Tech CV Writing Guide

Crafting an Effective Tech CV for Barcelona's Job Market

Your comprehensive guide to creating a CV that gets you interviews in Barcelona's tech sector

Quick Navigation

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Getting Started

Core Sections

Final Steps

Remember

The CV is Just a Trailer

Your CV's sole purpose is to secure an interview, not tell your complete story.

Like a Movie Trailer

  • Highlights the most impressive moments
  • Carefully edited to create maximum impact
  • Designed to leave the viewer wanting more
  • Tailored to appeal to its specific audience
  • Never misrepresents what the "full movie" contains

Modern Market Reality

The goal isn't to document everything you've done—it's to present enough compelling evidence that the hiring manager wants to "see the full movie" by interviewing you.

In today's competitive market with hundreds of applications per position, your CV must first satisfy algorithms before impressing humans. Optimizing for both technical accuracy and keyword visibility is no longer optional—it's essential.

Understanding Your Audience

The 3 Key Audiences of Your CV

ATS Systems

Your First Technical Interview

  • Automated scanning and filtering
  • Keyword matching focus
  • Format compatibility critical

Non-Technical Recruiters

Your First Human Reader

  • Quick scanning for requirements
  • Focus on experience and titles
  • Clear, scannable format essential

Technical Managers

Your Final Decision Maker

  • Technical depth evaluation
  • Project impact assessment
  • Problem-solving capabilities

Tailored Content

Content Strategies for Each Audience

For ATS Systems

  • Keyword density: Include key terms 2-3 times throughout the document
  • Exact matching: Use the same terminology as the job posting
  • Skill variations: Include both abbreviated and full versions (e.g., "JS" and "JavaScript")
  • Certification numbers: Include when applicable (e.g., "AWS Certified Developer - #12345678")
  • Bold key technologies: Especially those mentioned in the job description

For Non-Technical Recruiters

  • Clean organization: Clear headings and logical structure
  • Visual scanning: Bold key technologies in each role
  • Experience summary: Years of experience with key technologies
  • Company context: Brief description of company size/industry if not well-known
  • Three-second rule: Ensure most relevant skills are immediately visible

For Technical Managers

  • Technical accomplishments: Focus on solutions, not just tasks
  • Efficiency metrics: Load times, performance improvements, cost reductions
  • Scale indicators: User base size, transaction volumes, data processing
  • Problem complexity: Indicate challenging aspects you overcame
  • Collaborative context: Team size and your specific contribution

Format Guidelines

ATS-Optimized Format and Structure

Document Specifications

  • File format: Standard PDF (most ATS can process correctly)
  • File name: FirstName_LastName_Position.pdf
  • Length: 1-2 pages maximum
  • Margins: Standard (2.5cm/1 inch)
  • Font: Simple sans-serif (Arial, Calibri, Helvetica)
  • Font size: 10-12pt

ATS-Friendly Structure

  • Single-column layout: Avoid multi-column formats, tables, text boxes
  • Standard sections: Clear headings for Experience, Skills, Education
  • No headers/footers: Place contact information in the main document body
  • No graphics/charts: Text-only for maximum compatibility
  • No background colors/images: Plain white background
  • Limited formatting: Use simple bullet points, avoid fancy icons or symbols

Contact Section Example

MARIA RODRIGUEZ
Full Stack Developer
maria.rodriguez@email.com | +34 600 123 456 | linkedin.com/in/mariarod | github.com/mrodriguez
Barcelona, Spain (Resident since 2018) | Work Authorization: EU Citizen
CV Updated: March 2025

Keyword Strategy

Keyword Optimization Strategies

Technical Skills Section Example

TECHNICAL SKILLS
Languages: JavaScript (ES6+), TypeScript, Python 3, Java, SQL
Frameworks: React.js, Node.js, Express, Django, Spring Boot
Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, SASS, Redux, Webpack, Responsive Design
Backend: REST APIs, GraphQL, Microservices, OAuth, JWT
Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL, Redis
DevOps: Docker, Kubernetes, AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda), CI/CD, GitHub Actions
Testing: Jest, Mocha, Cypress, TDD, Unit Testing, Integration Testing
Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Git, Code Reviews

Key Optimization Tips

  • Place technical skills section near the top for immediate visibility
  • Group skills by category for human readers while maintaining ATS readability
  • Use both specific technologies and broader skill categories
  • Match keywords exactly as they appear in job descriptions

Experience Format

Professional Experience Section

Example Job Entry

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Full Stack Developer | Tech Solutions, Barcelona | 01/2020 - 12/2023
- Developed RESTful API microservices using Node.js and Express that processed 500K daily requests
- Optimized PostgreSQL database queries reducing page load times by 40%
- Implemented responsive UI components with React.js and Redux improving user engagement by 35%
- Created automated testing suite with Jest achieving 90% code coverage
- Collaborated with 6-member scrum team using Agile methodologies for bi-weekly releases

Senior Frontend Developer | Digital Innovations SL, Barcelona | 03/2018 - 12/2019
- Architected scalable frontend infrastructure using TypeScript and Next.js serving 1M+ users
- Led migration from legacy codebase to modern React.js stack, reducing bug reports by 60%
- Mentored 4 junior developers and established code review processes improving code quality
- Integrated CI/CD pipeline with GitHub Actions reducing deployment time by 70%

Key Formatting Guidelines

  • Use consistent date format (MM/YYYY)
  • Start bullets with strong action verbs
  • Include specific technologies and measurable results
  • Follow PAR format: Problem, Action, Result

Application Strategy

Tailoring Your CV for Each Application

Customization Strategy

Master CV Management

  • Maintain comprehensive master CV with all experiences
  • Document all projects, skills, and achievements
  • Include metrics and specific technical details

Tailoring Process

Original: "Developed full-stack applications using React and Node.js"

Tailored: "Led development of React/Redux applications with Node.js microservices, matching Company X's tech stack"

  • Prioritize skills matching job requirements
  • Adjust experience descriptions to highlight relevance

Job Description Analysis

Requirements Mapping

Must-Have Skills:

  • • Listed in requirements section
  • • Mentioned multiple times
  • • Used in job title/summary

Nice-to-Have Skills:

  • • Listed in preferences
  • • Mentioned once
  • • In future roadmap context

Research Strategy

  • Review company tech blog and GitHub
  • Check employee LinkedIn profiles
  • Research recent company announcements

Professional Integrity

Honesty in Your CV and Interviews

The Truth About Technical Skills

Skill Representation

  • Never claim expertise in technologies you haven't used professionally
  • List only technologies you can confidently discuss in interviews
  • Indicate familiarity levels for technologies you've briefly used

Example Skill Descriptions

Instead of: "Expert in React, Node.js, Python"

Better: "3 years React.js experience, 2 years Node.js, basic knowledge of Python"

Handling Knowledge Gaps

Interview Strategies

Learning Attitude Response:

"I haven't worked with [technology] yet, but I'd be interested to learn more about it. What role does it play in your stack?"

Parallel Experience Response:

"While I haven't used React professionally, I have extensive experience with Vue.js, which shares many of the same component-based concepts."

Why Honesty Matters

  • Technical skills are easily verified in coding tests
  • Barcelona's tech community is closely connected
  • Learning agility often matters more than complete knowledge

Distribution Strategy

Getting Past Initial Screening

CV Distribution Strategy

Application Channels

  • Direct application: Company website ATS (tailor most heavily)
  • LinkedIn Easy Apply: Optimize LinkedIn profile to match CV keywords
  • Job boards: InfoJobs, Tecnoempleo (Spain-specific platforms)
  • Recruitment agencies: More relevant for mid/senior roles

Digital Presence Alignment

Online Profile Strategy

  • LinkedIn profile keywords should match CV
  • GitHub projects should demonstrate skills listed in CV
  • Personal website/portfolio should reinforce expertise
  • Stack Overflow/Dev.to activity can support your credibility

Sample CV Template (ATS-Optimized)

ALEX DEVELOPER
Full Stack Developer
-----------------------------
alex.developer@email.com | +34 600 123 456
linkedin.com/in/alexdev | github.com/alexdev
Barcelona, Spain (Resident since 2015) | Work Authorization: EU Citizen
CV Updated: March 2025

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
-----------------------------
Full Stack Developer with 5 years of experience building scalable web applications using JavaScript, React, and Node.js. Specialized in API development and performance optimization. Delivered solutions that increased user engagement by 35% and processed 1M+ daily transactions. Fluent in English and Spanish.

TECHNICAL SKILLS
-----------------------------
Languages: JavaScript (ES6+), TypeScript, Python, SQL, HTML5, CSS3
Frameworks: React.js, Node.js, Express.js, Next.js, Django
Frontend: Redux, Webpack, SASS, Responsive Design, Material UI
Backend: REST APIs, GraphQL, Microservices, WebSockets, Authentication
Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, MySQL, Database Optimization
DevOps: Docker, AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda), CI/CD, GitHub Actions
Testing: Jest, Cypress, Mocha, TDD, Unit Testing, End-to-End Testing
Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Git, Code Reviews, Test-Driven Development

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
-----------------------------
Senior Full Stack Developer | Tech Solutions Barcelona | 01/2021 - Present
- Architected and developed e-commerce platform using React.js, Node.js, and PostgreSQL supporting 50,000+ monthly users
- Designed and implemented RESTful API microservices handling 500+ requests per second with 99.9% uptime
- Optimized database queries and implemented Redis caching reducing page load times by 40%
- Migrated monolithic application to microservices architecture improving deployment frequency from monthly to daily
- Led 4-person development team, implemented code review processes and mentored 2 junior developers
- Technologies: React.js, Node.js, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, Redis, Docker, AWS

Full Stack Developer | Barcelona Startup | 03/2018 - 12/2020
- Developed responsive SaaS platform using React.js and Django serving 10,000+ monthly active users
- Created admin dashboard with real-time analytics using WebSockets and D3.js visualizations
- Implemented automated testing suite with Jest and Cypress achieving 85% code coverage
- Collaborated with UX team to implement responsive design principles improving mobile conversion rate by 25%
- Technologies: React.js, Django, Python, PostgreSQL, AWS, Jest, Cypress

Frontend Developer | Digital Agency Barcelona | 06/2016 - 02/2018
- Built interactive web applications for clients in retail and hospitality sectors using JavaScript and React
- Developed reusable component library reducing development time for new projects by 30%
- Implemented responsive designs ensuring cross-browser compatibility and mobile optimization
- Technologies: JavaScript, React.js, HTML5, CSS3, SASS, Webpack

EDUCATION
-----------------------------
MSc Computer Science | Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) | 2016
BSc Software Engineering | University of Barcelona | 2014

LANGUAGES
-----------------------------
English (Professional - C1), Spanish (Fluent - C2), Catalan (Basic - A2)

CERTIFICATIONS
-----------------------------
AWS Certified Developer - Associate | 2022
Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) | 2021

The Journey

Your CV Creation Process

1. Content Collection

Gather all your professional experiences, skills, and achievements

2. Job Analysis

Research target positions and identify key requirements

3. CV Crafting

Write and format your CV for both ATS and human readers

4. Review & Optimization

Refine content and ensure ATS compatibility

5. Distribution

Submit through appropriate channels and track applications