Tips in Writing a Curriculum Vitae

8/14/2019 Tips in Writing a Curriculum Vitae

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CurriculumCurriculum

VitaeVitae

IS ICT Communication 400

RM 401 St. Augustine Building,

University of Regina Carmeli


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Curriculum Vitae vs. Resume

A resume is a one or two page summary ofyour skills, experience and education. Whilea resume is brief and concise - no more thana page or two, a Curriculum Vitae is a longer

(at least two page) and more detailedsynopsis.


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general outline for a resume

Contact details.

Profile.

Education, qualifications and training.

Career history. Major achievements.

Language skills (optional).

IT skills (optional).

Personal details (optional). References (optional).


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Curriculum Vitae vs. Resume

A Curriculum Vitae includes a summary ofyour educational and academic backgroundsas well as teaching and research experience,publications, presentations, awards, honors,

affiliations and other details. In Europe, theMiddle East, Africa, or Asia, employers mayexpect to receive a curriculum vitae.

In the United States, a curriculum vitae is used

primarily when applying for academic,education, scientific or research positions. Itis also applicable when applying forfellowships or grants.


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Which CV format will work bestfor you?

Chronological

Functional

TargetedAlternative


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Chronological

This is the most traditional format and the oneyou're probably most familiar with. It's alsogood if you're changing fields but remainingin a very similar kind of job. Your career

history is shown in reverse chronologicalorder, with a strong emphasis on job titlesand the names of your employers. This isgood if your current or previous employersare well-known organizations. It also showsyour career development clearly, meaningthat promotions show up well. People likethe Chronological CV because it is clear andeasy to read.


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Functional CV

If you've had a varied career or are seeking tochange direction, this format may besuitable, as it highlights the mainachievements and functions (skills,

competencies or expertise) of your workhistory. Job titles and company names arereduced in importance and sometimes evenleft out altogether. The Functional CV maystrengthen your application if you want todraw attention to skills that haven't beenused in your most recent work. It also worksif you've had many varied jobs, as it allowsyou to sum up your overall experience.


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Targeted CV

This type of CV emphasizes the skills andexperiences that are directly relevant to thekind of job or field you're applying for. It'sextremely useful when you're planning a

change of career direction. It focuses onyour abilities and achievements used not

just recently, but across your entire career. Itcan encompass relevant voluntary or unpaidexperience. It also means that you can aimfor several completely different jobs, using aCV that's adjusted for each.


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Alternative CV

This kind of CV is most often used by talentedpeople seeking work in the creativeindustries - e.g. design, media or publicrelations - as it is highly individual and uses

a one-off visual style. It's suitable only forapplications for posts requiring exceptionvisual or verbal talent, and then only whenthe application is being made directly to theperson the applicant will be working for.


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What personal details and interestsshould you include on your CV?

1. Your name, address and contactdetails should always head the CV, withyour name in a larger font. Also include yourhome and mobile phone numbers, and your

email address. If including a current worknumber, always say whether there are timeswhen it is appropriate to call you. Be surethat you can regularly check whichevernumbers you provide, as the employer maybe trying to set up an interview.


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It used to be normal to provide more personaldetails, such as gender, date of birth andmarital status, at the top of your CV.However, times have changed and it is no

longer necessary to include these details ona CV. If you do want to include any of thesedetails it is best to list them at the end of theCV.


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You might wish to include your date of birth,but it isn't always expected nowadays. If youare looking for a job in the country whereyou were educated, an employer can usually

calculate your age from your educationalbackground. You may be worried that yourage will put employers off. You could omit it,but your Career History will usually givesome hints as to your age group.


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Marital Status doesn't need to be included intoday's CV, although for specific jobs it canbe helpful to be up-front about this. Forinstance, if the job you're applying for

involves unsociable hours or lots of travel,stating that you are single could beadvantageous. This may not seem fair onthe grounds of discrimination, but it's as wellto be realistic about the concerns that mightrightly or wrongly be in the employer's mind.


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Nationality isn't essential. Use your judgment todecide whether your nationality is of concern tothe employer involved and include it if you thinkit is.

Inclusion ofhobbies and interests is entirelyoptional. On the one hand, it helps provide arounded picture of you that goes beyond CareerHistory. Sometimes your strengths can shinethrough in the activities you list, as can yourpersonality type. This section can be especially

useful if you're at the start of your career. Don'tgo over the top, though - list no more than fiveat most. And do think about how your interestsmight be perceived by other people. Train-spotting, for instance, does not have a positiveimage in the public consciousness. Likewise, a

list of solitary activities will not make you looklike a good team player.


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You may want to include your name in a smallfont in the bottom right hand corner of your CV.Use the footer in a word processing documentand include the page number alongside. This isuseful in case the two pages of your CV become

separated during photocopying. When you write your covering letter, make sure

your personal details are presented in exactlythe same way as on your CV.

If your CV is in a Word document, check its

properties. Do this by going to the File menu andclicking on Properties. Look at the Summary andensure your name appears in the Author box.Some employers check this to see whether youhave written the CV yourself!


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Ten more things to leave out ofyour CV

1. Lists of publications If you're a scientist or academic, include these only

if they are asked for. However, significantpublications may be included as achievements.

2. Very personal information Don't include your age (although your date of birthis OK), weight, height, health, sex, race ormarital status. It's irrelevant and some factscould be used in a discriminatory way.

3. Jargon and abbreviations Avoid using any information that won't beunderstood by someone outside your job ororganisation. The exceptions to this areabbreviations recognised industry-wide.


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Ten more things to leave out ofyour CV

4. Poor photocopies Always use good original laser prints. Poor

quality copies suggest you're sending the CVout to lots of companies because you're

desperate.5. Mistakes and typos Always check your CV for incorrect spellings

and factual errors. Then check it again. Thenask someone else to check it. Errors make

you look careless and disorganized.6. Excessive wordinessThis is a working document, so keep it factual

and don't go over the top with

conversational descriptions.


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Ten more things to leave out ofyour CV7. Negatives Don't be apologetic over what you believe may be

missing from your CV. Focus on your positiveattributes.

8. Irrelevancies

Don't include your gap year travel history, previousmanagers' names, the middle name that you neveruse, etc.

9. Cheap paper If you post a printed copy of your CV or you take a copy

of your CV to an interview make sure your CV isprinted on good quality paper. This will make yourapplication stand out and it costs very little to buyquality paper.

10. Exaggerations Stick to the truth. You never know when misleading

statements might backfire.


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Top 10 tips for producing a betterCurriculum Vitae

1. Keep it short and clear2. Make it look good3. Most recent first4. Include many facts5. Not too many lists7. Be accurate8. Adapt it

9. Send a covering letter10. Be truthful

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Tips in Writing a Curriculum Vitae