How To Write A CV or Curriculum Vitae

(Example Included)
By Mike Simpson

In the job hunting market, there are lots of ways

an employer can learn about potential hires; from business cards, to personal websites, to job
applications.

Of course, no little piece of paper is better known than the resume.

But what if an employer asks you for a CV?

What is a CV?
To really figure out what a CV is, we first have to talk about what CV means. The letters CV
stand for curriculum vitae which is Latin for course of life.

When used in a job seeking context, a CV (also sometimes referred to as just a vita) is a detailed

accounting of not only a persons past

history of education, experiences and qualifications but also related accomplishments and
is generally used when an individual is looking for a job.

So basically a resume, right?

Basicallyyesbut really its so much more than just that.

Confused?

Lets go back to what a resume isor actually, what it isnt.

A resume isnt very long.

Ideally a good solid resume is about one page in length and can be submitted for almost any type
of job on the market. When you type up a resume, youre usually just covering your work and
educational history.

You might include certain professional affiliations and possibly highlight specific major awards
that relate to the job youre applying for, but its usually a concise document. Short and sweet.

A Curriculum Vitae on the other hand, is much longer and covers much, much more information.

A CV is a thorough and comprehensive document, detailing not only your education and work
history, but also your achievements, awards, any honors youve been conferred and any and all
of your publications.

Depending on how much youve accomplished, the full document can range in length from
two to three to ten pages, or more!

Is a traditional resume what you actually came to this article looking for? Don't worry, we've got
you covered! Head over to our article "How To Make A Resume 101" to find out exactly what
your resume needs to get you a job offer!

When Do I Use a Curriculum Vitae?

But why would someone use a CVand more importantly, who would need to use a CV?

Individuals who use a CV format when applying for a job are generally applicants who need to
convey a large amount of information which will not only help to tell an employer who they are
but help define them and their work within a specific discipline.

To put it simply, CVs are traditionally used for individuals who are looking for employment in
academic, research, or scholarly positions. Many PhDs, educators and teachers working at the
university level (and above) will use a Curriculum Vitae rather than a resume to outline not only
their work history, but their published academic papers and professional accomplishments as
well.
Lets break it down even further:

Resumes are used by individuals looking to define themselves in professional terms, showcasing
the specific skills they have.

A CV is used by an individual looking to define themselves in scholarly terms and showcases

their education and areas of expertise.

Okay, Im a grad-student and Im getting ready to move into the world of academicsso a CV
is something I should have. Are there other people who use CVs?

Absolutely!

While people in academics and education are the most likely to be asked to produce a CV for a
job, there are other job seekers who need to have a solid CV as well, including individuals who
are in medical and/or scientific fields as well as people in research or looking to work abroad.

Both United States and Canadian citizens who are interested in traveling overseas (most often to
the U.K.) should be prepared to have potential employers ask them for a thorough CV.

In fact, in certain countries, like mainland Europe, Ireland and New Zealand, as well as the
Middle East, Africa or Asia, a CV is a standard request for any job!

A Curriculum Vitae can also be requested when an individual is applying for grants,
scholarships, and in some cases, internships as well.

CV vs Resume
How are resumes and CVs alike?

As we said above, both are used to obtain an employment position and both are an ever evolving
living document (by living document we mean its a document you constantly update and keep
current based on your own work history and experiencesnot that you have to feed it and take it
for walks daily. That would just be weird.)

How are resumes and CVs different?

Well, for startersand certainly most obviously, the length.

Again, just to reiterate, a resume is generally one page long, whereas a CV is as long as you need
it to be to thoroughly cover all the information you will be including.

Another way its different is how its written.

A good resume is specifically targeted (or as we like to say, tailored) to the job youre applying
to.

You make sure to highlight the relevant skills and experiences youve had that align to the
position youre seeking and try not to include any information that doesnt relate.

With a CV however, youre giving the reader a solid overview of all the accomplishments youve
had in your life.

The quick difference?

A resume is a brief summary. A CV is a more thorough synopsis.

Lets say youre applying for a job as a scientist. If you were writing your resume you would
include only the work information that relates specifically to the job youre applying for, but for
a Curriculum Vitae, you would also include all your teaching experience, lab and field work.

Heres another way to look at it:

Pretend youre a grad-student and youre just getting out into the world. Your CV might be just a
page or two long as youre still new to the world of academia and your accomplishments are just
starting to roll in.

Now, lets flash forward ten years into the future. Youve been working for a prestigious
university and have had a number of papers published in high profile journals. Your CV, which
was once just a few pages long, might now be closer to seven or eight. Youve not removed any
informationrather, youve added to it.

Every time you accomplish something, you add that to your CV. Did you contribute your
findings to a scientific journal? You add that to your CV. Were you awarded an honor at the
university youre currently working at for teaching excellence? You add that to your CV.

Make sense?

Sort of, but Im still a bit confused. How do I know which one an employer is looking for?

How Do I Know When To Use One?

An employer is usually pretty specific about what they need from a job applicant. If they want a
resume, theyll ask for a resume. If they want a CV, theyll ask for a CV.

And if youre applying for a job in the States and the position is anything other than academic,
you can pretty much guarantee youll be safe turning in a resume instead of a CV (especially if
the job is one where the hiring manager or recruiter is going to be expected to review thousands
of potential hires).

If youre still not sure, or youre applying to a job or position abroad, it never hurts to ask which
format they would like.

What To Include In a CV & CV Format

So, I need to give a potential employer my CVhow do I write one? Is there a special format?

Unfortunately there isnt one specific format for a CV and you will have to determine exactly
what CV is right for the position you are applying to.

Wait, isnt that technically tailoring!? I thought you said a CV didnt use tailoring. Would you
please make up your mind?!?

All right, youre rightsort of. While its true that you dont tailor your CV content to the
individual jobs youre applying to in quite the same way you tailor your resume, you do make
sure that the CV you are creating is right for the area of work you are doing overalland there
are lots of different types of CVs, just as there are lots of different areas of work.

So how do I make sure Im creating the CV that is right for what area of work Im going into?

One type of job might want you to emphasize a specific area whereas another might ask you to
elaborate on a totally different area and knowing which is which is critical to making sure your
CV is perfect for your discipline.

The best way to know what CV is right for your industry is to look at examples others have done.
You can do this by either researching them online or by reaching out and talking to either your
mentor or peers who are already employed where you are applying.

Of course, as we tell you with every other example we give you here at TheInterviewGuys.com,
these examples are only examples and you should make sure your CV is specific to you and not
just a copy of what someone else has done.

Remember, youre an individual and your CV should reflect that.

With that being said, however, there are some common CV features you should keep in mind
when writing yours.
Common Features of a CV
Start by first listing everything you can about your background information and then building out
from there.

To help you get started, weve pulled together a few of the most often seen sections of CVs that
you might expect to include when writing your own.

1) Who are you?

A CV should always include your basic information starting with your name, address, telephone
number and email. For United States and Canadian job seekers, thats generally all you need to
include. If you search for example CVs online, you are likely to come across ones that include a
small passport-sized photo of the applicant in the upper right-hand corner. While this practice is
standard in France, Belgium and Germany, it is NOT considered appropriate for CVs in the
United States and Canada. Just a heads up.

2) No, reallywho are you?

In some instances, its also appropriate to include a brief bio of yourself. Depending on the
industry you are going into, a short blurb about who you are might be all you need to catch an
employers eye and get called in for an interview. If you do decide to include a brief bio, make
sure its well written and original.

3) What have you done?

As a CV is a thorough detailing of your history, that includes your educational history as well as
your work experience and any training you might have received.

When detailing your educational history, you want to do it in reverse chronological order. Be
sure to include the full list of your degrees, including those youve already earned and any you
might be currently pursuing as well as where you received your education.

Be sure to list the years of your graduation. If you are the author of a dissertation or thesis, you
would include that information here as well as the name of your advisor.

For your work history, you want to include not only where youve worked, but also any
applicable experiences related to that work.

If youre an educator and youre not only teaching, but also working in a research lab or facility,
you would want to include that here. Field experience, leadership experience, related volunteer
work and any and all other experience that relates to your employment goes in this section.

4) What do you like?

Unlike a resume, a CV often includes a section that covers your areas of interest. While this
might seem unusual, it can actually provide a potential employer with a lot of insight into who
you are, which is why its so important to make sure you handle this section carefully.

While it might be tempting to just list your hobbies here and hope for the best, its actually a
good idea to expand on what you do in your free time as well as why you do it. Are you a history
buff who loves to go to reenactments? Rather than just listing Re-enactor on your CV, flesh it
out a bit.

As a historically accurate civil war reenactor, I enjoy spending my weekends immersed in a

world where I gain first hand insight into our countrys rich past.

Do you have leadership skills outside of your work that you enjoy participating in? List those
here as well.

On the weekends Im not participating in civil war reenactments, I am the coach of a local
junior league soccer team for third graders. I find that as a leader, Im not only helping to
refine their soccer skills, but Im providing them with a positive role model as I insist on good
sportsmanship and fair play at all times.

This section is also a great place to list any interests that you have that relate directly to the job
youre applying to. Are you working on obtaining employment as a culinary specialist? List your
interest in food blogs and magazines.

No matter what you list here, try to include a range of interests that demonstrate who you are
when youre not working at your job. Of course, try not to include information that would
make it appear that youre just stuffing things into your CV in order to give it length. Its
perfectly fine to list your interests, but keep it within reason. List the things that are the most
relevant to what you are looking for work wise.

Its not necessary to list every extracurricular activity youve ever participated in.

5) Mad skills, bro!

How many languages do you speak? Are you fluent in multiple tongues? What about computer
programs? Are you an accomplished graphic designer who has an extensive knowledge of
specific software? List that too!

6) Youre the best!

Have others recognized you for the work youve done? Do you have any awards or honors that
youve received for teaching? How about for service or work? Have you applied for and received
any grants or scholarships? Those go here! This is also where you want to include things like
fellowships or patents.

7) Texts and Talks

Are you an author of any papers, articles or books? Are you an expert in your field and thus find
yourself speaking at conferences, panels or symposiums? Make sure you list those and give a
brief description of each so your reader knows what youve done and where.

8) Im in the club!

Are you a member of any professional organizations, guilds or clubs? Make sure to include if
youve held any offices or positions within those organizations and how long youve been with
them.

9) Who will vouch for you?

A reference section is also something you might consider including in your CV. While its not
always required, its not a bad idea to put down references if you know the person
recommending you is going to be enthusiastically in your corner. (Of course it should go without
saying you should only have enthusiastic references)

If you feel your CV is running long for your level of experience, or youd like more time to prep
your references, its also perfectly acceptable to say References available upon request.

10) And the Rest

Other sections you might include in your CV (depending entirely on the job youre applying for)
include:

Study Abroad

Exhibitions

Professional Licenses and/or memberships

Consulting Work

Professional Development

Research Experience

Teaching Experience

Remember, your CV should be specific to the industry or area of work youre entering, so while
much of the basic information should be fairly standard, always find examples that relate to the
job youre after to ensure that youre including all the necessary things.

Well, now that weve gone over all that

What About Formatting?

With any and all documents you turn into a potential employer, you want to make sure that your
CV is clear of any and all grammatical and spelling errors.

You want to make sure that your CV is carefully and logically laid out and that it reads well. Yes,
youre including a lot of information in this document, but dont try to cram everything in all at
once.

Organize it using topical headings and be considerate in how you lay it out and how you
order it. While the order of topics in a CV is flexible, its a good idea to keep in mind that what
you list first will receive the most attention. Try to arrange your sections so that they highlight
your strengths in relation to the position you are applying to.

Make sure your font is readable and that you are consistent with any formatting you decide to
use.

Dont include your salary history in your CV. You also shouldnt include why you left your
last position.

When youre working on a resume, its common to use a type of formatting called gapping.
Gapping is when you take a full sentence and cut it down to the most basic components in order
to convey the most amount of information in the least amount of words.

However, when writing your CV, you will want to use full sentences. Its also important to work
in action words that help to not only draw in the reader, but keep them engaged in what theyre
reading.

Here, let me show you the difference. Lets pretend you were a floor manager in a service
department at a company. If you were writing a resume and utilizing gapping, you might note
your experience like this:

Floor manager (2000-2002)

Team leader.
Responsible for customer service.

Again, this example is perfectly acceptable for a resume. For a CV, however, you want to make
sure youre including more information and utilizing your action words.

Example:

I worked as a floor manager from 2000 to 2002. During that time I oversaw and lead a team
of twenty employees committed to providing quality customer service.

Need another example?

Rather than saying you were just a marketing manager for five years (perfectly acceptable on a
resume), make sure to include words that convey what you did.

Example:

I spent five years refining my abilities as a negotiator and motivator, using my skills as a
problem solver to help persuade clients to try new and exciting products.

When printing your CV, always print your pages single sided. Yes, its longer than a resume, and
its tempting to try to save paper by printing double sided, but resist that temptation!

As a CV is longer than a resume and can often run several pages, make sure you include page
numbers on every page except for the first one.

And remember as well to always be honest in your CV.

What About Using A CV Template?

Heres the deal with CVs

They are large documents that contain all kinds of different information and vary greatly
depending on who the job seeker is (and more importantly, what field they are in).

So I hate to say it, but there isnt really a magic bullet CV template that will allow you to just
plug and play your information into.

But there are some good curriculum vitae examples that are available, and we chose one in
particular that will provide you with a guideline to model your CV after.

Heres A Good CV Example

 This CV example is provided by
Career Services at the University of British Columbia (simply click the image to see the full
CV)

So Do I Need a CV or What?
Just curious, you said above that most jobs in the United States (with the exception of academia
and medicine) use a resume instead of a CVso should I even have one or is that just a waste of
my time?

Its certainly not a bad idea to have a solid CV in your job seeking arsenal. While it might be the
very rare occasion when youre asked to produce one, its still an excellent tool you can use to
help make your much shorter resume even stronger.

A solid, well thought out CV is nothing more than a running list of everything youve ever
accomplished and/or done while working. By having that document already built and updating it
regularly, youll have an excellent resource to use when building your next resume that you can
pull from and tailor as needed.

On top of that, should you ever be asked for a CV, youll be a step or two ahead of the game.
And who knows, if that dream job ever opens up overseas, youll be prepped and ready to send
out your information in record time!

So go ahead and use this article to get your CV started today you never know when it might
come in handy.

Good luck!

12 Great Cover Letter Examples for 2017

By Mike Simpson

There comes a time in nearly every job seekers

life when you plop yourself down in front of the computer and say to yourself

Okay, its time to find a couple good cover letter examples I can use to help me start writing
my cover letter

So you do a quick Google search, grab the first three cover letter samples you can find, copy a
paragraph from each one, and then youre off to the races feeling like now all you have to do is
click send a few times and the interviews will simply start rolling in.

Consider this a gentle wake-up call.

Why Your Cover Letter Is So Important?

In this ultra-competitive job market, its just not good enough to Frankenstein together a cover
letter from the various bits and pieces you find online.

Why?

Because hiring managers have been there, done that. In other words, theyve seen it all before.

Not only that, but they want to find candidates that are unique, interesting, and take the time and
make the effort to present the best version of themselves.
Your cover letter is your first impression, and therefore, you want to craft the best darn cover
letter your hiring manager has ever seen.

So you want to take the time and select the cover letter example that is tailored to your
situation in other words, the example cover letter that fits your personality, skills and abilities
the best.

Example cover letters are kind of like shoes.

Sure, you might absolutely love that pair of Air Jordan IVs that are still fresh in the box in your
closet from 1989, but you might want to have a second thought before you consider wearing
them to a wedding with a tuxedo.

Or perhaps youve got a pair of high heels that make you feel like you could walk into a business
lunch at the Four Seasons and walk out having sold your company for a billion dollars?

Would you feel the same way if you showed up at the start line for the half marathon you signed
up for with those same heels on?

Okay, ridiculous examples aside, I hope you can begin to see my point.

There is not one example cover letter for every situation no one-cover-letter-fits-all
solution.

You have to carefully evaluate your situation and decide which cover letter example is going to
suit you the most.

What kind of work are you looking for?

Full-time? Or part-time? Theres a cover letter for that.

Are you sending a cover letter in the mail or by email? Theres a cover letter for that too.

There are all kinds of situations that warrant a slightly different cover letter, and its imperative
that you figure out which one fits you best.

But dont worry. To help, weve compiled a list of 12 of the most common cover letter examples
and provided you with an example of a cover letter for each one.

So take a look at the examples and carefully decide which one fits your situation the most.

Before you dive in, a word to the wise

Dont just grab the one that fits you best, change the contact information and then start
sending it out. As I said before, hiring managers are pretty smart and will be able to tell that you
havent taken any time to make it your own.

If you want to get job interviews from your cover letter (and at some point, job offers as well!),
you need to tailor the cover letter to demonstrate your skills, abilities and relevant
experience.

Mike's Tip: Once you find a cover letter example that fits your situation, head over
to our article How To Write A Cover Letter 101 and use the article to make sure that
your cover letter contains all of the important things that hiring managers look for.
We'll help you make sure that your cover letter is so irresistible that you'll get an
interview from almost every application you submit!

12 Common Cover Letter Examples

Without further ado, here are 12 of the best cover letter examples for nearly every situation you
could find yourself in along with a brief description of what makes the style of cover letter
unique.

1. Cover Letter Sample For Part-Time Work

If you have no intention of applying for a full-time position, it is very important that you let the
hiring manager know this in your cover letter. After all, if you dont mention this right up front,
anything that comes after this will be a total waste of time, and hiring managers value their time
more than anything.

On a side note, you should never really be applying for a full-time position when you are only
available as a part-time worker. The company has very specific needs, so dont think they are
going to change the entire nature of the position to accommodate your availability.

2. For A New Graduate

Cover letters for new graduates can often be tricky, because generally speaking, new graduates
dont usually have much experience.

So how can you still put yourself forward as a good candidate without experience? You want to
focus the cover letter around your skills and abilities, the extra-curricular work youve
accomplished and your knowledge of the company (and passion for the industry) youre
applying to.

3. When You Have Been Referred

There isnt anything overly difficult about writing a cover letter when you have been referred by
someone else, but the most important thing to know is where you should bring up the referral.

Generally speaking, it is always best to mention your referral in the opening paragraph, because
it acts as an attention grabber for the hiring manager.

Youre hoping theyll think to themselves something along the lines of, Oh, this person was
referred by Jim. I like Jimhes a straight shooter. If this person is good enough for Jim, hes
good enough for me. Im going to bring him in for an interview
 4. Cold Call Cover Letter Example

The cold call cover letter is appropriate when you are applying to a position that is not
necessarily listed on a job board or advertised anywhere. And for that reason, it can be a little
tricky.

You really need to blow the hiring manager away in order for them to grant an unsolicited
interview request, so there a re a few key things to remember. Most importantly, you really
have to do your research and demonstrate that you know the company and position inside
out.

After that, it really pays to address the letter to a specific person. Simply writing To Whom It
May Concern is a great way to have the letter filed under G (for those keeping track thats the
Garbage).

Finally, this letter needs to be all about pizazz. Since the reader wasnt expecting to receive
this, you really need to catch their attention and sell yourself, but most importantly, quickly
demonstrate how you will add value to their company.

5. For An Email Submission

Please please PLEASE be careful with this one.

Just because a job posting says submit your cover letter and resume via email, doesnt
necessarily mean that you can just put these documents in the body of an email.

More often than not, the posting will give further instructions that include attaching your cover
letter and resume to an email. Anyone who doesnt follow this step has a ZERO chance of being
brought in for an interview.

Why? Because you cant follow simple directions.

Now, if there is no stipulation and you determine that using the email body to send your cover
letter is okay, then general cover letter writing rules apply.

Where you want to focus your energy is on the subject line. Dont just write whatever comes to
mind as a throwaway and whatever you do, dont leave it empty! Be clear and concise about
what is included in the email and identify the position you are applying for.

6. For A Recruiter

Recruiters are no different than hiring managers, in that they are essentially looking for the same
things from your cover letters. What impresses a recruiter the most is when you take the time to
tailor your cover letter to a specific posting rather than simply sending them a general letter
inquiring about miscellaneous opportunities.

7. Someone Changing Careers

Generally speaking, if you are changing careers, youll be short on experience. So similarly to
the New Graduate cover letter, youll want to put the focus on your reasons for making the
career change along with your relevant skills and abilities and how your experience in your past
career will translate to your new career.
And remember, enthusiasm goes a long way. Hiring managers get excited about applicants that
really show a desire to succeed in the role and industry they are applying to.

So make sure you do your research and know the position and industry inside out so that you are
easily able to show how enthusiastic you are about the opportunity and how determined you are
to get started on your new career path.

8. A Great Example of a Cover Letter For An Academic

The trick with an academic cover letter is to avoid rambling on and on and on about everything
youve accomplished. The reality is, you still need to fall within the one-page rule (although
some institutions will allow for a second page, you better make darn sure that this is the case!),
so the trick is to be clear and concise and highlight your accomplishments without coming
across as an encyclopedia.

One other thing to consider is the nature of any research you have done and how you want to
convey that in your cover letter.

Quite often people spend too much time talking about what it is they study or plan on studying
without ever getting into the why of it all.

Be specific about your intentions and dont assume that the person on the other end of your cover
letter is an expert in your field.
 9. For An Internship

There really isnt a huge difference between writing a cover letter for an internship and writing a
cover letter for a job opening. You still need to list your qualifications, skills and abilities. You
still need to explain how you add value to the company. You still want to sell yourself.

But one thing you want to keep in mind, is even though this internship might be a springboard to
YOUR career or education, you dont want this to be the focus of your cover letter.

The name of the game is still to put the companys needs ahead of your own.

Youre not their first intern and you wont be their last, so dont write your cover letter thinking
that their concern is how the internship will help with your placement in your next opportunity.

Add value. Period. This is what they really want to hear from you in your cover letter.

10. Direct Mail

A direct mail cover letter is similar to a cold call cover letter, the main difference being you are
not applying to a single company with a single position in mind. Instead, you are blanketing
as many companies you can at once and therefore trying to send out a general cover letter that
can work for them all.

Because of this, we dont recommend this strategy to our students. It is generally pretty
ineffective and a waste of your time or resources.

There is rarely a time when tailoring your resume to a specific company and position is not the
most effective strategy. However, if you are really short on time (and possibly ambition), here is
an example of a direct mail cover letter you can reference.

11. Responding To an Advertisement

The only really distinguishing feature of this type of cover letter is that the opening paragraph
generally includes a statement such as Im responding to your advertisement I saw in the

The rest of the cover letter generally follows the principles of other successful cover letters.
However, if you find yourself going through the classifieds in your local newspaper and simply
sending off cover letters to whomever has an ad posted, do make sure that you do some research
on the company before you send out your cover letter.

Sending one cover letter out for multiple advertisements is a good way to ensure that you wont
be getting too many interviews in the coming days or weeks.
 12. When Youre Unemployed

The worst thing you can do when writing an cover letter after youve been unemployed for some
time is to lie.

Why? Because eventually, the lies you tell in the cover letter will come home to roost at some
point in the interview process, meaning youll just end up having wasted everyones time.

Having said that, if there are some less-than-attractive reasons for your unemployment, dont
make those reasons the focus of your cover letter. You want to keep it positive.

Its okay to admit fault in certain situations if you can show that youve have learned from the
tough times and have changed for the better as a result of these struggles.

Transition to focusing on your skills and abilities, and more importantly, your passion and desire
for re-entering the workforce. If you have experience from your past that will clearly add value
to this new position, than dont be afraid to clearly demonstrate the connection.

And if you spent your time being unemployed trying to better yourself (for example, taking a
class or volunteering), then shift the focus to that.
Putting It All Together

So there you have 12 good cover letter examples for 2017 that will help you get started on
crafting a winning cover letter.

Remember that the most important thing for you to accomplish with your cover letter is to
demonstrate how you add value to the company you are applying to, and you want to make sure
this never gets lost when you get caught up in trying to sell yourself.

And remember, youre not on your own! Once youve chosen your cover letter example you can
head over to How to Write a Cover Letter 101 and get great tips on how to right all parts of your
cover letter.

Best of luck to you!