How to write a technical CV

Ever sat outside an interview room thinking, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”?

The truth is, you’d already made your first impression long before the interview or logged onto the video platform. The first impression, the first glimpse of you that a hiring manager, recruiter or ATS system first scans is your technical CV (Curriculum Vitae).

The CV is a personal marketing document, highlighting why you’re the most suitable person

If you’re seeking to secure a top tech job, with a leading employer, start-up, etc., it’s more important than ever to present a well-balanced and attractive CV that an employer's ATS or AI system, or possibly a hiring manager, or tech recruiter will read.

Whether you’re an RF Design Engineer, FPGA Engineer, C# Developer, Data Scientist, or any other high-tech specialist, your CV is a foundation for your job search. It should showcase your technical skills, engineering competencies, achievements and career potential, quickly and clearly. With an engineering-biased CV, there are some practical methods, formats, and structures, worth following to successfully highlight your abilities to prospective employers.

Read the tips below to help write the perfect technical CV.

Structure & Format - Keep it Professional and ATS friendly.

A strong CV starts with structure. Even the best experience can be overlooked if the format is cluttered, confusing, or difficult for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan. When it comes to technical CVs, simplicity always wins. This isn’t the place for creative layouts, colours, infographics, or unusual formatting, all of which can distract from your core skills and reduce ATS compatibility.

A clean, well‑organised CV makes it easier for hiring managers (and software) to quickly identify the information that matters.

• Length – Aim for two pages A4, three pages may be acceptable for senior executives, seasoned contractors, or professionals with extensive project portfolios.

• Layout & Design – Choose a smart, professional, easy‑to‑read font such as Calibri or Arial, ideally between 10–12 pt. Avoid decorative layouts, text boxes, columns, images, or graphics, these often confuse ATS software and may cause essential details to appear as unreadable symbols. Keep formatting consistent: headings, bullet points, spacing, and alignment should follow a uniform style.

• Title & Contact details – Full name, Professional title (optional), Contact details (town and post code), email address, and phone number(s) are essential. LinkedIn profile, if you have one – ensure it matches and reinforces your CV, and you don’t need to include a photograph.

• Readability – Break up long blocks of text into short, digestible sections. Use clear headings and bullet points to guide the reader. Keep employment dates, responsibilities, and achievements easy to scan at a glance. Prioritise relevant skills and experience that align with your target roles.

• Proofreading – Be accurate, consistent formatting, spell check, and punctuation, look for typos and inaccuracies. Confirm dates, job titles, and project details are correct. Ask a colleague or friend to review it — a second pair of eyes often catches what you might miss.

Start With a Concise Personal Summary

Your personal summary, or profile section, is your 2–3 sentence elevator pitch. It’s the first thing recruiters and AI‑powered screening tools scan, making it one of the most important sections in your technical CV. A strong summary immediately communicates who you are, what you specialise in, and the unique value you bring.

To make this section impactful, keep it short, clear, and results‑focused. Technical CVs should avoid fluff, so focus on high‑level strengths that directly align with the role you're targeting. Many people find it easier to write this section after completing the rest of their CV, once they have a full picture of their experience.

How to Craft a Strong Personal Summary

• Lead with what the employer is asking for. Identify a key requirement in the job advert, whether it’s a specific skill, qualification, or area of expertise, and place it right at the start of your statement.
• Highlight skills with immediate impact. Focus on capabilities that directly support high‑tech projects, product development, or technical sales.
• Use factual, measurable information. Ground your summary in experience, specialisms, and achievements.
• Avoid clichés. Phrases like “excellent team player”, “hard worker”, or “dynamic and enthusiastic” don’t differentiate you and add no value.

Example of an Effective Technical Summary

Senior Embedded Software Engineer with 10+ years’ experience developing low‑latency firmware for automotive AI systems. Proven track record of delivering safety‑critical features, optimising performance, and leading cross‑functional engineering teams across full product lifecycles.

Create a Dedicated Technical Skills Section (Critical for ATS)

A well‑defined Technical Skills section is essential for both recruiters and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). It’s one of the first areas automated systems scan to determine whether your CV matches the job description, so using the right keywords, in a natural, structured format, is crucial. Avoid keyword‑stuffing, but make sure your skills reflect the terminology employers and job adverts commonly use.

This section also helps hiring managers quickly validate your core competencies. Whether it’s an ATS, a tech recruiter, or an engineering lead, they will skim the CV looking for a clear, easy‑to‑read list of your key technical capabilities and competencies.

What to Include in Your Technical Skills Section

Be specific and relevant. Examples include:

• Programming languages & frameworks: Embedded C, C++, Python, Rust, Yocto, Linux Kernel Development
• Microcontrollers & hardware: ARM Cortex‑M3/M4, PIC, FPGA, SoC platforms
• Engineering software & tools: MATLAB, Simulink, CATIA, Solid Edge, ANSYS Fluent, AutoCAD
• Electronic design tools: Altium Designer, KiCad, OrCAD
• Development environments & toolchains: Eclipse, Keil uVision, IAR, Visual Studio Code
• Web & UI tools (if relevant): Bootstrap, React, Angular

Position this section immediately after your personal summary. This ensures the most important information appears within the first few seconds of scanning, exactly where both ATS systems and human reviewers expect it.

Structure for Maximum Clarity

• Group skills by category (e.g., Programming, Electronics Hardware, CAD Tools, Simulation Software).
• Order by proficiency, with advanced skills first.
• Remove outdated or irrelevant tools that no longer reflect your work or the roles you’re targeting.

Highlight Your Specialisms

If you have a standout competency, such as low‑level embedded programming, RF design, or AI‑accelerated modelling, place it at the top of the section. Make your strongest skills impossible to miss.

Focus Your Work Experience on Achievements, Not Duties

Hiring managers want to understand your impact, not just responsibilities. Your work experience is one of the most influential sections of your CV, and the way you structure each bullet point can significantly impact how both recruiters and AI‑powered ATS systems interpret your value. Aim to use a simple, effective formula that showcases results:

Use the “A–B–C” Structure

Each bullet point should clearly communicate:

• A – What you did
• B – How you did it
• C – The impact or result

This structure instantly tells employers that you can create measurable value and achieve results, which hiring managers prioritise in technical roles.

Example:
Developed a low‑latency C++ module (A) by redesigning the data‑processing pipeline (B), reducing system response time by 35% (C).

Add a Final Bullet Highlighting the Technical Stack

For every role, end with a separate bullet that lists the technologies, tools, and methodologies you used. This helps ATS systems identify relevant keywords and gives recruiters immediate context.

Example:
Technologies / Methodologies: C, C++, Python, ARM Cortex‑M, MATLAB, Simulink, Agile, Git, CAN, Linux Kernel Development

This is also a great place to mention additional details that don’t quite fit inside your main bullet points.

For jobs over 10 years old, just put the job title, company, and date, unless there is something very relevant to the role you’re applying for. Recruiters and ATS tools focus primarily on your most recent and impactful experience, so avoid unnecessary depth.

Highlight Technical Qualifications, Training & Certificates

In the engineering and high‑tech sectors, employers value continuous learning just as much as hands‑on experience. While experience will always carry the most weight, your qualifications and training demonstrate technical credibility, commitment to growth, and alignment with evolving industry standards.

To keep this section clean, relevant, and impactful, be selective about what you include.

University-level qualifications and above should always be included, along with the degree type (BSc, PhD, etc.), subject, final project, dissertation, University name, and year achieved. If you have years of high-tech experience, nobody cares about your GCSEs, but they may be interested in your A-Levels if this led to you selecting a particular university or you achieved three A-grades.

Only Include Relevant Courses & Certifications

Focus on qualifications that clearly align with your intended role or showcase specialist technical development. Examples include:

• Yocto training
• Embedded Linux certifications
• FPGA/Verilog/VHDL training
• CAD/CAE tool certifications (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, MATLAB)
• Cloud certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP) if relevant to the role
• Cybersecurity or DevOps training for systems, software, or infrastructure positions

Including training from different stages of your career demonstrates that you are a continuous learner, staying aligned with fast‑moving technologies in the high‑tech arena.

Keep Language Clear and Avoid Jargon 

Writing clearly is a valuable engineering skill. Avoid cluttering your CV with techie jargon. This is not only poor style but also misses an opportunity: employers want you to be able to explain technical concepts in clear and simple terms that outsiders can understand.

It can be difficult to write positively about yourself, which is why having someone else review your CV is invaluable. A fresh perspective can help highlight strengths you may overlook and ensure your achievements are communicated clearly and confidently.

When describing your experience, think in terms of competencies and measurable achievements. Employers want evidence of impact, not just responsibilities. Ask yourself:

What did I achieve, and how did it benefit the team, project, or organisation?

Optional: Add a Hobbies & Interests Section (When It Adds Value)

If your CV feels light or you want to show more of your personality, adding a brief Hobbies & Interests section at the end can enhance cultural fit, especially when your interests align with the industry.

For example:

• A keen gamer applying for a role in the video‑gaming or graphics industry
• A musician or audio producer targeting companies in audio engineering or acoustic technology
• A robotics hobbyist, maker, or drone enthusiast applying for embedded systems or hardware engineering roles

These details can help reinforce your genuine interest in the field.

Highlight Non‑Technical Activities for Soft Skills

Non‑technical achievements can also play a powerful supporting role. For example:

• Leadership roles in university societies
• Volunteering or mentoring
• Sports teams (teamwork, discipline, communication)
• Event planning or committee responsibilities

These experiences can showcase soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and initiative, qualities that technical employers increasingly value.

Ready to Strengthen Your Career or Build Your Team?

If you're looking for your next role in the high‑tech or engineering sector, register your CV with us. This helps us quickly match you with the most relevant opportunities, whether you're seeking permanent, contract, or interim positions.

Redline Group has changed lives every day, building world-class teams for technology companies since 1982.

Our specialist recruitment solutions cover:

• Executive Search
• R&D and Engineering
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We’ve achieved 4.9 Stars out of 5.0 ratings on Google Reviews, and hundreds of Case Studies confirm it’s not only WHAT we do, but HOW we do it, something both clients and candidates consistently value.

If you'd like to discuss how we can support your hiring plans or help grow your technical team, contact Redline Group on 01582 450054 or email info@RedlineGroup.com