2. How to write an effective CV ?
GTI SV University 2016
How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
3. Index
What is a “ CV ” ?
CV Types
What Should be on your CV ?
CV and Resume
Cover Letter
How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
4. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
What is a “ CV ” ?!
CV stands
for
Latin origin, Means “the course of one’s life”
Curriculum Vitae
A summary of one’s personal history and
professional qualifications submitted as part of a
job, graduate school, or internship application
process
5. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
Will your CV get you an interview ?!
Fit or Not ?? The 6 Seconds Challenge
The Recruiter eyes
Only use one page.
Don’t include a photo.
Use keywords carefully.
Be brief.
Don’t waste space stating the obvious.
7. CV Types
1- Chronological CV
EMPLOYMENT
April 2010 – December 2011: Venture –
Editing Assistant
Working with Photoshop, I have learnt various editing styles. I
have gained customer service experience and understand the
importance of listening to what customers want in order to
achieve high sales.
February 2009 – March 2010: Topshop –
Retail Assistant
My interest in fashion enabled me to help customers and to
suggest styles that might suit them. I helped to design the layout
of the stock in the store, with an aim to increase our revenue by
positioning various items in ‘eye-catching’ places.
The Chronological CV lists education, employment, and other experience in date
order, in a reverse chronological order (starting with the most recent first)
How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
Chronological CV tips
Be specific
Quantify
contributions /achievements
keywords and terminology
8. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
CV Types
2- Functional / Skills Based CV
Focuses on your skills and experience
Does not include chronological time
Using Functional CV
Work Gaps
Many Turn Overs
Changing Careers
Employers distrust a Functional CV . It makes them
suspicious.
9. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
What Should be on your CV ?
1- Personal Information
2- Objective
3- Education and
Qualifications
4- Work Experience
6- Additional Sections
Section Headings
1 or 2 words that represent the
category of content
Importance of the heading
Consistent in formatting
10. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
What Should be on your CV ?
1- Personal Information
Name Address Telephone number E-mail address
Ahmed Khairy Gadelkarim
Address: 5 Xxxxx Street, Sixth Avenue, Nasr City, Cairo.
Telephone: (+2) 0100000000 - (+2) 01200000000
E-mail: Xxxx-_a@windowslive.com
11. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
What Should be on your CV ?
2- Objective
What's Your CV Objective?
How do I Write a CV Objective?
It is not about you
Research
Be specific
Don’t be needy
Different CV for each objective
Objective: An entry-level position in mechanical engineering where strong
leadership ability and good communication skills are needed.
Objective: Vice-president of aerospace engineering in an agency where
extensive knowledge of thermodynamics and heat transfer are needed.
12. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
What Should be on your CV ?
3- Education and
Qualifications Education in Reverse Chronological Order
List major and minor(s)
Include relevant coursework
Highlight Achievements
Degree Major Graduation date
Minor College University
• June 2009: Bachelor of Science Degree in Geophysics, Ain Shams University.
Research title
13. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
What Should be on your CV ?
4- Work Experience
Experience in Reverse Chronological Order
Dates of employment Name of the company Position / Title
Highlight your skills and accomplishments
Your skills made a difference
Accomplishment statements and action verbs
extensive and regular volunteer work
14. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
What Should be on your CV ?
4- Work Experience
15. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
What Should be on your CV ?
6- Additional Sections
Courses and Certifications
Skills and languages
Honors and Awards
Publications and presentations
Extracurricular and volunteer experience
Relevancy
Reverse Chronological Order
Sell Your Skill
17. CV and Resume
Meaning French "summary"
Latin,
“the course of one’s life”
Purpose - Marketing tool
- Get you an interview
- History of you
- Get you an interview
Content - Summarize Skills
- Relevant to reader and job
- Details your experience
- Consider relevancy
Use - Senior level positions
- Non academic positions
- Fresh grads & career change
- Academic positions
Length 1 Page Up to 3 pages and exceeds
Resume CV
How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
18. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
Cover letter
Never send a NAKED CV
A formal introduction to your resume and accompanies it when applying for a job
What is the purpose of a cover letter?
Types
Of
Cover
letters
19. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
Cover letter
Cover Letter Basics
1- Interest and Qualifications
2- Personal but professional
3- Tailored to position / company
4- “Sells” qualifications
5- CV main points
20. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
Cover letter
Preliminary Research
Cover Letter Basics
Make sure you know:
General job information
Desired qualifications and skills
Key values and words
21. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
Cover letter
1. Headings
2. Salutation/Greeting
3. Opening paragraph
4. Middle paragraph
5. Closing paragraph
Preliminary Research
Cover Letter Basics
Contents of a cover letter
22. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
Cover letter
1. Headings
2. Salutation/Greeting
The “Header” should include:
1.Applicant name, address, and
contacts
2.Date
3.Employer’s address
4.Salutation.
Stacy Lolkus
222 Harrison Dr
Apartment 5
West Lafayette, IN 47906
765-450-7583
slo@purdue.edu
October 16, 2006
Jenny Lock
Uline — HR Recruiting Center
2105 S. Lakeside Drive
Waukegan, IL 60085
Dear Ms. Lockridge:
23. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
Cover letter
1. Headings
2. Salutation/Greeting
3. Opening paragraph
After speaking with Emily Richards about her past summer in the internship program, I am
very interested in your Human Resources Summer Internship position. I worked with
employee benefits this past summer and became very interested in the human resources
aspect. I have obtained many leadership opportunities while working as a Business
Writing Consultant Assistant Coordinator at Purdue’s Writing Lab that would be valuable
in a career at Uline.
Get the reader’s attention
Introduce yourself
Purpose of letter
Explain why interested in the position or
the company
Culture?
Approach?
How will you help the organization?
24. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
Cover letter
1. Headings
2. Salutation/Greeting
3. Opening paragraph
4. Middle paragraph
As Business Writing Consultant Assistant Coordinator at Purdue’s Writing Lab, my primary
role is to help train new tutors for the Writing Lab. I work directly with the Business
Writing Coordinator teaching classes and participating in mock tutorials to allow students to
obtain hands-on experience tutoring business documents. I also organize educational
workshops to refresh the skills of current Business Writing Consultants. My position as a
Boiler Gold Rush Team Leader also challenged me to use my enthusiastic personality to
motivate incoming freshmen to be involved in campus activities. As a Human Resources
Intern at Uline, I could use all of these leadership skills while learning more about
recruiting and hiring practices.
Highlight skills and benefits
Emphasize interest in the company
Provide concrete evidence
Show don’t tell
Qualifications for the position
25. How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
Cover letter
1. Headings
2. Salutation/Greeting
3. Opening paragraph
4. Middle paragraph
5. Closing paragraph
Thank you for considering me for this position. I would love to discuss these and other
qualifications with you. If you have any questions, please call me at 765-450-7583 or e-
mail me at slo@purdue.edu.
Sincerely
Stacy Lolkus
Enclosure: Résumé
Conclude with next step
Provide contact information
Show Respect
26. Stacy Lolkus
222 Harrison Dr
Apartment 5
West Lafayette, IN 47906
765-450-7583
slo@purdue.edu
October 16, 2006
Jenny Lock
Uline — HR Recruiting Center
2105 S. Lakeside Drive
Waukegan, IL 60085
Dear Ms. Lockridge:
After speaking with Emily Richards about her past summer in the internship program, I am very interested in your
Human Resources Summer Internship position. I worked with employee benefits this past summer and became
very interested in the human resources aspect. I have obtained many leadership opportunities while working as a
Business Writing Consultant Assistant Coordinator at Purdue’s Writing Lab that would be valuable in a career at Uline.
As Business Writing Consultant Assistant Coordinator at Purdue’s Writing Lab, my primary role is to help train
new tutors for the Writing Lab. I work directly with the Business Writing Coordinator teaching classes and
participating in mock tutorials to allow students to obtain hands-on experience tutoring business documents. I
also organize educational workshops to refresh the skills of current Business Writing Consultants. My position as
a Boiler Gold Rush Team Leader also challenged me to use my enthusiastic personality to motivate incoming
freshmen to be involved in campus activities. As a Human Resources Intern at Uline, I could use all of these
leadership skills while learning more about recruiting and hiring practices.
Thank you for considering me for this position. I would love to discuss these and other qualifications with you. If
you have any questions, please call me at 765-450-7583 or e-mail me at slo@purdue.edu.
Sincerely
Stacy Lolkus
,
Stacy Lolkus
Enclosure: Résumé
Address
Date
Salutation
Middle Paragraph
Employer Address
First Paragraph
Conclusion
Closing
How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae ?
Editor's Notes
To inform the employer about your education, work experience, skills and interests
To ‘sell’ these qualities and to persuade the employer to invite you to interview
When an employer asks for an application in that format
When an employer states ‘apply to…’ without specifying the format
When making speculative applications
Include interesting and unique information
Attempt best effort to make a first impression
No chance to explain if you do not get an interview
NAME Name, address, and initial contact information are important. The recruiter will most likely want to know if you’re in the area in which the position is located. This is also a great place to put any degrees, certifications, or special designations so the recruiter knows your qualifications right away. For example: John M. Doe, M.B.A. CURRENT TITLE/COMPANY It’s very important to place your current company’s name and your current job title in a logical place on the resume so it’s easily found by the employer. Don’t make them go searching for it. Judgments will be made based on this current position title, so know that in advance. PREVIOUS TITLE/COMPANY Ideally your resume will show job search progression steadily moving up the corporate ladder and taking on more responsibility and bigger roles. START/END DATES Your dates of employment are very important to recruiters because they will tell them about your job longevity and in most cases are considered an indicator of your reliability and stability. EDUCATION Education can be critical to your resume and is definitely a factor recruiters will use to weed you out if you don’t have the required degree.
Matching up your CV with the position/company
It is not ‘one size fits all’, you need to tailor your CV to each position you apply for.
Research the company. Do they have a mission statement or core values? What will they be looking for in you? Who works there at the moment? What are they passionate about?
The Chronological CV:
Facilitator can say: The Chronological CV lists employment dates in reverse order and is popular but very "basic". It does not allow someone with 5-20 years' experience to do justice to his or her skills, strengths, and accomplishments because this format is limited to the facts of your work experience and education. Much of what an employer needs to know - your selling points -- will be MISSING!
Where will you write about your abilities?
Where will you offer your value?
How will you sell yourself?
Chronological CV tips:
If you choose to write a chronological resume, it is best to follow these tips:
▪ Include only the most important information about each position.
▪ Be specific rather than general in your descriptions, using concise and vivid language.
▪ Quantify the impact of your actions in your previous positions by including facts, figures, and numbers. For example: How many accounts did you work on? How many employees did you supervise?
▪ Be sure to include a list of key contributions you presented or achievements you made to your past positions.
▪ Find key words and terminology in the job posting and use them in your resume.
▪ Don't use unnecessary text. Have someone read your resume and help you to cut out extra unnecessary words.
The Functional CV
A Functional CV: Focuses on your skills and experience. Does not include chronological time, and is used most often by people with work gaps or people who are changing careers.
Avoid Functional Resumes - If you list your skills, abilities and achievements without matching them up with job titles and dates, employers will not be interested in going any further. Most employers prefer a Chronological or Combination resume with dates and job descriptions. Many employers distrust a Functional resume because they know it is used by those with something to hide or disguise. It makes them suspicious.
Some employers are looking at your career growth. They cannot see how you’ve grown professionally if you use a Functional resume because there are no dates associated with the various positions you’ve held during your career.
Most resumes have components or section headers. In this part of the workshop, we’ll go over the most common resume sections and what you can cover in each section. While there are basic section headings in every resume, the choice of wording and additional headings should be based on the categories of content that will best target your resume. Try not to copy the section headings from sample resumes and don’t forget to provide a heading for information unique to you. Let’s look at the what a section heading is.
A section heading is one or two words that accurately represents the category of content to be placed beneath the selected section. The purpose of a section heading is to provide a section of the resume that quickly and easily directs the potential employer (or a scanner) to the content/information about that job candidate.
A section heading should be represented by the size and style fonts, formatting and sequencing and style that reflect the importance of the heading and direct the potential employer to the appropriate section. Section headings should be consistent in formatting within the resume. Let’s go into some detail about specific section headings to give you a better idea of what we are talking about.
What's Your Resume Objective?
The first step to creating a high-impact resume is determining what you're trying to accomplish. With a clearly defined career objective, you can write a resume that conveys the experience, skills and training that will best serve your overall professional aspirations.
Hiring managers are busy people who can't afford to waste time trying to figure out what your career goals are. They won't take the time to do this; they'll just move on to the next resume.
How do I Write a Resume Objective?
If you are writing a Resume Objective keep in mind that it is not about you. It’s about the hiring manager(s) who is probably under pressure to fill a job opening with an individual who is a good fit for the job. Because your resume objective is the first thing the hiring manager will read, he/she will be using that opportunity to quickly size you up. Are you professional? Have you done your homework? Do you have a defined and realistic goal or are you just looking for a job right now? Ideally, they want to find a candidate who’ll make them look good to their superiors.
Research the position you are applying for , the company and the field you want to go into.. Understanding that it’s not about you can help you to put your research into words. Instead of "Seeking a position with advancement opportunities to senior management," which is self-serving and all about "me," your resume objective should focus on the needs of the company. For example: "Entry-level position in Finance which could fully utilize a technical expertise in database design and a strong drive to maximize corporate profitability in a competitive global marketplace."
A well-written objective statement that catches the eye of the hiring manager and shows you did your homework puts you in a good light. You have shown yourself to be professional, focused, knowledgeable, and dedicated to what matters.
Tips for Writing Your Own Objective Statement:
▪Focus on the employer. Stay away from resume objectives that state your working preferences, such as "seeking a team-oriented environment that fosters professional development.“
▪ Be specific. Steer clear from statements that say nothing substantial about your career goal (e.g., "seeking a challenging position with potential for growth and advancement"). ▪Keep it clear and concise. The best resume objectives contain a desired job title or target. Hiring managers often sort through hundreds to thousands of resumes to fill one job opening. Make it easy on them by keeping your objective short and to the point.
▪If you have more than one career goal, create a different resume for each objective.
The Objective Section should delineate a specific occupational title. If the desired industry or sector matches the desired job title, it can be included- for example: Seeking a Certified Public Accountant position in banking. If the desired occupational title is consistent among jobs and industries, an occupational title may be formatted in the center, in bold, beneath the contact section. For example: Special Education Teacher, K-6. An actual objective section heading would not be needed in this case.
There may also be situations in writing a combination resume in which the cover letter and summary/accomplishments sections are enough and an objective statement would not be needed. You will need to determine whether or not an objective statement is needed depending on what section headings you use to market your skills in your targeted resume.
What's Your Resume Objective?
The first step to creating a high-impact resume is determining what you're trying to accomplish. With a clearly defined career objective, you can write a resume that conveys the experience, skills and training that will best serve your overall professional aspirations.
Hiring managers are busy people who can't afford to waste time trying to figure out what your career goals are. They won't take the time to do this; they'll just move on to the next resume.
How do I Write a Resume Objective?
If you are writing a Resume Objective keep in mind that it is not about you. It’s about the hiring manager(s) who is probably under pressure to fill a job opening with an individual who is a good fit for the job. Because your resume objective is the first thing the hiring manager will read, he/she will be using that opportunity to quickly size you up. Are you professional? Have you done your homework? Do you have a defined and realistic goal or are you just looking for a job right now? Ideally, they want to find a candidate who’ll make them look good to their superiors.
Research the position you are applying for , the company and the field you want to go into.. Understanding that it’s not about you can help you to put your research into words. Instead of "Seeking a position with advancement opportunities to senior management," which is self-serving and all about "me," your resume objective should focus on the needs of the company. For example: "Entry-level position in Finance which could fully utilize a technical expertise in database design and a strong drive to maximize corporate profitability in a competitive global marketplace."
A well-written objective statement that catches the eye of the hiring manager and shows you did your homework puts you in a good light. You have shown yourself to be professional, focused, knowledgeable, and dedicated to what matters.
Tips for Writing Your Own Objective Statement:
▪Focus on the employer. Stay away from resume objectives that state your working preferences, such as "seeking a team-oriented environment that fosters professional development.“
▪ Be specific. Steer clear from statements that say nothing substantial about your career goal (e.g., "seeking a challenging position with potential for growth and advancement"). ▪Keep it clear and concise. The best resume objectives contain a desired job title or target. Hiring managers often sort through hundreds to thousands of resumes to fill one job opening. Make it easy on them by keeping your objective short and to the point.
▪If you have more than one career goal, create a different resume for each objective.
The Objective Section should delineate a specific occupational title. If the desired industry or sector matches the desired job title, it can be included- for example: Seeking a Certified Public Accountant position in banking. If the desired occupational title is consistent among jobs and industries, an occupational title may be formatted in the center, in bold, beneath the contact section. For example: Special Education Teacher, K-6. An actual objective section heading would not be needed in this case.
There may also be situations in writing a combination resume in which the cover letter and summary/accomplishments sections are enough and an objective statement would not be needed. You will need to determine whether or not an objective statement is needed depending on what section headings you use to market your skills in your targeted resume.
Do You Need an Objective Section?
While it's important for your resume to include a clear career goal, you don't have to convey it through an Objective section. The majority of job seekers may incorporate their career goals into a Qualifications Summary instead.
When Is a Formal Objective Required?
Career Changers and Entry-Level workers should consider incorporating their objectives into their resumes, because their goals may not be clearly defined by their work history alone. If you're targeting a particular position, add a formal objective statement and reference the job opening. The hiring manager will see you took time to customize your resume and that the opportunity is important to you.
Resume Objective Examples
For Career Changers: Accomplished administrator seeking to leverage extensive background in personnel management, recruitment, employee relations and benefits administration in an entry-level human resources position. Extremely motivated for career change goal and eager to contribute to a company's HR division.
Entry-Level Workers: Dedicated CIS graduate pursuing a help-desk position.
When Targeting a Specific Position: Elementary teacher for ABC School District.
Do not be needy: Objective: To obtain a position that will allow me to advance my potential while seeking new challenges.
Show what you will contribute: Objective: An entry-level position in mechanical engineering where strong leadership ability and good communication skills are needed. Objective: Vice-president of aerospace engineering in an agency where extensive knowledge of thermodynamics and heat transfer are needed.
One or two sentences
Type of position (part time, full time, summer internship)
What position would you like to find?
Emphasize how you will use your skills, not what you want to gain
Include schools attended beyond high school
List major and minor(s), supply interesting details
For NYU, put the expected date in parentheses: NYU School of Engineering B.S. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (Anticipated graduation: May 2017)
Include special or interesting aspects of your program
This is the section of your resume where you highlight your skills and accomplishments related to relevant positions you have held in the past or you currently hold. When you are marketing your various skills and abilities there are a number of resume norms you need to consider. There are ways to market your skills and hiring managers expect to see accomplishment statements and action verbs in a resume which we will discuss later. Works experience is one of the most meaningful sections of your resume. This section must show that you actually did what you said that you did. In this section, describe what you did when you had a specific job title- emphasizing your skills and achievements. Be sure to mention how your skills made a difference.
For each entry give the job title, name and location of the organization, dates of employment and a brief description of your accomplishments. You can use accomplishment statements to help detail your skills and accomplishments.
Use Accomplishment Statements
PAR
Problem, Action, Result
A+B=R
Action + Benefit = Result
Use the Skills Section
Software programs and proficiency (Word, PowerPoiint, Excel, FrontPage, AutoCAD…)
Programming languages (include Visual Basic, HTML, PHP,…)
Abilities (based on experience)
Languages and language ability
Dean’s list
Scholarships
Grants
Prizes
Nominations
Professional societies
Significant accomplishments
Committees and leadership roles
Matching up your CV with the position/company
It is not ‘one size fits all’, you need to tailor your CV to each position you apply for.
Research the company. Do they have a mission statement or core values? What will they be looking for in you? Who works there at the moment? What are they passionate about?
Purpose
Resume = Marketing tool
CV = History of You
Content
Resume = succinct and relevant to reader
CV = broader in content but should maintain relevancy
Page Length
Resume = 1 page
CV = 3 pages and up
Resume Is a French word meaning "summary", and true to the word meaning, signifies a summary of one's employment, education, and other skills, used in applying for a new position.
A resume seldom exceeds one side of an A4 sheet, and at the most two sides.
They do not list out all the education and qualifications, but only highlight specific skills customized to target the job profile in question.
A good cover letter will prompt an employer to look at your credentials. i.e., your resume A bad cover letter or no cover letter is enough to cause an employer to move on to the next applicant.
Never send a ‘naked’ CV
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A cover letter is a formal introduction to your resume and accompanies it when applying for a job.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Facilitator notes:
Ask the group what they think is the purpose of a cover letter?
Write the participants answers on the board
Discussion Helper/Potential answers to the question
To allow employer to hear who you are and what you have to offer in your own voice. (Sentences rather than point form)
To target your application package
To show your interest and fit for that position/company
Sets you apart from the pack of applicants
Shows your communication skills and style ( written)
Show cases your research skills by what you reference/answer the ads
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facilitator notes:
Talk to the group about the importance of making a first impression and presenting there interest and qualifications in the position.
Discussion:
What are first impressions when writing a cover letter?
The layout
Correct spelling
The presentation of the package
Grammar
Your qualifications
Researching the company
Addressing the letter
A cover letter expresses interest and qualifications for a particular position
Personal but professional
Tailored to position/company
Explains how you fit with organization and how you will help them
Expands main points from your resume
“Sells” qualifications to the prospective employer
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make sure you know:
General job information
Desired qualifications and skills
Key values and words
Research helps you tailor your cover letter
Look for mission statements, organization
“vision,” goals, etc
Ask participants what they think should be included in the sections of a cover letter?
Brainstorm with participants and write on board.
Key Concept:
The “Header” should include:
Applicant name, address, and contacts
Date
Employer’s address
Salutation.
Purpose:
Get the reader’s attention
Introduce yourself
Explain purpose of letter
Explain why interested in the position or the company
Culture?
Approach?
Explain how you will help the organization
Preview the rest of the letter
Middle Paragraphs
Highlight skills and benefits to the company
Emphasize interest in the company
Provide concrete evidence
Show don’t tell (use information from
resume)
Include specific, credible examples of
qualifications for the position
Begin paragraphs with topic sentences
Conclusion
Conclude with next step
Provide contact information
Sincerely,
Simon Smith
Enclosure: Resume
Key Concept: This paragraph brings the entire cover letter together and expresses what the student will do, or the student’s expectations
Middle Paragraphs
Highlight skills and benefits to the company
Emphasize interest in the company
Provide concrete evidence
Show don’t tell (use information from
resume)
Include specific, credible examples of
qualifications for the position
Begin paragraphs with topic sentences
Conclusion
Conclude with next step
Provide contact information
Sincerely,
Simon Smith
Enclosure: Resume
Key Concept: This paragraph brings the entire cover letter together and expresses what the student will do, or the student’s expectations
