Tips for CV Writing
When many people think of Curriculum Vitae - CVs, resumes often come to mind. However, they are actually quite different. A resume gives your prospective employer an overview of your educational background and work experience, a CV offers much more detailed and specific; oftentimes tailored to your employer’s needs.
When writing your CV, it’s important to keep all your information as organized and clear as possible. While there isn’t a specific rule of style that needs to be strongly followed, there are some methods that seem to work better than others. However, if you choose a style, keep it continuous throughout the entire CV. It looks haphazard at best when one section of the CV offers complete sentences and then further down you see phrases then later on bullets. Choose one that best represents you and stick with it.
A resume is normally one page, two pages maximum. This is because resumes are overviews of your work life. However, it’s not uncommon to see CVs three to five pages long, depending on your extensive work and educational experience. Details are desired and expected, but make sure you stick to the point. Clarity is key. Your purpose is to demonstrate how well your talent and experience match their requirements for the position.
When considering format, most CVs list items chronologically starting with the most recent. Regarding elements, it’s best to start with the most relevant category first. For example, Work Experience listed first is smart when applying for a job and you have a lot of experience. However, if this is your first job or first position in a new field, then listing Education could be a better move. Also, it’s a good idea to include your contact details such as name and phone number on every page just in case pages become separated. Below are a few of the most common elements and what details should be added.
Work Experience – Try to include as much details as you can that also can relate to the desired position. You want to give them a picture of your skills and abilities you developed in the previous position while giving them an idea of how those skills can benefit their company.
Education – list in chronological order, offering all degrees, certificates, thesis and dissertations that is relevant to the position. If you received honours top ranking and/or awards and fellowships, be sure to list those too.
Professional or Academic Affiliations – if you have any affiliations that can relate to your field, add it to your CV. Be sure to include academic affiliations that may not necessarily relate to your field, but is recognisable in a general sense.
References – First, be sure to confirm with the person that you can use them as a reference and let them know the employer may call to check and ask questions. List the most important reference first and include their title, full name, mailing address, telephone number and email address. Periodically, update all contact information before handing in your CV.
These are just the basics of CV writing. For more specific information and tips, please feel free to browse around. Bookmark cvwritingsite.com and stay abreast to the happenings of today’s work force and continual updates that can assist you with your CV writing efforts.