A Quick Guide In Creating Your Curriculum Vitae
A Curriculum Vitae or CV is a powerful document that contains information about a candidate’s skills and qualifications. When applying for a job, an employer’s judgment is based on what is written on your curriculum vitae.
It is very important for a candidate to have an easy to read document in order to impress an employer. Even a qualified candidate is most likely to miss the opportunity to get a job interview if he or she is unable to create a well written curriculum vitae.
A curriculum vitae should contain several important sections. Similar to a resume, curriculum vitae should have:
personal information (name, address and contact numbers)
education
qualifications
employment history
applicable or job relevant skills
As far as length is concerned, its is really important for you to limit the pages of your document. Ideally, one or two pages is enough since employers are also encountering hundreds (or even thousands!) of similar documents everyday. Most employers never read these documents from cover to cover. They only spend a mere 30 to 60 seconds before making a decision whether you’d be called up for a possible interview or now.
A golden rule about curriculum vitae and resumes is to never lie about yourself. One should not be ashamed if his or her document contains very few information. Being honest is way better rather than be humiliated and kicked out of the company once your employer finds out that you had been lying all along.
As for the skills section, don’t just include job relevant skills. It is also healthy to mention and include soft skills such as leadership and communication skills. The eyes of employers are open not only towards the skills that they are looking for in a specific job vacancy. They are always on the look out for candidates who posses such talents and good traits.
As you submit your resume, keep in mind that you should never send out “generic” curriculum vitae if ever you are to pass your documents to multiple employers. Keep in mind that not all jobs are the same. In order for your curriculum vitae to be effective, remember to tailor it specifically for each job vacancy. Meaning that you should somehow re-do or edit your document by adding in more relevant information or by taking out unnecessary information that is already written in your previous document.
As time goes by, make it a habit to always update your document. May it be a resume or a curriculum vitae, additional skills and experiences are always considered as bonuses especially on the side of the candidate.
