Monday, January 14, 2008

We should develop a CV that tells and sells our knowledge, skills, and experience. Of course, we may have to modify the CV to suit the nature of the jobs in different organizations that we contact. The preparation of the CV may be done when we approach the last phase of our graduate studies. Several institutions have facilities for campus recruitment, for which a CV may have to be furnished. cv and resume,cv format,cv resume example,cv resume sample,cv samples,example resume,good resume,how to do a resume,how to make a cv,,how to write a resume,job resume,professional cv,professional resume,resume cover letter,resume cv,resume cv writing,resume examples,resume or cv,resume writing,sample resume,writing a cv,writing a resumeKeep in mind the reader when you prepare a CV In this case your reader is probably a very busy person who may be skimming through hundreds of CV documents, identifying the most suitable person. Your document should stand out not only in the quality of the content, but in appearance as well.
1. Never rush to make an instant resume. Make an objective self-assessment. List the plus and minus points. In other words, make an honest personal inventory. Decide the points to be covered in the CV, and then proceed.
2. Try to bring out the impression that you are a person who can deliver the goods efficiently.
3. Do not clutter up the page with too much matter. Elimination of unimportant details is as important as including the essentials.
4. Use good quality white bond paper.
5. Get the CV printed using a computer, or typed on an electronic typewriter.
6. Never write in your hand, unless the employer asks you to do so.
7. As far as possible limit so that the employer can quickly note the details.
8. Make the layout neat and easy to read. Use tables so that the employer can quickly note the details.
9. Do not use too many fonts.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO BE COVERED WHILE PREPARING THE C.V.:
1. List the qualifications in the reverse order, so that your highest qualification comes first. Your prospective employer is most interested in your highest qualification. This order is better than the routine chronological order.
2. List your experience also in the reverse order.
3. Make sure that there is no gap of years when you were doing nothing. At least there should be some training, apprenticeship, or social work to fill any blank period.
4. While mentioning your achievements, your membership in a college table-tennis team may be mentioned if you are a fresh graduate. But after 25 years of professional experience this may be irrelevant, since you will have many career achievements to be listed.
5. Do not keep a standard CV to be sent to all prospective employers. The emphasis will have to be different in tune with the nature of work expected from you.
6. Never send photocopies of your CV. Computers can give you any number of originals.
7. Remember that the CV of a person is a constantly growing phenomenon. It grows as you grow. So it will have to be updated periodically.
8. If you have long experience in jobs, emphasize what you have done during the most recent ten years.
9. Do not make any dishonest claims. Be careful when you mention a hobby; you should be able to answer an in-depth question on the subject during the interview. If you fail at that stage, it may create an impression that you are dishonest. It is certain that the CV will be before the interview board, when you are being tested.
10. Whatever you indicate in the CV should be as far as possible in tune with the job requirements.
11. You may give the names of two references who know you well, and who would honestly report in your favour if the company makes an enquiry about you. It is preferable to have persons of repute in your own profession as the referees. Do take the permission of the referees before you send their names.
12. Check and recheck your draft to confirm that there is no error in spelling. No one would like his name or the name of his company misspelt. If necessary, show your draft to a knowledgeable person to correct errors in language.
13. Write a simple but elegant cover letter.

Personal details

Name, home address, college address, phone number, email address, date of birth.

Do you have your own web homepage? Include it (if it's good!).

If your name does not obviously show if you are male or female, include this!

Education

Give places of education where you have studied - most recent education first. Include subject options taken in each year of your course. Include any special project, thesis, or dissertation work.

Pre-college courses (high school, etc.) should then be included, including grades. Subjects taken and passed just before college will be of most interest.

Work experience

List your most recent experience first. Give the name of your employer, job title, and very important, what you actually did and achieved in that job. Part-time work should be included.

Interests

They will be particularly interested in activities where you have leadership or responsibility, or which involve you in relating to others in a team. A one-person interest, such as stamp-collecting, may be of less interest to them, unless it connects with the work you wish to do. Give only enough detail to explain. (If you were captain of a sports team, they do not want to know the exact date you started, how many games you played, and how many wins you had! They will ask at the interview, if they are interested.) If you have published any articles, jointly or by yourself, give details.

If you have been involved in any type of volunteer work, do give details.

Key Skills

Summarise the things about you that are relevant to this role. You can present the information as a list of achievements. Give as much evidence as you can to suggest that you are suited to the career that you are pursuing.

References

Usually give two names - one from your place of study, and one from any work situation you have had. Or if this does not apply, then an older family friend who has known you for some time. Make sure that referees are willing to give you a reference. Give their day and evening phone numbers if possible.

Length

Maybe all you need to say will fit onto one sheet of A4. But do not crowd it - you will probably need two sheets. Do not normally go longer than this. Put page numbers at the bottom of the pages - a little detail that may impress.

Style

There are two main styles of CV, with variations within them.

Chronological

Information is included under general headings - education, work experience, etc., with the most recent events first.

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