How to write a good Curriculum

A guide step by step to write your cv

First think about the content. It's important to focus in what you want and what you have to say on your cv. After you have written it read it and fix all the grammar mistakes. Last but not least choose the right template, it is important to present your curriculum with a special layout. Remember to write a cover letter to always send with your cv as a presentation and don't forget to read our tips to make a cv a perfect cv.

How to write a Cv

Before thinking about the layout, the fancy or elegant template, you have to focus on the content: what are you going to write you the cv? An empty box is always an empty box, even if really fancy. The same story goes for a Curriculum.

Importat CV sections are::

• Personal Information
• Education and Training
• Spoken Languages
• Work experience
• Personal skills and competences
• Computer skills

Some extra sections are:

• Additional information
• future plans

Personal Information

Here you can write your general information:

Name Surname
Home address
Email address
Phone number
Date of birth (important to check how slow/fast you finished your studies
Nationality

Who is reading has to find all the information to contact you and have a general idea about your life: where you were born, how old are you, etc...

Education and Training

Normally reverse chronological order is better. Most recent, that are the most important, so they come first
Write first the year, then the kind of title you got, eventually put the grade (if it's a good grade) and name of the institute you are coming from

2007, PhD MIT, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
2001, SM MIT, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
1996, BS Duke University, Computer Science. of course you can write something like this: B.A. (2000); M.A. (2001); and Ph.D. (2007) in political science, University of California, Berkeley.

Work experience

If you are looking for a first job write here all the activity you have been doing.
If you have been working already, specify where, the period and what you where doing.
sep2000-oct2007: Google - search engine optimization
gen2000-aug2000: Microsoft - beta testing windows 2000

Spoken Languages

Sometimes you need to speak more than one language to get a job. So here you can tell them your skills, how well you master another language.
Your oral, writing and comprehension skills. You can write here eventually studying-holidays you have done and language diplomas that you have.

Computer Skills

Write here your skills in using computers, computer's software, programming language. Don't forget to write your level of knowledge about Operating System as Windows/Linux/Machintosh or the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Always write and update the latest versions of the software you know how to use. Photoshop CS3, DreamWeaver CS3, Windows Vista) and the related level of knowledge. Don't be generic, try to be specific as much as you can. You have to give the idea that you know what you are talking about.

Additional Information

If you finished university a bit late or you are still looking for a first job then you have to write here something explaining that you were not loosing your time but you were doing or you are doing something really interesting and useful for your life and your next career. You can talk about your traveling experience, sport you are doing, your interest about art, movies, books, volunteering and greetings received. All these information will be useful to give the readers an idea about you, to know you a bit better before calling you for an interview.

This paragraph should be long if work experience are short and short if the work experience is a long part of the cv. So invest in this part if you don't have any past work experience “to sell”. You can also jump this section if you don't have anything special to say.

Future plans

Try to give the reader a complete image of you, telling them your professional target. Tell them where you are now and where you are planning going. For sure this section has to be personalized based on the kind of people your are sending the cv. Give relevant information. Remember that you can also talk about your future plans on the cover letter so you don't have to write everything in the cv.
Statistics say that 56 companies out of  100 are expecting to find in the cover letter what are you professional goals are

Choose the right cv Template

Choose one of our free curriculum vitae template

Tips

Read the tips to make a perfect cv

Cover Letter

Write a personalized cover letter