English in the Workplace

CVs
The aim of this activity is to help you consider what makes a good CV,
including factors such as what to include and the order of the information.

Work together in pairs. Look at the two sample CVs in your notes and answer
the following questions.

1. How long do you think employers will spend looking at each CV?

2. HKCEE and A Level grades are not shown on either CV. Is this good or
bad? Why?

3. In both CVs the information is presented in the same order, i.e. education,
employment record and extra curricular activities. Why is the information
presented in this order? Under what circumstances could it be presented
in a different order (for example employment record first)?

4. Within each section, for example education, how is the information

organized?

5. When describing the duties performed in employment record, how does

each sentence begin?

6. How could be skills section in both CVs be improved?

7. What is the purpose of having a sports and hobbies section?

8. Which CV do you think covers extra curricular activities better? Why?

9. What information is missing from the referees/ references in the CVs?

10. In the second CV, what do you think of the ‘career objectives’ section?

11. What else could be added to a CV?

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English in the Workplace
CVs
Now you should look at your own CVs. In small groups discuss what is good
about each CV, and also how each could be made better.

Remember, a CV needs to be simple and easy to read. A prospective

employer will only spend a few seconds reading one, so it is important that
you get your message across as concisely and clearly as possible.

Complete the table below for the CVs in your group.

Good Change
Student 1 CV
Student 2 CV
Student 3 CV
Student 4 CV

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English in the Workplace
CVs
Curriculum Vitae

Personal Data
Name: CHAN Man Kuen Mandy
Place of Birth: Hong Kong
Address: Room 7B Heavenly Mansion
72 Cloud Road
Happy Valley
Hong Kong
Telephone: 2575-1932 (home)
9182-3624 (mobile)
Fax: 2334-1738
Email: mandyc@netvigator.com

Education
2007 - 2010 BBA in Marketing (Upper Second Class)
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hung Hom
Hong Kong
2000 - 2007 Lau Kin Shek School for Girls
Ship Street
Wan Chai
Hong Kong

Employment Record
2008 - 2009 CK Lam Advertising
Summer Junior copywriter and general administrator
• co-wrote print advertisements
• proofread advertising material
• liaised with clients face-to-face and by telephone
2001 - 2006 Po Leung Kuk
Sundays • co-organised open days for public visiting
• participated in fund-raising activities

Extracurricular Activities and Awards

2007 - 2010 Member of English Club and University Debating Team
2004 First prize in an inter-school graphic design competition

Skills
Computer Proficient in MS Word and Excel
Languages Native speaker of Cantonese and proficient in spoken and written
English and in Putonghua and written Chinese
Sports and Badminton, table tennis, listening to music, painting and drawing
Hobbies

Referees Dr. Lui Ping Kwong Ms Josephine Williams

Associate Professor Managing Director
Department of Management CK Lam Advertising
and Marketing Short Street
The Hong Kong Polytechnic Wan Chai
University Hong Kong
Hung Hom Tel. 25358182
Hong Kong
Tel. 27661234

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English in the Workplace
CVs
Curriculum Vitae

Name: Mr. Fong Chi Tung, Robert

Date of birth: 11 November 1987
Address: Flat D, 8th Floor, Dragon Tower, 98 Hoi Tung Road, Hong Kong.
Email: rctfong@gmail.com
Tel. / Mobile: 27512567 / 96780008

CAREER OBJECTIVE
A position as an accountant in an organisation that values advanced communication and
analytical skills.

EDUCATION
2007 - 2010 The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
BBA in Accountancy
2000 - 2007 Kung Man Kong Secondary School F. 1 to F. 7

WORK EXPERIENCE
Summer 2009 Deloitte Touche Audit Intern - Worked in Shanghai, China
Tohmatsu CPA, - Performed audit field work in
Shanghai various areas such as
Office analytical procedure and
substantial testing of turnover
and other income, debtors and
prepayments, tangible fixed
assets and inventories
- Translated financial
reports from Chinese to
English

September 2008 Sinodot.com Freelance - Wrote articles on social issues

- January 2009 (Closed) writer for the company website
(Part-time)

Summer 2008 Charming Assistant IT - Worked with financial

Trading Ltd. Organiser managers and IT personnel
on multimedia projects
- Organised and planned
network infrastructure

Summer 2007 Modern Clerical - Input and checked data

Logistics Officer

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
2009 - 2010 Student Faculty of Business, - Advised and helped
Mentor PolyU Student fellow junior
Mentoring Program
undergraduates to
cope with their
academic and
personal
development
September M.C. PolyU Welcoming - MC for Welcoming
2009 Ceremony 2004/05 Ceremony
October 2008 Convener of Student Affairs - Introduced guest
Dinner Talk Office, PolyU - Hosted Q & A session
Dinner Talk
2007 - 2008 Hon PolyU Commerce - Responsible for financial

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English in the Workplace
CVs
Treasurer Students Society matters

2004 - 2005 Chairperson Hong Kong Red - In charge of a social

Cross - Joint-school service project
Service Project
AWARDS
2007 Outstanding Kung Man Kong
Student Award Secondary School
2006 Certificate of Merit Solo-singing in a 50th Hong Kong Schools
foreign language Music Festival
2005 Youth Service Services Award Hong Kong Red Cross
Award Golden
LANGUAGE ABILITIES
Fluent in spoken English, Putonghua and Cantonese
Very good in written Chinese and English
SKILLS
Proficient in MS Word and Excel, Chinese and English word processing, PowerPoint,
Flash, and Dreamweaver.
REFEREES
Dr. Joseph Tung Associate Head School of Accounting & Finance
The Hong Kong Polytechnic
University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
Tel. 27667019
Mr. Lee Wai Kee Managing Director Modern Logistics
7, Sek Hang Road
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Tel. 23889901