A Curriculum Vitae is a brief factual account of the main features of your life to date. It is used when the employer asks you to "apply by C.V.", "apply in writing" or for speculative applications. Accompany the C.V with a covering letter (this should usually be neatly handwritten). The aim of the C.V. is to get you an interview. There are no hard and fast rules about C.Vs. but there are some basic format rules.

FORMAT
Look in the attached picture





MAIN POINTS

1. Do not type your own C.V. unless you are a good typist. Use a word processor where possible so that changes of emphasis could be implemented easily.
2. Try to keep the C.V. content to a maximum of 2 sides of A4 typed sheets.
3. List your education and work history in reverse chronological order, i.e. last job and current education first.
4. Wherever possible arrange the facts to highlight the skills and experience you have to match those listed in the job description you have been sent.
5. List non-traditional work experience to emphasize additional skills gained outside education, e.g. voluntary, temporary and part-time work.
6. Use action verbs describing your skills such as organised, supervised.
7. Don't lie; if you are subsequently found out you can be fired.
8. Don't leave any gaps, as a prospective employer will wonder how they have been filled.
9. Always use good quality white paper, use generous margins at the side, top and bottom of the page.
10. Keep a copy and re-read your C.V. before you go for the interview.

COVERING LETTER
The aim of the covering letter is to make the employer want to read your C.V.

MAIN POINTS

1. Make the letter concise, literate and to the point.
2. Mention the job title/reference number and where you saw it advertised.
3. Express your individuality, matching your skills to the employers requirements.
4. Find out the name of the person who deals with job application, and address it to that person.
5. Have a proper conclusion, e.g. I will be available for an interview from.

EXAMPLE

26 Turner Street
Chelmsford
Essex CM2 8PB

12th June 1999.

Mrs A Douglas
Personnel Manager
Blacton-Parker
Hitchin
Herts

Dear Mrs Douglas,

I am applying for the post of trainee computer programmer reference number ET/716, as advertised in the Guardian on 12 June 1999 and enclose my Curriculum Vitae as requested.

I am in my final year of a two year Higher National Diploma in Computer Studies which has included the use of Turbo C Language and Ingres as specified in your advertisement.

You will see that I have had several years of work experience and decided to change career to computing after analysing my strengths and re-appraising my career goals. My work at the County Council and with the Police has taught me good organisational and analytical skills, both the ability to work on my own initiative or as part of a team.

Your company interests me as you offer good training facilities, the opportunity for progression and your multi-national operations which require ability would suit my interest in travel to discuss projects with clients

I should be pleased to attend an interview at any time except between 1st July and 10th July when I am taking a short holiday.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Cole

_________________
More examples about C.V.s are found in the attached file.

Generally, your curriculum vita (C.V.) is the first contact you may have with a prospective program director. Therefore, you would surely want a C.V. that does more than simply impart information about your personal history, and educational and professional qualifications and achievements. Strive for a CV that establishes a favorable image of your professionalism in the mind of the reader. It should emphasize your areas of strength, and create an interest about you sufficient to result in a personal interview. Make your C.V. work for you!

There are several phases in creating an effective C.V.

1. Compile all potentially useful information and organize those items under appropriate categories. Be sure the information you choose clearly communicates a sense of professionalism, competence, and enthusiasm.
2. Select only the most pertinent information. Keep the level of information concise and, at the same time, as comprehensive as possible. Bear in mind that your C.V. is your "advertisement" for an interview!
3. Finally - review and revise the document. As important as the information provided, your C.V. should be edited for proper grammar, correct spelling and appropriate punctuation. To further convey your professional image to the reader, use quality paper, ink, and equipment. Inferior materials or illegible photocopies say to the reader, "You are not important to me."

The following is a sample format of a C.V.

1. Contact Information
2. Personal Data
3. Educational Background
4. Employment Experience
5. Professional Affiliations and Honors
6. Publications, Presentations and Other Activities
7. References

1. Contact Information
   This information is always located at the top of the first page. It should include your name (avoid nicknames), address, telephone and other contact numbers (fax, e-mail). Be sure to spell out words like Street, Avenue, North, etc.
   If your current address is not your permanent address, indicate your current-address information under a heading marked "Present", followed by your permanent-address information under a heading marked "Permanent."
2. Personal Data
   This is a professional document, so disclosure of information regarding age, marital status, children, and health is a matter of choice. Some recipients expect this information, and it is a common practice to provide it.
3. Educational Background
   The information in this section is usually given with the most recent training listed first. The order in which you present this information is your choice — be it date first, degree first, or perhaps institution first. Whichever your preference, keep your entries consistent.
4. Employment Experience
   Begin by separating your part-time employment entries from your full-time employment entries, and list them under appropriate subheadings. This avoids any misunderstanding by the reader. The list of your employment experience generally starts with your current employment. Be sure to provide the date of your employment, your job title, and your employer’s name and address. You may choose to include major duties, successes and achievements, research interests, committee assignments, etc. It is important, however, to keep all entries uniform. Avoid providing a lot of information on your recent entries, but giving less information on later entries.
   A subheading for certification or license status may be included at the end of this section. Indicate certificate/license numbers and the dates issued.
5. Professional Affiliations and Honors
   This section should include your current membership in professional organizations. Include any significant appointments and/or elections to positions or committees, indicating the appropriate date for each position listed. Indicate any significant activities completed under your leadership. Honors from professional, educational or related organizations should also be shown under this section. Keep your comments brief in describing these items. This will avoid the risk of creating an unfavorable impression of exaggeration on your part by the reader.
6. Publications, Presentations and Other Activities
   This is an area considered to be the perfect opportunity to list your professional accomplishments. The following subheadings may be listed in this section: publications, presentations, invited lectures, abstracts, research activities, community service and leisure interests to name a few. When listing your publications, give full bibliographic entries so the reader can easily find them.
7. References
   Place this information at the end of your document. Include the following information in each entry: name, position, address, and telephone number.

Some Points to Consider
The information and advice given are no guarantee that your C.V. will open all doors for you. It offers a start in preparing an effective document - one that shows clarity, consistency, and an organized format. Your C.V. should be easy to read, leaving no confusion in the reader’s mind as to what it is he is reading. Here are some points that will help you produce a document with impact.

1. Your C.V. will be read by people who do not know you, so you must present your information in the clearest, most concise fashion possible. These people will be responsible for developing a list of recommended candidates, probably in a limited amount of time, so your document must be precise and specific at the first reading.
2. Accurate presentation of your qualifications is imperative. Be specific - for instance, under:
   Educational Background - include your major, year degree was received, name of degree, complete name of institution (no abbreviations) and its location.
   Employment History - leave NO gaps in the total number of years worked (account for every year); distinguish between part-time and full-time work; use separate headings for entries such as: military service, volunteer activities, leave of absence (explain).
   Professional Activities - cite current memberships; clearly date all former activities and memberships.
   Publications - clarify your role in group efforts; distinguish between refereed and nonrefereed articles; use separate headings for different types of publications (journal articles, books, chapters in books, abstracts, etc.)
3. Consistency is crucial. It reflects good organization and appearance and is vital to fast readers. Be consistent under all categories of your C.V. Do not provide information in one entry and fail to do so in other entries within the same category.
4. Do not make double entries. This does not strengthen your C.V. and may be unfavorably viewed as "padding" by the reader.
5. Stay chronologically consistent when presenting information. If you elect to present the most current information first, stay with that order through all sections. This makes your document easier to read and avoids confusion on the part of the reader.
6. There is no magic number for the maximum number of pages considered ideal for an effective C.V. However, it is generally accepted that a two-to-four page C.V. should communicate the essential background details for a young professional.
7. It bears repeating — be clear, consistent and organized. If your C.V. is hard to read or an entry projects a suspicious aura, your entire document may be discounted or even rejected.
8. It is helpful to have the final version of your document proofread by:
   a) a professional friend who knows you (able to spot significant information left out or is confusing as presented).
   b) a professional who does not know you (able to read your C.V. critically as a person learning about you for the first time - a status similar to your eventual readers).
   c) a personnel officer, dean or department head (experienced in reviewing this kind of material).
9. Print your C.V. on standard 8 _" x 11" white paper; print on one side only; be sure the print on all copies is clear and easy to read; all pages should be clean of smudges and streaks. A single staple in the upper left-hand corner is a simple and sufficient method for securing the pages.

Individuals are faced with many choices when writing a C.V. The methods used to develop this document are varied, but the goal is the same — a curriculum vitae that will impress and convince the reader that you are the person they seek. I hope the advice offered here will help you to develop that kind of C.V. My best wishes for success in all your endeavors.

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