WRITING YOUR CVDr. Jacqueline Woo28 November 2016

CV WRITING:HOW TO WRITE YOUR OWN CV

• Students learn how to write their own resume. This workshop includes sample resume and worksheet

Objectives:• Write your own resume • Able to Identify and fix problems with your resume

WHAT IS A CV?• A curriculum vitae (CV) provides a summary of one’s

experience and skills

• CVs are longer than resumes - at least two or three pages (for STUDENTS @ LiPACE, 2 pages max)

• CVs include more information, particularly related to academic background

• In North America, CVs are preferred for application of academic/research positions

• In Europe (e.g. UK), CVs are preferred

WHAT IS A CV/RESUME?

Think of your resume as the “self-marketing” materials that you’re your services to a potential employer.

WHAT IS A CV FOR?

• The purpose of a CV is to get you an interview

ARE THERE DIFFERENT FORMATS FOR A CV/RESUME?

• Yes

• a chronological format and a skills-based format

• Generally best to stick with the chronological format (the most recent one first). This prevents you from leaving out important information and makes it easier for the employer to understand

WHAT DOES A CV INCLUDE?

• A CV includes: • A short statement of career objective• one’s academic background • working experience • diplomas • awards • research, publications, presentations• volunteering work and other achievements• etc

WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE

• Date of birth (DOB)• Age• Marital status• Photograph (?)

PREPARATION

• Before beginning the writing process, it is essential to know who the audience will be. A CV/resume is a selling tool used to “sell” a candidate to a potential employer. Just as an advertiser targets a specific population, so does the CV/resume target a certain type of employer.

EXAMPLEManufacturers of dentures, for example, do not target teens, but manufacturers of soda do. • Why is this? • How do advertisers do this? Is it effective, and

why or why not? • How will targeting the CV/ resume help in the

overall job search?

WHERE TO BEGIN?

• Successful salespeople must know their product well in order to promote it effectively to the customers.

• Before writing your CV/ resume, think thoroughly your skills, what you want to sell to your prospective employers.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:

• What does your chosen job entail?

• Research the organization• stand out from less-prepared candidates.

• Compare your skills and qualifications to the job requirements.

Reference: http://careerservices.princeton.edu/undergraduate-students/interviews-offers/preparing-interviews

AN EFFECTIVE RESUME• Concise (1-2 pages for fresh graduates)

• Focused

• Businesslike – Style, tone

• Fair, accurate

• Tailor-made

• Use action verbs

ACTION VERBS

• Action verbs transform your CV from a simple list of job duties to a dynamic picture of your achievements and abilities –achievement statements

• Action Verb:who/what/when/where...results produced

• E.g. Created an efficient filing system for a catering company, transforming disorganized records into readily retrievable form.

• https://w3.ab.ust.hk/sccs/upload/careerplanning/23-JSG3.06.pdf• https://www.mcgill.ca/caps/files/caps/guide_cv.pdf(p.9)

AN EFFECTIVE RESUME (CONTINUED)

• Attractive presentation • Neat and tidy• Well-organized

• Clear headings, indentations • Use 12-point, easy-to-read font, wide margins

• Error-free

E.g.https://w3.ab.ust.hk/sccs/upload/careerplanning/23-JSG3.06.pdf

WHAT TO INCLUDE1) Work Skills

2) Transferable Skills

3) Personal Skills

1) WORK SKILLS

-technical knowledge or skills which enables you to do a particular job,usually acquired through courses, training, internship, etc.• e.g. programming, laboratory testing, auditing, credit

analysis

2) TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

-skills which can be used in different job settings, learnt through workexperience, extra-curricular activities as well as daily living.e.g. writing, analyzing, organizing, communicating

3) PERSONAL SKILLS

• -what you are like as a person and how you do things, including

• personality traits, attitudes, work habits, etc.• e.g. punctuality, patience, perseverance, flexibility

SUMMARY

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EgOHOscyCE

SAMPLE CV

• https://w3.ab.ust.hk/sccs/upload/careerplanning/23-JSG3.06.pdf

SAMPLE CV

• https://www.mcgill.ca/caps/files/caps/guide_cv.pdf