So, you want to work in IT support but where do you start? Or maybe you already have a great job but are keen to move up the career ladder. First things first, it’s vital to get your CV sorted – a killer CV, which is well-crafted, informative and concise will give you as good a chance as any of landing your dream role.
What to include on an IT support CV
A great CV starts with a great introduction. You don’t have to be Shakespeare but a punchy, succinct paragraph of prose which tells a hiring manager all about what you do, your experience and your ambition is vital.
Once you’ve nailed that you need to tell them all about your qualifications, your experience, your education and any relevant hobbies or interests. Of course, these things will vary from person to person but it’s important to follow these key tips:
- Tailor your CV to IT, use language that proves you understand the industry
- Keep it concise, no more than two pages unless you have something really interesting to say
- Check, check and recheck – you don’t want any silly spelling or grammar mistakes Keep it simple – use a font and format which will keep recruiters reading
Experience
You want to work in IT so make sure you include all your IT experience! What specific software have you worked with? Are there any operating systems you know a lot about? What technical skills do you have?
It’s important to include all the experience you have that would be relevant to an IT role. Talk about your qualifications, any additional training you might have undertaken and any professional development.
For example, if you worked with anti-virus software or network upgrades, then talk about it. If you worked face to face with clients and have customer service experience, then let potential employers know.
Previous placements/jobs
Depending on your level of experience, you may or may not have a long job history. Don’t worry if this is your first time applying, you can put down any placements or work experience instead.
But do make sure you showcase any IT specific skills you have acquired through your previous roles or placements. In addition, don’t forget to mention any more general skills you’ve picked up – leadership and communication skills, for example. These transferable skills are very attractive to employers and shouldn’t be left out.
Additional hobbies/interests
Some recruiters aren’t interested in what you do outside of work but there are plenty more who are, so this is a section that shouldn’t be left out. However, you do need to make it relevant.
Include hobbies or interests which are not only related to the role but add character to your CV – hiring managers like to know a bit about your personality and this is the perfect section for showing them your uniqueness.
