cv writing sample

cv writing sample

The Art of Crafting an Effective Curriculum Vitae

1. Introduction to Curriculum Vitae Writing

The term “CV” is usually used in the UK, Europe and the Commonwealth countries. In the USA and several other countries, it is known as the résumé. Most employers looking for professional employees actually require a CV, rather than a résumé. The two terms are not interchangeable – they refer to two distinct kinds of marketing presentation of the candidate. However, this book will be helpful to the person who needs to prepare either a CV or a résumé. It contains advice that could be helpful for writing a résumé. Also, the European and British reader may find opportunities advertised and want to write a résumé. CV and résumé are two different curriculum vitae documents, the similarity of the generic method does two writing makes the connection logical. Think of this book as one of the essential reference books on your shelf and refer to it as you prepare all your personal marketing literature.

In many ways, the curriculum vitae (CV) is the first thing you hand to your future employer as you begin the process of seeking a new job. Your CV may therefore be crucial in securing that first interview. In the case of international organizations, it is the CV that forms the basis for any shortlist in selection procedures. Many professional people seeking advancement in their careers will also find that various organizations, associations or institutions request their CVs before considering extensions of responsibility or awards.

2. Key Components of a CV

Highlight education, related work experience, internships, projects, leadership experience, etc. Consists of bullets (if possible) or a list of your work, education, and experience. In the case of recent graduates, use an objective section rather than the summary section.

Your Resume:

Just a few words about what you are looking for and how the employer will benefit. Your objective should include: – Job title – What number of years of experience? – Some of your top skills – Name of company you are applying to – What’s in it for them?

Objective:

– Your name – Your home address (optional) – Your home city, state (if applicable), and ZIP code – Your home phone number (optional) – Your cell phone number and email address

Contact Information:

Here are the key parts of a typical CV. However, different parts of the world require different kinds of CVs. The academic CV is very different from a CV to apply for a non-academic job. For most non-academic jobs, you must use the standard CV which is outlined here:

3. Formatting and Design Tips

Leave white space and set margins to 1 inch. If your CV is lengthy, use a two-page format, but remember that brevity is a critical goal; the optimal length for a CV is 1-1.5 pages. Even a lengthy CV is not necessarily impressive. It may indicate that the candidate has not made difficult, thoughtfully considered choices about what to include. If an employer is looking through mounds of CVs, the last thing the employer wants is to be faced with lengthy job descriptions to look through. On the other hand, leaving off so many details that the reader cannot fully understand your fits and accomplishments is unacceptable. Use serif fonts for books, reports, articles, and chapters, if your designation allows. Highlight section headings using bold font to aid skimming, but avoid “crowding” the page. Use bullet points to make important things stand out. Avoid long, bulky paragraphs; instead use short bursts of information, especially for paragraphs describing skills or responsibilities. When listing responsibilities and qualifications, use bulleted instead of paragraph format.

Consider the following formatting and design tips when you are creating a new CV or formatting an existing CV. Choose a template using formatting (e.g., bold, italics, underlining, and font) appropriate to your career phase/level and to the discipline or field of the position you are applying for. Formatting and layout should be consistent with or complement the theme of the CV. Your CV should be appealing but not distracting. It should be colorful, but not overly so. Stick to black and one other color, if you choose to use color. Use an easy-to-read, sans-serif font (Calibri, Verdana, Arial) at an appropriate size of 10-12 points (10 points is generally acceptable, but larger font sizes can be used for headings). Use the same font throughout. Make your name stand out by using a larger font size or bold font. Save the “fancy” fonts for headings rather than for text. Potential employers look for style, but more importantly for substance. Your CV should be colorful, but not overly so. Inline outset can enhance appearance. Avoid using columns and tables in your CV; many scanning systems cannot handle layout.

4. Tailoring Your CV to Different Job Applications

The recruiting manager should be able to quickly match your skills to their requirements. By crafting your CV to highlight your skills and ability, you will demonstrate an employment-focused approach that can only contribute to enhancing your job prospects. There are some CV clues that serve as strategic methods to match your application to exactly the kind of position and organization you are interested in. Your CV will have to be structured and element-oriented. Each vacancy, job sector, and even type of organization you want to work in has a particular type of skills requirement. Not wasting the employer’s time with irrelevant information will remove the risk of alienating the reader. Getting through your job seeking to the job-seeking stage opens up some important choices in how you will present your candidacy to the organizations and schools you are interested in. Different color schemes, layouts, and terminology can be chosen that could make your CV unique, not impersonal.

Always have in mind the potential employer’s needs. Each vacancy in each organization or at each school is unique; therefore, it is important that your CV is tailored to meet the requirements of a specific vacancy. Tailoring your application will demonstrate to the potential employer that you have the skills and abilities to do the job. For the job seeker, getting an interview disclosure is simple. It just means learning what information employers are looking for and how to present it effectively. The potential employer is faced with a stack of CVs and has to quickly assess which candidates would be best for their job vacancy. Keep in mind that the recruiter is not worrying about finding the job seeker a new position. The employer is worrying only about filling their job vacancy. Keep this in mind when preparing your application. Quite simply, you have to make it easy for the potential employer to see your skills. Whether through a quick initial glance or a more detailed look, have the information in the format that best demonstrates your ability to do the job.

5. Final Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

If you have good relevant examples of your experience, make sure they are ordered in a way that positions the most relevant and most impressive points first. Format your CV so that it is easy to read and follow. Remember the employer is likely to have many applications, and your CV is your opportunity to impress. Therefore, it is essential to make your CV as attractive as possible, thus generating interest in you as a candidate for the job. The first 10 seconds are crucial. These are the moments to convince the reader that you are suitable. Employer’s positive attitude towards the CV has been shown to correlate positively with their future hiring.

• Make sure your curriculum vitae is well-organized and visually appealing. • Make sure there is a balance of text and white space and that it is easy to read. • Get someone else to proofread it, including checking for typographical or grammatical errors. • Don’t include personal details: gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, nationality, or a photograph. These may lead to biases from the employer and may exclude you as a candidate. • Don’t add personal interests if they are unrelated to the job. • Don’t mix personal pronouns in your CV or title the document as a resume or any other heading. • Don’t lie about qualifications or make claims that can’t be backed up with evidence. • Don’t send standard letters. Tailor your letter and CV to the job you are applying for. • Ensure that your tailoring covers all elements of the job specification and explains why you are the person to undertake these duties.