How to write a C.V

Subject: How to write a C.V Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:39 am

Generally,
your curriculum vita (C.V.) is the first contact you may have with a
prospective program director. Therefore, you would surely want a C.V.
that does more than simply impart information about your personal
history, and educational and professional qualifications and
achievements. Strive for a CV that establishes a favorable image of
your professionalism in the mind of the reader. It should emphasize
your areas of strength, and create an interest about you sufficient to
result in a personal interview. Make your C.V. work for you!
There are several phases in creating an effective C.V.
Compile all potentially useful information and organize those items
under appropriate categories. Be sure the information you choose
clearly communicates a sense of professionalism, competence, and
enthusiasm.
Select only the most pertinent information. Keep the level of
information concise and, at the same time, as comprehensive as
possible. Bear in mind that your C.V. is your "advertisement" for an
interview!
Finally - review and revise the document. As important as the
information provided, your C.V. should be edited for proper grammar,
correct spelling and appropriate punctuation. To further convey your
professional image to the reader, use quality paper, ink, and
equipment. Inferior materials or illegible photocopies say to the
reader, "You are not important to me."

The following is a sample format of a C.V.<blockquote> 1. Contact Information
2. Personal Data
3. Educational Background
4. Employment Experience
5. Professional Affiliations and Honors
6. Publications, Presentations and Other Activities
7. References

</blockquote>

Contact Information
This information is always located at the top of the first page. It
should include your name (avoid nicknames), address, telephone and
other contact numbers (fax, e-mail). Be sure to spell out words like
Street, Avenue, North, etc. If your current address is not your
permanent address, indicate your current-address information under a
heading marked "Present", followed by your permanent-address
information under a heading marked "Permanent."

Personal Data
This is a professional document, so disclosure of information regarding
age, marital status, children, and health is a matter of choice. Some
recipients expect this information, and it is a common practice to
provide it.

Educational Background
The information in this section is usually given with the most recent
training listed first. The order in which you present this information
is your choice — be it date first, degree first, or perhaps institution
first. Whichever your preference, keep your entries consistent.

Employment Experience
Begin by separating your part-time employment entries from your
full-time employment entries, and list them under appropriate
subheadings. This avoids any misunderstanding by the reader. The list
of your employment experience generally starts with your current
employment. Be sure to provide the date of your employment, your job
title, and your employer’s name and address. You may choose to include
major duties, successes and achievements, research interests, committee
assignments, etc. It is important, however, to keep all entries
uniform. Avoid providing a lot of information on your recent entries,
but giving less information on later entries. A subheading for
certification or license status may be included at the end of this
section. Indicate certificate/license numbers and the dates issued.

Professional Affiliations and Honors
This section should include your current membership in professional
organizations. Include any significant appointments and/or elections to
positions or committees, indicating the appropriate date for each
position listed. Indicate any significant activities completed under
your leadership. Honors from professional, educational or related
organizations should also be shown under this section. Keep your
comments brief in describing these items. This will avoid the risk of
creating an unfavorable impression of exaggeration on your part by the
reader.
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Publications, Presentations and Other Activities
This is an area considered to be the perfect opportunity to list your
professional accomplishments. The following subheadings may be listed
in this section: publications, presentations, invited lectures,
abstracts, research activities, community service and leisure interests
to name a few. When listing your publications, give full bibliographic
entries so the reader can easily find them.

RefrencesPlace
this information at the end of your document. Include the following
information in each entry: name, position, address, and telephone
number.

Some Points to Consider
The information and advice given are no guarantee that your C.V. will
open all doors for you. It offers a start in preparing an effective
document - one that shows clarity, consistency, and an organized
format. Your C.V. should be easy to read, leaving no confusion in the
reader’s mind as to what it is he is reading. Here are some points that
will help you produce a document with impact.

Your C.V. will be read by people who do not know you, so you must
present your information in the clearest, most concise fashion
possible. These people will be responsible for developing a list of
recommended candidates, probably in a limited amount of time, so your
document must be precise and specific at the first reading.

Accurate presentation of your qualifications is imperative. Be specific
- for instance, under:Educational Background - include your major, year
degree was received, name of degree, complete name of institution (no
abbreviations) and its location.Employment History - leave NO gaps in
the total number of years worked (account for every year); distinguish
between part-time and full-time work; use separate headings for entries
such as: military service, volunteer activities, leave of absence
(explain).Professional Activities - cite current memberships; clearly
date all former activities and memberships.Publications - clarify your
role in group efforts; distinguish between refereed and nonrefereed
articles; use separate headings for different types of publications
(journal articles, books, chapters in books, abstracts, etc.)
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Consistency is crucial. It reflects good organization and appearance
and is vital to fast readers. Be consistent under all categories of
your C.V. Do not provide information in one entry and fail to do so in
other entries within the same category.

Do not make double entries. This does not strengthen your C.V. and may be unfavorably viewed as "padding" by the reader.

Stay chronologically consistent when presenting information. If you
elect to present the most current information first, stay with that
order through all sections. This makes your document easier to read and
avoids confusion on the part of the reader.

There is no magic number for the maximum number of pages considered
ideal for an effective C.V. However, it is generally accepted that a
two-to-four page C.V. should communicate the essential background
details for a young professional.

It bears repeating — be clear, consistent and organized. If your C.V.
is hard to read or an entry projects a suspicious aura, your entire
document may be discounted or even rejected.

It is helpful to have the final version of your document proofread by:
a) a professional friend who knows you (able to spot significant
information left out or is confusing as presented). b) a professional
who does not know you (able to read your C.V. critically as a person
learning about you for the first time - a status similar to your
eventual readers). c) a personnel officer, dean or department head
(experienced in reviewing this kind of material).

Print your C.V. on standard 8 _" x 11" white paper;

print on one side only; be sure the print on all copies is clear and
easy to read; all pages should be clean of smudges and streaks. A
single staple in the upper left-hand corner is a simple and sufficient
method for securing the pages.

Individuals are faced with many choices when writing a C.V. The methods
used to develop this document are varied, but the goal is the same — a
curriculum vitae that will impress and convince the reader that you are
the person they seek. I hope the advice offered here will help you to
develop that kind of C.V. My best wishes for success in all your
endeavors.
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