WRITING CV/JOB

APPLICATION
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
RESUME AND CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)?
• A resume is a one-to-two-page document that lists your
experience and education in a concise form. Often your
resume will only receive up to sixty seconds of attention, and
so it must convey the most relevant information in an easily
grasped format.
• A CV usually contains three or more pages and, in addition to
the items on a regular resume, can include separate sections
for your teaching experience, research, publications,
presentations, grants and fellowships, professional affiliations,
associations and licenses, awards and any other information
relevant to the opportunity for which you are applying for.
WHEN DO YOU USE A CV RATHER THAN A
RESUME?
• A CV may be required when:
• Applying to graduate or professional school
• Applying for research positions
• Providing information related to professional activities (e.g.,
applications for professional memberships and leadership positions,
and presentations at professional conferences)
• Creating proposals for grants or fellowships
• Applying for academic positions, including ;
Elementary or secondary principals, superintendents, deans of
schools, Institutional research positions, Teaching, research, and
upper-level administrative positions in higher education.
Though the CV has traditionally been limited to those who have
completed a Ph.D. (or are pursuing one), many more employers and
organizations are asking for CV's from their applicants with only a
Masters or even a Bachelors degree.
A CV should only be used when specifically requested. If you have
any uncertainty about whether to submit a resume or a CV for a
particular position, don't hesitate to call the organization and ask
which they would prefer.
THE CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)
The purpose of a CV is to get you an interview so make it short and snappy. It is
supposed to advertise your skills and accomplishments

It must always cover the qualifications and qualities needed by the employer. If
you are responding to a job advertisement, these are generally outlined.

As the demands of different jobs and employers are different, this implies that
your CV should be changed according to its purpose.
 STANDARD CV LAYOUT
• A standard CV can include the following sections;
Personal
Education
Work experience
Skills: e.g. languages; computer skills)
Other activities
Interests
PERSONAL
• You must include your full name, address, email address, and telephone in the
CV.
• Optional inclusions are:
• Sex
• Date of Birth
• Nationality
• Country of Residence (if different from nationality)
• These kind of information can be included if relevant for the position you are
applying for.
EDUCATION
List academic degrees, beginning with the degree most recently earned or in
progress.

You may wish to include the title any thesis or theses you have written, using the
format appropriate to your discipline
Certifications:
List all relevant certifications and the year received.

Honors and Awards: Receipt of competitive scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships; names of
scholastic honors; teaching or research awards.

Relevant Experience:
Listing of positions (part-time, full-time, volunteer, temporary and permanent) related to the type
of work sought.

The section of your CV is written following the same principles of a strong resume

List accomplishments as well as duties; use action verbs; wherever possible, quantify
accomplishments. List in reverse chronological order.
Other Experience:
Groupings of other experiences (including volunteer work and/or internships)
can enhance your CV. Your experience can also be broken into other categories
such as:
• Teaching, Counseling,
• Administration,
• Volunteer,
• Community, Internship, etc.
• Entries within each section should be in reverse chronological order.
Publications:
• Give bibliographic citations (using the format appropriate to your particular
academic discipline) for articles, pamphlets, chapters in books, research reports,
or any other publications that you have authored or co-authored.
• If you have more than a few publications, you would generally divide your
publications section into sub-categories.
• In fine arts areas, this can include descriptions of recitals, performances and art
exhibits
Presentations
• Give titles of professional presentations (using the format appropriate to your
particular academic discipline); name of conference or event; dates and
location; if appropriate in your discipline, also include a brief description.

• Presentations should be listed in reverse chronological order.

• Areas of Expertise: Particularly appropriate when applying for teaching

positions.
Grants Received:
Include name of grant; name of granting agency; date received; title or purpose of
research project, etc.
Professional Associations:
Memberships in national, regional, state, and local professional organizations
should be listed Also list significant appointments to positions or committees in
these associations. Student memberships in professional associations are
appropriate.
Recent/Current Research:
Description of research projects recently conducted or in progress. Include the
type of research and a brief description of the purpose.
Institutional Service:

List institutional committees you have served on, including offices held, student
groups you have supervised, or special academic projects you have assisted with.

Courses Taught:

List the names of courses you have taught, institution and dates where taught,
and brief course descriptions.

Community Involvement:

Appropriate and relevant volunteer work, community service organizations, etc.

Educational Travel: Names of countries, dates, purpose (typically, only include

if relevant to the position/grant for which you are applying).
Qualifications or Skills:

A summary of particular or relevant strengths or skills which you want to

highlight. Typically, this is not included as a separate section, but addressed in
other sections.

Occasionally, however, it may be appropriate to list special computing, language

or laboratory skills.

References: If you are responding to an advertisement that asks for references,

include those requested on a separate sheet.
CV APPEARANCE
• Your CV should look professional. Use a good computer and printer.
Use high quality paper. Most businesses are conservative so generally
stick to white or off-white paper.
• Max two A4 papers are advisable for a CV.
• Use generous margins and leave a lot of space to enhance readability.
• Short statements are better than long paragraphs.
• Highlight your name, section headings, degrees / diplomas, and positions.
COMMUNICATING YOUR VALUE

• Think about what kinds of qualities are important for the jobs you
are applying for and how you plan to show you have these.
 KEEPING THE CV SIMPLE

• The goal of a CV is to secure an interview for a job. A CV should

be a brief document to get an employer interested in you as a job
candidate
• Eliminate repetition
CV TYPES
• CVs can be organized in a variety of ways to suit your needs.You should
choose the type that works best for you.

• The three main types of CV are;

• Chronological,

• Functional

• Targeted.
Personal details

Bad Example
Good example:
PERSONAL PROFILE STATEMENT

Bad Example

I am a hard-working individual who enjoys working. I am excellent at

meeting deadlines. I have two years of experience in business and I
would like to contribute to a business with my excellent skills and
past work experience.
Good example:

A motivated, adaptable and responsible Computing graduate seeking a position

in an IT position which will utilize the professional and technical skills developed
through past work experiences in this field. I have a methodical, customer-
focused approach to work and a strong drive to see things through to
completion.
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Bad example:

• 1991 – 1992 Collingham Gardens Nursery 1992 – 1996 Stamford Primary School
1996 – 2002 Hall Green Secondary School 2002 – 2004 A-Levels Sandwell Sixth Form
College
• English: A*
• Mathematics: C
• Biology: B
• Geography: A
• Business: C
• October 2004 – June 2007 UCB, Birmingham BSc Psychology
Good example:

• Education and Training 2009 – 2013 BSc Computer Science (Hons) Aston University
• 1st Class Degree with Professional Placement
• Relevant Modules:
• Professional and Social Aspects of Computing (73%) Data Modelling and Database Systems
(59%) Understanding Information Systems (93%) Information Security (67%) Human-
Computer Interaction (80%)
• 2007 – 2009 BTEC National Diploma in IT Hall Green College
• Grade Achieved: Triple Distinction*
• 2000 – 2007 Bournville Secondary School
• 8 GCSEs at grades A*–C.
Good example:
Employment history Jun 2008 – Present IT Manager Maplins
• Mentoring and training new IT staff;
• Researching, installing and configuring new computer systems;
• Ensuring that all relevant licensing laws are adhered to; Keeping up to date with the latest
technologies.
Oct 2003 – Jun 2008 IT Support Officer Ladypool Warehouse Ltd.
• Provided extensive IT support to internal and external stakeholders;
• Installed and configured computer hardware operating systems and applications;
• Monitored and maintained computer systems and networks;
• Resolved, diagnosed and solved network problems and relevant software faults.
Jan 1999 – Sept 2003 IT Admin West London Council
• Produced Requirements Documentation (diagrams and workflow);
• Maintained the computer network and information systems.
1996 – 1999 Various jobs Retail (sectors)
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Bad example:
• I enjoy skiing, hiking, playing football, bird-watching

Good example (when applying for a Business Analyst job):

Hobbies and Interests
• I enjoy reading non-fiction books, solving puzzles and socializing with friends
and family.
REFERENCES
Bad example:
• Mr Evan Tesco Birmingham, West Midlands, B55 1KE, United Kingdom, Europe, World, Universe.
• Tel: 078 4320 3833
• E-mail: evan.sanders82@hotmail.com

Good example:
• Mrs Saima Khan
• Sales Manager Flash Electronics Ltd.
• Address: 24 St Denys Road,
• Postling, CT21 3QF Tel: 0109 228 2091
• Email: khan.s@flashelectronics.co.uk
BAD CV
J O B A P P L I C AT I O N / C O V E R
LETTER
JOB APPLICATION/COVER LETTER LAYOUT

• A job application letter should include the following parts:

• Your address,

• Telephone

• Email and fax

• Date

• Inside address
• Salutation

• Introduction

• Body

• Conclusion

• Complimentary close Signature Your name

• (Enclosure(s)
INTRODUCTION
Excerpt 1

• I am a student at the Hogeschool Utrecht: University of Professional

Education where I am studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration
degree. A key element of the programme is getting a clear picture of business
life. To this end, students are given the opportunity to do an internship towards
the end of their second year of study.
Excerpt
• As a second year student at the Hogeschool Utrecht: University of
Professional Education, I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree
in International Business and Management Studies. I am privileged
to have the opportunity to engage in an 11-week internship
programme
Excerpt
• I am writing with reference to our telephone conversation of 7
September concerning an internship at your company. I am a
second year student of a Bachelor of Business Administration
degree programme in the Netherlands, majoring in Marketing
Management. This course gives me the opportunity to gain work
experience with an innovative company for a period of eleven
weeks.
 BODY
• In the paragraphs that make up the body of the letter, you should move from general
to more specific information.

• Only include one idea in each paragraph. Remember to link paragraphs with linking
words to give structure (e.g. however, therefore, moreover, etc.). Keep paragraphs
fairly short and snappy.

• Refer to your CV to provide some basic facts about yourself:

• As indicated by my enclosed resume/curriculum vitae, I am/have ... Please find

enclosed/attached ...
• Explain how your skills could benefit the company:
e.g., ... and I believe I would have a lot to offer ... Through my ... studies, I have
come to appreciate ...
• Sell yourself with confidence:
e.g., I feel certain that I am qualified to help ... at your company. I am sure I would
...
• Make your appeal explicit:
e.g. I would be grateful if you could ... I would appreciate it if you could ... I would
be obliged if you could ...
• Above all, be original to attract the employer's attention. The employer will not
be impressed if he receives several letters, which are the same.
Excerpt
I am now studying Marketing Management and I hope that I can participate in some marketing
and sales aspects within the NIKE Benelux organization. In this way, I can learn about your
company: for instance, customer behavior, promotion and how to function within a company of
this size.

Excerpt
Besides currently studying in English, I also lived in the United States for seven years and in
various other European countries before that. It is important to me that I utilize the skills I
gained living abroad in a job. Past work experience has taught me that I enjoy working with
people and helping them. I believe I can achieve this through Kelly Detacheringen. It would be of
great interest to me if, besides working on the help desk, I could rotate within the company and
learn first-hand how the business operates.
Conclusion
• Try to only include positive information in your letter.

• If you must mention anything negative, leave it until the end of the letter where it will have less
impact.

• An excerpt from a student’s job application/cover letter follows:

Excerpt

I trust that this letter has given you a good impression. I hope that you will give me a chance to
explain my ambitions in more detail in an interview and that we can discuss the possibilities of
doing my internship at Motorola.
Complimentary close
• Your letter must include a polite ending:
• I hope to hear (look forward to hearing) from you shortly/at your earliest convenience/without delay/as
soon as possible/soon.
• I look forward (very much) to meeting/hearing from you (soon).
• If there is any more information you require, I will be pleased to supply it.
Signature
• Leave a space for your signature between the salutation and your name.
• Your name
• Type your name in full with your position on the line below if appropriate.
Enclosure(s)
• If any enclosures are included, refer to them in the letter but also list them at the bottom of the letter.
There are a number of methods for doing this:
• Encl. Enclosure
• Enclosure: CV
W H AT Q U E S T I O N S W O U L D
YOU LIKE TO ASK ME?
Happy Learning