Writing a CV (Curriculum Vitae )

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Writing a CV (Curriculum Vitae )

• Nada Vukadinovic

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What is a CV?

• selling tool
• outlines your skills and experience
• opportunity to present yourself in the best
  possible light

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How to present myself?

• Highlight your experience
• Show personal attributes and achievements
• Show your education and related training
• Make yourself attractive, interesting, worth
  considering
• Make the CV short easy to read
• ! do not oversell yourself

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Which elements are approprite for a CV?

• work history
• DOB
• education
• skills
• references
• a photo
• political affiliation
• your existing salary
• number of children
• negative experience
• hobbies interests
• weight, height, health
• list of publications

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Types of CV

• Chronological
• Information included under general headings
  education, work experience, etc., with the most
  recent events first.
• Skills based
• Skills necessary for the job are highlighted.

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How to start?

• EVALUATE YOUR SKILLS
•  What do I have to offer? - what am I selling?
• List down technical knowledge, menagerial
  skills, IT, languages, etc...
• personal strengths interests
• Example
• Bad Sold books to clients located in Slovenia
• Good Increased sales by 17

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Sequence of headings

• Objective
• Personal information
• Work experience
• Education
• Personal characteristics
• Interests

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Objective (Profile)

• Phrase a realistic objective or leave blank
• Examples
• "An executive creative position where extensive
  marketing, writing, management, design, and
  technical skills are required, preferably within
  Database Management.
• Desire a position in the office management,
  secretarial or clerical area. Prefer a position
  requiring responisbility and a variety of tasks.

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Personal information

• your age
• nationality
• Address
• Tel. No.
• E-mail

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Not to include

• Age
• Ethnic identity
• Political affiliation
• Religious preference
• Hobbies
• Marital status
• Sexual orientation
• Place of birth
• Photographs
• Height, weight, health
• There are exceptions to some of these items !

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Education

• listed with the most recent first, including
  results
• professional development courses, again listed
  with the most recent first

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Example

• Education
• MEd University of Manchester 2002
• BA University of Ljubljana 1973
• Training courses
• On-line course
• management The E-Consultants 2004
• Teaching ESP Universtiy of Essex 1997
• Report Writing The British Council 1995

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Work epxerience

• Reverse chronological order!
• Include relevant experience and results
• Grants (honors) awarded

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Work Experience -example

• 1989 to date Quality Assurance Technician
• Created computer applications with the help of a
  programmer to monitor the factory environment.
• Analysed the quality assurance system and made
  recommendations for improvements. These were
  incorporated into the current quality assurance
  system.
• Examined equipment in the factory to check that
  it met the company standards.
• Investigated new equipment installed in the
  factory to make sure that it would comply with
  quality assurance procedures

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Words describing responsibilities

• Responsible for ...
• Planning, implementing, reviewing,
  negotiating, managing, coordinating, evaluating,
  directing, facilitating, inspecting, training,
  producing, providing, informing, executing,
  developing....

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Skills

• Languages (fluency)
• Specific skills (techniques and equipment,
  computer programs, technology and other technical
  skills)

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Words describing personal abilities

• Creative, efficient, proficient, systematic, hard
  worker, prefer to act, well versed in..., willing
  to take initiative, like to work in one place,
  enjoy challenging experience, persistance to work
  underpressure, first-hand knowledge of..., having
  a desire to learn

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Interests Activities

• Optional
• Outside responsibilities and interests

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Useful web pages

• http//www.alec.co.uk/index.htm
• http//www.handsoncv.co.uk/