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Aurelian Spodarec
Aurelian Spodarec
10,801 Points

How do you write a CV for a coding job?

HI,

So I want to apply to a web dev position, front-end, but I'm not sure what or how should I do it.

I got a portfolio which i did last year, and it's kinda 'outdated' as well as it's more of a freelance portfolio, making WordPress sites. I'm making a master piece website. What i mean is that the code is better than ever before. It's not finished, but It will be tonight or tomorrow. I want to show that as my main project saying 'I can code, look at this' lol since the code is pretty good, maintanable, and i got a structure on it.

Now, i do Pure HTML, CSS and Sass, so I'm still learning on these, but that's what i was focusing in the past 7weeks. Still got 3weeks left. My jQuery isn't the best, and WordPress isn't something im applying for.

Now, i really don't give any credit do 'traditional education', nor i have any good degrees, nor anything to say that i achieved it, apart i coudl list what i got without proof. I studied on treehouse, and from time to time i got 'mentored' by other people, that are very good..

Shoudl I make a new portfolio site? if so what should i do? or how? What shoudl i write about my sefl? What about the small description of my self? I have no idea.

Also, all i do is Pure HTML, CSS, Sass, Bootstrap/Foundation, and some weak jQuery. All I can do. I mean, sure i can do pasics of PHP, JS and such.. but they are just basics. I coudl probably do more with PHP than JS< but then, im applying for front-end job.

I mean, I have no idea what to do, or how, i started to write my CV but i ripped it apart. I did look at other CV examples, but again, they are just, either a guy lists 40things he knows, either other guy shows his experience on this that etc.. I don't really have anything apart from the sites im building. And it's just HTML and CSS.

I have no idea what to do : p how shoudl I go on about this?

HI, Steve Hunter i'd tag you if you don't mind : p

5 Answers

Hi there,

The purpose of a CV is to get you in front of an employer for an interview. Nothing else. So, the content of a CV can change depending on the role being applied for and the company with the vacancy. You don't need loads of experience or qualifications to have a strong CV - much of it is a demonstration of your ideas, ideals and competencies.

Your site examples are excellent (apart from the images which take ages to download!). You can pull out key competencies you employed to deliver those sites and include those on your CV. Frankly, an employer will know what you've done, so you can keep all that pretty brief. Focus on development strategies, such as Agile, scrum etc - make sure you know how you will work as part of a team. Make sure you are familiar with Github for collaboration, for example - your Github link doesn't open a Github page.

LinkedIn can be useful too. Get a profile set up and list your skills and knowledge in there. Get others to endorse you for the listed skills.

Lastly, make sure you have no spelling errors on your site. There's nothing worse than seeing stuff spelled wrong - it really puts employers off. For example, on your 'Accomplishments' page - change 'Comming soon' to 'Coming soon'. Detail, I know, but that's what you're up against!

To summarise, find the role you want to apply for and assess the size of the team you'll be part of and what technologies they'll use. Then tweak your CV to enhance those areas, making you seem a candidate that they want to talk to. Then, prep for the interview! Be prepared to talk about team working and collaboration. Also be aware of what is important to that particular company - they may not be a software house so their priorities aren't necessarily about code issues. Make sure you understand how the business works, what it does, who its competitors are and how you can help set them apart in their market place.

I hope that helps.

Steve.

There's some reasonable templates here too - they look good, which does help. But content is key, as well as being efficient in your skills summary. No one wants to read a 5 page CV - keep it brief!

Aurelian Spodarec
Aurelian Spodarec
10,801 Points

Thank you! :) Need to digest it and think about it for a bit.

Aurelian Spodarec
Aurelian Spodarec
10,801 Points

xd I tried to tweak the CV of someone, but it kinda didn't go well? xd What do you think? I don't have mobile phone, so I don't have number, nor I will live on the address anywas : p

AURELIAN SPODAREC – FRONTEND

[address]


E-email: myEmail
Website: http://aurelianspodarec.co.uk/
Github: https://github.com/AurelianSpodarec


I would described myself as a focused and determined individual who always enjoys a challenge. I love learning new things. I specialise in the front-end, to have a good, clean and maintainable goal. 


Skills 
Programming Languages 
HTML, CSS, Basic JavaScript, Basics PHP 


Softwares/Tools 
WordPress ,Basics of Git/GitHub


Frameworks/Libraries 
Bootstrap, Foundation, Basic jQuery 


Experience 

I have experience writing pure code with HTML5/CSS3 (Sass), jQuery and experience with frameworks such as bootstrap and foundation. I strongly embassy on best coding standards, and I put a lot of though to write scalable CSS. I use naming conventions, as well as I use BEM, SMACSS, OOCSS for my projects to keep them maintainable. I'm always going throw the basics and watching conferences on youtube and apply them in the project. 


Education 

Gateway College - 2013-2015
BTEC Level 2 ICT - Distinction*
BTEC Level 3 Graphic Design - Merit
BTEC Level 3 Print Media - Pass
GCSE Maths - C
English - E/D
ESOL - Entry Level 3
English Level 2 - Pass

South Leicestershire College 2015-2016
BTEC Level 3 ICT - Pass


Online Resources
TeamTreeHouse - Present
Codeacademy
Youtube conferences

I don't know xd and I don't care about the education either, not to mentioned I dropped out and they still gave me qualification -_- such a scam educaiton but nwm : p

I don't know xd

I wrote basics of Git and such... because i didn't had chance to work with github with anyone, and i need someone to do so, so i can't practice that on my own that i know. And basics JS and PHP i mean, i get my head around that, but i probably woudn't be able to wirte a lot of code in it.

I don't know xd a bit crap xd

Also, I did get low grate, 'Pass' because i stopped going.. and stopped wasting time.. as you can see my first year i had Distinction * max on all.. but i realised im doing work for nothing.

Anywas, do you think beeing honest about pretty much anything he/she asks me is a good idea? if he says about education for example, I'm going to tell him what i feel towards it etc..?

I recommend learning a little more real programming (HTML, CSS and SASS aren't really programming languages). I recommend diving deeper into learning JavaScript and PHP. It is probably hard to get a front-end developer job if you don't know enough JavaScript and/or PHP.

Good luck! ~Alex

Aurelian Spodarec
Aurelian Spodarec
10,801 Points

HI, thanks.

I know. There are people that are worse than me and got a job. No, they are not, but that's fundamental part of it, and they shoudl be very good. From what i wrote with some devs, they value a person that can write good HTML/CSS, than write it bad and rush JS and PHP.

I know some jQuery and i should study that a bit more. PHP, well, I'm not going to be a back-end dev, i know the basics. OOPHP, I coudl probably get my head around it, but i need more practice on that. JS, the basics.

I need to apply to a job now, and try, because if I don't, I will never know what oportunity I missed, and I'm confident in my HTML/CSS and Sass, especially if they give me some one day training, so i can go on about best practices even more. Meanwhile I can alwasy upgrade my JS while working there.

If you get me : p

OK cool!

Thanks to all :)

I just saw this and thought of this thread.

It may help, it may not.

Steve.

Aurelian Spodarec
Aurelian Spodarec
10,801 Points

Thank you :) I'm sure I can take some inspiration from it.

Looking at your resume sample Mr Bond 007 I will say one thing that will greatly benefit you is having some personal projects to showcase in your resume. Your portfolio should be listed IN your resume, otherwise they might as well not even know if it exists or might miss out on it. A portfolio helps you prove you got some of the skills you are talking of because just mentioning you have them might not be convincing enough. That is just 1 small tip I have for you, I hope that you gave got the position you are looking for.

Aurelian Spodarec
Aurelian Spodarec
10,801 Points

Thank you :) But isn't that obevious that my portfolio is in my site?

I linked my github, and my site, they should check it, right?

But I will do what you said too. Thank you.

Mr Bond 007 - Some people do not assume it is there. Ideally yes but just to be upfront it will be good to link to it directly, the easier you make it for recruiters to find what they want, the better.