In order to get the job you want, you need to present your potential employer with the kind of CV that he or she wants to see.  It is give and take, fifty fifty – pick your cliche, in other words, they all apply.  You absolutely cannot hope to get ahead in a really good, well paying position if you a., do not include your curriculum vitae at all, or b. include a badly written, sloppy, disorganized one.  It is simply a fact that you will get a much better response if you write a very well organized curriculum vitae – specifically one which is chock full of information that is relevant to and supportive of your professional goals and objectives.  And, of course, the information needs to show that you are the best possible person for the job as well.

With all that being said, this article is going to contain some top CV tips, in order to give you the tools you need to write the best possible curriculum vitae It really is not all that difficult.  Like say, you simply have to be extraordinarily organized.  Even if you are not normally given to organization, this is the one time in your life when you need to be – trust, you can give it up right after, if you like!  However, getting the job you want depends on including a well organized curriculum vitae, cover letter, and resume.

The first thing you need to do when writing your CV is to prioritize.  In terms of the job to which you are applying, what are your most relevant work experiences?  How about your academic, volunteer, and research experiences?  Anything which shows that you have the skills and qualifications for the position you are applying for needs to go in your curriculum vitae, it is absolutely vital.

The best CV format will also include a summary of your objectives and qualifications.  However, you still need to try as hard as you can to keep your CV concise.  Unlike your resume, of course, this can be quite a bit longer.  Still, you never want to go overboard.  When you include too much information, you run the risk of wasting your prospective employer’s time.  You see, he or she does want to know about you, your experience, your accomplishments and achievements, and your skills.  However, look at it from his or her point of view – when an employer has a spot to be filled, he or she undoubtedly has to go through a number of job applicants every single day.  We are talking dozens at the very least, and for a sought after position, the numbers are going to be much larger.  So think about it: he or she has to go through a curriculum vitae, a resume, and a cover letter for every applicant.  That takes up a lot of time!  So while you should certainly include all pertinent and important information and history, just try to be as concise as possible.  Lay out the facts, but try not to embellish too awfully much.

Mind you, these are just the basics as they pertain to writing your CV.  There is a wealth of additional information to keep in mind, it all depends on the position to which you are applying.  At its heart, CV writing is something of an art form.  There are a number of strategies, techniques, and formats which can help you, for any job you can possibly imagine.  So keep an eye out here, because odds are we will be covering them at one time or another!

Today we are going to discuss the ins and outs of a curriculum vitae – more commonly known as a CV.  Meaning, we are going to discuss what it is, especially as it compares to a resume; when it is appropriate to include one; and how, precisely, to write one.

First, let’s discuss the ways in which a curriculum vitae and a resume are different.  Primarily, the difference between a CV and a resume pertain to the length, the content, and the purpose of each document.  Your resume should be one of two pages long.  It is just an overview of your skills, your experience, and your education.  Whether you are writing a chronological resume or a different type, your main goal is to be as concise and precise as possible.  You do not want your potential employer to spend too much time reading it – maybe because he or she will not.  At that stage, employers likely have at least hundreds of other applicants to get through, they go quickly.  As such, you need to catch their attention and pique their interest in a short span of words and space.

However, your curriculum vitae can – and should – be altogether longer.  Whereas a resume should never be longer than two pages, your CV can.  This gives you the opportunity to present a more detailed summary of your past work experience, your education, and any special abilities.  You can also include any teaching experience and research experience you have had.  Furthermore, you can highlight any publications or presentations in which your work has been, along with any awards, honors, affiliations, or a number of other facts.

Even more important than CV format is knowing when, precisely, you need to use one.  Within the United States, it is generally used by applicants who are interested in international positions, academic and education positions, or research and scientific positions.  It is also used when you apply for fellowships and grants.  Different positions may include a different CV format.

Keep in mind that employers in Europe, Asia, and Africa will actually be interested in your personal information – the kind that you would probably never include if you were applying for a similar position in the United States.  That includes your date of birth, your place of birth, and your nationality.  When actually true, such CV tips could actually mean the difference between getting a position and getting passed over.

Otherwise, your curriculum vitae will generally contain similar elements no matter where you are applying.  The tradition CV format includes, in this order: your name; your contact information; your educational background; and your skills and experience.  You can also include other elements, such as any experience you have had researching or teaching, any publications, grants, fellowships, professional associations, licenses, awards, or other pertinent information which applies to your desired position.  Here, you are free to detail all of your accomplishments.  Anything that you think might make you a better candidate can go here.  For example, if you are applying somewhere as an intern and you were a candy striper or a hospital volunteer when you were younger, be sure to mention it!