Advice

Staffing Solutions CV tips article

Curriculum Vitae (CV) Template and Writing Tips

The term “curriculum vitae” translates literally as “course of life.” Unlike traditional resumes in most industries, CVs are more credential-based than qualifications-based. They place as much (if not more) emphasis on presenting one’s educational/training history and certifications as they do upon professional experience and specific job skills.

By using a CV template, you’ll be able to create your curriculum vitae quickly. It will need to include a summary of your educational and academic background, teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honours, and affiliations.

However, remember that your CV will vary based on your industry, whether you are writing a CV for an international position, etc. Be sure you tailor your curriculum vitae for the job or program to which you’re applying.

What to Include in a CV

A CV is both longer and far more detailed than a resume. It contains a comprehensive list of your academic and employment accomplishments rather than a summary.

While a resume is often targeted toward a specific position, a CV offers a comprehensive look at your experience. However, that does not mean that you need to list (or that you should list) every single job you have ever held. Instead, it means you can include every piece of information about you that is relevant to the job.

10 Practical CV Tips

Create a master CV

Most would agree that each CV needs to be tailored to each job application. However, this can take time and effort. Furthermore, information could get lost in the process as you add and remove points to suit each application. That’s why it’s sensible to create a master CV as a first step.

This is essentially a comprehensive document that lists your entire work history, education, and skills. You can select relevant elements from this CV to create a tailored CV.

Tailor your CV as closely as possible to the position

It may be tempting to send the same generic CV for each job application, but that approach probably won’t land you any interviews. Employers want to see that you’ve understood the job’s requirements and thought about where skills and experience fit.

While it may be more time-consuming, it pays to read the job description carefully to pick out critical skills, qualifications, and personal traits. Also, look up the company’s website to get a good idea of the person they’re looking for.

Don’t make your CV longer than 2 A4 pages

Even if you have much work experience, knowledge, and skills, avoid making your CV longer than 2 A4 pages. As you’ll be tailoring your CV to each job, you only need to mention the most recent and relevant positions from your career history. You can also omit work experience from more than fifteen years ago because this information is often no longer so relevant.

Make sure that vital sections of your CV are included

The following sections shouldn’t be missing from your CV:

Personal details: first and last name, full address, place of residence, telephone number, e-mail address.
Personal profile (not required, but can boost your CV).
Work experience.
Education.

Nice-to-have sections include:

Personal details: date of birth, place of birth, driver’s licence, gender, nationality, marital status, links to social media accounts, your blog or website.
Professional development/Courses.
Certifications.
Internships.
Volunteering.
Memberships and affiliations.
Skills.
Languages.
Hobbies and interests.
References.

Focus on achievements, not responsibilities

When writing about your different roles, focus on your achievements rather than listing all your responsibilities.

Achievements show employers how well you performed in a job and the impact you made. For example, describe how you organised an event for 200 people and raised 2,000 euros instead of saying you planned an event.

The best way to think about your achievements is task + skill + outcome/result.

Prioritise the most important information

Employers and recruiters sometimes receive hundreds of CVs for a single job application and are therefore only likely to spend seconds skimming through your CV.

To make it easy for them to decide whether your CV will end up on the yes or no pile, place the most crucial information at the top.

You can also select one of three CV formats to highlight your skills and work experience:

Reverse chronological: best for those with a linear career history.
Functional or skills-based: suitable if you have gaps in your CV or you lack relevant work experience.
Hybrid: ideal for highlighting your career history and your skills

Be honest

It may be tempting to exaggerate your skills, qualifications, and experience on your CV; however, lying is never a good idea, as there’s always the risk that you’ll be found out – even years after you’ve been hired.

It’s especially unwise to overstate your language skills. If you speak a language less well than you claim or cannot apply your skills in a professional environment, you’ll soon end up with an egg on your face when a recruiter tests your language skills at the pre-screening or interview stage.

Check spelling and grammar

Your CV should be free of spelling and grammatical errors. That’s why it’s essential to check and double-check your CV.

Have your CV checked by someone else

Two eyes are better than one. That’s why it’s best to have your CV checked by someone else. They can check whether there are spelling errors and whether the CV reads well.

Pay attention to the format and layout of your CV

A CV that looks neat and organised demonstrates attention to detail and makes it easy for recruiters to find the information they need quickly. On the other hand, a cluttered and messy layout gives the impression that you’re also messy and disorganised.