How to write a curriculum vitae (CV)

A curriculum vitae, also known as a CV, includes a summary of your educational and academic backgrounds as well as teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors, affiliations and other details. When applying for a job, employers always ask for a curriculum vitae.

Writing a CV can be more complicated than writing a resume, because the format changes depending on what type of position you are applying for, where you are located, and what you need to include in your CV.

When writing a curriculum vitae it’s important to include all the right information so the manager can see, at first glance, why you are a strong candidate for the job.

What to include in a CV

• Personal details. Most CVs start with these but take care to avoid superfluous details, such as religious affiliation, children’s names and so on.
• Education and qualifications. Take care to include the names of institutions and dates attended in reverse order; university before school results.
• Work experience. The most widely accepted style of employment record is the chronological CV. Career history is presented in reverse date order starting with most recent. Achievements and responsibilities are listed against each role. More emphasis/information should be put on more recent jobs.
• Skills. Include computer skills and (genuine) foreign language skills and any other recent training/development that is relevant to the role applied for.
• Hobbies and Interests. Keep this section short.
• Referees. These can simply be ‘Available on request’.

How long should a CV be?

A good curriculum vitae should ideally cover no more than two pages and never more than three. Aim to ensure the content is clear, structured, concise and relevant. Using bullet points rather than full sentences can help minimise word usage.