Your C.V. & Content

Your C.V. & Content•The C.V. (Curriculum Vitae – lit. record of life)

- is a personal marketing tool - your qualifications, skills and

attributes that demonstrates suitability for the job.

•Not only should it show the historical record

- it should show your potential - it should act as a guide as to

where your aspirations lie for the future.

•In compiling a C.V. there is only one objective - to get an interview in order to get the job.

Your C.V. & Content•A CV must be

- accurate - interesting - up-to-date.

It must be presentable so that it makes the best impression possible and gets

noticed by the right people.

• Be relevant - target the needs of each particular position.

• Review and if necessary revise rather than re-cycle repeatedly for multi-purpose use.

Your C.V. & Content

•Skills/experience improve - make the most of this!•You need to bring together:

Details of your qualifications - dates, grades, course options covered etc.; Details of the job itself - job description, qualifications and skills required (person specification); Evidence that provides the match for the employers’ criteria to prioritise this information throughout the various sections of the CV.

Your C.V. & Content

•Aim for clarity and simplicity

•Don’t write in sentences; telegraphese is normal and saves space

•Highlight headings and key words in text by use of CAPITALS/bold type

•Remember italic is a weak typeface: bold italic stands out better

Your C.V. & Content

• Highlight major selling points e.g. ‘National University of Ireland, Maynooth’

•Dates: tabulate in left hand column

•Leave no unaccounted-for time

•Give information in reverse chronological order; the most relevant and impressive details come first in each section.

•Be consistent about chronological order if you use it.

Your C.V. & Content

•Arranging material (if not using chronological order):

In describing work experience and activities:

arrange in order that matches importance of employer’s requirements

e.g. if the prime requirement is communication skills, put activities indicating that first

So, your C.V. should change to fit the application!

Basic Layout Tips for Writing a CV

•For a CV, the smallest readable font size for For a CV, the smallest readable font size for text is likely to be 10 pointtext is likely to be 10 point LLegibility is crucial!egibility is crucial!

•Make sure headings not too large in relation Make sure headings not too large in relation to the text sizeto the text size Otherwise,Otherwise, text will look insignificant text will look insignificant

•Titles and headings never have final Titles and headings never have final punctuationpunctuation HoldsHolds reader up and is unnecessary reader up and is unnecessary

•There should always be more space above a There should always be more space above a subheading than below itsubheading than below it Or Or it ‘floats’ unattached, and hard to see what it ‘floats’ unattached, and hard to see what it it

belongs tobelongs to


•The space below a heading should be at least The space below a heading should be at least as large as the space between each paragraphas large as the space between each paragraph OOtherwise heading gets lost, ‘sucked in’ to the therwise heading gets lost, ‘sucked in’ to the first paragraphfirst paragraph

•Make typographic style of headings consistentMake typographic style of headings consistent

FFont size, font, bold/italic, capsont size, font, bold/italic, caps etc etc must all be must all be the same for the same level of heading, or the the same for the same level of heading, or the reader can get confusedreader can get confused

•Underlining makes text less clearUnderlining makes text less clear It cuts through punctuation and parts of letters It cuts through punctuation and parts of letters

that descend below the line,that descend below the line,for instance, gggs and qqqs and yyysfor instance, gggs and qqqs and yyys


• Don’t use too many different fontsDon’t use too many different fonts – the – the effect is confusingeffect is confusing

• When bracketing numbers or letters (e.g. When bracketing numbers or letters (e.g. for a list) use brackets on both sidesfor a list) use brackets on both sides

(a)(a) .... (b) .... is clearer than a).... b)........ (b) .... is clearer than a).... b)....

• Numbers in columns should range right so Numbers in columns should range right so that the units are correctly alignedthat the units are correctly aligned

• Break up dense text with indenting or bullet pointsBreak up dense text with indenting or bullet points


Layout is part of the message Layout is part of the message of your textof your text!!

Personal Details

• Don’t put ‘CURRICULUM VITAE’ across top, Don’t put ‘CURRICULUM VITAE’ across top, put put nname ame

• No need for heading other than name (No need for heading other than name (e.g.e.g. ‘Personal Details’) ‘Personal Details’)

• Address: home and term, if space; Address: home and term, if space; in full in full (include postcode); say when you’ll be (include postcode); say when you’ll be where where

• Include Include telephone, faxtelephone, fax and and email addressemail address

• Include Include nationality nationality and and marital status marital status

Personal Details

• If your name is foreign If your name is foreign to the country to the country you’re applying for you’re applying for and the employer and the employer may may not be able to not be able to guess gender, state it guess gender, state it

• Give date of birth (Give date of birth (notnot age) age)

Education

• Give Give institutionsinstitutions as headings and as headings and exams/courses under those headings; don’t exams/courses under those headings; don’t have separate ‘qualifications’ section have separate ‘qualifications’ section

• Not ‘Not ‘MaynoothMaynooth’ but ‘’ but ‘MaynoothMaynooth University’ University’

• Add ‘HonsAdd ‘Hons..’ to first degree title (e.g.‘B’ to first degree title (e.g.‘BSc.Sc. HonsHons.. Computer ScienceComputer Science’) ’)

• Give Give each year’s resultseach year’s results; include year ; include year abroad if part of course; give expected abroad if part of course; give expected furtherfurther result result(s)(s) if not taken yet if not taken yet

• Give title or topic of any dissertation and Give title or topic of any dissertation and any extra skills used for it, e.g. use of any extra skills used for it, e.g. use of statstatisticistics, fieldwork, questionnairess, fieldwork, questionnaires

Education

• Include Include awards/prizesawards/prizes from Sixth from Sixth YearYear on (if on (if undergrad or new graduate); if many, have undergrad or new graduate); if many, have separate ‘Awards’ subheading after separate ‘Awards’ subheading after ‘Education’ section‘Education’ section

• Give Give yearsyears of all exams mentioned of all exams mentioned

including including Junior CertJunior Cert, , HigherHigher & & OrdinaryOrdinary LevelsLevels

• GradesGrades can usually be listed as can usually be listed as ‘10 ‘10 subjectssubjects

including including MMaths and English, 8 at aths and English, 8 at Higher Higher LevelLevel’’

• If 2 years or more after first degree can If 2 years or more after first degree can

omit omit Junior CertJunior Cert (unless needed to (unless needed to demonstrate a skill, edemonstrate a skill, e..gg.. good maths result) good maths result)

Further Qualifications

If not based in the home country :-If not based in the home country :-

• Explain levelExplain level or mark meaning or mark meaning, e.g. ‘GPA 3.7/4.00’, , e.g. ‘GPA 3.7/4.00’, ‘7th out of 100’‘7th out of 100’

• Give equivalents if possible, e.g. ‘(= Class I Give equivalents if possible, e.g. ‘(= Class I

equivalent)equivalent)

• Skills - use heading ‘Additional Skills’Skills - use heading ‘Additional Skills’

• Include Include languages,languages, indicate level of proficiency indicate level of proficiency

• Driving: Driving: full clean driving licencefull clean driving licence

Work Experience

• For paid work, can use heading ‘Employment’For paid work, can use heading ‘Employment’

• Include explanation of Include explanation of what was donewhat was done and for and for how how longlong

• The two key things to show are The two key things to show are level of level of responsibility responsibility and and level of skills gainedlevel of skills gained

Work Experience

Be specific; give examplesBe specific; give examples

• Work in year out (e.g. teaching assistant abroad) Work in year out (e.g. teaching assistant abroad) should be included as teaching work experienceshould be included as teaching work experience

• Remember ‘Remember ‘studentstudent’ jobs often indicate valued ’ jobs often indicate valued skills, e.g. energy, tact, rapport, communicationskills, e.g. energy, tact, rapport, communication

• Start with ‘strong verb’: not ‘Spent the summer Start with ‘strong verb’: not ‘Spent the summer teaching’ but ‘Taught...’teaching’ but ‘Taught...’

• Give most detail to items that match employer’s Give most detail to items that match employer’s

interestsinterests

Activities/Interests

• Choose subheadings relevant to job sought Choose subheadings relevant to job sought (e.g. (e.g. liaison/organisation, communications, liaison/organisation, communications, teamwork)teamwork)

• Avoid headings using words such as Avoid headings using words such as

‘general’, ‘other’, which suggest that the ‘general’, ‘other’, which suggest that the material is unimportant material is unimportant

• Research employers you intend to apply to Research employers you intend to apply to – what headings will they think relevant? – what headings will they think relevant?

• Give most detail to items that match Give most detail to items that match employer’s interestsemployer’s interests

Activities/Interests • Indicate level of activity: suggest that aimed for Indicate level of activity: suggest that aimed for

and achieved resultsand achieved results

• Use ‘including’ for multiple examples of similar Use ‘including’ for multiple examples of similar

activity, rather than listing them all – give the most activity, rather than listing them all – give the most impressive examples impressive examples

• Explain any obscure references e.g. ‘Asparagus Explain any obscure references e.g. ‘Asparagus Club (College Dining Society)’ Club (College Dining Society)’

• Don’t list too many ‘passive’ pursuits (‘films, Don’t list too many ‘passive’ pursuits (‘films, reading’) etc; be specific (e.g. not ‘film’ but ‘1940s reading’) etc; be specific (e.g. not ‘film’ but ‘1940s US screwball comedies’) US screwball comedies’)

• Travel: employers value experience of other Travel: employers value experience of other cultures: indicate countries visited and extent of cultures: indicate countries visited and extent of familiarity with them familiarity with them

Referees

• Make Make statusstatus of referee and their relationship clear of referee and their relationship clear – e.g. – e.g. Director of StudiesDirector of Studies

• Give full contact details for them, including fax & Give full contact details for them, including fax &

email if availableemail if available

• Ideally, give one academic and one work Ideally, give one academic and one work

experience referee, or one who can show that you experience referee, or one who can show that you possess the particular qualities the employer possess the particular qualities the employer wants wants

Remember!

• The amount of space you give to something The amount of space you give to something suggests how important it is to you and what you suggests how important it is to you and what you want to do next want to do next

• Research, research, research –can’t write an Research, research, research –can’t write an effective CV unless you know about the employer effective CV unless you know about the employer and the job and the job

• EVERYBODY is somewhat “EVERYBODY is somewhat “economical” economical” with the with the truth; be careful!truth; be careful!

C.V. Checklist

1.1. Am I using unlined white A4 paper?Am I using unlined white A4 paper?

2.2. Am I using no more than 2 sides of A4 paper?Am I using no more than 2 sides of A4 paper?

3.3. Is the print clear and concise throughout?Is the print clear and concise throughout?

4.4. Have I checked the spelling (with a dictionary)?Have I checked the spelling (with a dictionary)?

5.5. Are the margins consistent for each page?Are the margins consistent for each page?

6.6. Are the margins consistent for each paragraph?Are the margins consistent for each paragraph?

7.7. Is the spacing consistent throughout?Is the spacing consistent throughout?

C.V. Checklist

8.8. Is the chronology accurate?Is the chronology accurate?

9.9. Is my date of birth correct?Is my date of birth correct?

10.10. Is the current course title correct?Is the current course title correct?

11.11. Have I my referees consent to list them?Have I my referees consent to list them?

12.12. Is it obvious how my referees know me?Is it obvious how my referees know me?

13.13. Is the text in short paragraphs?Is the text in short paragraphs?

14.14. Are my sentences short?Are my sentences short?

C.V. Checklist

15.15. Have I avoided repetition of verbs/adjectives?Have I avoided repetition of verbs/adjectives?

16.16. Have Have II given details of my current course? given details of my current course?

17.17. Have I given some evidence of the skills I have to Have I given some evidence of the skills I have to offer?offer?

18.18. Have I avoided the use of staples/paper clips which Have I avoided the use of staples/paper clips which will mark my C.V.?will mark my C.V.?

19.19. Do I have a copy in a safe place?Do I have a copy in a safe place?

Putting it all together

C.V. Don’ts…

• Don't use coloured or patterned paper; don't add Don't use coloured or patterned paper; don't add borders or clip-art; don't use gimmicks.borders or clip-art; don't use gimmicks.

• Don't use decorative or comical fonts, don't mix Don't use decorative or comical fonts, don't mix upper and lower case letters without reason.upper and lower case letters without reason.

• Don't change styles of headings or layout within Don't change styles of headings or layout within the one document.the one document.

• Don't try to be funny, or arrogant, or too clever.Don't try to be funny, or arrogant, or too clever.

• Don't make up anything; don't exaggerate a simple Don't make up anything; don't exaggerate a simple skill you can do into a complex skill of which you skill you can do into a complex skill of which you have no experience.have no experience.

C.V. Don’ts…

• Don't leave unexplained gaps in your history - if Don't leave unexplained gaps in your history - if you were unemployed for a time, say so, rather you were unemployed for a time, say so, rather than have the employer wondering what you are than have the employer wondering what you are covering up.covering up.

• Don't include anything Don't include anything irirrelevant.relevant.

• Don't mention your primary school.Don't mention your primary school.

• You don't need to give reasons for leaving previous You don't need to give reasons for leaving previous jobs, and certainly never indicate any ill feeling jobs, and certainly never indicate any ill feeling about previous jobs.about previous jobs.

• Don't finish off a paragraph with 'etc'; this tells Don't finish off a paragraph with 'etc'; this tells people nothing.people nothing.

Documents

Your C.V. & Content