Step 2: Format Your CV

Step 1: Compile Information for Your CV

The companies and institutions that want a CV need a lot of information on you. The following lists describe the types of information typically found in CVs:

Personal Data

Foreign employers, in particular, may expect to see some the following personal details on your CV:

1. Birthdate and birthplace
2. Nationality
3. Your visa status
4. The International Dialing Code with your phone number
5. Your marital status and the age or your children
6. Languages spoken, besides English

Education

For those just starting their career, this part of the CV is detailed.

1. Specialized programs you enrolled in
2. Grants, fellowships and scholarships you were awarded
3. Any academic awards or prizes you won
4. Titles of your dissertation and thesis
5. Any publication credits
6. Conferences in which you participated
7. Teaching experience
8. Research experience, including the type of project you worked on
9. Professional or scholastic associations and offices held in them

Remember, though: the further you are away from college, the less important this section becomes. The college experiences of someone with 25 years of work experience isn't especially relevant. In that case, simply giving the school, graduation year and type of degree earned is sufficient.

Work History

List your jobs in chronological order, with the most recent appearing first. Include both paid and volunteer positions. Include the following information:

1. Complete contact information for each company listed
2. Descriptions of each job held and the extent of your duties and responsibilities (2-3 lines)

Professional Qualifications

Here's where you highlight your skills! List:

1. Licenses and certificates
2. Professional affiliations
3. Training programs you've completed
4. Computer skills and software knowledge
5. Any other specialized skills that make you look like the perfect match for your desired job

Achievements

Achievements are really the "icing on the cake" of your completed CV. If there is anything not covered in your CV thus far that you think will help you stand out from the crowd, this is the section to include it in.

1. Publication history (since leaving school)
2. Awards (since leaving school)
3. Professional Memberships and offices held
4. Foreign languages spoken (if not included elsewhere in the CV)
5. Interests

Step 2: Format Your CV

There are no absolute rules here, but your CV should look smooth and professional.

1. Pick a clean font. Under no circumstances should you mix fonts!
1. Experts don't always agree, but most sites say simple is best. Don't use any exotic or unusual fonts.
2. Arial is a good "sans serif" font, meaning it has no little "tails" or curlicues on the letters.
2. To start, center your contact information at the top of the first page. Your name, of course, goes first. On the next lines, still centered:
1. Your address. Break up your address as you would on an envelope so that it takes 2 or 3 lines.
2. On the next line, put your phone number.
3. Finally, put your email address.
4. You do not have to put the words "Curriculum Vitae" or "CV" anywhere in this heading.
3. Now switch to lining up everything on the left margin. Arrange your information in order of importance to the employer.
1. If you're just out of school, or looking for postgraduate positions, start with Education.
2. If you want to stress your work experience, start with your Employment History. List your most recent job first.
3. If applying for a job where specialized skills will make the difference, start with those Skills.
4. If you use a template, you may sacrifice that spark of originality that gets you noticed. On the other hand, if you do decide to use a template, don't go crazy personalizing it.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14