A FEW CRITICAL TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR

FIRST CURRICULUM VITAE

BY YASEMIN ALTASADAPTED BY LAURA MCNABB

WHAT IS THE CV ( CURRICULUM VITAE) FOR?

1. Your identity2. To obtain a personal interview

A CURRICULUM VITAE SHOULD GIVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE FOLLOWING :

What do I want to convey (my career objectives)?

What are my core skills/competencies?

What are my major achievements?

THE BASIC COMPONENTS OF A CV

A. Cover letter

B. CV

1. Contact information

2. Objectives

3. Personal profile

4. Education background (starting from most recent)

5. Employment experience

6. Professional affiliations and honors

7. Publications, presentations, skills and other activities

8. References

OTHER CRITICAL THINGS YOU CV SHOULD HAVE:

Hobbies and extra-curricular interests only when these match or complement the job

Clear formatting - recruiters will give each Curriculum Vitae a maximum 10 seconds

Neat typing & font Correct English, simple and short sentences

(preferably in bullet points) Correct spelling and punctuation Correct contact information

LET’S GET STARTED

Step 1: Contact information(5 min.)

In groups, discuss WHAT to include and HOW to format this part

STEP 1: CONTACT INFORMATION• Name• Address• Depending on demand: • Nationality• Date of Birth• Marital status

• Contact Information

1. Telephone & E-mail (make sure it’s business-like!)

princess123@hotmail.com sweetalyabkr@yahoo.com noname1984@hotmail.com

VERY Significant: NO ERRORS!!!

STEP 4: EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Look at the sample CV.

Maintain reverse chronological order (most recent on top)

Be consistent in your formattingDate received Degree Institution Location

No abbreviationsNo gaps in the timeline- if there are, be

prepared to explain these.

STEP 5: EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

Look at the sample CV. How is the information organized?

• Reverse chronological order• Subheadings: full time/ part time/

duties• Avoid gaps in timelines/ or explain• Format: • Date/ Period of employment

Job Title Name of the organization/company duties

EG: Find the 5 mistakes.

2010 Sales managerEntrepreneur Showcase, Dubai Women’s college. Duties:

- I Dealt with product demand.- Dealt with customer relations- Negotiated sales prize with product suppliers.- Training two year-one students as sales assistants

STEP 6: PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & HONORS

This part can make the difference!

Memberships

Elected positions

Certificates received from organizations

Try to stay modest!

WHAT ARE YOUR MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS?

Student = no real professional experience yet so your major achievements would be mostly in the field of academics.

Make sure you highlight the best of such achievements in your CV.(Special projects/ tasks you completed successfully, relevant certificates)

Include IELTS/ ICDL/ British Council certificates

EG:

IELTS ( International English Language Testing System) BAND 6Cambridge University, UK.

2010

STEP 7: PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, SKILLS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

- IT SKILLS- LANGUAGE/ LINGUISTIC SKILLS- MANAGEMENT/ ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS- PERSONAL SKILLS- PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

CATEGORIZE: COMPETENT/ INTERMEDIATE/ BEGINNER

LEISURE ACTIVITIES: WATCHING TV/ CHATTING ON THE INTERNET DOES NOT QUALIFY!

STEP 8: REFERENCES

Available upon request

STEP 2: OBJECTIVES

Focuses on the TYPE of work you apply for

- SHOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT FROM THE JOB/ INSTITUTION

- MATCH YOUR OBJECTIVE TO THE POSITION YOU ARE APPLYING FOR.

WRITING YOUR CAREER OBJECTIVE:

- What job are you applying for? - In which industry are you interested? (e.g.

Marketing)- Qualities that support your goal (e.g.

qualifications, high-profile projects)

  );

 

Sample Career Objectives—Contrast and Compare

A poorly-constructed career objective statement is often worse than none at all. Consider these examples:

CAREER OBJECTIVE EXAMPLE #1

I would prefer a job in retail sales that will give me the opportunity to further my already-extensive understanding as regards the creation and monitoring of in-store promotions of cosmetics to customers, with a view to later advancement to a more senior-level position.

CAREER OBJECTIVE EXAMPLE #2

Seeking a retail sales position that demands proficiency in the creation and monitoring of in-store promotions of cosmetics to customers.

What is the difference between these two career objective examples?

SAMPLE CV OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS:

2. To secure a position with a well established organization with a stable environment that will lead to a lasting relationship.

(BAD! WHY?)

3. TO OBTAIN A POSITION THAT WILL ENABLE ME TO USE MY STRONG ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS, EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, AND ABILITY TO WORK WELL WITH PEOPLE. (BAD! WHY?)

4. TO OBTAIN A POSITION AS A DESIGNER IN THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT THAT UTILIZES MY WRITING SKILLS AND ENABLES ME TO MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORGANIZATION.

STEP 3 PERSONAL PROFILE (2-3 LINES)

Without a profile, your chances of your CV being read are greatly reduced.

Tells the employer who you are and what YOU can do for THEM

Focuses on your skills & achievements

Specify your skills- EG. Time management, planning, leadership

- A PERSONAL PROFILE IS USUALLY THE FIRST THING AN EMPLOYER LOOKS AT- SO CAPTURE THEIR ATTENTION!

- PROMOTE YOUR SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS

KEYWORDS Professional Dynamic Multinational Able to multitask Enthusiastic Eager Knowledgeable Team leader Efficient Experienced Well-organized Conscientious Hardworking Adaptable Ambitious

Knowledge Skills (Have) Expertise Negotiator Good

communicator (Have) keen

interest Challenging

environment

MORE EXAMPLESFor those with little/ no work experience:

A hardworking person who is keen and conscientious with an excellent attendance record at school. I am interested in an office based career where I can use the qualifications I gained at school.

I am keen to follow a career in Tourism or Hotel Management. I am well-organized, highly motivated and have excellent communication skills. In addition I am reliable, flexible, and quick to learn.

A reliable and conscientious employee with good customer service skills and a proven record of achieving targets and goals, looking to train towards recognised qualifications in the work place.

FOR UNDERGRADUATES/GRADUATES:

Adaptable and ambitious business studies undergraduate with proven customer service skills and an excellent understanding of business finance, keen to take on the daily challenges and rewards of working.

A business graduate with a keen interest in practical applications and information systems, seeking a career where a background in problem-solving would be an advantage.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and an ability to relate to a wide range of people. Particularly interested in economic processes, financial systems and globalization and am keen to develop a career in this field with an organization that will provide me with early responsibility.

• Science graduate with experience in health service management studying management information systems, seeking to combine work and academic experience in management consultancy in the health care industry.

FINAL CHECKLIST

PRINT OUT YOUR CV AND JOB ADVERTISEMENT AND GIVE IT TO YOUR FRIEND FOR PROOF READING.