Professional CV
A well-structured CV makes a strong impression on recruiters. This Professional CV Template is designed for software engineers, IT professionals, and mid-to-senior-level candidates, highlighting skills, experience, and qualifications in a clean, modern, and ATS-friendly format.
- Professional & modern – Enhances readability.
- ATS-friendly – Optimized for applicant tracking systems.
- Easy to customize – Editable in Microsoft Word and Adobe Photoshop.
Microsoft Word
File Size: 102 KB
Adobe Photoshop
File Size: 3.5 MB
Note: Sample text included for demonstration purposes.
How to Write a Resume
Are you struggling to write a resume that truly stands out? Many job seekers face challenges like showcasing their skills effectively, structuring their CV, or meeting professional resume standards. This guide breaks down the essentials of resume writing and provides actionable tips to help you create a compelling resume.
What is a Resume?
A resume (or CV) is a document that summarizes your education, skills, and work experience. It serves as your personal marketing tool, making a great first impression on potential employers.
The primary goal of a resume is to capture the employer’s attention and secure an interview opportunity.
Use A4 size for most countries, but for the US and Canada, opt for Letter size.
Resume Components
A well-structured resume presents a clear, compelling snapshot of your qualifications and experience. Here’s a breakdown of its essential sections:
Personal Information
This is the first thing recruiters see, so it’s crucial to make a strong impression with accurate and relevant details.
Photo
A professional headshot can add a personal touch, especially in creative industries. However, in the US and UK, it’s generally best to exclude it unless explicitly requested.
Name & Job Title
- Display your full name prominently in a bold, large font.
- Add a professional title that aligns with your current or target role (e.g., Software Engineer or Marketing Manager).
- Consider including relevant keywords for better visibility (e.g., AI-Driven Software Engineer or Digital Marketing Specialist | SEO | SEM | Social Media).
💡 Tip: If transitioning careers, use a job title that reflects your target role, not just your current position.
Your Name
Software Engineer | Full-Stack Developer | Problem Solver
Contact Details
Your contact information should be clear, professional, and easy to access.
Essential Details:
- Phone number – Include the country code for international applications.
- Professional email – Use a clear, professional format (e.g., yourname@email.com). Avoid nicknames or random numbers (e.g., king.john@gmail.com or partyanimal@yahoo.com).
- Location – List your city and country. If applying locally, include your state or province. For international applications, add your country name and country code with your phone number.
- LinkedIn profile (if relevant, to showcase your expertise) – A strong LinkedIn profile can enhance your credibility and provide recruiters with additional insights into your skills and experience.
🚫 Avoid including personal details like your birthdate, marital status, or nationality unless explicitly required.
Profile Summary
Your profile summary is your elevator pitch—a concise, engaging snapshot of your career, skills, and expertise. It should be clear, impactful, and tailored to the job you’re applying for.
💡 Tip: Keep it 2-3 sentences long, focusing on your key strengths and career highlights.
Experienced Software Engineer with expertise in multiple programming languages and a proven track record of delivering high-quality code. Skilled in problem-solving, software development, and cross-functional collaboration. Passionate about building scalable solutions and optimizing system performance.
Work Experience
Let’s talk about the work experience section—arguably the heart of your CV. This is where you get to highlight your career journey and showcase how your skills and accomplishments make you the right fit for the job.
Start by listing your roles in reverse chronological order—your most recent job comes first, followed by the one before that, and so on.
For each role, include:
- Your Job Title: For example, “Senior Software Developer.” This instantly tells recruiters what role you played.
- Company Name: Specify the name of the company you worked for.
- Dates of Employment: Clearly specify when you started and ended your position.
- Key Achievements and Responsibilities: This part is gold. Highlight your biggest wins and the responsibilities you handled that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Make this section impactful—it’s not just a list of jobs but a showcase of your contributions. Employers focus here, so keep it polished and meaningful!
💡 Tip: Use action verbs like Developed, Led, Designed, Improved to make your achievements more impactful.
Senior Software Developer
Company – Country
Jan 2021 – Dec 2022
- Developed and maintained software using Java, Python, and C++.
- Led cross-functional teams to deliver successful software projects.
- Optimized code efficiency and system performance for large-scale applications.
Web Developer
Company – Country
Jan 2020 – Dec 2020
- Developed and maintained web applications using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP.
- Collaborated with UI/UX teams to enhance user interfaces.
- Conducted code reviews and debugging to improve application performance.
Education
Your education section highlights your academic background and qualifications. List your degrees and certifications in reverse chronological order, including institution names and dates.
If you’re a recent graduate or have limited work experience, consider adding relevant coursework, projects, or research to showcase your expertise.
💡 Tip: Recent graduates can enhance this section by listing key coursework, research, or academic projects related to the job.
Master’s in Software Engineering
University Name – Location
Jan 2019 – Dec 2020
Key Coursework: Advanced Algorithms, Machine Learning, Software Architecture, Cloud Computing
Thesis/Project: Developed an AI-driven recommendation system to optimize online shopping experiences
Bachelor’s in Computer Science
University Name – Location
Jan 2015 – Dec 2018
Skills
Your skills section highlights your expertise and qualifications, helping employers quickly assess your strengths.
There are two main types of skills to include:
- Technical Skills – Industry-specific abilities like programming, graphic design, or data analysis.
- Soft Skills – Transferable qualities such as teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving.
You can list a skill like “Microsoft Office” to indicate proficiency in the software. Alternatively, you can phrase it as “Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced Excel functions and PowerPoint presentations” to add more depth and detail to your expertise.
💡 Tip: Tailor this section to match the job description, emphasizing skills most relevant to the role.
Technical Skills:
- SQL Database Management
- Linux/Unix Command Line
- Python, C++, Java
- Web Development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP)
Other Sections
These are the essential sections every resume or CV should include. However, depending on your background, you may need to add extra sections to strengthen your profile.
For instance, if you’re a recent graduate with limited work experience, additional sections can help showcase your skills and achievements more effectively.
Languages
Showcasing your language skills demonstrates your communication abilities and adaptability in diverse environments. This section is particularly useful when applying for roles that require multilingual proficiency or international collaboration.
💡 Tip: Indicate your level of proficiency (Native, Fluent, Intermediate, Basic) for clarity.
- English – Native Proficiency
- Spanish – Fluent
- French – Intermediate
Hobbies & Interests
Including a Hobbies and Interests section gives recruiters insight into your personality and additional skills. It can be especially useful for roles requiring creativity, leadership, or teamwork.
💡 Tip: Choose hobbies that add value to your professional brand.
- Open-Source Development – Contributed to GitHub projects.
- Tech Blogging – Writes about software trends and best practices.
- Hackathons – Participates in coding competitions.
Certificates
If you hold certifications that validate your expertise in a specific field, include them to enhance your credibility. Certifications are particularly valuable in IT, project management, healthcare, and finance.
💡 Tip: List the certificate name, issuing organization, and completion date (if applicable).
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect
- Google Data Analytics Certification
- PMP (Project Management Professional)
Awards & Honors
Highlight any significant awards and recognitions you’ve received in your academic or professional career. This section can help distinguish you from other candidates.
- Winner of XYZ Hackathon – 2023
- Employee of the Year – ABC Corporation
- Best Research Paper Award – DEF University
Projects
You can also include personal projects, such as a website you built for blogging or academic projects you contributed to. This is an excellent way to showcase your practical skills and experience outside of formal employment.
Developed a personal finance app to help users track expenses.
Created a portfolio website showcasing front-end development skills.
Led a machine learning research project on image recognition.
References
The References section allows employers to verify your qualifications and experience, adding credibility and trust. Always obtain explicit permission from your references before listing them.
In most cases, simply stating “Available upon request” is sufficient for privacy and professionalism.
💡 Tip: Choose references who can provide strong, relevant recommendations, such as former managers, professors, or colleagues.
John Doe
Senior Software Engineer
XYZ Tech Solutions
📍 New York, USA
📞 +1 123 456 7890
Beyond this, you can include additional sections such as courses, training, publications, volunteer experience, portfolio, and affiliations if they are relevant to the role. These extra sections can help personalize your CV and make it more impactful.
Now that we’ve covered all the sections and your resume is complete, it’s time to save it. Always save your resume in PDF or Word format, as these are widely accepted and ensure universal compatibility. This makes it easy for recruiters to view and access your resume on any device.
Resume Writing Tips
A great resume is more than just a list of information—it’s a story about you and your career. Here are some valuable tips to help you create a winning CV:
- Use strong action verbs: Instead of saying “Worked on a project,” say “Led a team to successfully complete a project.” This creates a dynamic impression and highlights your leadership skills.
- Quantify your achievements: Use numbers and metrics to demonstrate your impact. For example, instead of “Increased sales,” say “Increased sales by 25%.” This provides concrete evidence of your accomplishments.
- Tailor your CV to each job application: Highlight the skills and experiences most relevant to the role, and incorporate keywords from the job posting.
- Proofread carefully: Typos and grammatical errors can create a negative impression. Review your CV multiple times to ensure it’s error-free.
- Maintain consistency throughout: Ensure your summary, work experience, and skills sections align and support each other to create a cohesive and compelling narrative.
Now that you’ve mastered resume writing, it’s time to bring your CV to life. Choose a template from resumesector.com, personalize it to match your industry, and refine it for the best results.
How to Edit CV
Discover how to update the text and replace the image in this Professional CV Template using Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop.
How to Create Modern Resume in MS Word
Want to personalize this resume? Watch the step-by-step tutorial below to learn how to design and format this Professional CV Template in Microsoft Word.
Download Professional CV Template
By using this Professional CV Template, you can create a polished, well-organized resume that highlights your skills and experience effectively. Download it today and start your job search with confidence!
How to Use This Template?
1️⃣ Download the template and open it in Microsoft Word.
2️⃣ Replace the placeholders with your personal information.
3️⃣ Use a professional font and maintain consistent formatting.
4️⃣ Save your CV as a PDF before sending it to employers.
Job CV