How to Write a CV (Curriculum Vitae)

A CV, which stands for curriculum vitae, is a document used when applying for jobs. It
allows you to summarize your education, skills and experience, enabling you to
successfully sell yourself to employers.

Curriculum Vitae (CV) means "course of life" in Latin, and that is just what it is. In the
USA and Canada CVs are known as résumés, these documents tend to be a more concise
and follow no particular formatting rules.

A CV is a concise document which summarizes your past, existing professional skills,

proficiency and experiences. The purpose of this document is to demonstrate that you
have the necessary skills (and some complementary ones) to do the job for which you are
applying. Literally you are selling your talents, skills, proficiencies etc. A CV is required
when applying for a job. In addition to your CV, employers may also require a cover
letter and a completed application form.

Follow these steps to create a great CV and hopefully achieve the role you are hoping for.

Brainstorming for Your CV

1. Know what information a CV generally contains. Most CVs include your personal
information, your education and qualifications, your work experience, your
interests and achievements, your skills, and references. Also experienced people
tailor your resume to the job you are applying for. Use a modern but professional
format. However, there is no set format for a CV, what you include is up to you.
2. Consider the job you are applying for. Research the company. A good CV is tailored
to the specific job and company you are applying for. What does the company do?
What is their mission statement? What do you think they are looking for in an
employee? What skills does the specific job you are applying for require? These are
all things to keep in mind when writing your CV.
3. Check the company’s website for extra information about the CV. See if there is
any specific information they want you to list in your CV. There might be specific
directions listed on the application page. Always double check this.
4. Make a list of jobs you have held. These can be both jobs you hold currently and
jobs you have held in the past. Include the dates that you began and ended your
term at each particular job.
5. Brainstorm your hobbies and interests. Unique interests or hobbies will make you
stand out. Be aware of the conclusions that might be drawn from your hobbies. Try
to list hobbies that portray you as a team-oriented individual rather than as a
solitary, passive person. Companies want someone who works well with others and
can take charge if need be.
 Hobbies and interests that paint a positive image: Being the captain of your
soccer (or football) team, organizing a charity event for an orphanage,
secretary of your school’s student-run government.
 Hobbies that imply a passive, solitary personality: watching TV, doing
puzzles, reading. If you are going to put any of these things, give a reason
why. For instance, if you are applying for a job at a publishing house, put
something like: I enjoy reading the great American writers such as Twain and
Hemingway because I think their writing gives a unique perspective into
American culture at the time they were writing.
6. Make a list of your relevant skills. These skills often include computing skills (are
you a wiz at Wordpress? Excel? inDesign? etc.), languages you speak, or specific
things the company is looking for, such as targeted skills.
 Example of targeted skills: If you are applying to be a writer for a newspaper,
list that you are fluent in APA style. If you are applying for a coding job,
mention that you have worked with JavaScript.

Writing Your CV

1. Create the format for your CV. Are you going to break each section up with a line?
Are you going to put each section in its own box? Are you going to list all of your
information? Play around with different formats to see which looks most
professional. Aim for no more than the front and back of a standard sheet of paper.
2. List your name, address, telephone number, and email at the top of the page. It is
important to make your name a size larger than the rest of the text as it is important
 for your reviewer to know who he or she is reading about. It is up to you as to how
you format this information.[3]
 Standard format would be to have your name in the center of the page. Your
home address should be listed in a block format on the left side of the paper.
Put your telephone number and email below your home address. If you have
another address (such as your address while you are at school) list this
address on the right hand side of the paper.
3. Write a personal profile. This is an optional part of the CV that is good for giving
your reviewer a more in-depth look at you as a person. This is where you sell your
skills, experiences, and personal qualities. It should be original and well-written.
Use positive words such as “adaptable”, “confident”, and “determined”.[4]
 Example of a personal statement for a CV for a publishing company: An
enthusiastic recent graduate looking for an entry-level editorial position that
will utilize organizational and communication skills developed as a summer
intern at City Lights.
4. Create a section for your education and qualifications. This section can be at the
beginning of your CV or you can choose to list it after other sections. The order of
sections is up to you. List your education in reverse chronological order. Begin with
university if you attended or are attending it and work your way backwards. List
the name of your university, the dates you went there, your major and minor, and
your grade point average or A levels.[5]
 Example: Santa Clara University, English and History 2009-2013 Subjects
include: Medieval Literature, Victorian Literature, Criticism of Poetry, and
History of Great Britain. Obtained a 75% on my 2nd year exams. (If in the
US- Maintained a 3.7 GPA.)
5. Create a section for your work experience. This is the section in which you should
list all of your relevant work experience. List the name of the company, the
location of the company, the years you worked there, and what you did. Start with
your most recent job and work backwards. If you have a long list of work
experience, only put the experiences relevant to the job you are applying for.[6]
  Example: Diablo Magazine, Walnut Creek, CA, March 2012-January 2013.
Fact-checked information, wrote articles for Diablo’s blog, assisted in
researching of material for articles.
6. Create a section for your skills and achievements. This section is where you list the
things you accomplished at your previous jobs, and the skills you have developed
through your experiences. This is also the section where you list any of your
published work, lectures you've given, classes you've taught, etc.
 Example achievements: Successfully took a national bestseller from
manuscript to publication; Received certification in copy-editing from UC
Berkeley
7. Create a section for your interests. You should list any relevant interests that paint
you in the most positive light. Choose several interests from the list you created
while brainstorming for your CV (in Part One).
8. Create a section for other information. Create a section for references. These are
people you have worked with in the past such as professors, previous employers,
etc. that have seen your work and can credibly support praises that they give you.
The company you are applying to may contact these references to find out more
about your previous work. You should talk with the person you would like to list a
reference before actually listing them--it is best to double check that they still have
the same number, are okay with giving you a reference, or that they remember
who you are. Write down their full names and contact information (including their
phone numbers and emails).

Finalizing Your CV

1. Check your spelling and grammar. Poor spelling is the quickest way to get rejected.
If your CV is sloppy or riddled with errors, potential employers will be
unimpressed. Double (and triple) check that you have spelled the name of the
company correctly, as well as any companies you have worked for in the past.
2. Proofread for any sentences that could be written more concisely. CVs that are
concise and well-written tend to do better than long-winded CVs that have
repetitive information. Make sure you don’t repeat yourself--it’s better to list many
of your traits than the same few traits over and over again.
 3. Read your CV as if you were the company you are applying to. What do you think
about the layout and the information written there? Do you come across as a
professional?
4. Get someone else to read your CV. What do they think could be added or taken
out? Would they hire you if they were a company?
5. Check the company’s application page. Look to see if there are any other materials
they would like you to send in along with your CV. Companies may ask for a cover
letter or samples of your work (such as articles you may have written).

What to include in a CV

Personal/Contact details - Include your full name, home address, mobile number and
email address. You do not need to include your date of birth or a photograph unless
you're applying for an acting or modeling job.

Education - List and date all previous education, including professional qualifications,
placing the most recent first. Include individual modules where relevant.

Work experience - List your experience in reverse chronological order, making sure that
anything you mention is relevant to the job you're applying for. If you have plenty of
relevant work experience, this section should come before education.

Skills and achievements - This is where you talk about the foreign languages you speak
and the IT packages you can competently use. Whatever you list should be relevant to the
job and not over-exaggerated, as you'll need to back up your claims at interview. If you
have got lots of relevant skills you should do a skills-based CV.

Interests - Simply writing 'socializing, going to the cinema and reading' isn't going to
catch the attention of the recruiter. However, when relevant to the job, your interests can
provide a more rounded picture of who you are and give you something to talk about at
interview. Examples include writing your own blog if you want to be a journalist, or
being part of a drama group if you're looking to get into sales.

References - You don't need to provide the names of references at this stage. You also
don't need to say 'references available upon request' as most employers would assume this
to be the case.
For more help and advice on what to include in a CV take a look at our example CVs.

CV format

 Avoid fonts such as Comic Sans. Instead, choose something more professional, clear
and easy to read such Arial or Times New Roman with font size 10 to 12, but nothing
smaller. Ensure fonts and sizes are consistent throughout your CV.
 Section headings are a good way to break up your CV. Ensure they stand out by
making them larger (size 14 or 16) and bold.
 List everything in reverse chronological order so the recruiter sees your most
impressive and recent achievements first.
 Keep it concise and easy to read by using clear spacing and bullet points. This type of
CV layout allows employers to skim your CV and quickly pick out the important
information.
 If you're posting your CV, go with white A4 paper. Only print on one side and don't
fold your CV - you don't want it to arrive creased.

How to write a good CV

1. Use active verbs wherever possible. For example, you could include words like
'created', 'analyzed' and 'devised' to present yourself as a person who shows
initiative.
2. There should be no spelling or grammar mistakes in your CV. Use a spell checker
and enlist a second pair of eyes to check over it.
3. Avoid using generic, over-used phrases such as 'team player', 'hardworking' and
'multitasker'. Instead, provide real-life examples that demonstrate all of these skills.
4. Take a look at the company's website, local press and the job advert to make sure
that your CV is targeted to the role and employer.
5. Create the right type of CV for your circumstances. Decide whether the
chronological, skills-based or academic CV is right for you.
6. Don't put the term 'curriculum vitae' at the top of the page.
7. Make sure your email address sounds professional. If your personal address is not
appropriate create a new account to use professionally.
8. Never lie or exaggerate on your CV or job application. Not only will you
demonstrate your dishonesty to a potential employer, but there can be serious
consequences too. For example, altering your degree grade from a 2:2 to a 2:1 is
classed as degree fraud and can result in a prison sentence. Take a look at this advice
and guidance on degree fraud for students.
9. If you're posting your CV online don't include your home address, as you could be
targeted by fraudsters.
10.You should always include a cover letter unless the employer states otherwise. It
will enable you to personalise your application. You can draw attention to a
particular part of your CV, disclose a disability or clarify gaps in your work history.
Find out how to write a persuasive cover letter.