How to write a developer CV that gets interviews
Your CV has about thirty seconds to earn an interview. A hiring manager working through a stack of them isn't reading every bullet — they're scanning for signal: can this person do the job, and have they done something like it before? A developer CV that makes that obvious quickly beats a longer, denser one every time.
The good news is that a strong tech CV follows a few repeatable rules. Here's what actually gets you shortlisted.
Lead with impact, not a list of duties
The fastest way to stand out is to write outcomes, not responsibilities. 'Cut API response times by 40% by adding caching and query batching' tells a reader far more than 'responsible for backend performance'. Numbers, results and the thing you actually shipped are what stick — put your strongest one first in each role.
Most CVs are a flat list of tasks that could describe anyone. Yours should read like a record of things that happened because you were there. If you can attach a metric — users, latency, revenue, time saved — do; if you can't, describe the concrete outcome.
Put your tech stack where it's seen
Recruiters and hiring managers scan for the technologies the role needs, so make them easy to find: a clear skills or tech section near the top, plus the specific tools woven into your role bullets. Many companies also run CVs through keyword-matching software, so mirroring the language of the job advert genuinely helps you get past the first filter.
Be honest about depth, though. Listing thirty technologies you've touched once dilutes the few you're actually strong in — and it'll come up in the interview. Lead with what you'd be comfortable being tested on.
Tailor it to the role
You don't need a new CV for every application, but a couple of minutes of tailoring pays off. Reorder your bullets so the most relevant experience is nearest the top, mirror the wording the advert uses for key skills, and trim detail that doesn't matter for this particular role.
A generic CV blasted at fifty companies performs worse than a lightly-tailored one sent to ten. Hiring managers can tell the difference between 'this person read our advert' and 'this person is applying to everything'.
Keep it tight and skimmable
One page is ideal, two is the ceiling for senior engineers — nobody reads the third. Use clean, consistent formatting, reverse-chronological order, and plenty of white space so it can be skimmed in seconds. Skip the photo, date of birth and marital status; include links to your GitHub, portfolio or a standout project.
If writing about yourself is the part you dread, that's partly why we built the platform: on Get Me A Techie you upload your CV and we draft a clean, anonymous profile from it for you to review and approve — nobody sees it until you publish. Join as a techie to try it, and see how to job-hunt confidentially if you're looking while employed.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a developer CV be?
One page is ideal; two is the maximum for senior engineers with a lot of relevant history. If it's spilling onto a third page, you're including detail nobody will read — cut the oldest and least relevant roles down to a line each.
Should I include a photo on my developer CV?
No. In the UK a photo, date of birth and similar personal details add nothing and can introduce bias. Use the space for your impact, skills and links instead.
Do I need a cover letter for developer roles?
Often not — many tech applications don't ask for one. When they do, keep it to a few sentences on why this specific role and company, not a restatement of your CV.
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