CV and Linkedin Guide
Make Your Profile Work Harder Before You Even Apply.
Make Your Profile Work Harder Before You Even Apply.
Make Your Profile Work Harder Before You Even Apply.
Most CVs get a few seconds on the first read. Your LinkedIn gets even less. This is how we'd set yours up if you were one of our candidates — written by recruiters who've been reading tech CVs in Brisbane for 22 years.
Most CVs get a few seconds on the first read. Your LinkedIn gets even less. This is how we'd set yours up if you were one of our candidates — written by recruiters who've been reading tech CVs in Brisbane for 22 years.
THE REALITY
THE REALITY
You've Got a Few Seconds. Make Them Count.
You've Got a Few Seconds. Make Them Count.
Recruiters and hiring managers skim. They're looking for three things: the right stack, the right level, and proof you've actually done it. If they can't find those fast, they move on. It's not personal. It's just volume.
Recruiters and hiring managers skim. They're looking for three things: the right stack, the right level, and proof you've actually done it. If they can't find those fast, they move on. It's not personal. It's just volume.
Your LinkedIn is usually checked before your CV is opened.
Recruiters search by keyword — job titles, tools, certifications. If it's not on the page, we can't find you.
A great career buried in a messy CV loses to an average one that's easy to read.
Your LinkedIn is usually checked before your CV is opened.
Recruiters search by keyword — job titles, tools, certifications. If it's not on the page, we can't find you.
A great career buried in a messy CV loses to an average one that's easy to read.
YOUR CV - SIX RULES
YOUR CV - SIX RULES
Six Rules for a CV That Gets Read.
Six Rules for a CV That Gets Read.
Keep it to two pages.
Keep it to two pages.
Three at the absolute most, and only if you're senior. Contractors with a long list of short engagements: give your last few roles proper detail and group the earlier ones into a single line each.
Open with a three-line summary.
Three at the absolute most, and only if you're senior. Contractors with a long list of short engagements: give your last few roles proper detail and group the earlier ones into a single line each.
Open with a three-line summary.
Open with a three-line summary
Open with a three-line summary
Who you are, what you work with, and what you're looking for next. Skip the "highly motivated team player" filler. Say what you actually do.
Who you are, what you work with, and what you're looking for next. Skip the "highly motivated team player" filler. Say what you actually do.
Put your tech stack where it can be found.
Put your tech stack where it can be found.
Add a skills section near the top, grouped sensibly (cloud, languages, tools, frameworks). Then use those same keywords in your role descriptions so it's clear you've applied them, not just listed them.
Add a skills section near the top, grouped sensibly (cloud, languages, tools, frameworks). Then use those same keywords in your role descriptions so it's clear you've applied them, not just listed them.
Show outcomes, not duties.
Show outcomes, not duties.
Anyone can write "responsible for". Say what you did, what you used, and what changed because of it.
Anyone can write "responsible for". Say what you did, what you used, and what changed because of it.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
Before:
Before:
Responsible for managing the company network.
Responsible for managing the company network.
After:
After:
Redesigned the network across four offices using Cisco Meraki, cutting unplanned downtime by half.
Redesigned the network across four offices using Cisco Meraki, cutting unplanned downtime by half.
Keep the formatting boring.
Standard fonts, clear headings, no photos, no tables, no graphics, no skill-level bars. Applicant tracking systems can't read them, and neither can some of the people using those systems. Send it in the format you're asked for.
Standard fonts, clear headings, no photos, no tables, no graphics, no skill-level bars. Applicant tracking systems can't read them, and neither can some of the people using those systems. Send it in the format you're asked for.
Send your CV as a Word document (.doc or .docx) or a PDF — not a Canva template or anything built for looks. Stick to standard fonts, clear headings and a simple layout, and skip the photos, tables, graphics and skill-level bars. It's not about being plain: a clean file is one we can actually read, edit and format when we put you forward to a client.
Make it match.
Dates, job titles and employers should line up with your LinkedIn. Got a gap? One honest line covers it. Nobody minds a gap. They mind a mystery.
Dates, job titles and employers should line up with your LinkedIn. Got a gap? One honest line covers it. Nobody minds a gap. They mind a mystery.
WHAT WE LOOK FOR
WHAT WE LOOK FOR
The Details That Matter in Your Field
Every corner of tech reads a CV differently. Here's what we look for first.
Every corner of tech reads a CV differently. Here's what we look for first.
Specialisation
Infrastructure
Development & Testing
BI & Data
PMO
ERP
Service Delivery
Digital Marketing
Make sure we can see
Platforms and vendors you've run, the size and complexity of the environment, and current certifications.
Languages and frameworks, the type of product you built, your testing approach, and a link to GitHub or a portfolio if you have one.
Tools and platforms, the scale of data you worked with, and the business decision your work actually changed.
Methodology (Agile, Waterfall, hybrid), project size and budget, and who your stakeholders were.
The systems and modules you know, versions, and how many go-lives you've been part of.
ITIL or equivalent, the SLAs you owned, team size, and how you improved the service.
Channels and tools, budgets managed, and results in real numbers.
Specialisation
Make sure we can see
Infrastructure
Platforms and vendors you've run, the size and complexity of the environment, and current certifications.
Development & Testing
Languages and frameworks, the type of product you built, your testing approach, and a link to GitHub or a portfolio if you have one.
BI & Data
Tools and platforms, the scale of data you worked with, and the business decision your work actually changed.
PMO
Methodology (Agile, Waterfall, hybrid), project size and budget, and who your stakeholders were.
ERP
The systems and modules you know, versions, and how many go-lives you've been part of.
Service Delivery
ITIL or equivalent, the SLAs you owned, team size, and how you improved the service.
Digital Marketing
Channels and tools, budgets managed, and results in real numbers.
Specialisation
Make sure we can see
Infrastructure
Platforms and vendors you've run, the size and complexity of the environment, and current certifications.
Development & Testing
Languages and frameworks, the type of product you built, your testing approach, and a link to GitHub or a portfolio if you have one.
BI & Data
Tools and platforms, the scale of data you worked with, and the business decision your work actually changed.
PMO
Methodology (Agile, Waterfall, hybrid), project size and budget, and who your stakeholders were.
ERP
The systems and modules you know, versions, and how many go-lives you've been part of.
Service Delivery
ITIL or equivalent, the SLAs you owned, team size, and how you improved the service.
Digital Marketing
Channels and tools, budgets managed, and results in real numbers.
YOUR LINKEDIN
YOUR LINKEDIN
Set It Up So Recruiters Find You.
A lot of the roles we fill never get advertised. We find people by searching. Here's how to show up in that search.
A lot of the roles we fill never get advertised. We find people by searching. Here's how to show up in that search.
HEADLINE
HEADLINE
Don't stop at your job title. Add your specialty and your main tools: "Senior DevOps Engineer | AWS, Terraform, Kubernetes".
Don't stop at your job title. Add your specialty and your main tools: "Senior DevOps Engineer | AWS, Terraform, Kubernetes".
ABOUT
ABOUT
Four to six lines. What you do, what you're good at, and what you're open to. Write it like you're talking, not like a press release.
Four to six lines. What you do, what you're good at, and what you're open to. Write it like you're talking, not like a press release.
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
Mirror your CV, then add detail. Outcomes first, tools named. It's the section recruiters actually read.
Mirror your CV, then add detail. Outcomes first, tools named. It's the section recruiters actually read.
SKILLS & CERTIFICATIONS
SKILLS & CERTIFICATIONS
List the ones you really use, and pin your top three. Add current certifications with dates.
OPEN TO WORK
OPEN TO WORK
Use the "recruiters only" setting if you're employed and want to stay quiet. Add the job titles, locations and work arrangements you want.
Use the "recruiters only" setting if you're employed and want to stay quiet. Add the job titles, locations and work arrangements you want.
THE BASICS
THE BASICS
A clear, friendly photo, a custom profile URL, and the right location. If you want Brisbane roles, say Brisbane.
A clear, friendly photo, a custom profile URL, and the right location. If you want Brisbane roles, say Brisbane.
COMMON MISTAKES
COMMON MISTAKES
Small Things That Quietly Cost You Interviews.
Small Things That Quietly Cost You Interviews.
A lot of the roles we fill never get advertised. We find people by searching. Here's how to show up in that search.
A lot of the roles we fill never get advertised. We find people by searching. Here's how to show up in that search.
Sending one generic CV to every job. Tweak your summary and top skills for each role.
Listing every tool you've ever touched. Lead with what you're strongest in.
Vague job titles from your old employer. If your title was "Analyst" but you were doing data engineering, say so in brackets.
Typos. In tech, attention to detail is the job.
Leaving your contact details off, or using an old email address.
An out-of-date LinkedIn that contradicts your CV.
Sending one generic CV to every job. Tweak your summary and top skills for each role.
Listing every tool you've ever touched. Lead with what you're strongest in.
Vague job titles from your old employer. If your title was "Analyst" but you were doing data engineering, say so in brackets.
Typos. In tech, attention to detail is the job.
Leaving your contact details off, or using an old email address.
An out-of-date LinkedIn that contradicts your CV.
CHECKLIST
CHECKLIST
Small Things That Quietly Cost You Interviews.
Small Things That Quietly Cost You Interviews.
A lot of the roles we fill never get advertised. We find people by searching. Here's how to show up in that search.
A lot of the roles we fill never get advertised. We find people by searching. Here's how to show up in that search.
Two pages, clean formatting, saved in the right file type.
Summary at the top that says who you are and what you want.
Skills section with keywords that match the role.
Every recent role shows at least one result, not just duties.
Contact details are current and dates line up with LinkedIn.
Someone else has read it for typos.
Two pages, clean formatting, saved in the right file type.
Summary at the top that says who you are and what you want.
Skills section with keywords that match the role.
Every recent role shows at least one result, not just duties.
Contact details are current and dates line up with LinkedIn.
Someone else has read it for typos.
Want a Second Pair of Eyes?
Want a Second Pair of Eyes?
Let a Recruiter Who Knows Your Field Read It.
Let a Recruiter Who Knows Your Field Read It.
Register your CV with GRIT and it'll be read by a person who understands your stack — not just scanned for keywords. If something's holding it back, we'll tell you straight.
Register your CV with GRIT and it'll be read by a person who understands your stack — not just scanned for keywords. If something's holding it back, we'll tell you straight.
Find your next great hire with GRIT.
Your questions, answered. Get clarity on our services, processes, and how we can help you succeed.
Find your next great hire with GRIT.
Your questions, answered. Get clarity on our services, processes, and how we can help you succeed.
Find your next great hire with GRIT.
Your questions, answered. Get clarity on our services, processes, and how we can help you succeed.