How should I write a curriculum vitae asked John Willis

A.� Generally, there is no definitive format for writing a curriculum vitae, this can make writing it quite stressful, especially in the pressurised situation of applying for a job.

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Q.� What does curriculum vitae mean

A.� It's Latin for 'course of your life' and is often abbreviated to CV.

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Q.� What can a CV be used for

A.� A CV has two main uses: sent in application for a specific job or speculatively to employers to see if they have any suitable vacancies. The format of your CV may vary according to whether you are producing a CV for a specific post, when you may want to concentrate on relevant information, or speculatively, when a more general CV may be more appropriate.

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Q.� What's the difference between a CV and an application form

A.� Basically it's just two different ways of presenting the same information. As a CV is your own work, it allows you to emphasise areas that you feel are important. The other advantage of a CV is that once you’ve created it you don’t have to start all over again with each job application but probably only need to make a few minor editions, especially if you’re applying for similar positions.

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Q.� What are the general rules for writing a CV

A.� Obviously always check through your spelling and grammar afterwards. Try to achieve a strong visual impact by using headings, margins and adequate spacing.

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Q.� Should I hand write or word-process a CV

A.� Always use a word processor; apart from overcoming any problems concerning the legibility of your handwriting legibility, it looks professional.

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Q.� What type of paper should I use

A.� White A4.

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Q.� How long should it be

A.� No more that two sides of A4.

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Q.� Should I include my marital status and date of birth

A.� There is no requirement to do so and you should only include these if the employer requests them or it is appropriate to the post.

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Q.� What headings should I use

A.� Start with personal details, which should include your name and address and contact telephone number. You may wish to include personal qualities in this section too.

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You should then list your education and qualifications. You may wish to start with your recent and presumably higher qualifications first for emphasis.

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Then list your previous employment details. Always include everything, less significant posts can be briefly detailed, but it is important not to have any obvious gaps in your chronology. Again, you may wish to start with your most recent posts and work backwards.

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Referees usually come last on a CV, always get permission to include referees.

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Good luck!

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by Lisa Cardy