How to Write a Curriculum Vitae: The Complete Guide

Did you know that the average jobseeker is rejected 24 times before they finally land a job? So if you haven’t had much success recently, don’t give up!

However, one thing you can do is look over and revamp your resume and/or curriculum vitae (CV). By strengthening these documents, you’ll increase your chances of being hired.

Maybe you don’t even have a CV yet, only a resume. You might’ve thought they were the same things, but they’re actually not.

Are you stumped on how to write a curriculum vitae? Then keep reading. We’ll give you all the top tips to get that dream job of yours!

What’s a Curriculum Vitae?

First of all, what’s a curriculum vitae? Isn’t it the same thing as a resume?

Not quite.

A resume is a quick Cliff’s Notes of everything you’ve ever done in your career, plus the education you’ve received. This means trimming out a lot of the fat to fit your entire life onto 1 page, sometimes 2 if you’re lucky.

As you can imagine, that cuts out a lot of information, some of which is vital. This is where a CV can come in handy.

In most cases, you won’t need a CV and a resume will suffice. But if you’re in certain fields (such as medicine, law, or research), then a CV will likely be a requirement.

How to Write a CV

Now that you know what the difference is between a CV and resume, let’s move onto how to write one. Below are some crucial steps you need to take so you put together the best CV possible.

Read the Job Listing

Every employer will have different requirements when it comes to the CVs they receive, so make sure you pay extra attention to these. If you miss even one, this reflects poorly on you, which can likely result in your application being thrown out of the pile.

Once you’re familiar with the requirements, then you can start writing out your CV.

Make a List of Your Previous Jobs

Like with your resume, you’ll want to list all your previous jobs. You can use your resume as a frame of reference and fill in the blanks if you haven’t included some on that document.

Put them in chronological order so you’ll have an easier time when you type up this CV. Or you can just start out in a word processing program so you save a little bit of time.

Make a List of Your Skills

Don’t just put down every skill you have. Not every single one will be relevant for every job opening. Be selective about the ones you choose for every application, as you’ll want the potential employers to see that you’re the best candidate.

For example, if you’re applying for an office job, you’ll want to make extra sure to list your relevant computer skills. You’d put down that you’re familiar with and comfortable with using certain programs, such as Word and Excel.

The more targeted you can be with your list of skills, the more appealing you’ll appear.

Make a List of Your Hobbies and Interests as Well

Employers don’t want to hire people who are one-dimensional. Also, interests and hobbies can tell a lot about someone, so this is a chance to show off your life skills and strengths.

Try to stick with activities that highlight your leadership skills and ability to work with teams. Hobbies such as team sports are great to put on your CV.

Put Together Your CV

Now that you have all the meaty parts of your curriculum vitae, it’s time to put everything together.

At the very top, use an eye-catching header, but not too flashy. Put your name, address, phone number, and email above with the header so they’re upfront and center.

Next, add a short blurb about yourself to engage the reader’s interest. It should make them want to read on and find out more about you. Use positive adjectives to describe yourself, like “confident.”

The following section should outline your educational background and any other qualifications you might have, such as certifications. Then, write down your work experience. Your interests and hobbies should be one of the last sections.

If there’s a gap in your employment history, you can add a section at the end called “Other Information.” Here, you can explain why you took off work for so long. It can actually strengthen your CV if it’s for an interesting reason, such as joining the Peace Corps.

On the last page, you should put down your references. Make sure you get permission from these people first before putting them down on your CV. List their full name, position, address, phone number, and email address so the potential employers can reach them if they have more questions.

Consider Hiring a Professional

This piece of paper may be the most important one you hold in your hands. This is what will make the difference between you getting hired and looked over in favor of another candidate.

For this reason, you should consider hiring a professional to look over or put together your curriculum vitae. There are CV writing services available where pros can offer their expertise on your CV. With their help, you can really polish this document and make yourself stand out from the rest of the crowd.

While you’ll have to pay for these services, they’ll pay for themselves when you quickly get hired and have a generous salary as a result of your fantastic CV.

Now You Know How to Write a Curriculum Vitae

Now that you know how to write a curriculum vitae, you have something to send in with your resume. With a CV, you’ll have a better chance of getting hired, as employers will see that you’ve made the effort and shown your dedication.

So with our tips, it’s time to get started on writing a CV! The time you spend on putting one together will be worth it when it pays off and you land that job you’ve had your eye on.

Did this article on how to write a CV help you? Then get more career-boosting tips from us now by browsing the rest of our blog!