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Tips for writing a Curriculum Vitae Very often students use a template to write a CV. This is a useful starting point, but many other factors must be considered if you want your CV to attract a prospective employer's attention. Remember, your CV is not a menu of all the duties you have in the past. It is about your achievements, and what distinguishes you from everyone else. When many of the below points are not observed, the message the prospective employer is receiving is that they are merely receiving a random application i.e. while the applicant wants a job, he/she is not interested in what this particular job actually is. Be intelligent when writing your CV. It should not be a generic formula, and one size does not fit all. Below are some hints and guidelines on the following aspects of writing and submitting your CV: --^00^-- • Your CV must be neat, clear and presentable. • If the last page of your CV only takes up a small portion of the page, try to reduce the number of pages, without making the document appear squashed. For example, if it is 2 ¼ pages, try to reduce it to two pages. There are many tricks to doing this - increasing the margin space, reducing the font size, using columns. This is particularly important when applying to small companies that may want to save on the cost of printing. • Check your grammar and spelling, especially when applying for positions where the employer will require a high standard of communication e.g. administration and sales. Use any spelling and grammar checks that might come with your word processing application, but also ask someone to proof read it for fluency and any other errors that the computer may have missed. • Improve your MS Word Skills (if your CV is being written in MS Word). For example, if you want two columns to list something, then research the columns option. Your CV is a representation of your computer skills, so this is especially important when applying for an IT related position, particularly administration. Other important examples are margins, the tab function, bullets, text justification, and tables. • A cover page with your name, or colours or fancy flashing icons is normally unnecessary (and often inappropriate). Ensure that you tailor any attempts to 'beautify' your CV to the prospective employer. For example, colour and even pictures might be appropriate when applying for a graphical design position. • Pay attention to your font sizes, underlining, italicising and bolding. The differentiation between different sections on your CV needs to be clear. • Adhere to any layout instructions from the prospective employer. This is often as simple as not exceeding a certain number of pages. --^00^-- • It is vital that your CV is updated and checked before sending it in. For example, an employer will be highly unimpressed when receiving a CV addressed to another company, with a motivation for another position. • Ensure that the content of your CV is appropriately directed. Ask yourself: who am I writing to; what do they want to know? Try to do some research about the company (website, brochures). This will also help if you are asked to attend an interview. • Keep your CV to a minimum. This goes with the appropriate direction of your CV. The sports you played at school might be relevant when applying for a bursary or educational institution, or certain companies, but it is superfluous information for many other companies. For example, if you are applying for a sales position in a small company, the most that would be necessary would be including one line stating that you were captain of your soccer team in 2004-2005 (this is an example of leadership and people management, which is probably necessary). It is especially unnecessary to include sports that you have not played in over ten years. Again, tailor this to the prospective employer. The fact that you play sports might show the company that you will fit in with the ethos of their employees. • Pay attention to detail. Many companies want to know when you started or ended a particular job, the job title, the name of the company, the duties it entailed, and sometimes, why you left the particular job. They also want to know why there might be gaps in employment. However, the most important piece of information is what you have achieved - what distinguished you in the particular job. This information may be obtained from the previous employer, from any comments the previous employer made, points of achievement you have identified, or from a referring letter you may have from the previous employer. • Your skills are more important than the subjects you did at university (and especially school). Many companies do not require the inclusion of the subjects completed during your studies. Most study programs will provide a complete set of skills. It is useful to include your primary stream, or your university majors. If you feel that any particular subject is relevant, this should be mentioned in your covering letter. If you would like to include your subjects, ensure that this is neat, and that you indicate your competency in each subject (e.g. your marks or aggregate). It is also probably a good idea to rather have this information as a second document. In fact, it is probably wise to have this information available, and simply mention in your CV that it is available on request. • Some companies require that you include a profile about yourself. This normally includes your innate abilities, rather than specific skills. For example, you would write that you are a fast learner and a team player, but not that you play soccer. You can include particular interests here if it is relevant to the job e.g. your interest in human rights if the company has a strong policy line in this direction, or that you play soccer if you are applying for a sports administrative position. • If you think something might be controversial (such as an astrology diploma) and might negatively affect your obtaining a job, do not include it in your CV. You can bring it up during the interview if you feel comfortable. • Always include all relevant jobs. If your only experience in sales is as a part time waitron, promotions person or retail representative, your employer still needs to know that you have that experience. The only time you should start considering the removal of work experience is when your CV becomes long, or the work is significantly outdated. This is especially important when you feel that you have insufficient work experience - ALL experience counts. Refer to document entitled work experience. Of course, StudentWorx is all about giving you that important RELEVANT work experience --^00^-- • Including a covering letter also shows the prospective employer that you have given thought to the company you are applying to, and the position desired. A covering letter is the 'note' you write in the main body of an email, or a covering page when sending a fax. • A covering letter should be polite, neat, and professional, and attention should be given to spelling and grammar. Remember, this is the first impression that a prospective employer will get, and you want it to be as professional as possible. It is especially vital when applying for a position where communication will be important, such as sales, as it is a representation of how you will communicate with clients and customers. • Always mention the position for which you are applying!!! This should be in the subject line in a fax or email, and can be included in the letter itself. • Try to mention a few relevant skills, and/or reasons why you think you would be an asset to the prospective company / employer. • Try to anticipate the needs of the company. If you are applying for a graphic design position, either attach a few samples of your work, or mention that they are available if desired. If you are applying to be a web designer / developer, offer links to your websites. • If there is a particularly good reference that is relevant to the position or company, you can also emphasise this in a covering letter. For example, someone within the company that you have worked for in the past, or an employer (or even a client) that has good regard for a relevant skill, such as a retail outlet for a sales position. • Let the employer know that you are available to provide any additional information that they require (and ensure that you provide any requested information in good time). • Let the employer know if there are any problems with your application e.g. that you will email an additional attachment in a separate email or later in the week, if you are unable to provide any relevant documentation, or if you will be unable to respond immediately to any replies for any valid reasons. --^00^-- • Make sure your documents are attached before emailing a CV. • Mention in your covering letter which documents are attached. • Ensure that the attachment formats are user friendly e.g. some small companies may not be able to open pdf documents. • Don't include certificates etc unless requested. Definitely do not include a certificate in the main content of your CV. You can mention in your CV content that these were obtained. --^00^-- • If the prospective employer is engaging in email conversation, or you have a good rapport with them during an interview, or make any other appropriate opening comments, you might want to request feedback on your CV. If you do not get the job, you can also ask why this is the case. StudentWorx considers this to be part of the mentorship process; however, we may not offer such advice when not requested. • Ensure that you complete any forms that the prospective employer emails to you as quickly as possible. Pay attention to detail, and again to layout, grammar, etc. Sometimes a form can be a test e.g. how you answer questions, your MS Word Skills, your attention to detail, how quickly you respond. If you expect a delay in returning the document, than let the prospective employer know that you cannot complete it immediately, and give them a timeframe for when they can expect your response (keep to that timeframe!). • Ensure that you respond properly to any additional information that is requested. • Ensure that you respond as soon as possible, especially when applying for a position where communication is important. |
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