CV / RÉSUMÉ

What is a CV?

A CV is a personal summary of your professional history and qualifications. It includes information about your career goals, education, work experience, activities, honours, and any special skills you might have.

Three Types of CVs/Résumés

ChronologicalFunctionalHybrid

The Chronological CV When would you use this type?

You have a significant amount of continuous experience, OR

Your experiences have been progressively more responsible.

What is the general outline of this type?List experience in reverse chronological orderMost important information at the top

The Functional CV

When would you use this type?When you don’t have a lot of experience in

the specific area of work for which you are applying

What is the general outline of this type?Group your skills and qualities into 3 or 4

functional areasStrengthen your skills and qualities by listing

where you acquired them

General Guideline It is best to limit an entry-level CV to one typed

page. Be as concise as possible in stating information in each section of your CV.

CURRICULUM VITAE Personal detailsName: Robert BrownAddress: 4 Ash Grove Road, Anytown, OT2 7IR Tel:

0666 364 582 Email: robertb@mktg.ssu.co.uk

Nationality: BritishDate of birth: 12 April 1980Marital status: Single

(1) Personal profileI am reliable, well-organized, and used to working on my own initiative. I am able to prioritize my workload. I am comfortable working on my own or as part of a team.

(2) Key skills Familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel Good problem-solver Confident communicator Self-motivatedAble to cope under pressure Fluent in GermanClean driving licence 

Notes:

1 Give a brief description of your most important personal qualities relevant to the post you are applying for. 2 Key skills relevant to the job may be listed before employment history. Useful phrases include:

Experienced ... Experienced in ... with a good knowledge of ... Fully computer-literate Self-starter (someone who can take responsibility, and work without supervision) Languages: e.g.French (mother tongue), good knowledge of German and English, elementary knowledge of Spanish. [Not ‘knowledges’ with an s.]Or: Fluent/near-native command of French adequate spoken/written ItalianSome knowledge of French and Italian

(3) Work experience2000 – Present Marketing Assistant, Success Solutions

Unlimited, ManchesterDuties include planning and implementing all advertising and promotion, responding to enquiries, monitoring student performance

1998 – 2000 Teacher of English, Churchill School of English, Munich, Germany

August 1996 One month placement in the sales department of Newton Publishing, London

(4) Education Dec 1997 Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign

Language (Distinction)1994–1997 London University: BA in English Literature and

Language (2.2)1987–1994 Minster College Secondary School, Wells

8 GCSEs, 3 A levels: English (A), German (B), Art (C)

3 This can also be called Experience or Professional experience or Employment history. (Start the list with your most recent job and finish with the earliest one. If you have had many jobs, include only your relevant work experience. You should also include relevant training courses, voluntary work etc.)

4 This can also be called Qualifications or Educational qualifications. Start with your most recent qualifications and finish with your secondary education. It is not necessary to include details of your primary education.Useful phrase: expected date of completion September 2015, e.g.An English translation of your institution might be Faculty or School of Economics.Between 14 and 18 or 19 years old you probably attended what is translated as a High School or a Secondary School, where you probably obtained the equivalent of a High School Certificate.

Interests Football, sailing, reading, landscape painting

References (or, Testimonials (US)Available on request

Education This is an important section for recent college graduates or

students seeking internships or summer jobs. Begin with the highest level of educational achievement,

including information such as university attended, degrees earned, grade point average, date of program completion, and so forth.

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN Graduation May 2012Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering GPA: 3.2/4.0

• Always state the grade point scale your school/faculty is using.

•If you are a recent graduate with limited business experience, begin with your education first.

•Highlight achievements and honours, and note extracurricular activities.

•Expand on any courses you took which are relevant to the position you desire, or, specialized training you may have participated in.

•Progress to your part-time or summer employment, and indicate responsibility and achievements.

N.B.

Useful phrases:

I attended…I graduated from (college/university)I graduated in (subject)I majored in (subject)I hold a B.A./B.Sc. degree in …

Specialized Skills

Include skills that make you unique, such as computer skills, or foreign language skills.

Be specific in describing your special skills; name computer programs you know, or how long you have studied a foreign language.

References

In general, do not include the names and addresses of your references on your CV.

It is enough to state that references are available

upon request.

Choose professional references rather than character references. Employers and professors who know you and your work are the best references.

Do’s and don’t’s for a great CVDo:

Keep it brief – it shouldn’t be more than one-two pages long

Write it in order of most recent thing first Set out the information under clear headings highlighted

in bold or capitals Make your most relevant skills (and any experience)

stand out Focus on what you’ve achieved. List things you’ve done

such as e.g. writing for the Faculty magazine or organising an important event.

Include numbers if you can. E.g. how many people read the magazine?

Write with a confident tone, positive language and active words like "wrote", "made", "assisted", "achieved", "organised"

Keep everything short and sweet – don’t use words you don't really need. Lose the I's and a's, and write sentences like "Sold ice-creams in busy café" or "Won school prize" instead of "I played a part in the drama society’s summer production"

(Make sure spelling, grammar and format are consistent and accurate.)

Don’t Make up your skills (or jobs)

Use a lot of fancy fonts, italics or colours – keep it simple and clear

Write long paragraphs and sentences – short statements or bullet points are best

Invent a long list of hobbies to hide the fact that you’re short on experience

Remember

A CV does not get you a job…

A CV does get you an interview.

And, putting time and consideration into your CV is one of the

best ways to prepare for your interviews!