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Writing a CV / Resume
What is a CV / Resume For?
General CV Advice
What to Include on your CV
Writing a CV Resume |
If you are looking for a job, then it is very important that you understand how to offer yourself in the best way to an employer. This is done by writing a 'CV' - curriculum vitae - Latin for 'life story', sometimes called in other countries a 'resume'.
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What is a CV Resume For? |
A CV or resume is simply an "advert" to sell yourself to an employer. You should send a CV to an employer when they ask for one in a job advert, or when you are enquiring if any jobs are available. So it's to make you attractive, interesting and worth considering to the company, so receiving a job interview. An employer may have hundreds of enquiries about a single job and will only choose a few people who appear suitable for interview. Therefore, your CV must be as good as you can make it.
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General Advice |
If you are a student, you probably have access to a career advice office in your place of study. They may have fact-sheets on how to prepare a CV, so make full use of them. However, employers do not want to see CVs that are all written in exactly the same way so do not just copy standard CV samples! Your CV should be your own, personal and a little bit different.
A CV should be preferably typed, well laid out and printed on a good quality printer. Do use bold and/or underline print for headings, lots of different font types and sizes. Do use plenty of white space and a good border round the page, remember to use the spell-check on your computer or check that the spelling is correct in some way. Consider using "bullets" to start sub-sections or lists.
If you are using a computer or word-processor, you can easily "customise" your CV, changing the layout and the way you write your CV for different employers. A busy manager in the employer's office may have to read through 100's CVs in half an hour, and will have two piles containing "possibles" and "waste-bin".
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What to Include |
Personal details - Name, home address, temporary address, phone number, email address, date of birth.
Education - Places of education where you have studied - most recent education first.
Don't forget to include subject options taken in each year of your course and any special project, thesis, or dissertation work.
Pre-college courses should be included, including grades and subjects taken and passed just before college will also be of interest. Earlier courses, taken at say age 15-16, may not need much detail.
Work experience - List your most recent experience first, giving the name of your employer, job title and what you actually did and achieved in that job. Part-time work should be included.
Interests - A prospective employer will be interested in activities where you have leadership or responsibility, or those which involve you relating to others in a team. A one-person interest, such as stamp-collecting, may be of less interest to them, unless it is of particular reference to the work you wish to do.
Give enough detail to explain (If you were captain of a sports team) but they will not want to know the exact date you started, how many games you played and how many wins you had! If they are interested, they will ask at the interview. If you have published any articles or you are involved in any type of volunteer work, do give details.
Skills - The ability to speak other languages, computing experience, or possession of a driving licence should be included.
References - Usually give two names (one from your place of study, and one from any work situation you have had). If this does not apply then use an older family friend who has known you for some time but make sure that referees are willing to give you a reference and remember to give their day and evening phone numbers if possible.
Length - Maybe all you need to say should fit onto a maximum of three sheet of A4. But do not crowd it, do not normally go longer than this and put page numbers at the bottom of the pages - a little detail that may impress.
Style - There are two main styles of CV, with variations within them - Chronological and Skills based:-
Chronological - Information is included under general headings - education, work experience, etc. with the most recent events first.
Skills based - You think through the necessary skills needed for the job you are applying for, then list all your personal details under these skill headings. This is commonly called 'targeting your CV'. It is harder to do, so take advice on whether it is OK in your country and culture, and how to do it best.
Optional extras - It can be good to start with a Personal Profile or Objective Statement, being no more than two or three sentences containing an overview of your skills, qualities, hopes and plans and should encourage the employer to read the rest.
You could add a photo of yourself - either scanned in by computer or stuck on, but make sure it is a good one. The pictures that come out from automatic photo-machines aren't usually very flattering so you may consider getting a friend to take a photograph.
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