HOW TO WRITE A GOOD RESUME/CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)

Step 1

Gather Information for your CV

First, you have to prepare. Preparation is a critical part of writing a CV that stands out. Having your essential information ready will ensure you are customizing your CV to the specific job you want

Then make a list of your:
1. Professional experience, including employers’ names, dates of hire, locations, job titles and responsibilities
2. Significant accomplishments from your current and previous jobs
3. Education credentials. List all schools, their locations and years attended, along with the degrees certifications and licenses and notable grades you received from each
4. Publications, including their titles and dates published
5. Speaking or teaching engagements, dates, topics and locations
6. Professional affiliations and memberships, your role and dates affiliated
7. Soft and hard skills. It’s OK if it’s a long list; you can edit it later
8. Volunteer work, including notable achievements, names of organizations and dates you volunteered for each
9. Any other unique experiences or attributes that set you apart

Step 2

Add your contact information

Your contact information on a CV should include your:
Full name
Phone number
Professional email address
City and ZIP code
A link to your LinkedIn account, website or portfolio

Step 3

Write a professional summary or objective statement

A professional statement on your CV can give you a competitive advantage when written well.

Example

Skilled assistant attorney in private practice with more than five years of experience settling personal injury cases and litigating employment defense. Specializes in negotiating settlements quickly. Excels at using research and analysis to provide clients with optimal strategies for the best outcomes. Experienced in preparing discovery, writing case briefs and peacefully resolving negotiation conflicts.

Step 4

Show off your relevant skills.

Although it’s not mandatory to place your CV skills section directly under your summary, it is recommend placing it somewhere toward the top of your CV template. Doing so helps potential employers find your core qualifications quickly when they scan your CV for relevance and it is often the section that recruiters and hiring managers value most.

Top ten skills you could include:

1. Resiliance
2. Communication
3. Interpersonal skills
4. Leadership
5. Adaptability
6. Flexibility
7. Collaboration
8. Active listening
9. Cultural competence
10. Creativity

Step 5

Add Work Experience

Work history is an important part of any job application CV. Whether you put yours before or after your skills section is up to you, but it’s best to place it in the first quarter of your CV so potential employers can find it easily.

When you make a CV work history section, list current and past jobs in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent position.

In addition to accomplishments, a CV work history section must include:
1. Company names
2. Dates of employment
3. Job title

Example

Adjunct Programming Professor
Webster University College, Department of Computer Science
September 2018 – Present
* Develop lab activities for 25 students in three different undergraduate programming classes ranging from beginner to intermediate.
* As an honors advisor, guide 15 third-year students through thesis development and research opportunities.
* Created three computer lab manuals for the department.
* Led 10 undergraduate students in an award-winning research study on Cyber security.

Step 6

Create a CV education section

Display the name of the school or institution, the degree you earned and the date you graduated. If you have multiple degrees or studied at more than one institution, then list them in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent school first.

Step 7

Proofread your cover letter

Knowing how to a CV for a job isn’t all there is to making a CV. You have to proofread it at least once before sending your CV to a potential employer.

Typos and CV formatting mistakes can reduce your chances of getting hired. When you’ve finished proofreading, have someone else read it for you too, just to be sure it’s job application-ready.

Note: Don’t put any references on your CV. Employers used to expect candidates to put one or two references on a CV, but that tradition has changed.

You should not share your references’ names and contact details (i.e. their data) until you have been offered the job.

If you decide to go ahead anyway, your references should go at the end of your CV or on a separate sheet.

References are simply not needed at the beginning of the job application process because employers do not normally request them until offer stage.