CURRICULUM VITAE

How to write a CV

What is a CV?

CV standards for curriculum vitae, which means a brief account of your personal details, your education background and career progression. CVS are meant to explain/inform recruiters who you are, what you have done and what you can do. A good CV therefore; accounts clearly what have done/ you are doing at the moment.

A CV should present your knowledge, learning, skills and competencies in a positive, honest way.

Your CV is designed to do one thing: get you an interview. However, on average your potential employer will only spend between 20-30 seconds on your cv/resume (means the course of ones’ life) are neatness, simplicity, accuracy and honesty.

A CV needs to demonstrate that you have the specific skills and experience for the job.

It should create a good first impression and indicate the possibility that you might be the right candidate candidate for the job. It must be simple and easy to read; keep it short( not more than two a4 pages(though this should however  be determined by what you have done) well laid out with wide margins, clear spacing, clear section headings easy to read sections and the information organized in a logical way, capital letters (discretely used) and bullet  points to emphasize.

Keep your CV relevant, it should be specifically written for a specific organization for a specific job not general for any landing. It should match the best talents and qualifications with the particular job requirement. Skills, experience knowledge and capabilities should be put clearly in the CV.

Skills and qualification that feature in the job advertisement should be emphasized. The most important information/ highlight of your key points should be captured on the first page

What makes a good CV?

There is no single “correct” way to write and present a CV but the following general rules apply

• It is targeted on the specific job or career area for which you are applying and brings out the relevant skills you have to offer
• It is carefully and clearly laid out : logically ordered, easy to read and not cramped
• It is informative but concise
• It is accurate in the content, spelling and grammar. If you mention attention to detail as a skill, make sure your spelling and grammar in perfect

When should a CV be used?

• When an employer asks for applications to be received in this format
• When an employer simply states “apply to…” without specifying the format
• When making  speculative applications (when writing to an employer who has not advertised a vacancy but who you hope my have one)

STEPS TO CREATING WINNING CV

Step1-preperation

The first step in creating a CV is to determine precisely which qualifications, skills and personal qualities the job you are applying for demands

Once you know what the employer is looking for, can you then create a unique CV demonstrating you meet their requirements?

Step2-content

• Every CV you produce must match what the company is looking for
• Head your CV with your name, address, email and hone no.
• Use section heading to contain your evidence e.g. education, internships, other work, experience, volunteering, awards, volunteering and achievements etc.
• Don’t just list every module you have studied- highlight key/ relevant modules and use project work to show off your relevant skills
• Try to keep your evidence as unique as possible- this will help you stand out
• Use short punchy statements and bullets points rather than long blocks of texts
• Focus on where and when you feel you have made the biggest impact in the work place

Step 3- format

• No more than 2 sides of a4 in length (this may vary however; depending on your background
• Clear layout of sections
• Use perfect spelling and grammar through out

Note: send your CV and covering letter and other attachments unfolded before the deadline

FEATURES OF GOOD CV

1. Job specific- should have specific information and target specific job/ suit specifications of a given job and highlight key qualifications and skills related to the job targeted
2. Attractiveness- should be attractive to the eye, should capture the appeal through neat and orderly writing style and formatting
3. Correctness- the information in the cv should be correct and true; wrong/untrue information if  detected can lead to unpleasant consequences
4. Clarity of language- language used in the CV should be easy to understand. Avoid confusing, ambiguous, unclear words. Concise language is easy to read

PARTS OF A CV

CV is presented in sections and parts that contain certain information about the writer. The following are standards parts of a CV

1. Introduction

This part presents the writers identification details, name, telephone/mobile number, email, physical address, current residence

Personal details

Has all personal information of the writer such as full name, date of birth, gender, nationality, civic status- single, married/ widowed, divorced , separated etc. unless very necessary, these can be avoided due to negative implications/ interpretations) , languages – that you speak fluently, religion/faith you subscribe to e.g. Christian, Islam, Hinduism,(write the main streams faith)

• Profile

Give a summary of ourselves. The section offers us a chance to market ourselves to the prospective employer. The personal profile outlines your personal characteristics/gives an idea of the kind of person you are, your qualities/ attributes, skills and personal strengths. Such phrases used are: self-motivated, goal oriented, high achiever, innovative, organized, keen to details, excellent skills in adaptable, etc.

Other examples are: well organized, reliable administrative assistant with extensive knowledge of good office practice and a wealth of experience gained in both large and small organizations. Hard working and trustworthy, with the ability to remain calm under pressure/ good humored hard working and dependable with a good eye for detail and able to work independently and in team.

(Career profile egg a professional caterer with considerable experience in all aspects of catering and specific expertise in catering management for large scale operations)

(Career objective states the sort of position you are aiming for. It should include what you do, some of your key strengths, your experience, what you are aiming for e.g.:  a system analyst with a background in business systems interested in a position where the application technology can be used to improve company

• Academic qualifications

State academic qualifications/ achievements starting with the highest obtained to the lowest. Indicate name of the institutions attended, dates, qualification achieved/ professional technical training or skills learnt.

• Work experience

Include places where you have worked, when and positions you have held, duties and responsibilities you carried out. Start with the most recent jobs backwards/ to the earliest.

Eg ten years in sales management, wide experience of/in.., an excellent track record in.., an extensive background in –with a detailed understanding of .., with proven administrative and organized skills, management and supervision of staff, extensive knowledge of purchasing  control etc.

(In this section, you emphasize your key and abilities/ capabilities especially those that relates to the job you are eyeing/ applying for.

• Achievements and responsibilities

Present your successes in the job you have done before e.g. an award, accolades etc.

The success of those under our supervision is also our success and can be included. This includes when in school and also when out of school.

If bank tripled its benefit when you were the manager, then state that as your achievement.

Being a head girl/boy/student council is a major responsibility

• Seminars, workshops and conferences attended

Employers like people who keep growing academically and who improve skills for better performances and productivity through interaction and teamwork. This section allows conferences attended. These forums will add value only if they are relevant to the job being applied for

• Hobbies

Here you state what you like to do during your free/leisure time. Hobbies listed should be relevant to personal health and friendly to the job being applied for.

• Referees

These are personalities of reputation and responsibility in recognized sectors of our society. These could be leaders in religious organizations, managers of learning institutions and corporate sectors, senior civil servants, government officers. Commonly, the requirement is to present three referees but the prospective employer may have a different demand; more or less.

Referees are people who know the applicant well due to the time spent with them in the respective sectors. They are therefore able to give reliable opinion on the applicant suitability or unsuitability for job applied. It is recommended that a separate page is set aside at the end of the CV for the referees.

In addition, the titles, positions/ranks in their respective areas should be highlighted. Titles such as Dr., Professor, and Major are appropriate. Thy should be highly reachable and confirmation of the information about the applicant and should have agreed to be your referee before you post their names in your CV

What should I include in a CV?

A CV needs to include enough information for the recruiter to decide whether you are likely to be suitable candidate, so you should include

• Contact details- name, address, mobile phone number, email address
• Knowledge- educational or professional qualifications, dates of institutions attended, mention grade unless poor
• Skills and competencies- ability to work in a team, manage customers, specific it skills, level of responsibilities
• Work –related experiences- periods of paid or unpaid work, previous employers, job titles, examples of tasks

Work experience

• Use action words such as developed, planned and organized
• Even work in a shop, farming, would involve working in a team, providing a quality service to customers, dealing tactfully with complaints. Don’t mention the routine, non- people tasks (such as cleaning the tables) unless you are applying for a casual job in a restaurant or similar positions.
• Try to relate the skills to the job. A finance job will involve numeracy, analytical and problem solving skills so focus on these whereas for a marketing role you would place a bit more emphasis on persuading and negotiating skills
• All of my work experience have involved working within a team based culture. This involved planning, organization, coordination and commitment in retail e.g. selling at the canteen, this ensured daily sales targets were met, affair distribution of tasks and effective communication amongst all staff members.
• Referees- people who can comment about you; for academic (perhaps your tutor or a project supervisor) and another from an employer (perhaps your attachment).

It is important to tailor your CV to the needs of the recruiter and the particular job. So, if there is a job specification or job description, show how you are a good fit by giving examples of how your experience, knowledge and skills fit the requirements of the job, paying particular attention to the ones marked essential.

If you list your previous jobs and there is a gap between them. It’s obvious best to explain why. An unexplained gap can be interpreted adversely.

Reasons for gaps may include;

• Contract ended
• Left to continue full- time education
• Took a career break to raise a family
• Made redundant

How long should a CV be?

Ideally a CV should be longer than two sides of a4. Overlong CV may not be read to the end or at all.

Do I need to include a personal summary?

It’s not essential and choosing whether or not to add one to your CV comes to personal choice. If you do decide to include one, it should ideally be one no more than four lines long and follow immediately after your personal details at the top of your CV

Personal summaries should be written in strong, positive language and include information on who you are, what skills you can offer and generally what you are looking or in your next role.

Do I list work experience or education first

This depends on the type of CV you are creating and how much work experience you have. If you have recently graduated and don’t have much work experience it is probably best to start with your education.

How should I present my CV?

Aim to put your most attractive feature towards the beginning of your CV where it will noticed by a recruiter. Similarly, construct a strong finish with a closing remark that is positive and enthusiastic.

Don’t be tempted to keep the length of your CV under control by using a small font or closely packed lines of text. Instead arrange text with space around it. You can use tables or text boxes and easy to read font such as Arial or Verdana to ensure a clear layout; use bold font and capitals sparingly and avoid the use of underline.

If you’re not a confident speller, have your CV checked by someone you trust. Often computerized spell checks don’t pick up every error.

If you need to post a hard copy of your CV, use good quality paper, staple rather than clip pages together and use an envelope large enough to keep the cv flat in transit. Unless you are advised otherwise by the recruiter, your CV should be accompanied by a cover letter.

Why you need to use a spell checker

• Proven ability to track down and correct errors
• I have good written communication skills
• Learnt word perfect computer and spreadsheet programs
• Develops an annual operating expense budget
• Good customer service skills

And why you must read it carefully as well

• Extra circular activities
• But I was not allowed to be captain
• At secondary school I was a prefix
• I hope to hear from you shortly
• I have a desire to work with commuters
• Dear madman (instead of madam)
• I am sicking and entry –level position
• In charge of sock control- instead of stock control
• I am an accurate and rapid typist

Examples of CVs

The most common mistake when writing when a CV is to prepare a standard CV and then send it to all recruiters and for all types of jobs without amending it to suit the particular job or recruiter

This can be problematic because you risk your CV looking impersonal and standardized. It could also lead to you not presenting your learning skills and interests and a targeted way.

Traditional CV

The traditional CV, sometimes known as a chronological CV is used to match your qualifications and work experience with the requirements for the job role. The CV is structured in reverse chronological order i.e. the most recent qualifications and experience are listed first

This type of CV is easy for employers to identify potential candidates. This format allows you to provide clear details of your qualifications, work history and responsibilities which match the criteria provided in the job description.

It’s important to include

• Date- cover any gaps in your history
• Qualifications and work experience- match these to the role you’re applying for
• Additional skills and knowledge- cover essential criteria for the role

Do I need to write a cover letter?

Yes, a cover will enable you to further tailor your comments to the requirement of the job role. It also helps to highlight any aspect that you want to draw to the attention of the recruiter