Software developer CV template: ‘Acme’ free professional one-page design

Here’s a full preview of this attractive one-page software developer CV:

Above: Full preview of Acme CV.

Software developer CV writing guide:

With so many CVs to read through the hiring manager doesn’t have the time to read pages and pages of irrelevant information. A CV should always be snappy, concise and to the point. Any kind of waffle or padding out within your CV is not only a waste of paper, but will end up frustrating the reader.

If you’re unsure as to how direct and relevant your CV is, take a look below at a few handy tips on what to avoid and how to keep your CV relevant, short and to the point!

2-3 pages is more than enough

Most CVs should look to only be a total of 2 pages long, however there are some instances when 3 pages is fine. Medical CVs for example will often need at least 3 pages to cover the relevant experience, skills and qualifications – and will typically be expected to be quite lengthy.

Most employers prefer a 2 page CV, but as long as you are keeping everything relevant and only adding information of value, then 3 pages could work just fine. If you have a long list of previous roles and you are including some great facts and figures alongside the tasks and responsibilities, then this may be a good reason to take up a third page.

Use a sensible font size

One of the most important things to consider when checking over the length of your CV is the font size, the spacing and the overall layout. Using a font that’s too big will restrict the space you have, and the same would go for using large spacing between sections. In Microsoft Word the most commonly used font size is 12, and would be more than acceptable for your CV to ensure the hiring manager has no problem in reading it, and you are not using up valuable space.

The layout of your CV is also extremely important, so don’t forget to consider using a ready made professional CV template that you can either use to directly insert your CV info, or to use as a guide when making any minor adjustments. A CV template has already taken into consideration the details that would typically go into a CV, so you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

Create a software developer CV that’s relevant

Your software developer CV should be written with one goal in mind – and that’s to show the hiring manager you are the right person for the job. Although this might seem a bit obvious you’d be surprised at how many people decide to write a generic CV that doesn’t specifically target the employer’s requests. But where can you find this list of demands?

The best place to start is the job advert itself. It will contain most of the things that the employer would require (there’s usually more given during the interview), and they will have also included their own terminology that you can take into consideration. You shouldn’t copy everything word for word, but you should however take into consideration any jargon they are using and the skills, qualifications and experience they are requesting.

The hiring manager is essentially using your CV as a tick sheet to see how closely you can match their requirements. There are of course lots of other aspects of a CV that they look for, but this would be the main one to consider – and certainly not overlook!

Find out more about tailoring your CV to the role here.

Include a memberships section

A quick and easy way to signal to the hiring manager that you’re really passionate about your industry is to join a professional association and get involved. There’s a good list of professional associations for software developers here.