The CV

A computing student's CV: sections, order, experience lines that show a result, posting keywords and automated screening.

  • 24 cards
  • 5 topics
  • Free

The outline, topic by topic

Each topic is weighted the way the exam weighs it.

  1. Concepts
  2. Questions
  3. Sort and link
  4. Scenarios
  5. Understand

A few cards from the deck

  • CV: what is it?

    Show the answer

    A one-page document summarising a candidate's education, experience, projects and skills so that a recruiter can decide quickly whether to meet them.

    A recruiter reads a CV in a few dozen seconds: it is there to make them want an interview, not to tell everything.

  • Which experience line is best written for a CV?

    • Cut home page load time by 40% with a Redis cache
    • Taking part in optimising the performance of several pages of the company's website
    • In charge of improving loading time, with good analytical skills
    • Site optimisation, with a rigorous, motivated and performance-oriented mindset
    Show the answer

    Cut home page load time by 40% with a Redis cache

    The right line has an action verb, an object, a tool and a figure. The others describe a position or qualities, with nothing a recruiter can check.

  • The CEFR has six levels, from A1 to …; B1 and B2 denote the … user.

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    The CEFR has six levels, from A1 to C2; B1 and B2 denote the independent user.

    A1 and A2: basic user. B1 and B2: independent. C1 and C2: proficient.

  • CV headline: what is it?

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    A line under the name that states the post sought and the length wanted, for example "Web developer, 24-month work-study".

    The recruiter knows at once which posting you answer. A title such as "Curriculum vitae" tells nothing.

  • Your CV runs to two pages: one internship, three projects, two unrelated summer jobs, every software you know. What do you do?

    • I shrink the font to 8 points so that everything fits on one page without cutting anything
    • I keep two pages: a serious recruiter reads every line before deciding on an interview
    • I delete the dates from every line to save space, keeping the titles
    • I fit on one page, keeping what answers the posting
    Show the answer

    I fit on one page, keeping what answers the posting

    One page forces a choice of what answers the posting. A tiny font reads badly, and a CV without dates raises doubts.