How to Write a CV (Curriculum Vitae)

A company you want to apply to has asked you to send in a CV and you're thinking, "wait..what?" Don't worry! Curriculum Vitae (CV) means "course of life" in Latin, and that is just what it is. A CV is a concise document which summarizes your past, existing professional skills, proficiency and experiences. The purpose of this document is to demonstrate that you have the necessary skills (and some complementary ones) to do the job for which you are applying. Literally you are selling your talents, skills, proficiencies etc., Follow these steps to create a great CV.

Part One of Three:
Brainstorming for Your CV

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    Make a list of your relevant skills. These skills often include computing skills (are you a wiz at Wordpress? Excel? inDesign? etc.), languages you speak, or specific things the company is looking for, such as targeted skills.

Part Two of Three:
Writing Your CV

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    List your name, address, telephone number, and email at the top of the page. It is important to make your name a size larger than the rest of the text as it is important for your reviewer to know who he or she is reading about. It is up to you as to how you format this information.[3]
    • Standard format would be to have your name in the center of the page. Your home address should be listed in a block format on the left side of the paper. Put your telephone number and email below your home address. If you have another address (such as your address while you are at school) list this address on the right hand side of the paper.
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    Write a personal profile. This is an optional part of the CV that is good for giving your reviewer a more in-depth look at you as a person. This is where you sell your skills, experiences, and personal qualities. It should be original and well-written. Use positive words such as “adaptable”, “confident”, and “determined”.[4]
    • Example of a personal statement for a CV for a publishing company: An enthusiastic recent graduate looking for an entry-level editorial position that will utilize organizational and communication skills developed as a summer intern at City Lights.
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    Create a section for your education and qualifications. This section can be at the beginning of your CV or you can choose to list it after other sections. The order of sections is up to you. List your education in reverse chronological order. Begin with university if you attended or are attending it and work your way backwards. List the name of your university, the dates you went there, your major and minor, and your grade point average or A levels.[5]
    • Example: Santa Clara University, English and History 2009-2013 Subjects include: Medieval Literature, Victorian Literature, Criticism of Poetry, and History of Great Britain. Obtained a 75% on my 2nd year exams. (If in the US- Maintained a 3.7 GPA.)
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    Create a section for your work experience. This is the section in which you should list all of your relevant work experience. List the name of the company, the location of the company, the years you worked there, and what you did. Start with your most recent job and work backwards. If you have a long list of work experience, only put the experiences relevant to the job you are applying for.[6]
    • Example: Diablo Magazine, Walnut Creek, CA, March 2012-January 2013. Fact-checked information, wrote articles for Diablo’s blog, assisted in researching of material for articles.
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    • Example achievements: Successfully took a national bestseller from manuscript to publication; Received certification in copy-editing from UC Berkeley
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    Create a section for your interests. You should list any relevant interests that paint you in the most positive light. Choose several interests from the list you created while brainstorming for your CV (in Part One).
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    Create a section for other information. If there is a noticeable gap in your CV or there is some other information you would like to share, put it in this section. This sort of information can include leaving work to take care of children, join the Peace Corps, etc.[7]
    • Example: I took two years off from my intended career path in publishing to teach English in Brazil through the TEFL program. Teaching English as a second language has helped me better understand the subtle nuances of the language.
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    Create a section for references. These are people you have worked with in the past such as professors, previous employers, etc. that have seen your work and can credibly support praises that they give you. The company you are applying to may contact these references to find out more about your previous work. You should talk with the person you would like to list a reference before actually listing them--it is best to double check that they still have the same number, are okay with giving you a reference, or that they remember who you are. Write down their full names and contact information (including their phone numbers and emails).

Part Three of Three:
Finalizing Your CV

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    Proofread for any sentences that could be written more concisely. CVs that are concise and well-written tend to do better than long-winded CVs that have repetitive information. Make sure you don’t repeat yourself--it’s better to list many of your traits than the same few traits over and over again.
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    Read your CV as if you were the company you are applying to. What do you think about the layout and the information written there? Do you come across as a professional?
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    Get someone else to read your CV. What do they think could be added or taken out? Would they hire you if they were a company?
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    Check the company’s application page. Look to see if there are any other materials they would like you to send in along with your CV. Companies may ask for a cover letter or samples of your work (such as articles you may have written).

Community Q&A

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  • What if you don't have any working experience?
    Answered by wikiHow Contributor
    • You might highlight the seminars, courses, projects you have participated in. What volunteer work have you done? That is useful to emphasize. Also, you might write about your motivation to apply the job, as part of your cover letter.
    Thanks! 297 38
  • Do I need to include my date of birth in a CV?
    Answered by wikiHow Contributor
    • No, you do not need to include your date of birth in a CV. It used to be compulsory but, due to modern laws, it is no longer mandatory.
    Thanks! 182 25
  • Is a cover letter important?
    Answered by wikiHow Contributor
    • Yes. It is almost always required by prospective employers, and is the first thing they'll see, so you want to make a good first impression.
    Thanks! 137 23
  • What information is important to include in a CV?
    Answered by wikiHow Contributor
    • You will want to include your name, contact information, educational background, related work experience, and level of competence. If you have space, you can add your references, or write "References available upon request."
    Thanks! 182 34
  • Should I include everything I've done in my work experience?
    Answered by wikiHow Contributor
    • Follow the guidelines, including Method 2 Step 5. If you have had a lot of different jobs, only list the ones relevant to the one you're applying for. If you mean the details you list under each work experience, you should only provide a brief summary and a few key accomplishments, not every single thing you did in that job.
    Thanks! 75 16
  • Should I contact the people I put down as references in my CV before I submit it?
    Answered by wikiHow Contributor
    • Yes. Make sure they still have the same contact information. They might have forgotten you, so it's better to contact them before you list them as references.
    Thanks! 62 13
  • How do I give references if I am new to the work force?
    Answered by wikiHow Contributor
    Thanks! 131 37
  • How many types of CV are there?
    Answered by wikiHow Contributor
    • There are many different types of CVs you can create, including chronological or experiential ones.
    Thanks! 77 24
  • Can l write a work experience that is not related to the job l am applying for?
    Answered by wikiHow Contributor
    • Yes, but it should tie into your work ethic or character if it doesn't have to do with the job you are applying for.
    Thanks! 41 12
  • Why would I need a curriculum vitae?
    Answered by wikiHow Contributor
    • A CV can be given to a potential new employer to highlight your professional skills and achievements, similar to a resume but more focused.
    Thanks! 14 3
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  • Be honest. If you have the capacity to do the job, then you shouldn't have to lie to get it.
    1 Helpful?  0
  • Write clearly and concisely. Employers do not want to have to read through pages of clutter to get to your most salient sales points.
    1 Helpful?  2
  • The content of a CV should reflect the position for which you are applying. For example, if you are applying for a job as an IT technician, it is not relevant to the employer that you worked in several bars early in your career. If you are applying to work in a call center, your employer would love to hear about the customer service skills you learned when working with the public.
    0 Helpful?  0
  • Show passion about your work and your hobbies.
    1 Helpful?  1
  • If you're going to use bullet points then neat single line bullets points look more pleasing on the eye than more cluttered multi-line entries.
    0 Helpful?  1
  • Don't waste all your good work by sending off a well written CV on poor quality paper. Make sure that your CV is printed out on good quality paper, and preferably in black ink.
    0 Helpful?  0
  • Try to sound positive at all times, including when you have had negative reports.
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