Writing a CV ( Curriculum Vitae )

1. Writing a CV (Curriculum Vitae ) Nada Vukadinović

2. What is a CV? • selling tool • outlines your skills and experience • opportunity to present yourself in the best possible light

3. How to present myself? • Highlight your experience • Show personal attributes and achievements • Show your education and related training • Make yourself attractive, interesting, worth considering • Make the CV short & easy to read • ! do not oversell yourself

4. Which elements are approprite for a CV? • work history • DOB • education • skills • references • a photo • political affiliation • your existing salary • number of children • negative experience • hobbies & interests • weight, height, health • list of publications

5. Types of CV • Chronological Information included under general headings: education, work experience, etc., with the most recent events first. • Skills based Skills necessary for the job are highlighted.

6. How to start? EVALUATE YOUR SKILLS •  What do I have to offer? - what am I selling? • List down: technical knowledge, menagerial skills, IT, languages, etc... • personal strengths & interests Example: Bad: Sold books to clients located in Slovenia Good: Increased sales by 17%

7. Sequence of headings • Objective • Personal information • Work experience • Education • Personal characteristics • Interests

8. Objective (Profile) Phrase a realistic objective or leave blank: • Examples: • "An executive creative position where extensive marketing, writing, management, design, and technical skills are required, preferably within Database Management“. • “Desire a position in the office management, secretarial or clerical area. Prefer a position requiring responisbility and a variety of tasks”.

9. Personal information • your age • nationality • Address • Tel. No. • E-mail

10. Not to include • Age • Ethnic identity • Political affiliation • Religious preference • Hobbies • Marital status • Sexual orientation • Place of birth • Photographs • Height, weight, health There are exceptions to some of these items !

11. Education • listed with the most recent first, including results • professional development courses, again listed with the most recent first

12. Example: Education: MEd University of Manchester 2002 BA University of Ljubljana 1973 Training courses: On-line course management The E-Consultants 2004 Teaching ESP Universtiy of Essex 1997 Report Writing The British Council 1995

13. Work epxerience: • Reverse chronological order! • Include relevant experience and results • Grants (honors) awarded

14. Work Experience -example: • 1989 – to date Quality Assurance Technician • Created computer applications with the help of a programmer to monitor the factory environment. • Analysed the quality assurance system and made recommendations for improvements. These were incorporated into the current quality assurance system. • Examined equipment in the factory to check that it met the company standards. • Investigated new equipment installed in the factory to make sure that it would comply with quality assurance procedures

15. Words describing responsibilities: • Responsible for ...: Planning, implementing, reviewing, negotiating, managing, coordinating, evaluating, directing, facilitating, inspecting, training, producing, providing, informing, executing, developing....

16. Skills • Languages (fluency) • Specific skills (techniques and equipment, computer programs, technology and other technical skills)

17. Words describing personal abilities: • Creative, efficient, proficient, systematic, hard worker, prefer to act, well versed in..., willing to take initiative, like to work in one place, enjoy challenging experience, persistance to work underpressure, first-hand knowledge of..., having a desire to learn

18. Interests & Activities • Optional • Outside responsibilities and interests

19. Useful web pages: • http://www.alec.co.uk/index.htm • http://www.handsoncv.co.uk/