After spending hours pursuing your degree, it’s time to put it to use in search of a job. The curriculum vitae (CV) is an excellent resource for recent grads because it allows you to include more personal information than a resume. The CV also allows you to highlight your academic accomplishments as well as any job experience you may have had.
Introduce yourself
Your CV is the first impression an employer will have of you, so make it a good one. The purpose of the CV is to market yourself to the employer. It should be structured in a way that your experiences and accomplishments should match up with the requirements of the job for which you are applying. Employers have to sort through hundreds of CVs and may only spend a moment going over yours. So be sure to make it clear, concise, and presentable.
Formatting
Depending on the position you are applying for, you can give your CV some color and design elements, especially if you are applying for any type of design or creative position. Otherwise use a simple font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, and to the point short sentences.
Step out of the box
There are words and phrases that have become cliché within the working world. Good communicator and easy to work with are adjectives everyone uses. Instead, use your CV to creatively express these qualities about yourself in a different way. Highlight how you have worked on projects with others and your role in make it a success. Taylor your experience to the requirements of the job, make it unique, but also interesting. But remember, this is a professional position to which you are applying.
Academic Success
Any accomplishments and honors you received in school should be listed on your CV. If you have any relevant volunteer work, include it. You can use bullet points to highlight these achievements or you can use a paragraph form signaling how each accomplishment is relevant to the job.
Applicable experience
Sometimes your previous job experience may not seem to have anything to do with the job you are applying for. However, there are ways to transfer skills and make them fit. For instance, if the job is looking for a good communicator and you spent the summer working as a receptionist answering calls, talk about that. If the job wants someone who is organized and you volunteered at a food pantry organizing canned goods, then say that.
The purpose of the CV is to show why you are the best candidate for the job. Remember, be honest.
