CV Writing

What is a CV?

A curriculum vitae (CV) documents the work experience, education, certifications, and other accomplishments of an individual that a Human Resource manager will review when looking to fill a position at their company.

First, check what you already know!

This is a quick quiz designed to test your knowledge before completing the training. It will not impact your ability to become an MSR member, but it will show you what you've learned at the end of the training. Please complete the following form by clicking "next" to go to each question. When you are finished answering, click submit. You will then see which questions you answered correctly.

Then scroll down to complete the training.

Resume vs. CV... What is the Difference?

2 Resume vs CV.mp4

A Comparison

Watch the video and review the text below

Resume

Length: Short
Content: All-inclusive summary of skills, experiences and education
Purpose: to get an interview or employment

CV

Length: As long as it takes
Content: Area-specific listing of education and academic background
Purpose: promotion and tenure, grants, specialist positions, awards, etc.

General Advice

There is no “right way” to do a CV.
It is most important to keep yours up-to-date
Get samples online or from colleagues to help you get started
Keep it professional – edit carefully
DO NOT lie on your CV. It is never worth it and, if caught, will get you blacklisted from the company.

Writing a CV Letter

3 General Setup.mp4

General Setup

•Same font throughout (may vary sizing)

•Font size: 12 point best

•Regular paper when printed

•No underlining

•Single sided

•Margins – 1” all around

•Use bolding and caps to have things stand out

•Number your pages

•No graphics

•Full name on every page

4 5 Tips for CV.mp4

5 Tips for a Strong CV

Clear – well organized and logical
Concise – relevant and necessary
Complete – includes everything you need
Consistent – don’t mix styles or fonts
Current – Up-to-date

5 Things that might go in a CV.mp4

What Goes in a CV?

Personal Details & Contact Information
Full name as on ID
Residential Address/Postal address/Email address
Phone numbers
Education & Qualifications
Work Experience/Employment History
Training
Professional Licenses & Certifications
Technical, Computer, & Language Skills
Scholarships, Grants, Awards & Honors
Extracurricular and volunteer experience
References

Remember to use the name on your ID!

Tips on References

7 Tips for writing a CV_ Reference.mp4

Good References:

Employers
Managers
Supervisors
Church Affiliates
School Principals And Teachers

Bad References:

Relatives
Friends
People who don’t remember you
Bosses where there were problems
People who don’t know you are applying for a job

8 Tips on Education section.mp4

Tips on Education Section

Most current schooling first (include your current educational work)
Only include diploma distinctions
Get the school’s names correct!
Degrees/certifications are what is important – not time spent
List Thesis/Dissertation titles

Tips on Professional Experience Section

Includes anything you were paid to do or was extensive and regular volunteer work
Only list items relevant to academic work
List most recent first

Tips on Extracurricular and Volunteer Experience Section

List most recent first
It is better to have long-term items or very relevant items instead of EVERYTHING
Student organizations go here

What Else Should Be in a CV?

9 What goes in a CV.mp4

Things that Might go in a CV:

Brief biography (also called a Profile)
Skills
Marital Status
Criminal Record
Birth date/Namibian ID number

10 What does not go in a CV.mp4

What does NOT go in a CV:

Photos
Salary History
The reason you left your previous job
Religious affiliation
Health status

11 More tips for writing a CV.mp4

More CV Tips:

Have several versions of your CV
Keep it short
Tell the truth
Check the format
Proofread

How Long Should Your CV Be?

A good curriculum vitae should ideally be two pages, and never more than three.
Ensure the content is clear, structured, concise and relevant
Using bullet points can help minimize word usage.

Activity Break:

Review your CV and make some edits based on what you've learned

Share what you changed and provide suggestions to others on the discussion board

Application Letters

You need to make a new Application Letter for every position you apply for!

Watch the videos and see the example below:

12 Application Letter.mp4

An Example of an Application Letter

TIPS

Make sure the letter is free of errors and does not contain any slang or informal language.
This should be written i...
It is advisable to computerize the letter so that it can be read easily and print it in a good quality paper.

Post Assessment

This is a quick quiz designed to test your knowledge after completing the training. It will not impact your ability to become an MSR member, but it will show you what you've learned at the end of the training. Please complete the following form by clicking "next" to go to each question. When you are finished answering, click submit. You will then see which questions you answered correctly.

This is the last portion of the CV Writing training.