How to Write Your Curriculum Vitae and Secure That Job!
What is a Curriculum Vitae
Job hunting is something that many of us do more than once in a life time. Your Curriculum Vitae or CV is a crucial tool in putting yourself forward as the best candidate for the job. Your Curriculum Vitae is your sales pitch.
Your Curriculum Vitae
Your CV is a comprehensive introduction to your academic abilities and work experience from your second level schooling to higher education and any further education in the form of courses, training and/or work experiences. Your hobbies and interests are also an important part of your CV and reflect your personality.
Work experience is a vital part of your CV as many employers are reluctant to employe staff straight from education. Listing part time jobs (during school/college/University or a gap year) and having good references will improve your chances of securing a job. If you have never worked a part time job it would be a good idea to get one. While education is certainly the key factor many employers want to know how you work in a team, how you perform, your timing, durability etc. A good reference is essential. All these attributes are important for an employer.
Working part time jobs during education is an important path towards your ideal job. Your work ethic says a lot about you and employers want to know that you are a good worker, working part time during your education shows eagerness to work and earn.
Should part time work not be available to you then do volunteer work (work unpaid) for a charity or a good cause. By volunteering you are also showing eagerness to work and more importantly your eagerness to contribute to society in any way you can.
On the contrary after full-time education listing too many jobs is not a good idea. It advertises a serial job hunter and no employer wants one of those. List the longer more successful working periods and perhaps ask yourself why you keep changing jobs.
Hobbies and interests are very important and highlight who you are. If you don't have a hobby or an interest go get one or invent one. And choose active and intelligent activities and subjects. Watching TV or going to the pub (of which there is nothing wrong) shouldn't be listed for obvious reasons: a beer swilling couch potato is not a productive profile.
Your CV should be precise and easy to read
Below is an example layout of a CV.
- The layout should flow and be easy to read.
- Include your personal details.
- Begin with your objective. First sales pitch, sell yourself.
- Include all your education, additional training, work experiences, interests and hobbies.
- Show your personality and your individuality through a little expressive writing ie the ref to *Bologna sauce, *Guinness and *French pastries as listed below. A little fun is good but keep it brief and to the point. While you want to make a mark, you don't want to highlight a galling sense of humour.
- Second sales pitch: sell yourself personal skill and personal summary.
- Introduce yourself through your hobbies and interests.
- Lastly leave an impression with your mission statement.
- Include references.
- Attach all qualifications ie diplomas.
Example Curriculum Vitae
CURRICULUM VITAE OF LISA STONE
PERSONAL DETAILS
Full Name: Lisa Madalena Stone
Address: Rua Centenário 12, Camacha, CC11-987
Date of Birth: 17/02/1990
Place of Birth: Portugal
Marital Status: Single
Contact Number: 765 98767654
Email:lisams@gmail.com
OBJECTIVES
To build a career in a growing organisation where I can experience the opportunities to prove my abilities by accepting challenges, fulfilling the organisation goal and climb the career ladder through continuous learning and commitment.
EDUCATIONAL DETAILS
Primary Education: to year 4º finishing in 2000
Secondary Education: to year 12º finishing in 2008
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
English Diploma: 2009
French Diploma: 2010
German Diploma: 2011
Portuguese Diploma: 2012
WORK EXPERIENCE
September 2010-2012
Joined the Melia Hotel group in Portugal. Successfully worked in the banqueting department catering for conferences of up to 300 persons.
June 20012-2016:
Joined the Portuguese Hotel group Pestana. Successfully worked in the restaurant and bar departments of the 250 bedroomed hotel, The Carlton.
May 2016 to date:
Promoted to reception. As a front office clerk accountable for the day to day running of front of house. Responsibilities include the following:
- Meeting and greeting clients.
- Client check-in.
- Client check-out.
- Credit checks.
- Key control.
- Daily accounting and administration.
- Keyboarding/data entry.
- Receiving payments.
- Making reservations.
- Manning the switch board.
- Dealing with potential client emails (mostly in English).
- Organising mail and message services.
- Informing clients about the hotel and the Island.
- Organising and directing clients: taxis, transfers, excursions, daily activities, dinning plans, entertainment plans.
- Dealing with complaints.
WORK PLACE: The Calton, Avenida 4º De Maio, 9220-291,
Contact Number: 345 123345567
Email: reception@CaltonPortugal
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
January 2008-2009: Gap Year
Travelled to Australia. Travelled, studied and worked. Studied English gaining an English diploma. Worked part-time in three different establishments:
- An Italian restaurant where the art of the traditional *Bologna sauce was perfected: Bolognese Sauce.
- An Irish pub where the true colour of *Guinness was an enlightenment, being a deep ruby red and not black.
- A bakery where an introduction to pastries to rival any *French pâtisserie was a joyful experience.
The experience was empowering and rewarding.
PERSONAL SKILL
- Honesty
- Energy
- Team building
- Accepting challenges
- Accepting changes
- Problem solving
PERSONAL SUMMARY
- Adaptable
- Helpful
- Motivated
- Outgoing
- Loyal
- Positive
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
- Swimming
- Gym
- Handball
- Running
- Walking
- Travelling
- Photography
- Movies
- Cooking
PERSONAL STATEMENT
I am an enthusiastic person willing and committed. I give one hundred percent to everything I do.
Diplomas attached
Referees on request
Wait, How Do I Write This Email?
I highly recommend this book: a thought provoking read, with numerous templates. This book will give insight to anyone writing a job appliaction with hints and tips and samples before, after and during your job search. An encouraging, well written book to guide you through your job search.
Sell Yourself
In short your CV is your master tool to sell yourself regardless of wether this is your first job or your fifth job. Points to keep in mind when you are laying out your CV.
- Keep it Simple: a busy CV is exhausting to read.
- Moderation: don't go on and on about yourself, twice as exhausting to read.
- Be Accurate: stick to the logistics and leave the fiction to the storytellers.
- Be Real: if you don't know how to Java, leave the Mac pool to the geeks.
- Type: never ever write out a CV, I don't care how great your calligraphy is.
In other words be SMART and get the job.
Best of Luck.
© 2019 Gabriel Wilson
