what is a cv

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a document (usually
1-2 pages) highlighting information about you
pertinent to the job you are applying for. It
helps employers to decide whether your
experience and skills match what they are
looking for in an employee. It is usually a
doorway to an interview.
What is the purpose of a CV?
To convince an employer that you are worth
interviewing.
What is an employer looking for in an
employee?
Relevant experience, skills and qualifications
Social skills
Reliability (it's no good being perfect for the
job if you are not at work!)
how well you communicate, including
structure, grammar, spelling and
punctuation (and here your CV would be the
first clue, so ensure that you have no
errors)
your attention to detail.
Should a CV be the same for all jobs applied
for?
No, your CV needs to be changed so that it is
completely relevant to the job you are
applying for. Your skills and experiences must
match those required for the job.
How to begin writing a CV
First research the job and the position. You
can find the information on the job listing. If
the advert does not contain sufficient
information, you can phone the employer to
ask for more detail. Have specific questions
prepared to ask them. Be brief and don't waste
their time. They probably have many people to
deal with.
For each job that you have chosen to apply to
start with the following:
Write down the job title
Write down the deadline for the application
Write down the company name
What skills are required (if you are not
clear about this, you can phone the
company to find out.)
Now , read all you can about the position and
about the company. You can find the
information online, at the library and in
newspapers.
What information should be included in a
CV?
Contact details: Your name, address, phone
number and email address. You could put
this in the header to save space.
Personal Statement (Optional): A short (3 or
4 sentence) summary about yourself
including a few skills related to the job you
are applying for. Especially when employers
have many applications to deal with, this
can grab their attention.
Education and training: (Use bullet points)
Show the highest educational level you have
reached, where and when you studied.
Work history: (Use bullet points) List your
present and past employment starting with
the most recent experience. Include job
title, employer's name and location, dates of
employment, a description of your
responsibilities and duties, and a description
of your achievements in each position.
Skills: Read the job advertisement very
carefully to see what skills are required and
indicate your skills in relation to this and
show when you have used this skills if
possible. In other words, you want to offer
"proof" that you have these skills.
Other skills: Include your other skills that
are related to the job.
Referees: (See instructions on job advert) If
requested list referees who can give details
of your experience and comment on your
personal qualities. Include each referee's
name, title, employer, work phone number
and email address, and briefly explain how
they know you. Be sure to ask permission to
list them and make sure they are
comfortable with recommending you. or you
may inform them that your references will
be supplied on request. However, make sure
that you do have people who will be your
referee.