Important aspects to write your CV effectively

1. What you really need to know
right now …
Hayesha Somarathne
B.Sc(Hons) in IT, MSc in CS, Dip in Psy

2. Length: Short
Content: All-inclusive
Length: As long as it needs
summary of skills,
experiences, and
education
Content: Area-specific
Purpose: Get
Purpose: Detail background
employment (or
interview)
to be
listing of education or
academic background
and qualifications
Curriculum Vitae

3. Origin is Latin-“course of one’s life”
Note “vitae”(vee-tie or vee-te) is the
plural form; “vita”(vee-tuh) is singular
Curriculum Vitae

4. Time goes by fast
Helps you organize important things for
your future career (which organizations to
join; what is missing
Assists in setting goals
Assists when getting letters of
recommendations or applying for other
programs/committees
Curriculum Vitae

5. There is not really a “right” way to do a CV.
However, there are some things that make the
viewing easier, make you look more professional,
and include things reviewers want to see
Your CV may be different than someone
else.
What’s important is that you keep one up to date
Curriculum Vitae

6. Font: Times New
Roman
Regular paper white
is fine
Font-Size: 12 points
No underlining
Single sided
Margin: I’’ all round
Use bolding and CAPs to
have things stand out
Number pages
No graphics
Same font throughout
(may vary sizing some)
Full name on every page
Curriculum Vitae

7. Clear: Well-organized and logical
Concise: Relevant and necessary
Complete: Includes everything you need
Consistent: Don’t mix styles or fonts Curriculum
Vitae
Current: Up-to-date
Curriculum Vitae

8. Full name
Mailing Address: Permanent
E-mail: Obtain email address that will not expire
Curriculum Vitae
Phone number(s)
Curriculum Vitae

9. ALWAYS
Education (always first
on the CV)
Honors and Awards
Professional Experience
(Employment)
Publications and
Presentations
Extracurricular and
Volunteer Experience
Interests
OPTIONAL (as needed)
Objective
Certifications and Licensure
Professional Affiliations
Professional Activities
Research
Added Qualifications
References
Curriculum Vitae

10. Most current first (include your current
educational work)
Only include diploma distinctions
Get the schools’ names correct!
Degrees/certifications are what’s important –
not the time spent on the Curriculum Vitae
Thesis/Dissertation titles listed
Curriculum Vitae

11. List with most recent first
Honors/Award Title: Date(s) received
Go back to undergrad but not before – only
academic and/or professional
Scholarships count on Curriculum Vitae
No descriptions please!
Curriculum Vitae

12. Includes anything you were paid to do or was
extensive, regular volunteer
Only include those items relevant to academic
List most recent first
Don’t include descriptions
If listing research, include the lab and
director/principle investigator
Curriculum Vitae

13. Extracurricular and Volunteer Experience
List with most recent first
Do not describe
This tends to be the longest list…But watch it!
It’s better to have long-term items or very
relevant items and a shorter list than everything
listed Curriculum Vitae
Student organizations go here
Curriculum Vitae

14. Affiliations
Only those current
Alphabetical listing
Include all dates of
affiliation
Note any positions
Activities
Past and present
Most current first
Only those very specific to
academic/research career
Should be school or
university sponsored
committees
Include roles
Curriculum Vitae

15. Research Experience
List with most current first
Make sure you fall under someone, unless it
truly was your lab ownership
If you gained grant funds, include Curriculum
Vitae
You may briefly describe here (only place on CV)
Curriculum Vitae

16. Publications and Presentations
Two views on which way to list first (most recent
or in order of publication, generally in order of
publication so you just add on
Always bold your name in authorship
You may include submitted and/or pending
publications and/or presentations
Presentations may be small or large, but should
be pertinent enough to talk about
Make sure you have copies of your publications
and/or presentations for life of your CV
Curriculum Vitae

17. Interests are hobbies
List 4 of them
Creativity counts/ Be
specific
Make sure they are realMake sure they reflect
you
Get something active
Get something group
Added Qualifications
should be verifiable
Include language fluency
(and level-“fluent,”
“conversational,”)
Cultural knowledge may be
included, especially if
you’ve had hands-on
experience or training
Anything special
Curriculum Vitae

18. References
Normally two referees are sufficient
One academic (perhaps your tutor or a project
supervisor) and
One from an employer
Should be non-relatives
References are available on request
Unless specifically requests referees, it's fine to
omit this section completely
Curriculum Vitae

19. What makes a good CV?
No single "correct" way to write and present a CV
but the following general rules apply:
Targeted on the specific job
Carefully and clearly laid out
Informative but concise
Accurate in content, spelling and grammar
Curriculum Vitae

20. What mistakes to candidates make on their
CV?
Spelling and grammar 56% of employers found this
Not tailored to the job 21%
Length not right & poor work history 16%
Poor format and no use of bullets 11%
No accomplishments 9%
Contact & email problems 8%
Objective/profile was too vague 5%
Lying 2%
Having a photo 1%
Curriculum Vitae

21. Tips on presentation
Your CV should be carefully and clearly laid out
Never back a CV - each page should be on a
separate sheet of paper
Be concise: a CV is an appetiser and should not
give the reader indigestion
Be positive: put yourself over confidently and
highlight your strong points
Curriculum Vitae

22. Tips on presentation – cont…
Be honest: you should never give inaccurate or
misleading information
The sweet spot of a CV is the area selectors tend
to pay most attention to: this is typically around
the upper middle of the first page
If you are posting your CV, don't fold it
Curriculum Vitae

23. Emailed CVs and Web CVs
Put your covering letter as the body of your
email (It's wise to format it as plain text as then it can
be read by any email reader).
Emails are not as easy to read as letters. Stick to
simple text with short paragraphs and plenty of
spacing (Break messages into points and make each
one a new paragraph with a full line gap between
paragraphs. DON'T "SHOUT": WRITE IN UPPER CASE!)
Your CV is then sent as an attachment. Say you'll
send a printed CV if required.
Curriculum Vitae

24. Further Help
Example CVs, application forms and covering
letters
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm
Learning and Skills Council online CV Builder can
help you build your own CV in just 12 steps
bab.la phrase dictionary provide useful phrases
for CV writing, letters of application, and business
letters.
LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com
Curriculum Vitae