How to Write a CV (Curriculum Vitae)

Writing a curriculum vitae can be tricky, but it’s essential to make sure it is well written if you want to stand out from the other applicants. The easiest way to do this is by hiring a curriculum vitae writer.

These writers – like those you find at Resume Writing Lab – are knowledgeable about what businesses and employers look for in an applicant. They’ll know how to format your curriculum vitae in a way that looks appealing to potential employers, and they’ll be able to provide you with sample curriculum vitae templates. Hence, you have an idea of how it should look.

If you don’t feel like paying for a Curriculum Vitae writer, and we advise you do, there are other options. There are curriculum vitae writing labs at some universities and community colleges, and some online services will help you. While they may be helpful, you would have to do all the work yourself since these templates are usually too generic.

What is a CV?

Curriculum vitae is a Latin term for “course of life.” Resumes are not considered formal documents. Resumes are typically one page long, while curriculum vitae can be any length. Whether you’re writing a resume or curriculum vitae, it’s important to remember that all information should be relevant to your desired position. Make sure you’re only including work and education history that pertains to the job you want.

Key Sections

There are two main sections in a curriculum vitae: personal information and work experience.

Personal information includes your name, address, contact information (phone number and email), date of birth, marital status, nationality, and other essential facts about yourself.

Work experience is the next major part of your curriculum vitae. Start with the name of your current or last employer, followed by where you worked (city and state). Then include your job title here. Your responsibilities will go further down the page, but don’t forget to mention if you managed people, increased sales, or had other essential or notable accomplishments at work. Education goes below your work experience, starting with the institution you attended and moving down to the degree you earned. The last part of your curriculum vitae should be awards, honors, affiliations, publications, or anything else that separates you from other applicants.

Do’s & Don’ts

Remember to proofread. Careless errors can make an applicant look unprofessional. Include only relevant information, focusing primarily on education and work history. Resumes are concise documents; keep yours to one page if you can.

– Don’t include personal or sensitive information. If you have a criminal record or other embarrassing details in your past, leave them out. If you’re asked for references, provide only the names of former employers or supervisors who are likely to give you a positive review.

– Don’t summarize your CV into a resume. People use resumes when applying for their first job, while curriculum vitae are appropriate when applying for jobs with higher salary requirements or more responsibility.

– Don’t list skills and abilities or critical personal characteristics. Employers aren’t interested in these things, and listing them will take up space that you should use for your work history and education.

– Don’t include hobbies unless they’re relevant to the position you’re applying for (for example, if you’d like to play on the company softball team).

When to Use a CV

There are two main reasons to use a curriculum vitae instead of a resume. If you’re applying for high-level jobs that require significant work experience or education, then you’ll need to use a CV. Curriculum vitae are also used in academic settings; college students who volunteer their time as research assistants should provide curriculum vitae instead of resumes.

Customize Your Curriculum Vitae

One CV can’t work for every job you apply to. Customize your CV before sending it out by changing the name and contact information at the top and adding (or deleting) accomplishments that pertain to specific positions. Don’t forget that if you’re switching career paths or looking for a promotion, then you might need a CV, even for jobs that traditionally require only a resume.

• Start with a professional profile and a shortlist of your core competencies and the value you can bring to employers.
• Use accomplishment-oriented bullets to communicate your professionalism and success.
• Emphasize quantitative results whenever possible (e.g., increased sales, decreased costs) to show that you’re outcome-oriented.
• Carefully review the CV for any spelling or typing errors that might make an employer think less of you before sending it out.
• Carefully organize and rank your CV sections according to the institutions you’ve attended and the chronological order in which you attended them.
• Include a skills section if your CV isn’t long enough to include your relevant experience, education, and accomplishments.

Conclusion

Above all, your CV should be well-organized and easy to read. It should use clear and concise language and structure to be easily skimmed by hiring managers. Your CV may not always get you the job, but a poorly written CV could keep you from getting considered in the first place.

You can get a CV writing service online if you still need help. Remember, a CV is all about proving your potential and highlighting your accomplishments; make sure to include only relevant information and focus on the most recent or impressive experiences you’ve had (e.g., postgraduate degree). Proofread carefully before sending it out.