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Home (https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential) » How to Create a Curriculum Vitae (or CV): Proven Success Strategies

How to Create a Curriculum Vitae

(or CV): Proven Success Strategies

How to Create a Curriculum Vitae (or CV)

Curriculum Vitaes (also called “vitas”) and resumes have similar purposes — as jobseeker marketing
documents that provide key information about your skills, experiences, education, and personal
qualities to prove that you are the ideal candidate for a job in an easy-to-digest format.

How do resumes and CVs di er?

 

Primarily used in Europe (http://www.livecareer.co.uk/templates/), CVs di er slightly from resumes in

their use format, and length. In the U.S., CVs (https://www.myperfectcv.co.uk/) are typically used in
academia and is used to outline a jobseeker’s work, past publications, and research projects. Other

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di erences between a CV (http://www.livecareer.co.uk/cv-builder#.V_VJpJMrJBw) and a traditional
resume include:

Paper size: CVs are formatted to A4 paper whereas resumes are formatted to letter-sized (8″x11.5″)
paper.
Personal information: CVs include information such as sex, nationality, date of birth, and marital
status.
Interests: Whereas resumes don’t usually include interests or hobbies (unless they are relevant to
the position an individual is applying for) it is acceptable to include this additional information on a
CV.
Personal photo: While a resume doesn’t typically include a headshot, a photo is acceptable on CVs
and international resumes.

Now that you know the main di erences between a resume and a CV
(https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/Professions-Resumes-CVs), you are ready to create one of
your own. Start by creating the following section headers and then ll in the appropriate information,
one section at a time. This will help make creating your CV feel less overwhelming.

What sections should be included in my CV?

Some of the most important sections on your CV (http://www.livecareer.co.uk/templates/cv-samples/),

in order of inclusion, are:

1. Professional Summary

2. Areas of Expertise

3. Work Experience (in reverse chronological order)

4. Education and Training

5. Personal Skills/Languages (and pro ciency level)

6. Digital Competence

7. Additional Information (including publications, presentations, projects, conferences, seminars,

honors and awards, memberships, references, citations)

Now that you’ve created your sections – and are no longer looking at a blank page – you are probably
wondering how to ll in the content. Don’t fret! It’s not as di cult as it feels. Here is what to include in
each of the seven sections of your CV (http://www.livecareer.co.uk/templates/cv/):

Filling in Your CV Sections:

1. Professional Summary:

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This is your CV’s “hook” and should engage the reader and encourage them to keep reading your CV
while at the same time providing them a snapshot of what you have to o er them.
The professional summary is 4-6 lines and provides an overview of your work experience, two or
three major skill sets, and valuable personality traits or soft skills.
An objective statement (within the professional summary) is useful for entry-level positions, career
changers, or jobseekers looking to transition to a higher position.
Using fragmented sentences is acceptable in CV/resume writing.

2. Areas of Expertise:

These should include your organizational, managerial and job-related skill. Examples include: “Good
communication skills gained through my experience as sales manager;” “Good command of quality
control processes (currently responsible for quality audit);” or “Leadership (currently responsible for a
team of 10 people)”

3. Work Experience:

Start with your most current or recent position and go backward chronologically
Include your Job Title, Employer, Employer’s location, dates of employment, and sector for each
position.
Typically, positions more than 10 years old will not be included, or if they are included, omit dates of
employment and details of the position and simply include them in a bullet-point list.
Highlight positions of increasing responsibility within an organization.
Use present tense for current employment and past tense for past positions.
List experience using bullet points. This makes it easier for your potential employer to gain an
understanding of your abilities.
Each position should contain a mix of duties, speci c achievements, contributions, and
accomplishments.
Use abbreviations only if they are commonly known. Otherwise, write out what the abbreviation
means with the abbreviation itself in parenthesis.
Include quanti able metrics wherever possible, and include speci cs on projects, process
improvements, leadership, management, etc. If needed, create a separate Achievements/Career
Highlights Section and place it before Work Experience.
Avoid using the same words over and over. Manage, direct, oversee, supervise, and command can
be used interchangeably while helping to diversify your strengths. Break out your thesaurus and see
what you can come up with!
Start each bullet point with a strong action word.

4. Education and Training:

Start with the most recent degree or course of study completed. If you are currently pursuing a
degree, certi cation, quali cation, or diploma, write “Current” or “Anticipated graduation, 20XX”

Exclude GPA unless you are a recent graduate. Feel free to list honors, magna cum laude,
summa cum laude, etc.
It is acceptable to leave o date of graduation, but be consistent with all degrees.
Include relevant work experiences, internships, campus organizations, or coursework.
Certi cations can be included in the education section or be put in a separate “Certi cation”
section if you have several.
Don’t include high school unless it is your only education.

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If you took classes in a particular subject but did not obtain a degree, list “Coursework in XX,
School Name, School’s Location” or “XX Studies, School Name, School’s Location.”

5. Personal Skills: This section should include either formal or self-assessments such as languages
spoken and your level of pro ciency in terms of reading, writing, and speaking.

6. Digital Competence: This is a self-assessment of your computer skills and pro ciencies (if
applicable).

7. Additional Information: This section (if included) will contain information on your relevant
publications, presentations, projects, conferences, seminars, honors and awards, memberships,
references, and citations.

General Dos and Don’ts for Writing a CV:

DO NOT include anything that can be viewed as political, religious, or controversial.

DO double check your contact information and make sure your email address sound professional.
DO NOT include an explanation of why you left a prior position.
DO proofread your CV several times and ask a friend to do the same.
DO NOT rely on spellcheck. Double and triple check to make sure grammar and spelling are correct.
Spellcheck will not correct homonyms.
DO take the time to download your document as a PDF and read it for widows and orphans; a
widow is when the last line of a paragraph appears at the top of the next page, whereas an orphan
is when the rst line of a paragraph appears at the bottom of the rst page. This also gives you the
opportunity to adjust formatting issues prior to submitting your CV to a potential employer.
DO NOT use third-person writing on the CV (ex. “lead high-performing teams” vs. “leads high-
performing teams.”

Other CV-related Resources:

Curriculum Vitae Templates & Samples (http://templates.livecareer.co.uk/)
CV Builder (UK) (http://www.livecareer.co.uk/cv-builder)
My Perfect CV (CV Builder) (https://www.myperfectcv.co.uk/)

Helpful Books About CVs and Vitas:

CH Handbooks: A Curriculum Vitae Owner’s Manual
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1463676190/dynamiccoverlettA/), by Will Coghill-
Behrends and Rebecca Anthony (CreateSpace).

 How to Write an Impressive CV and Cover Letter

(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1845283651/dynamiccoverlettA/), by Tracey Whitmore
(How To Books).

 The Global Resume and CV Guide

(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0471380768/dynamiccoverlettA/), by Mary Anne
Thompson (Wiley).

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7/31/2017 Preparing a Curriculum Vitae: Proven Success Strategies | Quintessential LiveCareer

 How to Prepare Your Curriculum Vitae

(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0071390448/dynamiccoverlettA/), by Acy L. Jackson and
C. Kathleen Geckeis (McGraw-Hill).

Other Articles/Websites About Vitas/CVs:

Guide to Curriculum Vitae Writing
(http://www2.coloradocollege.edu/careercenter/images/pdfs/curriculum-vitae.pdf)— a .PDF from
Colorado College’s Career Center.
Curriculum Vitae Resume Writing Tips (http://www.free-resume-tips.com/resumetips/curriclm/)—
from #1 Resume Writing Services & Resume Tips Resource Center.
Writing Your Vita (http://psych.hanover.edu/handbook/vita2/)— from the Psychology Department at
Hanover College.

You can nd more information about resumes by visiting Quintessential Careers: Resume and CV
Resources for Jobseekers (https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/resume-resources/).

CV and Vita Samples for Jobseekers:

Interested in seeing some excellent sample CVs?

Free Sample Resumes and CVs for the Professions

(https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/Professions-Resumes-CVs/)
Sample Web CVs for Jobseekers (https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/vita-samples/)
CV Templates (http://templates.livecareer.co.uk/cv/)
CV Samples (http://templates.livecareer.co.uk/cv-samples/)

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (de nitions and
links) on key college, career, and job-search terms by going to our Jobseeker’s Glossary of Job-Hunting
Terms (https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/jobseeker-glossary/).

To view the original version of this article please click here.

(https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/create-cv-proven-success)

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