Q&A for How to Write a CV (Curriculum Vitae)

Most companies now use software that ranks and sorts resumes based on how well matched the applicant is for the job. Ensure that your resume includes all relevant keywords and requirements from the job description. Then, try to also make your resume user-friendly for a human audience.

If you’re a student, you may not have a lot of job experience to put on your CV yet. However, make sure to include any work experience you’ve had, even part-time work-study gigs, and focus on the skills that you developed doing those jobs. You can also emphasize your educational background and any applicable skills you’ve picked up from your coursework. Extracurricular activities can also make you look more attractive to employers, so include things like your time spent in debate club or working on the student newspaper.

There’s no set format for a CV, but you should choose something that looks professional and well-organized. If you’re not sure where to start, look for CV templates online or use a built-in template that comes with your word processing program. The job or program you’re applying for may also have specific requirements for the CV format.

You might highlight the seminars, courses, projects you have participated in. What volunteer work have you done? That is useful to emphasize. Also, you might write about your motivation to apply for the job, as part of your cover letter.

No, you do not need to include your date of birth in a CV. It used to be compulsory but, due to modern laws, it is no longer mandatory.

Yes. It is almost always required by prospective employers, and is the first thing they'll see, so you want to make a good first impression.

You will want to include your name, contact information, educational background, related work experience, and level of competence. If you have space, you can add your references, or write "References available upon request."

Yes. Make sure they still have the same contact information. They might have forgotten you, so it's better to contact them before you list them as references.

Yes, but it should tie into your work ethic or character if it doesn't have to do with the job you are applying for.

The position you'd like to have is your job objective.

You can always use your university professors as references. Read How to Give References Without Job Experience for more some information and ideas.

There are many different types of CVs you can create, including chronological or experiential ones.

Follow the guidelines, including Method 2 Step 5. If you have had a lot of different jobs, only list the ones relevant to the one you're applying for. If you mean the details you list under each work experience, you should only provide a brief summary and a few key accomplishments, not every single thing you did in that job.

You can list your education, any volunteer or other relevant experience, any special achievements, and your skills/competencies.

Your best bet is to look for sample CVs online. Formatting matters, and Wikihow Q & A's don't allow for the proper formatting.

A CV can be given to a potential new employer to highlight your professional skills and achievements, similar to a resume but more focused.

In my opinion, American CVs really are a 'starter', all slick, quick, clipped details that lead to more questions from the recruitment team. Think of it like a 30 second TV advert. The British CV has more meat to it, with more details, even more pages allowed, and enough information for a recruiter to make a judgement call. Think of it like a 2-minute infomercial. That's a quick assessment, but overall true. Specifically, birth date and photos are a "no-no" in the British CV; even marital details and hobbies are generally superfluous. British CVs do want relevant experience more than anything else, not just qualifications/education and high sounding status bits.

You can, but it's not necessary unless they are specifically asking for it.

No, you don't have to sign a CV.

You can leave the references out of your CV if you really don't have their info. If you know who your references are but you don't know their contact information, you can add something like, "For more information, contact [your reference's boss] at [your reference's company]" and the future employer can look up the contact information themselves.

No, you should not include your personal hobbies on a CV.

You may have had several jobs before, but it's best to include only those that gave you experience related to the job to which you are applying. That should help shorten it.

It depends on what kind of job you seek with your CV. If you are looking for work that requires driving, include it. If not, don't.

No, it is not compulsory.

No, your marital status is in no way connected to your ability to do a job. Do not include anything related to your personal life in your cv.

No, you should not include a personal photo.

Yes, you can. In fact, most companies you apply to online will request an upload of your CV.

By 35 I want to be in a middle management position. In three years I want to be running my own company. This year I want to make six figures. Before I'm 35, I want to have a second degree. After the first five years, I'm going for an MBA. In addition to my current job, I want to spend the next two years gaining experience in that field/position.

Use your full name.

PDF files are not easily edited, so it will be difficult to create your CV in PDF. You can write it in a Word document and then convert it to a PDF file though. It is fine to send your CV to your future employer as a PDF file, but I would keep the original Word document as well.