Effective CV

Writing
By Sikandar Seemab

1
Image on left: CV, URL:” http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8NEuWoLjHYrd2hrmoZocuIVUNiWRfh50QotiOBp1Kf9LyPKmeFQ”, Feb 12, 2012 2
Image on right: Business man and woman, URL:” http://snobtopia.com/files/2011/11/business-man-and-woman.jpeg”, Feb 12, 2012
 3
CV Purpose, URL:"http://www.gradjobsuncovered.com/img/gju_employer_registration_engagement.jpg", Feb 12, 2012
 Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae (CV) means "course of life" in Latin

A CV is a written description of your work

experience, educational background and skills

A CV is a typically a "living document" which will

reflect the developments in a professional's career

4
 Purposes of a
CV
Marketing tool: First impression is the one which
lasts

Request for an interview: We are always looking

for jobs

Your “big picture”: A detailed snapshot of your

professional and academic life

5
 CV Formats
Chronological

Functional

Chrono-functional
/Combinational/Combined

6
 Chronological
Reverse
chronological order
Widely used for
corporate
sector
Mainly used by
individuals
with
Solid work
history
Few or no gaps between
jobs
7
Chronological CV, URL:"http://img.docstoccdn.com/thumb/orig/22708087.png", Feb 12, 2012
 Functional CV
Focuses on the skill
set of an individual
Mainly used
by individuals
with significant gaps in
employment
a mixed employment
background
very short work history

8
Functional CV, URL:"http://img.docstoccdn.com/thumb/orig/44419483.png", Feb 12, 2012
 Chrono-Functional CV
Specific work experience
Specific skills and
talents
Used mainly
by individuals
Freshly graduated from
school
With uninterrupted
work history
Applying for specific
jobs
9
Combined Resume, URL:"http://www.resume-resource.com/Examples/functional-resume-sample.gif", Feb 12, 2012
 Functional Types
Academic
Used for academic applications (graduate student
applications, scholarship applications)
Usually more detailed
Focuses mainly on academic achievements,
Relevant projects and courses mentioned

Corporate
Used for getting jobs
Specific to the needs of the employer
Focuses mainly on work experience and relevant
academic affiliations
10
 CV Format
Header
Objective
Education
Honors/Activities
Work Experience
Research
Experience/Projects

11
 Header Section
Name
Must be the first line of resume
Bold
Larger than the largest font used in body
Address
Current address preferable
Email Address
Use professional email addresses preferably
with name
Phone number
Preferably use both home and cell phone
numbers 12
 Name

Address

Phone
Number
Email
Addre
ss

13
Image Source: Personal
 Objective Section
Optional but highly recommended
Statement must be clear, concise and to the point
Bad: “I want to get a job”
Weak: “To attain an internship in livestock industry.”
Good: “To attain an internship in the livestock industry
with detailed insight into genomics and bioinformatics.”
Avoid being over specific
Target the company’s perspective

14
 Education Section
Educational qualifications from highest to
lowest
Do not use high school details once you
have graduated
Must include years in school

15
Image Source: Personal
 Work Experience Section
Experience should be listed in reverse
chronological order
POSITION TITLE, ORGANIZATION NAME, CITY,
STATE/PROVINCE, DATES EMPLOYED (Include
months unless this shows big gaps of
unemployment )
Describes specific roles in bullets

16
Image Source: Personal
 Research Experience Section
 Focus on relevant research experience
 Must include graduate level research
 In reverse chronological order

17
Image Source: Personal
 Honors/Activities Section
This section should scream “I am a leader”
Must contain all academic and professional
awards
May include extra-curricular awards
Include a brief description if not self-evident
from title
Don’t include hobbies or activities not related
to the job or your story
Good to include leadership positions
18
 References
One of the most crucial things
Follow the requirement
If not mentioned, then “On
Request/demand”
Ask referees beforehand
Use the best ones

19
 Additional Sections
Professional Certificates/Licenses
Specialized Experience
Publications/Theses
Additional Training/Assistantships
Membership/Affiliations
Volunteer Experience/Community Service
Language or Computer Skills
Continuing Education

20
 Types of CV
Scannable

Electronic

Email
Resume
Paper

HTML
21
 Electronic CVs
Scannable
Best to use black color fonts
Use proper font type (do not try anything fancy)
Many companies scan paper resumes into their
database

Email Attachment
Currently the most widely used delivery method
PDF most widely used format
Easily convert your Microsoft Word CV to PDF using
various online resources (www.pdfonline.com)
22
 HTML Resume
Ease of access
Shows your creativity
Easily available and free of cost from many
service providers like google
Link to different sections of your CV
Very detailed
You can add forms of social media like twitter,
facebook pages and personal/professional blogs

23
 Tips
Use Action Words

24
List of Action Words, URL:"http://www.my-easy-resume.com/image-files/action-words.gif", Feb 12, 2012
 Do’
Professionalism
s
One page only (for corporate CVs)
Stick to the truth
Focus on achievements and results
Maintain a consistent writing style
Avoid the use of “I” or “my”
Modify your CV according to
requirement

25
 Do’
s
Use easy-to-read language
Get grammar and punctuation
correct
Follow the instructions
Proofread
Spell Check
Update your CV regularly

26
 Don’ts
USE ALL CAPITAL LETTERS
 Harder to read
Avoid whitespace
 Actually avoid using border lines
Include a picture of yourself
 It’s not the cover of a fashion magazine
 Use extremely professional image when asked by employer
Use several fonts to catch their attention
 Creates a “ransom effect”
 Use Times New Roman or Arial
Focus on you and your needs
 Employers are not interested on who you are but what you
can do
27
 Don’ts
Use templates to construct your resume
Don’t use fancy ones
You have got other ways to show your
creativity
Use superlatives to emphasis your work
Informative and stick to the basic facts
Use long flowing sentences
Short, concise and to the point
Print your resume on “day glow” paper
It is not going to an art workshop
Illogical Order Use
Use relevant information at the beginning 28
Bad Resume Examples, URL:"http://img.docstoccdn.com/thumb/orig/22467385.png”, Feb 12, 2012
Bad Resume Example, URL:" http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ViJKBVHeG3U/SMau560W8BI/AAAAAAAAFns/BC-Hb9gPB8M/s400/bad-resume-sample-
page4.jpg”, Feb 12, 2012