PL02 writing a CV EAD L3

Département d'economie et de gestion

Université Paris Sud

CV writing

The aim of this course is to help you write your CV or resume.

Read the following instructions and do the exercises.

Different types of CV

Example of a chronological format

You should use a chronological format if you do not yet have much professional experience and want to stress your educational background, especially if you are applying for postgraduate studies. Your most recent degree is at the top, 2005 to present.

Example of a mixed format

When you are applying for a first job and are clear about your goals/ objectives, you may use this format.

Example of a functional format

This type corresponds to a candidate with several years experience in business. Note that the simple past is used without “I”. In English, active verbs are used instead of abstract nouns. Check out this site for more information: http://www.cvtips.com/resume.html

Qualifications

Your skills and abilities will appear separately from where they have been learnt, followed by work history to give a clear image of what you have to offer.

EDUCATION

Secondary school

Baccalauréat: French secondary school diploma

Classes préparatoires: intensive undergraduate studies in physics and maths, in liberal arts, economics, to prepare competitive exams for admission to French Grandes Ecoles

Licence

Licence (equivalent to B.S) in Economics, 2001, Université de Paris VI, France

Licence: three-year university study in history, economics, political science, computer science, equivalent to B.A, B.S., (USA) B.Sc. (GB)

IEP: institute of political science

Degree in engineering from the Ecole Polytechnique (equivalent to a BS)

Masters

One-year degree required before doctoral studies, equivalent to M.S/ M.Sc./ M.A,

One-year postgraduate degree in computer science, accounting, etc.

One-year Postgraduate degree (GB): programme de troisième cycle d’un an

One-year graduate degree (US)

Ph.D.

Bac + 8 = Doctorate: equivalent to Ph.D (Ph.D dissertation and Ph.D disputation are the two parts, written and oral leading to this degree)

Additional training

Seminars in marketing and management

Personnel management training courses, problem solving, group dynamics, team building

Technical skills: PHOTOSHOP

Intensive language program (English)

Interest and activities

Projects you are/were involved in:

-Community activities (clubs)

-Organized art exhibitions for local artists

-Member of the Parent-teacher Association at the local school

-Set up an annual auction to raise money for the city hospital

-Student representative on the administrative council

-Prepared a survey on school alumni and their occupations

-President of the student council

Note: no full stop (.)

Extracurricular activities

If student, the functions you attended and if you helped run student societies or were part of a university club (sports, debating society, etc.)

-Swimming, member of the University swimming team

-Chess, participated in several university chess tournaments each year

-Ranked player in regional tennis association (only mention a sport if you have an excellent level or it may be of use in your future job)

-Music, play the piano in an amateur jazz band

Special talents

To reveal any special skills you have

Related activities

-do consulting on patents

-teach a course in philosophy at Balliol College (Oxford)

-give lectures on staff management at the University of Limoges

Technical skills

- computer-literate

- familiar with word processing techniques

- familiar with most computer systems and languages

- trained in office technology

- knowledge of programming techniques

References

Professional and personal references available on request can be written at the bottom of your CV.

Positive adjectives: assertive, outgoing, imaginative, energetic, tactful, reliable , trustworthy, methodical, reserved, cautious, relaxed, independent, objective, excitable, adaptable, changeable, logical, organized, meticulous, competitive, confident ,resilient, cheerful, sensitive to others, decisive, warm, gentle, co-operative, introspective, adventurous, persistent.

Exercise 1

Which qualities would be best suited to the following people: a detective, a judge, a pilot, a computer engineer, a bank manager, a presidential candidate, a hostess at the reception desk, a teacher, a doctor, a travelling salesman, and accountant.

Which qualities do you have? Can you find other ones?

Exercise 2

Write your own CV, choosing the right format according to your experience and the job/ work experience/ studies you are applying for.

Study the verbs given at the end. USE THEM

Here are lists of verbs used in CVs to show what you have achieved in different skills[2].

[1] Extracurricular activities refer to student activities that are not part of the courses the students are doing (i.e. sports, hobbies, student association, etc.

[2] Source: http://www.quintcareers.com/action_skills.html