Resume & CV Writing Guide for IT Jobs in Sri Lanka

Crafting a strong resume is one of the most important steps in your job search. At ITPro.lk, we believe every individual brings something unique, and your CV should reflect that. This guide provides general best practices to help you present your experience clearly and effectively, especially for IT and tech-related roles.

Important: These are generic recommendations. It is up to each job seeker to create a CV that best represents their own experience. Our guidelines do not represent the views or requirements of companies hiring through ITPro.lk.

1. Your CV Should Be Uniquely Yours

Just like people are unique, your resume should highlight your strengths, your journey, and your skills. Avoid copying templates word-for-word or following every online trend. Use guidance, but tailor everything to showcase you.

2. Focus on Human-Friendly CVs (ATS Tips Included)

There is a lot of discussion about "ATS-friendly" resumes, especially in the tech industry. Here’s our perspective:

  • We recommend optimizing your CV primarily for humans. Recruiters, hiring managers, and technical leads want to understand your story, contributions, and skill strengths.
  • Most ATS systems used in Sri Lanka are relatively basic. Many companies using email to receive applications. In such an environment, clean formatting and clarity matter more than "hacks."
  • Whether optimizing for humans or machines, always include keywords that reflect skills you truly have. Adding buzzwords or technologies you haven’t worked with can harm your credibility and interview performance.

Keep it simple: Use a clean layout, standard fonts, and easy section headings (e.g., "Experience," "Education," "Skills").

3. What to Avoid in Your CV

Some details are no longer required or relevant, especially in IT recruitment:

  • Avoid including your full postal address.Simply mentioning your city or general location is enough (e.g., "Colombo," "Kandy," "Galle").
  • Avoid unnecessary personal details such as NIC number, marital status, or date of birth unless specifically requested.
  • Avoid long paragraphs. Use bullet points to keep information easy to scan.

4. Essential Sections to Include

Here’s what IT recruiters typically look for:

✔ Contact Information

  • Name
  • Email
  • Mobile number
  • City (not full postal address)

✔ Professional Summary

A short 2–3 sentence snapshot of who you are as an IT professional.

✔ Skills

List technical and soft skills that truly represent your capabilities.

✔ Work Experience

For each role:

  • Job title
  • Company name
  • Duration
  • Key responsibilities and achievements (use bullet points)

✔ Projects (Recommended for IT roles)

Showcase relevant personal or academic projects, GitHub links, or portfolio links.

✔ Education & Certifications

5. Tips for IT-Specific CVs

  • Mention tools, frameworks, or languages you actually used.
  • Highlight measurable achievements when possible (e.g., "Improved load time by 25%," "Reduced support tickets by 40%").
  • Include GitHub/portfolio links if you're in software development or design.
  • Keep formatting minimal, ATS and recruiters prefer clean layouts.

6. Final Thoughts

Your CV is a representation of your professional journey. Keep it honest, clear, and easy to read. Use guidelines as inspiration, but shape your resume to reflect your unique strengths.

If you keep your CV human-friendly, truthful, and well-structured, you’ll already be far ahead.

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