What you really need to know right now …

Hayesha SomarathneB.Sc(Hons) in IT, MSc in CS, Dip in Psy

Curriculum Vitae

Length: Short

Content: All-inclusive summary of skills, experiences, and education

Purpose: Get

employment (or

interview)

Length: As long as it needs

to be

Content: Area-specific listing of education or academic background

Purpose: Detail background

and qualifications

Curriculum Vitae

Origin is Latin-“course of one’s life”

Note “vitae”(vee-tie or vee-te) is the plural form; “vita”(vee-tuh) is singular

Curriculum Vitae

Time goes by fast

Helps you organize important things for your future career (which organizations to join; what is missing

Assists in setting goals

Assists when getting letters of recommendations or applying for other programs/committees

Curriculum Vitae

There is not really a “right” way to do a CV. However, there are some things that make the viewing easier, make you look more professional, and include things reviewers want to see

Your CV may be different than someone else.

What’s important is that you keep one up to date

Curriculum Vitae

Font: Times New Roman

Regular paper white is fine

Font-Size: 12 points

No underlining

Single sided

Margin: I’’ all round

Use bolding and CAPs to have things stand out

Number pages

No graphics

Same font throughout (may vary sizing some)

Full name on every page

Curriculum Vitae

Clear: Well-organized and logical

Concise: Relevant and necessary

Complete: Includes everything you need

Consistent: Don’t mix styles or fonts Curriculum Vitae

Current: Up-to-date

Curriculum Vitae

Full name

Mailing Address: Permanent

E-mail: Obtain email address that will not expire Curriculum Vitae

Phone number(s)

Curriculum Vitae

ALWAYSEducation (always first on the CV)

Honors and Awards

Professional Experience (Employment)

Publications and Presentations

Extracurricular and Volunteer Experience

Interests

OPTIONAL (as needed)

Objective

Certifications and Licensure

Professional Affiliations

Professional Activities

Research

Added Qualifications

References

Curriculum Vitae

Most current first (include your current educational work)

Only include diploma distinctions

Get the schools’ names correct!

Degrees/certifications are what’s important –not the time spent on the Curriculum Vitae

Thesis/Dissertation titles listed

Curriculum Vitae

List with most recent first

Honors/Award Title: Date(s) received

Go back to undergrad but not before – only academic and/or professional

Scholarships count on Curriculum Vitae

No descriptions please!

Curriculum Vitae

Includes anything you were paid to do or was extensive, regular volunteer

Only include those items relevant to academic

List most recent first

Don’t include descriptions

If listing research, include the lab and director/principle investigator

Curriculum Vitae

Extracurricular and Volunteer Experience

List with most recent first

Do not describe

This tends to be the longest list…But watch it!

It’s better to have long-term items or very relevant items and a shorter list than everything listed Curriculum Vitae

Student organizations go here

Curriculum Vitae

AffiliationsOnly those current

Alphabetical listing

Include all dates of affiliation

Note any positions

ActivitiesPast and present

Most current first

Only those very specific to academic/research career

Should be school or university sponsored committees

Include roles

Curriculum Vitae

Research Experience

List with most current first

Make sure you fall under someone, unless it truly was your lab ownership

If you gained grant funds, include Curriculum Vitae

You may briefly describe here (only place on CV)

Curriculum Vitae

Publications and Presentations

Two views on which way to list first (most recent or in order of publication, generally in order of publication so you just add on

Always bold your name in authorship

You may include submitted and/or pending publications and/or presentations

Presentations may be small or large, but should be pertinent enough to talk about

Make sure you have copies of your publications and/or presentations for life of your CV

Curriculum Vitae

Interests are hobbies

List 4 of themCreativity counts/ Be specific

Make sure they are real-Make sure they reflect you

Get something active

Get something group

Added Qualifications should be verifiable

Include language fluency (and level-“fluent,” “conversational,”)

Cultural knowledge may be included, especially if you’ve had hands-on experience or training

Anything special

Curriculum Vitae

References

Normally two referees are sufficientOne academic (perhaps your tutor or a project supervisor) and

One from an employer

Should be non-relatives

References are available on requestUnless specifically requests referees, it's fine to omit this section completely

Curriculum Vitae

What makes a good CV?

Targeted on the specific job

Carefully and clearly laid out

Informative but concise

Accurate in content, spelling and grammar

No single "correct" way to write and present a CV but the following general rules apply:

Curriculum Vitae

What mistakes to candidates make on their CV?

Spelling and grammar 56% of employers found this

Not tailored to the job 21%

Length not right & poor work history 16%

Poor format and no use of bullets 11%

No accomplishments 9%

Contact & email problems 8%

Objective/profile was too vague 5%

Lying 2%

Having a photo 1%

Curriculum Vitae

Tips on presentation

Your CV should be carefully and clearly laid out

Never back a CV - each page should be on a separate sheet of paper

Be concise: a CV is an appetiser and should not give the reader indigestion

Be positive: put yourself over confidently and highlight your strong points

Curriculum Vitae

Tips on presentation – cont…

Be honest: you should never give inaccurate or misleading information

The sweet spot of a CV is the area selectors tend to pay most attention to: this is typically around the upper middle of the first page

If you are posting your CV, don't fold it

Curriculum Vitae

Emailed CVs and Web CVs

Put your covering letter as the body of your email (It's wise to format it as plain text as then it can be read by any email reader).

Emails are not as easy to read as letters. Stick to simple text with short paragraphs and plenty of spacing (Break messages into points and make each one a new paragraph with a full line gap between paragraphs. DON'T "SHOUT": WRITE IN UPPER CASE!)

Your CV is then sent as an attachment. Say you'll send a printed CV if required.

Curriculum Vitae

Further Help

Example CVs, application forms and covering letters www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm

Learning and Skills Council online CV Builder can help you build your own CV in just 12 steps

bab.la phrase dictionary provide useful phrases for CV writing, letters of application, and business letters.

LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com