How to Prepare a Curriculum Vitae
A curriculum vitae, or CV, is an expanded version of a resume. A CV includes the standard information that you would put on a resume, such as education and work experience, but goes on to also discuss your academic background. Deciding exactly which information to include and how to best present it can be overwhelming. Remove some of the stress associated with a job search by familiarizing yourself with the steps for writing a CV.
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Instructions
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Open a new document in a word processing program.
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Write your name and contact details. Include your address, phone number and email address. If you have two addresses, differentiate between the permanent and current one. Center this introductory section at the very top of the page.
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Create a section under the title "Education" where you will list information regarding your schooling in chronological order. Begin by inserting a bullet point on a new line and writing the name of the educational institution, followed by a comma and the title of the degree you earned there. Then move your cursor to the end of the same line and write the years when you attended the institution, for example 2007 to 2009. Include a subhead under each bullet in which you mention any scholastic awards won and courses relevant to the job for which you are applying.
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Use the same format for a new section titled "Work Experience" where you will list any internships, jobs and volunteer positions you have held. Each bullet point should include the job title and name of the organization, followed by the position's time frame. Below each bullet write a subhead where you discuss the details of the position, such as tasks performed and goals achieved.
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Make a third section called "Skills." Use bullet points to list additional information such as language skills and computer knowledge, which can make you more attractive to an employer.
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Create separate sections titled "Presentations," "Publications," "Grants and Fellowships" and "Awards and Honors," providing specific titles and briefly discussing any relevant details. This section will be particularly important if you are applying for an academic position.
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Include a final section titled "Personal Data" if you feel it is appropriate. This section includes information such as your birth date, marital status and country of citizenship. Providing these details is recommended if you are applying to a job overseas, where it is common for employers to expect to see this information. You may also wish to attach a passport photo with your CV.
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Write "References and letters of recommendation available upon request" in italics, and center this sentence at the bottom of the page.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are unsure about formatting the text in your CV, you may want to consult a CV template. See Resources below for examples. Put titles of each section in bold to make this information more visible and easier for the employer to scan at a glance.
