧠 What If I Don’t Have Projects Yet?
Start small:
- Build a basic website and host it
- Set up a Pi-hole or media server
- Contribute to a GitHub repo (even fixing a typo counts)
- Create a markdown doc with your learning progress and share it
💬 We’ll be covering some of these in the next blog posts—stay tuned!
6. 🎯 Final Takeaway
Your CV isn’t about what you’ve done—it’s about what you’re capable of doing next.
Even if you’re starting out, a smartly written, outcomes-focused CV with real projects and relevant skills will get you noticed. Pair it with a consistent learning journey and a pinch of confidence—and you’re already ahead of 90% of applicants.
Looking for a starting point?
First steps in your tech career – the helpdesk https://readthemanual.co.uk/why-starting-on-a-helpdesk-is-the-best-first-step-in-tech/