Day 20- Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Today lecture was about curriculum vitae (CV). Curriculum vitae is a reflection about yourself. As mentioned in Kent (2012) curriculum vitae is  "an outline of a person's educational and professional history, usually prepared for job applications" Kent (2012) explained more about CV as following,

Figure 1: Curriculum Vitae (e-how, 2012)

"A CV is the most flexible and convenient way to make applications. It conveys your personal details in the way that presents you in the best possible light. A CV is a marketing document in which you are marketing something: yourself! You need to "sell" your skills, abilities, qualifications and experience to employers. It can be used to make multiple applications to employers in a specific career area. For this reason, many large graduate recruiters will not accept CVs and instead use their own application form."

Above paragraph explains importance or the objective of the CV. When writing the CV need to be careful and also need to be honest with what you are writing. 

A CV does followings,

• CV can influence a person.
• It highlights a particular person has. Ex:- Cognitive skills, motor skills and effective skills

Lecturer started the lecture by explaining the importance and the objective of the CV. Lecturer explained that CV is a reflection of  yourself and it shows who you are and what you are going to serve the company.

Objective

A CV is a sales document that highlights your skills, experience and achievements in such a way that the reader is motivated to meet yourself.

Then he explained how CV helps to market ourselves.

Marketing or Advertising Yourself

• Your CV must sell you to a prospective employer, and compete against other applicants 

• Your curriculum vitae must be presented professionally, clearly, and in a way that indicates you are an ideal candidate for the job - The right skills, experience, behavior, attitude, that the employer is seeking
• The way you present your CV effectively demonstrates your ability to communicate, and particularly to explain a professional business proposition

• The challenge in CV writing is to be more appealing and attractive than the rest

• Write down a description of the person they are looking for. You use this as a blue-print for your CV. The better the match the more likely you are to be called for an interview

After that Mr. Eranjan asked us to list down some attributes of professionalism. Some of the attributes as followed,

1. Curtious
2. Consistence
3. Credible
4. Precise
5. Planner
6. Good listener
7. Collaboration
8. Punctual
9. Broad minded
10. Innovative

After that he discuss the contents of the CV

CV Contents

• Personal Data- Need to keep it short, and should include name, address, age, gender and marital status
• Career Objective-Position, Career aspiration
• Education- Should include in chronological order
• Work Experiences
• Professional Affiliations
• Leadership, Honors, Achievements
• References

10 Rules for to a Great CV

Rule 1 -Do not play resume rulet

Figure 2:Possible Resources to get information 

Rule 2 -Skip the Summary

• Summary = puffery 
• Include an Objective - Fill a need /solve the problem
• Your job objective = the hirers job objective

Career Objective:-

Including a career objective helps you target a specific employment opportunity and increases the effectiveness of your resume

A career objective can include: 

-Your career goal 

-Your strengths 

-Where you want to work 

-Contributions you will make 

Rules 3-Sell not Tell

Eliminate all self serving descriptions

Focus on Facts 

Rule 4-Mind your Language

Don’t use jargon- abbreviations etc.

Don't use "I"

Rule 5- Nothing Personal

Keep your personal details short

  - Name and address in small fonts

 - Age, gender, martial status irrelevant

 - Avoid listing all your hobbies/ extra curricular activities

 - Use hobbies only to supplement the job

Rule 6- Drop the Irrelevant Affiliation 

Affiliations and memberships can be controversial and create an unintended/ unwanted consequence

Don't use following:-

Member of Jewish society (Religious)

Member of the Royal Golf club (elitist)

Member of “Right to abortion” society (trouble 

Maker)

Avoid Famous/Public/Political References – include

References that are relevant to the job ONLY

Rule 7-Keep it Real

-Skip the history lesson (focus on a 5 year period)

-Don’t be dishonest instead be creative

Rule 8-Include a Photo

• Eliminate doubts
• Better chances at the interview
• Serious, well dressed, not a crowded background – professional passport size photo is best 

Rule 9- Write a Cover Letter

• Short and sweet
• Personal name of the Manager
• Re-emphasize your contact details
• Sections

-1st paragraph – Why you are writing

-2nd paragraph – Why the particular vacancy interests you

-3rd Paragraph – What skills, contributions would you bring in. Why pick you over the others

-4th paragraph – Closing. End on positive and futuristic note

Rule 10-Do not Forget the Basis

• Use good paper (conqueror – cream)
• Word Process
• Spell checked
• Easy to read not verbose
• 1 – 2 page (max)

Check List for a better CV,

• Keep it short - identify accomplishments and present an impression of substance and capability
• Portray what you can do by revealing what you have done 
• Highlight results 
• Keep it simple and straightforward 
• Be accurate
• Use quality resume paper 
• Pay attention to the balance of white space and type 

When deliver the CV it is better to deliver personally by skipping HR department. 

Learning Outcomes:-

I found today lecture as important lecture which will useful to my future aspects. Curriculum vitae is a reflection of a particular person. CV is not just a draft about a particuler person's history neither just a list of  personal data. In-order to write a effective CV need to have the knowledge of what to include, the flow of information need to include, etc. The most important fact in CV is it should focus on the vacancy or the job that apply. The same CV is not applicable for different jobs. From today lecture I understood  facts that I mentioned earlier. Also I understood how to write a effective CV for a particular job and how a interviewee look at a CV. I am looking forward to use the techniques I learnt from this module in-order to write a effective and good curriculum vitae when I am applying to a job.

References:-

e-how. (2012). Curriculum Vitae. [Online]. Available at: http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-new/ehow/images/a06/cv/rk/difference-between-cv-cover-letter-800x800.jpg 

[Accessed 23rd August 2012]

Kent. (2012). How to write a successful CV. [Online]. Available at: http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv.htm [Accessed 23rd August 2012]