CV actually stands for Curriculum Vitae and it is Latin which means “course of life”. It is a document that shows a brief summary of a person’s education, previous employment, and qualifications. It is usually used when applying for a job and should be put together well since it is a great way to market oneself.
How does one write a CV? There are important things that should be considered when writing one. Here are some of them.
Have a header that has contact information.
A header is found on the first page and at the top. It contains the person’s name and professional title. It should also include the email address, home address, and phone number. This helps employers know quickly who the person is and how they can be contacted.
Include a work summary.
A person’s work and professional summary should come next. It usually is two sentences long that tells the reader who the CV belongs to and what their top qualifications are. It also tells the reader about the career path that the CV’s owner wants to take or is taking. It must also show that the person is the right person for the job or position that they are applying for.
List your educational background.
A person should list their educational background and this should be done in reverse chronological order. The most recent education they completed should go first. If one is still studying, this should also be included. Listing one’s educational background should include the school (college, university, or school), what the study was for (elementary education, high school education, master’s, doctorate, etc.), any qualifications and distinctions, and date when the study started and when it was completed.
List your work experience.
It is also important to list down all work experience. This would help prospective employers see a person’s career path and experience. This can include any internships, projects, volunteer work, fieldwork, full-time employment, and part-time employment. Always include the position that one held for a particular work experience, the name of the company/employer, the company/employer’s location, and employment dates. In bullet points, the job duties during such work experience should be listed as well and should be no more than four lines.
The work experience should be listed in reverse chronological order as well. The most recent one should be at the top of the list. Any significant achievements during such work experience should also be included.
List any relevant skills.
Any skills or abilities that a person has that is relevant to the job or position that they are applying for should also be listed. Ensure that the skills included are ones that could be used in the job or position. One can also include key skills, core skills, or soft skills. The list can include knowledge of a specific software that can be used in the job or position, courses completed, and other additional ones that would make them a preferred candidate.
Have additional section/s.
Any achievements that are relevant to the job or position being applied for can be added in additional sections in the CV as needed. These sections can include publications, lectures, community service, scholarships, fellowships, grants, honors and awards, professional memberships, fieldwork, study abroad, conferences, and consulting work.
One’s contact information, professional summary, work summary, educational background, and relevant skills are important information that should be in a CV. These help a person market themselves better to their potential employer.
