IT CV Examples & Guide 2025

IT CV Examples UK – What Employers Want

As technology keeps changing, 2025 looks set to bring big shifts in the most wanted tech jobs. If you want to start working in the UK, knowing about these upcoming careers can give you an advantage.

Top 10 Most In-Demand Tech Jobs:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning Engineers 

Demand - AI-powered automation and predictive analysis are changing many industries creating high demand for engineers who can design smart systems.

Job Satisfaction - These roles stay interesting because you work on new projects that make a real difference.

Salary - £45,000 for beginners, rising to £120,000 for seasoned pros. London's typical pay sits at £87,500—17% higher than the UK norm.

2. Data Analysts & Scientists

Demand - Companies need data analysis to shape their plans boosting the need for big data and analytics experts.

Job Satisfaction - A fulfilling job with chances to grow across all industries.

Salary - Data analysts make £30,000 – £60,000, while top data scientists can pull in up to £85,000.

3. Cybersecurity Analysts

Demand - Over half of UK firms face online threats making cybersecurity pros more needed than ever. 

Job Satisfaction - A role offering job stability and a sense of purpose.

Salary - £35,000 – £62,500 based on skill level.

4. Cloud Engineers

Demand - Cloud tech runs today's businesses, with 89% of UK companies using cloud answers.

Salary - £38,095 – £144,552, showing how fast the field is growing.

5. DevOps Engineers

Demand - More than 74% of companies worldwide have started using DevOps to work better.

Salary - New hires start at £50,000 climbing to £85,000 with time on the job.

6. Full-Stack Developers

Demand - Companies need developers who know both front-end and back-end tech. This need keeps growing each year.

Salary - £40,000 – £80,000, based on experience.

7. Blockchain Engineers

Demand - Blockchain has uses beyond crypto. This drives up the need for skilled developers.

Salary - Starts at £65,000, goes up to £90,000 for senior jobs. 

8. UX/UI Designers

Demand - How users feel about and interact with digital products plays a key role in their success.

Salary - £35,000 – £70,000 based on skills.

9. Product Managers

Demand - Product managers make sure tech products meet business needs—a must-have role to bring new ideas to life.

Salary - £45,000 – £85,000, depends on the field.

10. Network & Systems Administrators

Demand - Mixed home and office work setups are increasing the need for IT setup experts.

Salary - £35,000 – £65,000 offering steady work and job safety.

How to Make a Great IT CV in the UK

One big thing I learned while making IT CV examples UK is that degrees aren't everything. UK bosses value hands-on skills, the ability to adapt, and solving real-world problems. Here's what helped me catch their eye:

• Soft Skills Count – Bosses look for good communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills along with tech know-how.
• Grades Don't Matter as Much as Certifications – Earning certifications such as ITIL® 4 Foundation, Google IT Support, and Fundamentals of Microsoft was beneficial.
• Showcase Your Projects and Freelance Work – A home lab, a GitHub repository, or contributing to open-source projects can be a great means to land your first job.

IT CV Examples UK - How to go from 'Basic' to 'Shortlisted'

My first CV? A bland, forgettable one-page generic CV, absolutely no personality, no plan, just a couple of bullet points. Once I researched IT CV examples UK  and spoke to recruiters, I completely redesigned my CV. This is the exact framework that got me interviewed:

1. The Headline - First Impressions Count

I kept it tidy and professional - Name + Title (e.g., Aspiring IT Support Specialist). I also included  LinkedIn and GitHub links since UK recruiters prefer to look at them! A brief bio provided additional information:

“Recent graduate with problem-solving skills and a genuine interest in cloud solutions.”

2. Skills Section – Bypassing Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

I adapted this to suit UK requirements, integrating technology with people skills:

• Technical - Active Directory, Python, Help Desk Support
• Soft Skills - Communication, Teamwork

It improved my CV for ATS and allowed recruiters to view the skills I wished to convey.

3. Experience - Not Working in IT Officially? No Problem!

Even without industry experience, I got creative:

• University Projects - Prepared a tutorial to guide classmates in repairing their PCs.
• Volunteering - Assisted with the technology support at the local charity.
• Freelance Work - Corrected issues in software for small businesses on Fiverr.

Individuals in the British tech community are more concerned with genuine skills rather than their titles.

4. Education and Certifications – The UK Advantage

I highlighted my degree and significant courses (such as BSc Computer Science – Specialising in Networking & Security) and included certificates such as:

• ITIL® 4 Foundation
• Microsoft Fundamentals

This added credibility and demonstrated industry-recognised knowledge.

5. Personal Projects - The Untapped Opportunity

A designated section for projects exposes initiative and passion:

• Raspberry Pi home lab
• Coding projects / experimenting

In the UK tech scene, a personal project is sometimes the only differentiator between an average CV and a brilliant one.

The UK-Specific CV Rules I Learned the Hard Way

When I first leaped into the world of entry-level IT job applications in the UK, I stumbled through every rookie mistake imaginable. My CV looked like a jumbled American resume, my spelling was a confusing mix of US and UK English, and—worst of all—I naively thought recruiters would actually read my CV thoroughly. Spoiler alert - they don’t. They skim.

Here’s what I had to change to start getting those coveted callbacks:

1. CV, Not Resume

In the UK, it’s called a CV—not a resume or curriculum vitae. It’s a small detail, but getting it wrong made me seem a bit out of touch.

2. No Photo, No Age, No Personal Details

Unlike some European countries, UK recruiters steer clear of CVs with photos and personal details to minimise bias. I thought adding my LinkedIn profile picture would give me an edge. Huge mistake.

3. British English Only

Just relying on spellcheck isn’t enough! My first CV had ‘organize’ instead of ‘organise’—a tiny difference, but it made my application feel a bit “off” to UK employers.

4. One Page (Unless You’re a Senior Pro)

I made the rookie error of cramming my CV with every single university module I had completed. The result? Overwhelmed recruiters. For entry-level roles, keep it to one page—anything longer can raise a red flag.

5. Keywords = ATS Goldmine

After applying to 30 jobs and hearing nothing back, I learned a tough lesson:

• ATS filters CVs before a human ever lays eyes on them.
• Fix - I started copying phrases from UK job ads (Help Desk Support, Teamwork, Troubleshooting).

6. Reverse Chronological Order

My first CV listed my oldest job first. What a blunder! Recruiters don’t scroll—they skim. Starting with your most recent role makes your CV way more effective.

7. Font & Readability – Keep It Clean

• Best fonts? Arial, Calibri, Verdana (10–12pt for body, 14–16pt for headings).
• Avoid: Times New Roman—it screams "1990s essay."
• Bullet points > Paragraphs (Recruiters told me they skipped my long paragraphs entirely).

8. Headings & Spacing – The 10-Second Test

Did you know recruiters only spend about 6 to 10 seconds skimming through a CV? Mine wasn’t making the cut until I made a few tweaks:

• I added bold headings for sections like Work Experience, Skills, and Education.
• I adjusted the margins to 2.5 cm and set the line spacing to 1.15.
• I made sure to leave plenty of white space—no more cramming everything together!

9. Save As PDF (Usually)

I used to send my CV as a Word document—until a recruiter pointed out that my formatting got messed up on their end. Switching to PDFs solved that problem (unless the job ad specifically asks for Word).

Why This Matters More Than You Think

A recruiter once told me, "A messy CV suggests you’ll write messy code." Harsh? Perhaps. But in the competitive UK job market, how you present yourself speaks volumes about your professionalism. After I made these changes, my callback rate tripled.

Pro Tip - Want to test your CV? Ask a friend to take a quick look for 10 seconds. What do they remember? If it’s not your key skills, it’s time to simplify!

My Secret Weapon – The Cover Letter That Got Responses

The Pitch - "I might not have five years of experience, but here’s how my troubleshooting skills from [X] can bring immediate value to your team."

Pro Tip: I made sure to weave in UK tech trends like cybersecurity and cloud migration to show I’m in the loop—this helped my application stand out.

The UK Job Hunt – Where I Applied (And What Actually Worked)

At first, I was sending my CV everywhere, just hoping for a response. After weeks of silence, I realised I needed a game plan. Here’s what actually got me interviews:

1. LinkedIn Easy Apply – The Fast-Track Route

I set up alerts for entry-level IT positions and applied within 24 hours of the job being posted. The outcome? My first screening call came in just a week.

2.  Indeed  &  CWJobs – The UK’s IT Job Hubs

I focused my searches on “no experience required” and “graduate-friendly” roles—this gave me a lot less competition compared to broader listings.

3. Tech Startups – Surprisingly Open to Juniors

In smaller teams, they really valued hustle over just having the right credentials. This was my chance to showcase my problem-solving skills rather than just checking off boxes on a qualification list.

4. Recruitment Agencies (Michael Page, Hays IT) – A Game Changer

After I uploaded my CV, recruiters began reaching out to me for roles I hadn’t even seen advertised.

The Mistake I Fixed:I spent way too much time applying for positions that required “1–2 years’ experience.” Instead, I decided to message recruiters directly with:

"I’m a quick learner—would you consider a strong junior candidate for this?"

Spoiler alert: Sometimes, they actually did.

The Interview Stage – How I Went from Nervous to Hired

My first IT interview? I was a bundle of nerves—sweaty palms and a racing heart—until I figured out the secret. tried-and-true strategy for transforming anxiety into job offers:

Pre-Interview Prep – My Secret Weapons

1. Company Deep Dive

• I dug into their website, LinkedIn, and the latest news (e.g., “Oh, you’re migrating to Azure—I actually worked on a cloud project last semester!”).
• I memorised their core values to put together into my answers (e.g., “Your commitment to sustainability resonates with my paperless campus initiative.”).

2. CV Autopsy

• I pinpointed three key skills from the job description.
• I prepared STAR stories to back them up: "Troubleshooting? When our university network went down, I diagnosed a DNS issue (Action) and got access restored for over 200 students (Result)."

3. Question Bootcamp

• I nailed the classic opener: "Tell me about yourself." (60-second pitch: passion + skills + goal).
• I got ready for tricky questions like "How would you reset a CEO’s locked Outlook account?"—and answered with clear, logical steps.

4. Mock Interviews

• I did Zoom rehearsals with a friend acting as a sceptical hiring manager.
• I recorded my answers to cut out any awkward pauses.

Interview Day – Confidence Playbook

1. Early = On Time

Make it a point to arrive 15 minutes early (whether virtually or in-person), test your tech ahead of time, and keep a handy cheat sheet of key points close by.

2. Dress Code Hack

• Opted for smart-casual attire (think blazer and dark jeans) unless the job specifically called for something more formal.
• Checked out Glassdoor photos to get a feel for the company culture.

3. First 5 Minutes Rule

Kicked things off with a firm handshake (if in person), a warm smile, and some light small talk: "How long have you been with the company?"

4. STAR Storytelling – Short & Powerful

Kept my answers under two minutes, following a clear structure: "When our student app crashed (Situation), I took the lead on debugging (Action), which cut user complaints by 80% (Result)."

5. Questions That Impressed

I asked:

• "What’s the biggest IT challenge your team is facing this year?"
• "How do you support the growth of junior staff?" (This shows my eagerness to learn).

Post-Interview – The Follow-Up Game

1. Thank-You Email (Sent in <24 hrs)

"Hi [Name], thanks for chatting about [specific topic]. I’m particularly excited about [project mentioned]—I believe my experience in [X] could really add value. Looking forward to hearing about the next steps!"

2. Polite Follow-Up

If I hadn’t heard back after a week, I’d send a brief LinkedIn message: "Hi [Name], just checking in to see if there are any updates. I’m still very interested!"

Why This Worked

No Experience? No Problem

I leveraged university projects and freelance gigs to showcase my real-world problem-solving skills.

Energy > Perfection

One interviewer mentioned: "We chose you because you asked insightful questions—not just because you recited answers."

Pro Tip-For Technical Rounds, I Brushed Up On:

• Networking fundamentals (OSI model, ping, tracert).
• Help desk scenarios ("A user is unable to connect to WiFi - take me through your steps.").

My Big Break – And Yours Too!

After three months, 47 applications, and five interviews, I finally snagged an offer as an IT Support Specialist! What was the key? A CV that showcased my potential—not just my past experience.

If you’re on a similar path, tweaking your approach can really make a difference. Stay determined, keep learning, and create a CV that highlights what you can do, not just what you’ve done.

Final Tips for Breaking into the UK IT Industry

If you’re aiming for an IT job with no experience, don’t stress—plenty of professionals have started right where you are. Here are seven tried-and-true strategies to jumpstart your career:

1. Choose Your Ideal IT Role

The IT field offers a vast array of careers, so honing in on your interests can really help.

• Are you passionate about hardware? Think about computer engineering.
• Intrigued by websites? Look into web development or UI/UX design roles.
• Enjoy working with data? Data science or engineering might be your perfect match. Take some time to research job descriptions, necessary skills, and career paths to find what suits you best.

2. Gain Relevant Education & Certifications

If you don’t have work experience, formal education or certifications can help fill that gap.

• Degrees - Computer Science, Software Engineering, IT Management.
• Certifications - ITIL® 4 Foundation, CompTIA A+, Google IT Support.

Want to switch careers but not ready for another degree? Short courses and industry certifications can really make a difference.

3. Combine Learning with Work Experience

Many entry-level IT positions don’t require prior experience—internships, apprenticeships, and graduate schemes are fantastic ways to get your foot in the door.

Pro Tip:Seek out graduate programmes specifically designed for new IT professionals. They provide structured learning while you gain real-world experience.

4. Create a Skills-Based Portfolio

Even if you haven't had a formal job yet, you can still highlight your abilities with a solid portfolio.

• University projects (like creating a troubleshooting guide for fellow students).
• Freelance gigs (such as fixing software bugs for local businesses).
• Personal projects (for instance, building a Raspberry Pi home lab).

A well-organised portfolio not only distinguishes you but also demonstrates your hands-on expertise.

5. Grow Your Network

Networking can reveal job opportunities that you might not find elsewhere—sometimes even before they hit the job boards!

• Leverage your personal connections—friends, family, and professors can be great resources.
• Get active on LinkedIn and professional forums—follow IT recruiters, join relevant groups, and connect with industry insiders.
• Attend local tech meetups—many cities in the UK host IT events where companies look for junior talent.

6. Customise Your CV for IT Positions

A well-crafted UK-style CV can make a significant impact. Here’s how to enhance it:

• Emphasise your education and certifications if you don’t have direct experience.
• Showcase transferable skills from previous roles (like problem-solving, teamwork, and familiarity with digital tools).
• Incorporate relevant keywords from UK job listings (such as Help Desk Support, Teamwork, and Troubleshooting).

Pro Tip:Check out examples of IT CVs in the UK for inspiration and make sure yours is easy to read.

7. Volunteer for Hands-On Experience

Many organisations—including startups and charities—are in need of IT support, even if they can't afford to hire someone full-time. Volunteering allows you to gain practical skills, make valuable connections, and enhance your CV—often leading to paid positions down the line.

Conclusion

A year ago, I never thought I’d find myself in the IT world. But let me tell you, breaking into this field without any prior experience is totally doable—with the right approach. By focusing on education, diving into practical projects, and staying persistent, I made it work.

And you can too!

The tech industry in the UK is on the lookout for fresh talent, and there’s definitely space for motivated, ambitious learners who are eager to leave their mark. Now it’s your turn:

• Optimise your CV.
• Apply with confidence.
• Keep in mind—every IT expert had to start somewhere.

Maybe your journey begins today.

What’s the biggest hurdle you face with your CV? Share it in the comments—let’s figure it out together!