How to verify a Software developer / IT CV — standards
Software developer and IT CVs (ISCO 2512 for software developers, 3512 for ICT support) are among the hardest to assess. There is no single trade licence to look at, job titles mean different things in different companies, and a list of technologies says nothing about the level at which someone actually worked.
There are official reference points. EN 16234-1, the European e-Competence Framework (e-CF), describes 41 ICT competences on proficiency levels e-1 to e-5. Vendor certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP, CKA/CKAD, Cisco) and ISTQB for testing carry IDs, levels and expiry dates. A rigorous check maps the CV to e-CF competences, validates certificate IDs, and confirms production references and public code. WorkerProof verifies each CV three times against these sources.
What a strong CV must contain
A strong CV maps its claims to EN 16234-1 (e-CF) competences — for example programming, solution deployment or security management — with a proficiency level from e-1 to e-5. That tells you whether the candidate executes tasks, designs solutions or leads on architecture.
Vendor certifications such as AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes (CKA/CKAD), Cisco (CCNA/CCNP) and ISTQB carry a level, an ID and an expiry date. The CV should list all three so they can be checked against the issuer's register rather than taken on trust.
Ask for references to systems that actually ran in production, with the scale (users, requests, data volume) and the stack. This is the ICT equivalent of a work record: it shows the environment the candidate operated in, not just the tools they have read about.
A GitHub profile, portfolio or reviewable code sample lets you see commit history, code quality and consistency with the claimed seniority. It is the fastest independent evidence for the e-CF level a candidate claims.
Degrees should be stated with the EQF level, and bootcamps should be paired with documented practice. Neither replaces the other: education plus applied work is what makes a claimed e-CF level plausible.
Look for concrete evidence of ESCO skills such as define technical requirements and provide technical documentation, plus debug software and utilise computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools. Ask for a sample specification or documentation artefact where confidentiality allows.
⚠️ Red flags to watch for
Questions to ask the candidate
- 01Which EN 16234-1 (e-CF) competences describe your work best, and at which level (e-1 to e-5) would you place yourself — with an example from a project?
- 02Please give the certificate ID, level and expiry date for each of your vendor certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP, CKA/CKAD, Cisco) and for ISTQB, so we can check them with the issuer.
- 03Describe a production system you worked on: what was the stack, what scale did it run at, and what exactly was your part in it?
- 04Which repository, portfolio or code sample can you show us, and can you walk us through a commit where you had to debug software under time pressure?
- 05How do you define technical requirements and provide technical documentation in your current team — and which CASE or supporting tools do you use for it?
The official standards behind the score
WorkerProof checks every CV against this verified matrix.
- EN 16234-1 — European e-Competence Framework (e-CF)
- Vendor certifications (AWS / Azure / GCP / CKA / Cisco)
- ISTQB (software testing)
- Production system references (scale, stack)
- Public code (GitHub / portfolio)
- EQF degrees / bootcamp + practice
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official standard for IT skills in Europe?
Yes. EN 16234-1, the European e-Competence Framework (e-CF), is the official European standard for describing ICT skills. It defines 41 competences, from programming to security management, on proficiency levels e-1 to e-5, in a vendor-neutral way.
How do I verify an AWS, Azure or Kubernetes certification?
Vendor certifications have a level, a certificate ID and an expiry date, so they can be checked against the issuer's verification service. Ask the candidate for all three; a certification named without an ID or date cannot be confirmed.
Do vendor certifications replace a degree in IT?
They cover different things. Vendor exams such as AWS, Azure, GCP, CKA/CKAD, Cisco and ISTQB play the role that trade certificates play in other occupations, while EQF-rated degrees or a bootcamp combined with documented practice cover the educational side. Strong CVs show both plus production experience.
What evidence proves a developer's actual level?
Three sources together: e-CF competences with a stated level, production system references including scale and stack, and public code or a portfolio. Each can be checked independently, which is why they are more reliable than job titles.
Does WorkerProof confirm that a qualification is recognised in my country?
No. WorkerProof verifies documents and the claims made in the CV — certificate details, references, education records and their mapping to EN 16234-1 and ESCO skills — three times per CV. Formal recognition of qualifications is decided by the competent national authorities, not by us.
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