Writing a good cv

Writing a good CV
Farah Al-Tufaili
1

It’s all about you
CVs are an opportunity to show an employer why you are an ideal
candidate for the job.
A good CV will:
 Stand out from the crowd.
 Draw attention to your relevant skills, experience, achievements and
potential.
 Create such an impression on the employer that they will not be able to
turn you down for interview.
2

Proof-read
 One obvious but often overlooked aspect of good CV
writing is proof-reading for spelling, punctuation and
other errors.
 CVs should be checked, drafted, re-drafted and then
checked again.
 Make sure that your CV is the best document you
possess. It could make all the difference to get you
that interview!
3

5 Tips for a CV
 Clear – well organized and logical
 Concise – relevant and necessary
 Complete – includes everything you need
 Consistent – don’t mix styles or fonts
 Current – Up-to-date
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Do
 Use a standard font size in black ink.
 Include recent and relevant work experience (paid or
voluntary).
 Be consistent in your layout.
 List your skills and achievements and back up with evidence.
 Keep it short (maximum 2 pages).
 Use positive action verbs such as “organised, delivered,
accomplished, achieved”.
 Include a statement about your career aspirations and what
you have to offer the employer.
 Be honest but positive (negatives can always be turned into
positives).
 Proof-read for spelling, punctuation, grammar and meaning.
 Get someone to check it for you.
5

Don’t
 Do it in a rush.
 Leave gaps in employment.
 Lie.
 Include irrelevant personal details such as marital status.
 Simply write a list of duties under work experience (remember
you are selling yourself!).
 Use flashy or large font.
 There is no single way to write a CV. It is your document and
can be structured and presented as you wish within a basic
framework.
 The important thing to remember is that this is the first
impression an employer will have of you. It is your marketing
brochure through which you are trying to sell yourself.6

What should be on a CV?
 Start with contact information
– Full name
– Permanent mailing address
– E-mail address that won’t expire
– Phone numbers
 Education
 Honors and Awards
 Professional Experience (employment)
 Publications and presentations
 Extracurricular and volunteer experience
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Other sections for a CV
 Certifications and licensure
 Professional affiliations
 Professional activities
 Research
 Added qualifications
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Keep in mind
 There is no “right way” to do a CV.
 It is most important to keep yours up-to-date
 Get samples online or from colleagues to
help you get started
 Keep it professional – edit carefully
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British CVs vs. American CVs
1. Use: British CV is use when applying to get a job,
while American CV is use primary for academic,
education, scientific research positions.
2. Length: British CV is 2 to 3 pages, while American CV
starts at 3 pages—20 pages.
3. Personal information: It is acceptable to include some
personal information on a British CV, while in
American it’s considered very unprofessional (The one
exception may be gender).
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British CVs vs. American CVs
4. High school information: A British CV is
always expected to contain some secondary
school information ,while American my
contain this information.
5. Photo: A British CV may contain a photo ,
while American CV almost never include a
photo.
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Writing a good cv

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