Professional CV Format
Learning the Correct CV Format
As we have said before, the job market right now is super tight, which makes knowing the correct CV format even more important. What was once competitive is quickly becoming cutthroat, especially as the price of living continues to increase and the economy continues to become even worse. Those of us who want and need jobs have to be prepared to do all we can possibly do to get the position we are after.
To do that, you absolutely need to submit both a CV and a resume – and in order to do that, you definitely do need to know the proper CV format. Your CV gives you the opportunity to present yourself in an even better light, because it includes more details than your resume. Where the latter is concise and short, the former can be much more detailed. When you are applying for an especially competitive position, it is not incorrect to assume that your chances of getting hired can come down to how your CV and resume compares to someone else’s.
So, let’s talk about how to set up your curriculum vitae. The first part of the correct CV format is pretty standard. You begin by including your contact information. Still, this section too is fairly detailed. Naturally you have to include your name, address, and telephone number. However, ours is an increasingly technological society, so your contact information does not stop there. You also need to include your cell phone number. This is especially important if you use your cell phone more than your land line. A lot of people actually rely solely on their mobile devices these days, so you can see how crucial it is to include your cell number. You also, naturally, need to include your email address. After all, even those of us who do not rely solely on our mobile phones are practically physically connected to our computers. Besides, the more contact information you include, the easier it will be for your potential employer to get a hold of you.
Next up comes your personal information. A number of companies and businesses are doing serious background checks on potential employees these days, so not only does your CV need to contain personal information, but all of it has to be one hundred percent true as well. Hiring managers are looking for several things here. They want to know when and where you were born, first of all. They want to know about your citizenship status and your visa status. Last but not least, they want to know your gender as well, though more often than not, this particular bit of information is just to tell them something more about you. It may seem irrelevant, but trust that only under very rare circumstances will your gender be a deciding factor in whether or not you are hired. You can also include some optional personal information, such as whether or not you are married, the name of your spouse, and whether or not you have children.
The next bit of information your curriculum vitae needs to include is the truly important stuff. You can go into detail about your work history, for example; it should be listed in chronological order, and it should include the details about your position and the dates during which you were employed. You can include academic positions as well as any research and training. After that comes your educational history, which includes the dates you attended school, your major(s), and the details of your degree(s), plus any training programs and certifications. In order, you should include information about high school, college, graduate school, and any post-doctoral training.
The proper CV format also allows for professional qualifications, certifications, accreditations, computer skills, awards, publications, books, professional memberships, and even your interests. Take a look at some curriculum vitae examples, you’ll see. You have every opportunity to sell yourself and you should do so no matter what. It will greatly increase your chances of getting the job of your dreams.
