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Saturday, 25 August 2012

Career CV

Your CV is your "advert" to sell yourself to an employer.

What is a CV?

  • CV stands for "Curriculum Vitae"
  • Curriculum vitae is Latin for "Life Story"
  • A CV is also often called a "Resume"

What to Include in a CV

A CV should at least include the following:
  • Your personal information
  • Your work experience
  • Your skills
  • Your education
  • Your personal profile and interests
  • Your references

Your Personal Information

Personal information should include name, address, telephone, and email. I will suggest you put this information at the top of your CV and make it look like a letterhead:

John Webber

123 Internet Lane, 4311 North cap, Norway
Tel: 020 7650 555,  Mobile: 055 778 8 991,  email: jwebb@mywebcomp.no
Save other personal details for a later paragraph.

Your Work Experience

List what you have done - most recent work experience first.
Include a short job description and your responsibilities:

Work Experience

2001-
Programmer. Northcap IT.
Description
1998-2001
Accountant. Northcap Auto.
Description

Make sure your work experience is on the first page of your CV. This outlines your skills and selling points. Additional information should be added later.

Your Skills

Skills are best described with a list.
List your skills - most important and relevant first.

Skills

Responsibilities

PC Skills

Don't forget to include responsibilities. Responsibility is a very important skill.

Your Education

Education is best described with a list.
List what you have studied - most recent education first.

Education

1995-1998
Bachelor degree. Accounting. University of Northcap.
1992-1995
High school degree. Computing. College of Northcap.

Courses & Diplomas

2003
XML Diploma. W3Schools.
2001
Internet Programming Course.

Don't forget subject options, special project, courses, or diplomas.

Your References

List only a few names - like a teacher from your place of study, and a superior from a work situation - and make sure they can easily be reached and are willing to give you a good reference.

Your Personal Profile

Your personal profile should include additional information about your age, status, interests and other relevant information that can produce a positive picture of your character. I will suggest you put this in the last paragraph of your CV.

Personal Profile

My personal interests include fishing, sailing, and cycling. I am currently the secretary of the Northcap cycling club.
  • age 32
  • married, 2 children
  • good health
  • clean driver license for car and lorry
Employers will be interested in this paragraph because it reveals your character, but be careful. Don't overdo the description of your interest and don't describe interests that might distract your job. If you are coaching a football team, don't count the number of wins. Let them ask you about details in a later interview if they are interested.

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