Working in IT is a dream for many people, but starting a career without prior experience can seem like a challenge. When writing your CV, it’s important to focus on skills, projects, and achievements that demonstrate your readiness to work in this field. Here are some practical tips on how to create a convincing IT CV, even if you don’t have professional experience in the industry.

1. Highlight your technical skills and self-learning

If you’re aiming for a career in IT, technical skills are key. Even if you haven’t worked in IT before, it’s worth mentioning all the programming languages, tools, and technologies you’ve worked with. Self-taught skills, such as basic Python, HTML, CSS, or SQL, are valuable – especially when you show that you’ve learned them independently or through online courses.

How to do it:

  • Create a “Technical skills” section and list all the tools, platforms, and languages you know, even at a basic level.
  • Highlight self-driven educational initiatives such as courses on platforms (Coursera, Udemy) or certifications like Google or Microsoft.
  • Add links to your projects on GitHub or other platforms if you have such a portfolio.

2. Focus on projects – even those you’ve done on your own

Lack of formal IT experience can be effectively replaced by projects you’ve completed on your own or as part of your learning. Projects can showcase your practical skills and problem-solving abilities. These could be, for example, websites, mobile applications, tools, or automation you’ve created.

How to do it:

  • Add a “Projects” section, briefly describing each project: explain what you created, which technologies you used, and the benefits your work brought.
  • Describe achievements or outcomes of each project, e.g., “I created a task management app that helped organize the team’s workflow.”
  • Mention your role and the skills you acquired while working on the project.

3. Highlight your soft skills

IT requires not only technical skills but also soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. If you have experience in other fields, highlight these skills – they can be just as important as technical abilities, especially for junior roles.

How to do it:

  • In the “Soft skills” section, include traits such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, and analytical thinking.
  • If you have experience working with clients, on team projects, or managing small projects, mention this in the “Work experience” section.
  • Show how these skills translate to working in IT, e.g., “Experience in customer service developed my communication skills, which helps me collaborate easily with development teams.”

4. Focus on education and online courses

If your education is not related to IT, you can still emphasize your interest in the tech field, such as completed online courses. More and more employers value candidates who acquire new skills, even if their formal education isn’t strictly technical.

How to do it:

  • In the “Education” section, include completed courses and certifications related to IT, even if they are online courses.
  • Mention courses that demonstrate your commitment to learning – e.g., “Completed Data Science course on Coursera.”
  • If you have industry certifications, such as Google IT Support, CompTIA A+, list them in your CV.

5. Write a clear and convincing summary

A summary or career objective is where you can explain why you’re interested in a career in IT and what benefits your existing skills can bring to the employer. A well-written summary can attract the recruiter’s attention and demonstrate your motivation to work in the IT industry.

How to do it:

  • Write a short paragraph at the beginning of your CV explaining why you’re an ideal candidate.
  • Mention your commitment to learning new technologies and your readiness to work.
  • You can highlight your skills, projects, and key personality traits, e.g., “IT enthusiast with a strong motivation to learn and problem-solving skills.”

When writing a CV without IT experience, focus on skills, projects, and qualities that are useful in this industry. Even if you lack formal experience, demonstrating self-acquired competencies and motivation to learn can convince recruiters that you’re ready to work in IT.

Sources:

  • Indeed, “How to Write a Resume With No Experience”
  • The Muse, “How to Make a Resume With No Experience”
  • LinkedIn Learning, “Writing a Tech Resume With No Experience”