Refresh and Adapt Your CV

Why Should You Care

In outsourcing, your CV is not always fully under your control. Most companies already have a fixed template they use when sending developer profiles to clients. That means you'll often just be asked to “fill in the blanks.”

But here's the catch: the quality of what you put inside that template often decides if you get the interview. Clients skim through CVs quickly, and a vague or overloaded CV can get skipped even if your skills are strong. That's why preparing your CV content in advance, even if you don't know the exact template yet, is a smart move.

The Outsourcing Twist

Unlike a traditional job hunt, where you might send your CV to dozens of companies, here the client usually sees just one version, the one your company forwards. That means:

• Your CV is part of the sales process. It's not just about you; it's about convincing the client your team can deliver.
• You don't need to show every technology you've ever touched. You need to show that you are relevant and reliable for this project.
• Clarity wins over quantity. One or two strong, recent projects described well matter more than listing everything since your first internship.

What You Should Do - Step by Step

Step 1 - Get the Template (or Create Your Draft)

• If your company has a CV template, request it early. Don't wait until a manager asks for it the night before a client call.
• If you don't have it yet, create your own draft CV using best practices:
  • A short skills summary at the top.
  • 2-3 recent projects with your role and results.
  • Education or certifications only if relevant.

Step 2 - Focus on Roles and Results

When writing about projects:

• Emphasize your actions and decisions, not just what the team did.
• Keep descriptions clear, structured, and results-oriented.

Step 3 - Prepare for Template Transfer

When the real company template comes:

• Simply copy your polished content into it.
• This prevents last-minute stress and ensures you always have a strong version ready.

A Word of Caution: CV “Polishing” in Outsourcing

In some outsourcing companies, CVs get retouched for sales purposes. This doesn't mean you're not good enough, it's often just how companies compete for projects. Sometimes a developer may be labeled as a “Senior” or even “Architect” in the CV sent to a client, even though their actual role in the company is more junior.

You might not even be told this happened. That's why it's important to:

• Stick to your real experience in interviews. Don't try to play a role you can't back up.
• Align with your management and confirm exactly how you are being presented. Never walk into an interview without being 100% clear on the title and role written in your CV.
• Be prepared to explain what you did and what impact you had, regardless of how the CV is phrased.
• Remember: clients usually care more about how you think and communicate than about a title on a CV.

Closing Reminder

This step is quick, but it sets the foundation. Without a CV that builds confidence, you won't even reach the interview stage. With it, you make sure your skills are noticed and you actually get the chance to show them in the next lessons, technical skills, coding tasks, and behavioral stories.