Question:
I have a feeling that I might need my resume again soon, so I
think this is the best time to rewrite it.
Who can give me good tips about how to write a Curriculum Vitae?
Is there some place on the web which can give me a clue?
Is it accepted practice for this website to post one's resume in
order to let you kind native English speakers proof read it?
I am not a mothertoungue English speaker.
Answer:
- This question came up about three months ago. At that time I wrote in
response:
I just tried searching in Altavista . After
a couple of false starts, I tried the search string
title: +resume +writing
meaning, give me documents whose title includes the words "resume" and
the word "writing", and it turned up a lot of promising leads. Many of
these may be ads for services that will write your resume for you, but
others look like advice.
- This sounds like very good advice, but in my field a typical CV runs to
many pages -- most of them listing inconsequential publications. I'd
say put the important stuff on the front page, as James recommends, but
don't hesitate to include more as an addendum if it seems appropriate.
It really depends on how senior you are and what field you're in.
If you're one of hundreds of people applying for a position, and you're
completely unknown to the employer, then one page is definitely best.
In you're one of a handful of applicants, and you're known by reputation
to the employer, then you should consider including more information.
- In another life I used to read and filter CVs. Those that used one
side of a single sheet of paper were singled out for closer attention
because they suggested that the writers were capable of clear
thought and possessed the ability to express themselves concisely.
In order of importance, your CV should contain:
Full name, date of birth, nationality, and sex.
Address and contact information: telephone
number/fax/email etc.
Marital status. Number of children, if any, and their
respective ages.
Most recent education and qualifications obtained.
If you hold a driving licence, say so.
State if referees are available but do not furnish names
and addresses at this stage unless specifically requested.
Brief outline of current employment and your responsibilities.
Brief outline of your interests and aspirations. Direct
references to the organisation to whom you are applying will
be useful at this point because such mentions will give the
impression that you've written your CV with them in mind rather
than sent them a copy of several hundred you've had printed.
Do some research. Find out something about the organisation.
Use ordinary Courier or similar 10-point mono-spaced typeface,
flush left margin, unjustified (ragged) right margin -- in the
style of this post. Avoid fonts designed for newspaper columns
such as Times-Roman because they can all too easily generate
15-words or more per line. The document ought to look as though
you've prepared it yourself rather than employed a printer
although there should be *no spelling errors*.
I've written a number of successful CVs for relatives and friends, and
can claim, with my usual devastating lack of modesty, around a ninety
percent success rate. I was careful with my spelling, too!
If you so wish, I'll be happy to proofread your CV via e-mail.
- I'd note that if you're applying for jobs in the States you should *not*
put information such as nationality, marital status, and age on a CV.
Employers aren't allowed to consider such information and may well be
afraid that simply *having* that information might lead to a suit,
whether by you or other applicants.
