Curriculum vitae (resume)

A Curriculum Vitae or CV is a summary of your working history, the skills and experiences you have gained during the course of it.

A good CV should:

1. attract attention,

2. create a positive impression,

3. present your skills and qualities clearly and concisely.

The purpose of a CV is to tell your prospective employer why you should be hired. Consider it as your personal marketing instrument. A good CV will help you open the door to a job interview.

Cv Writing Tips

As you write your CV keep in mind the following:

• use concise language,

• minimize or omit everything which is irrelevant,

• select and order the major categories so that the most relevant information is placed near the top of your CV where it will draw the reader’s special attention,

• your CV must be free of spelling and grammar mistakes,

• have your CV critiqued by an experienced person,

• print your CV on white paper.

A CV is essential if you’re applying for a new job or for promotion within your own company. Some information might be given in your CV, some in your letter of application. There are no fixed international rules about this: different countries have different practices.

10. Now work in pairs. Decide whether you in your country and in your line of business would normally give the information below in

1. a CV or Resume?

2. a Letter of Application?

3. an Application Form?

1. Your name, address and telephone number

2. Your marital status

3. Name and address of present (or last) employer

4. Your hobbies and leisure interests

5. Sports you play

6. Details of all jobs you have had

7. Languages you speak, read or write

8. Details of the examinations you passed at school

9. Details of professional diplomas or degrees you have gained

10. Details of training courses you have attended

11. Details of your achievements and responsibilities in your working career

12. Your suitability for the job advertised

13. Your reasons for applying for this job

14. When you are available for an interview

15. Details of your present (or last) job

16. Your current (or last) salary

17. Salary you would expect to receive

18. Names and addresses of two or three referees

What other information would you provide? Which of the information would you not give at all?

There are a number of ways of presenting information in a CV.

Traditionally, the sequence was name, address, contact details, marital status, education, qualifications, work experience, referees, and interests. However, it is now more common to begin with brief personal details, followed by a short profile or description of yourself (sometimes also called a career summary). After that, the most important information is recent employment history, and skills and qualifications. In the interests of completeness, you should account for all years since leaving school, but if the information is irrelevant to the position you are applying for or is some years old, you should summarize it as briefly as possible.

These days, it is generally unnecessary to mention marital status, children, age, health, or current salary unless specifically asked to do so, but this will vary according to the law and custom in different countries.

Here is a typical CV for an experienced professional.

Wendy Benson

Address Telephone Email Profile Employment 2002-present 1995-2002 1991-1995 Qualifications Publications

48 Danbury Road London UK 01494665093 bensonw@amc.co.uk A highly competent qualitative and quantitative market researcher with wide experience in advertising, market research companies, government research, and production and retail organizations in the UK and overseas. Highly numerate, with excellent communication skills. Analytical, innovative, self-motivating, confident. Able to lead or to work as part of a team. Welcomes new challenges, especially if they involve implementing and developing schemes. Experienced trainer and facilitator. Fluent in French and German. Computer literate. Department of Employment Senior Market Research Officer. Responsible for planning and implementing research on future government manpower requirements; formulated marketing strategies; conducted customer care study; set up database for labour-force survey. Organized statistical training courses for government staff at all levels. Responsible for a team of six market researchers. Universal Advertising PLC Assistant Director, Research and Planning Department. Responsible for trade and consumer research; market information systems; market forecasting; trade and consumer analysis of existing and new business for marketing and sales departments. Managed two members of staff. MMBC Associates Market Researcher. Involved in research on products and data relating to the retail food and beverage market. MBA, Open University (part-time) 1995 Diploma of Institute of Statisticians 1991 BSc.(Mathematics and Statistics), University College, London 1990 See list attached.