Writing your CV

EDUARDO RIVERA
Before the CVs…
Let’s cover the Refencing slides (available in the previous
week) we could not cover last week due to the bank holiday.
CV
Stands for Curriculum Vitae (“Course of Life”)
Definition: a brief account of a person's education, qualifications, and previous occupations,
typically sent with a job application.

Required for the second assessment (not for the first one)
All types of CVs have in common:
They are all about communication
It is a description of you, a (professional biography)
It is personal branding exercise, (a marketing tool)
It is the first impression you make when applying for a job
It tells the employer that you have what it takes to do the job
A summary of your relevant educational, work and life experience in relation to the job
Discuss in WHAT WOULD YOU
INCLUDE IN YOUR

groups CV?
Elements included in a CV Important for graduates
Possibly (depends):
◦ Volunteer Experience: a separate section if you have enough,
Personal Information under the “Skills” section otherwise
◦ Hobbies and Interests: personal touch, offering insight into your
personality and extracurricular activities that might be relevant to
"Career Summary," "Personal the job or company culture.
◦ References: if available
Profile," or "Personal Statement" ◦ Link to Portfolio (social media or landing page): can be highly
beneficial, especially for professionals in fields where showcasing
work visually or digitally can significantly enhance their application,
such as graphic design, web development, marketing, journalism,
Skills and other creative or technical roles.
And:
◦ Certifications and Professional Qualifications (not covered under
education, although can be included in the same section).
Work Experience ◦ Additional Information (Miscellanous)
◦ Publications and Presentations (if applies for the industry)
◦ Awards and Honors: Any recognitions or awards you've received
Educational Background that are relevant to your career or academic pursuits.
◦ Professional Memberships: related to your field, which can indicate
your commitment and connection to your industry.
Question
WHAT INFO SHOULD I INCLUDE IN
PERSONAL INFORMATION?
 Personal Info
➢Full name
➢Job Title
➢ HR department will appreciate it.
➢ If you are still under development reflect it
➢ E.g.: Aspiring Marketing Professional, Marketing Intern, Junior Marketing Associate (Entry-Level), Marketing Student

➢Email
➢Telephone
➢Location

Data Protection and Discrimination Laws: Always check the common practices in
◦ Address? Not needed the country you want to work
◦ Birth date? Not in UK, Not needed in Spain (but you can still find it)
◦ Picture? Not in UK, still very common in Spain
CV Pictures – DONT’S

FRONT-FACING PHOTO
(do not cover your fase with NOT BLURRY NOT PARTYING!
sunglasses either)
NOT PROVOCATIVE PICTURES;
PROFESSIONAL (BUT NOT SAD);
PLAIN BLACKGROUND
Career Summary
Also named "Personal Profile" or "Personal Statement“
A brief statement summarizing your professional background, key achievements, abilities and
what you aim to bring to a potential employer.
◦ If you do not have a lot of experience to summarize, focus on your aims/values (and skills)

Tailor this section to the job you're applying for.

Important, especially when there is no cover letter.
Skills
Skills: A list of relevant skills that you bring to the position, which may include both hard skills
(e.g., computer programming, foreign languages) and soft skills (e.g., communication, problem-
solving).

In Function (skill-based) CVs (see next slides), we will add more info, not only the list of skills, so
we will justify them with actions/experiences/responsibilities/duties, and if possible, the
corresponding outcomes/benefits/recognitions/awards
Example of a skill:
◦ Event Management and Coordination
• Organized and executed multiple campus events as part of the Student Union Activities Board. For example: led the organization of
the annual Spring Fest, coordinating logistics, vendors, and promotions, resulting in a 30% increase in attendance.
Education
List your educational background, again in reverse chronological order. Include:
• Degree Title
• Institution Name
• Dates of Attendance
• Honors or Awards (if applicable)

• Additionally, you can add two additional elements if they are directly related with the job
position you are applying to:
• Relevant Coursework (modules related with the position)
• Dissertation/final major project
Work Experience
List your work experience in reverse chronological order.
For each position, include:
• Job Title
• Company Name (and location, if international)
• Dates of Employment
• Key Responsibilities
• Achievements

You can structure this section into relevant work experience and other experience
References
Include “References available upon request” (if available)
This way yo do not provide personal details until the time when required.
General Tip
Before defining your CV, do research about:
◦ General skills are normally required/desirable for the specific position
◦ Organisation culture/values
◦ Analyse carefully their job post/advert to check what they are looking for (knwoledge, skills,…)

And then reflect it in your CV and structure your CV accordingly.

For the second assessment, you will define

a “generic” CV, not for a specific company,
but you could align it for the specific role
included in your personal info.
How to write a CV
How to write a CV in 2018 (10 mins)

Remember to adapt
your CV to your
circumstances (not
all the given
guidelines are fixed,
see Skill-based CV)
and the country
Question
YOU ARE WORKING AS A HUMAN
RESOURCES, HOW WOULD YOU
LIKE THE CVS TO BE?
CV
They are checking hundreds of CV, make their life easier (you want to get on well with them)
So make your CV:
◦ Contact information easy to identify
◦ Job title included
◦ Concise (just relevant information and properly explained)
◦ Readable
◦ Proofread
◦ Structured: Include clear headings (and format them as such!!)
◦ Tailored Content (for the job position)
◦ PDF (unless required otherwise)
Formatting
Regarding file extension:
◦ Word (and transform to PDF) very common practice.
◦ If not printed: Normally avoid submitting program specific file extensions to avoid issues when opening
the file.
◦ E.g.: Canvas allow you to download your fil in PDF.

DO NOT USE FONT SIZE 18 TO FILL THE SPACE

Do not use a childish Font (use a readable and “standard” font)
Question
PLAIN BLACK AND WHITE CV OR
WITH MORE DESIGN?
Design of the CV
Answer: depending on the industry and the company culture
For some roles, you may show your creativity: graphic design, advertising, marketing, or the arts.
◦ It will be taken as an example of what you can do.
◦ Use proffesional palette and do not sacrifice readability.

For some others, keep a les original format: recommended for more traditional and conservative
fields such as law, finance, healthcare, and engineering.
Templates
You can find CV templates in:
◦ Canvas
◦ Word
◦ New -> More templates -> Resumes and Cover Letters
◦ CV Builders…

If you use any template, always make sure to adapt it to

follow the presented guidelines
Question
HOW WOULD YOU STRUCTURE YOUR CV?
CV Structure
Put first what you want to highlight: what you think that is more relevant forr the position (and of
course based on what you have)
E.g.:For Recent Graduates or Those With Limited Work Experience:
◦ Education could come first, especially if it is relevant to the job or includes notable achievements, such as
honours.
◦ Skills that are pertinent to the job can follow, particularly if they've been developed through coursework,
projects, or extracurricular activities.
◦ You can also include them before the education if you think that they are more relevant for the job than the Education.
◦ Work Experience might come afterwards, and it can include internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer work.
◦ If you do not have much work experience or not directly related, you can include it at the end.

For Experienced Professionals:

◦ Work Experience should be listed first, as it is typically the most relevant information for the employer.
◦ Skills can be included next, especially if they directly relate to the job requirements and are supported by your
work experiences.
◦ Education often comes towards the end since professional experience is usually a stronger indicator of your
current capabilities.
 Types of CVs
Chronological CV
Skills Based CV
Combination CV
Video CV
Infographic CV
Application Form
LinkedIn Profile
Social Media Profile
Some CV Types (assigned names)
Chronological CV: This is the most common type of CV and focuses on work experience listed in reverse
chronological order, starting with the most recent position.
◦ It’s ideal for those with a straightforward career path in a particular field, showing a progression of growth and
leadership.

Functional (Skills-based) CV: This format emphasizes the candidate’s skills and abilities rather than their
chronological work history.
◦ It’s beneficial for individuals who are changing careers, have gaps in their employment history, or are entering the
workforce for the first time.
◦ In any case, prepare to justify the gaps in your history if you have them

Combination CV: A hybrid of the chronological and functional CVs, this type highlights relevant skills and
experiences along with a detailed work history.
◦ iT allows the candidate to showcase their abilities while providing a timeline of their career progression .

The important thing is understanding why you include the information in the way you do it
Exercise in Groups
1. Check the CV examples available on Blackboard (they are examples, not perfect examples).
2. Why do you think they are chosen as the most appropriate format for each person?
3. Why do you think that they have chosen the specific order of the sections?
Video CV’s
A video CV is a short visual recording (normally between 1 and 3 minutes) used by a candidate
to apply for a job.
Instead of replacing traditional CVs, a video CV is used to supplement a written application.
Question
ADVATANGES AND
DISADVANTAGES OF VIDEO CV ’S
Video CVs
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Stand out from the crowd - You'll Make you stand out for the wrong
immediately stand out as someone reasons - They will make some
candidates shine, while highlighting the
prepared to go the extra mile. flaws of others.
Showcase your creativity - An important Lead you to sell yourself short - Time
quality in creative roles. constraints make it difficult to include all
the information
Display your personality - Video enables Take up precious time - Video CVs are
you to make a memorable impact. time consuming to film and edit.
Demonstrate particular skills - By Irritate employers - They spend as little
creating a video you can demonstrate as eight seconds looking at each paper
CV so the hassle of having to spend two
skills such as public speaking, to three minutes watching a video could
communication and IT/digital ability. disadvantage you
Video CV’s
It might me required in some positions (a few)
◦ The purpose of a CV in this format is to highlight a candidate's skills and experience while giving
employers an insight into their personality

If it is not required and you include it, you will be noticed:

◦ An effective way to let your personality shine and impress recruiters (if done properly)

When Video CVs Are Recommended:

◦ Creative Fields
◦ Roles Involving Public Speaking or Presentation
◦ Personal Branding

They are not in more Traditional or Conservative Industries: In sectors like finance, law, or
healthcare
Example of Video CV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_PZTAW5piQ&t=76s
Infographic CVs
Infographic CVs are an attention-grabbing marketing tool that tell a career path by using images.
Timelines, colour schemes, and even profile photos are among the many types of visuals
incorporated to convey a message.
◦ The human brain is designed to respond to colour schemes and visual storytelling.

Infographic CVs are great for job seekers in a creative industry. Even job seekers in the marketing
industry can benefit from a more visual resume, because they are showing creativity in how to
market themselves to the employer.
An example is included in the following page
Other types of CV
Application forms:
◦ To be covered soon

LinkedIn:
◦ Highly recommended
◦ Structured: you fill what you are asked for.

Social Media: very useful if defined for the purpose and applicable, e.g.:
◦ Portfolio in Instagram
◦ Show active interest in Twitter (X)
◦ Video platforms like Youtube

All information sources should be consistent. CV, Application form, Linkedin and
your social media should all demonstrate the same information about you
Exercise
1. Explore the CV Graduate template and check it agains the presented guidelines.
2. Complete the attached “Writers Friend Template” to see what are the most important areas
you would want to include in your CV
3. Check the different templates available online and in Word and start defining the CV for the
second assessment.

4. Check the appendix for info about the cultural differences in relation to the use of CVs in
(some) different countries.
Appendix
WORKING ABROAD
Aims and Objectives
The purpose of this presentation is to increase your cultural awareness of employability in
different countries around the world and to examine the fashion and norms in relation to the
use of CVs
Most of the basic principles remain the same, however there are many subtle, but important
differences
Whilst we cannot examine every country this cross section will hopefully stimulate your
thoughts on what a CV should contain if you are planning to work internationally
Additionally, if you become a manager/recruiter is will allow you to accept differences when
looking at CVs from international job applicants
Note: this trends might be evolving due to Data Protection Laws and Discrimination laws, among
others.
The Countries we will look at include ….
Ireland France and Belgium
Germany, Austria & Italy
Switzerland
Spain The United States of
America
Canada Australia and New Zealand
South Africa India
 Ireland
CVs are longer than the UK

Language skills are more important to employers

Irish employers particularly like the interests and activities section

Irish CVs tend to have referees listed on them and may include a personal reference
 France and Belgium
Strangely they tend to use the word CV rather than Resume
CVs contain a lot of detail such as dates of birth, nationality, marital status and details of children etc
CVs tend to be briefer than the UK
CVs don’t include a Professional Profile or References
Cvs do include photos and career objectives for the next 5 year
Finally the last name is always written in CAPITAL LETTERS
 Germany, Austria, Switzerland
Not a CV or Resume, It is a “Lebenslauf”
Always use a Reverse Chronological CV
Date of Birth, place of birth and nationality are required, Marital status is optional and popular
Photos are encouraged
Does not include an activities and interests section
CVs should be 2 pages max but should include full details of qualifications
 Italy
Comprehensive personal details are expected including Date of Birth, Place of birth, nationality,
marital status and details of children
No need to include a section on interests or activities
CVs should be a max of 2 pages
In Italy you need to add a statement granting permission for the reader to have permission to use it
followed by your signature
“I agree to the use of personal information contained within my CV under article 12 of Legislative Decree
196/2013”
 Spain
Again comprehensive personal details including passport or ID card number
You can include “Interests and Activities” section
It is also very popular to include a photograph
 The United States of America

Called a Resume
Style of writing is more aggressive, you really have to sell yourself
The objectives section is critical
Functional CVs which focus on skills are important and widely used
Interests and Activities are not included
Anti-discrimination laws are strict so exclude personal details and indeed a photo
Ideally it is a single page and uses American spelling
 Canada
Canada is a country of two languages
In the English speaking areas you should adopt the American style of CVs
In the French speaking areas you should use the French CV style
However regardless of which area it is referred to a Resume
 Australia and New Zealand
The term Resume is more widely used
CVs are a bit longer, typically 2 to 3 pages long
All sections are therefore a bit more comprehensive
Reference details are generally included at the end
 South Africa
CV and Resume are used interchangeably
It is acceptable for a CV to have many pages but increasingly more common to keep it to two
pages
Style is similar to the UK but you are expected to include a date of birth, place of birth,
nationality and marital status
 India
CV and Resume are used interchangeably
CVs/Resumes usually include a photo
It is acceptable for a CV to have 3 or 4 pages but increasingly more common to keep it to two
pages
Style is similar to the UK but should include sections on Contact Information, Personal
Statement, Professional Experience, Academic History, Skills, Additional information
India
 If you are applying abroad, you
Tips should highlight your right to
work in the country you are
applying to

Add your title in the local

language if employers cannot
deduce your gender from your
name
If you are based in one country
and applying in another then
include international dialling
codes with your phone
numbers
Thank you
AND HAVE A NICE DAY