Curriculum Vitae

CVs (Curriculum Vitaes) summarize your education and skills.

They are a popular way of applying for jobs and are most commonly sent with a covering application letter.

Because your future depends on it, it is definitely worth making it look as impressive as possible. While there is no standard CV, we have compiled a list of tips to ensure your CV gets you noticed.

• Keep the layout clear and simple, so information can easily be found
• Don’t use flashy fonts or designs
• When printing your CV, use the best quality paper you can afford
• The standard length for the CV is two pages
• Make sure your spelling, punctuation and grammar are perfect - get it checked by a teacher or adviser
• Your CV should sell you to the employer, so be as positive as possible, but never lie

The following items should appear on your CV:

• Personal details: your full name, address, telephone number and e-mail address, if you’ve got one. If you have a home and term address, give both. Include your date of birth. Also, include whether or not you are entitled to work in the in the UK, if you are not a British national.
• Education: start with your most recent studies, include any extra courses and the titles of any relevant course work or projects you have done.
• Work experience: include paid full and part-time work as well as any unpaid work placements.
• Skills: tailor your skills according to the job that you are applying for. Keep it relevant but do mention computer skills, languages and any other abilities which you have.
• Interests: this will help the interviewer get an idea of what makes you tick.
• References: it’s standard to give two referees – people who can give their opinion on your abilities. One should be an academic reference (tutor, teacher or lecturer), and the other a character reference (not a friend or family member).

Preparing the CV

Resume writing seems to be the part that gives people the most trouble. It isn't that hard if you follow some guidelines.

At some stage or another during your life, you will need to prepare a CV. If you are like most people, you will have many attempts at preparing your resume before you actually get anything decent together. The problem is generally due to a lack in planning.

The key to resume writing excellence is in presenting it the right way. Most people make the error of just listing their experience and qualifications, this ends up being a rather boring document. A good resume should not only demonstrate your skills and experience, but should also give the reader a good indication of the type of person you are. It needs to have personality.

Following are some helpful hints on getting started, Definition of a Resume and Types of CV's.

Getting started

Let's start at the beginning, what exactly is a CV and what is it's purpose.

The sole purpose of a CV is to show the reader what you are capable of.

The CV is your selling document. It needs to be able to show your prospective employer that you are the person that they are looking for. This goes beyond experience, training and skills. It needs to demonstrate your personal strengths, capabilities and the type of person you are.

It also needs to be a concise document. Most employers will skim through all the CVs and put aside only 5-10 that might be worth reading. On average an employer will only spend around 1-3 minutes on each CV. In other words your CV has to stand out from the others.

This does not mean that the CV should be full of graphics, colors or printed on colored paper. Employers feel that if you have to use gimmicks to impress them, then you probably don't have anything to offer. The CV needs to have a clean, professional look about it. It needs to be easy to read and should look balanced.

The format or style you choose depends on the type of CV that you require, but no matter which one, the resume should always be easy to follow and read.

Types of CV's

The type of CV you decide on will depend entirely on the type of position you are applying for. The key is to analyze what the employer will be looking for and ensuring your CV will sell you in the best possible way.

For example if you are applying for a Project Manager position, then the projects that you have handled in the past will be important. Your CV needs to list the type of projects, your responsibilities and any achievements. It is important to show the relevance of what you have done in the past as it relates to the position you are applying for.

On the other hand, if the position you are applying for is more a "hands-on" type of job, then your CV needs to demonstrate your "hands-on" experience in these areas. Again highlighting the relevance to the position.

The Chronological CV is the easiest to write. It should always be written with your current or most recent position first. Showing your responsibilities and achievements that would be relevant to this position.

If the job is more of a technical nature, then you need to prepare a "technical style" resume. There are other types of resumes, Graduates need to use a different approach. A different approach would be used for someone seeking a career change.