Curriculum Vitae or

Resume:
Which One is Right for Me?
Goals for today
• What is a CV?
• What does it include?
• How is it organized?
• How does it differ from a
resume?
• Where can I get help
writing my CV?
VITA DEFINED
• --a summary of one’s
personal history and
professional
qualifications
submitted as part of
a job, graduate
school, or internship
application process
VITA FORMAT
• No standard formula for
preparing a vita
• Designed around the
strengths and
achievements of the
individual
• Length determined by the
unique experiences of the
individual and the target
audience for the vita
BASIC CATEGORIES

 CONTACT INFORMATION
 EDUCATION/TRAINING
 EXPERIENCE
 OPTIONAL CATEGORIES
 REFERENCES
 CONTACT
INFORMATION
• Name
• Licensure abbreviations (with Name)
• Address
• Phone Number
• Email Address
• Website
 EDUCATION/TRAINING
• NAME OF DEGREE
• DATE OF DEGREE (GRAD DATE)
• NAME & LOCATION OF INSTITUTION
• MAJOR/MINOR/CONCENTRATION(S)
• OPTIONAL INFO
– Relevant Coursework
– Academic Honors
– Study Abroad Experience
 EXPERIENCE
Can include:
– PAID/NON-PAID
– PART-TIME/FULL-TIME
– INTERNSHIPS/PRACTICA
– VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY SERVICE
– MILITARY
• Variations
– SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
– RELATED EXPERIENCE
– ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Organizing Experience
• Chronological
– Jobs organized by date, reverse
chronological order
– Stable employment record put in
best perspective
• Functional
– Experiences grouped by
functional skill areas
– More flexible and creative format
– De-emphasizes employment gaps
• Combination
– Combines the features of
Chronological & Functional
 SAMPLE FUNCTIONAL
HEADINGS
• ADMINISTRATIVE• ORGANIZATION
• COMMUNICATION• PLANNING
• CONSULTING • PROGRAM
• DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
• FUND RAISING • RESEARCH
• GRANT WRITING • SYSTEMS
• INSTRUCTIONAL MANAGEMENT
DESIGN • TEACHING
• TECHNICAL
 EXPERIENCE
INCLUDE:
• position title
• name of organization
• organization’s location
– City & State or Country
• Dates
– Month & Year
• duties/skills used/responsibilities
• accomplishments/results
Sample Vita Category
Headings
• ACADEMIC • PROFESSIONA
PREPARATION L ACTIVITIES
• CERTIFICATIONS • PROFESSIONA
• COURSES TAUGHT L
• CONSULTING AFFILIATIONS
• ASSISTANTSHIPS/ • RESEARCH
FELLOWSHIPS EXPERIENCE
• INTERNSHIPS/ • RESEARCH
PRACTICA INTERESTS
• PRESENTATIONS • SERVICE
ACTIVITIES
SAMPLE VITA CATEGORIES
• Academic Preparation • Professional
• Academic Background Competencies
• Education/Educational
Background
• Professional
• Educational Overview Highlights
• Professional Studies • Course Highlights
• Degrees • Proficiencies
• Areas of
• Thesis
Knowledge
• Master’s Project
• Comprehensive Areas • Areas of
• Dissertation Expertise
• Dissertation Title • Areas of
Experience
SAMPLE VITA CATEGORY
HEADINGS (CONTINUED)
• Professional • Academic Service
Experience • Professional
• Professional Service
Overview • University Service
• Professional • Faculty
Background Leadership
• Teaching Experience • Committee
• Experience Summary Leadership
• Experience Highlights • Departmental
• Research Experience Leadership
• Administrative • Professional
Experience Activities
• Consulting
Experience
• Related Experiences
SAMPLE VITA CATEGORIES
(CONTINUED)

• Scholarly • Memberships/Affiliations
Presentations • Professional
• Conference Memberships
Presentations • Professional
Organizations
• Convention • Professional
Addresses Certification(s)
• Workshop • Certificates
Presentations • Licensure
• Programs and • Special Training
Workshops • Teaching Interests
• Conference • Academic Interests
Participation • Research Interests
• Conference • Educational Interests
Leadership • Professional Interests
REFERENCES
AVAILABLE UPON
REQUEST
OR
LIST ON SEPARATE
SHEET

Other options:
Credentials, Dossier,
Portfolio
REFERENCES
• 3-5 References
– Name & Title
– Address
– Phone Number(s)
– Email (if used regularly)
• Use Combination of References
– Employment, Academic
• Be Sure to Ask Permission
PERSONAL DATA
(GENERALLY NOT INCLUDED)

• MARITAL STATUS
• CITIZENSHIP
• CITY/COUNTRY OF BIRTH
• BIRTHDATE
• HEALTH
• PHOTO
• HEIGHT/WEIGHT
• WILLING TO
TRAVEL/RELOCATE
DO’S
• BE CLEAR, CONCISE, CONSISTENT
• POSITIVE
• CREATE A “RELEVANCY GRADIENT”
• HONEST
• USE BOLD, UNDERLINE, AND/OR ITALICS TO
HIGHLIGHT CERTAIN AREAS

DON’TS
• STATE SALARY REQUIREMENTS
• GIVE REASONS FOR LEAVING EMPLOYERS
• LIMIT GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
• EXPOUND ON PHILOSOPHY
– this may be a separate document
• OFFER ANY NEGATIVE INFORMATION
 COMMON MISTAKES
• DISORGANIZED
• POORLY TYPED/PRINTED
• OVERWRITTEN
• TOO SPARSE
• NOT RESULTS ORIENTED
• IRRELEVANCIES
• MISSPELLINGS, TYPOS
• DOESN’T MATCH OBJECTIVE
TIPS
• KEEP ONE MASTER
DOCUMENT
• UPDATE IT REGULARLY
• TAKE THE TIME TO
TAILOR IT TO YOUR
AUDIENCE
• KEEP IT UNDER YOUR
CONTROL
CV vs. Resume
• Purpose
– Resume = Marketing tool
– CV = History of You
• Content
– Resume = succinct and
relevant to reader
– CV = broader in content but
should maintain relevancy
• Page Length
– Resume = 1 page
– CV = 3 pages and up
Career Center Services
• Career • CCInfo
workshops / • Cooperative
programs Education
• Consulting • GWork Job
• 48-Hour listings
Critique Service • On-Campus
• Online Recruiting
Resources • Career
• Mock Resource Room
interviewing • Experiential
• Career Fairs Education
• Federal Work
Study
Questions?

GW Career Center
1922 F Street NW ~ (202) 994-6495
http://gwired.gwu.edu/career

Monday - Thursday
8:30AM to 6:00PM
Friday 8:30AM to 5:00PM