How to write an effective Curriculum Vitae  

A well written, effective CV is an excellent tool in today's ever changing job market. A strong CV may be the sole difference in getting an invitation for an interview or simply having it tossed into the employer's waste-paper basket. That is why it is very important to give much attention to your CV.

While no two CV’s will look the same, there are certain commonalties in all good CV’s. Every CV should include the following headings or sections:

Personal details:

Name, home address, phone number, email address, date of birth, nationality, gender and marital status.

Work experience:

Start with your most recent experience, give a start and an end date. Give the name of the organisation and a brief impression of your responsibilities. It is not sufficient to write down your function because the content of a function varies from one business to an other.

Education & qualifications:

Start with your highest education and qualifications. Include all special projects and  courses you have taken that are relevant for the job opening concerned.

Languages

Write here your native language as well as the additional languages you master and in which degree. Instead of writing: English ++++, you should write English: extensive knowledge as well in speaking as in writing.

Interests and achievement

Your personal interests and achievement are also important for employers. Your interests should reflect your personality while your achievements describe your sense of responsibility and additional skills.

Important additional tips:

·   Pay attention to detail. Do not cut corners by, for instance, not proofreading the cover letter or failing to include information the hiring manager asked for. Make sure you have followed the instructions of the employer. Take the time to make sure the correspondence and information sent is correct and absolutely error-free.

·   For college students just entering the labour market, you should probably list your "Education" section directly after stating your personal details. If you have high marks, insert them in your CV. Also, be sure to include your extra-curricular involvement in clubs, sports teams, and similar campus organizations. Make certain you include your part-time and summer jobs you had during your college years. 

·   Organize your information in a logical fashion and keep descriptions clear and to the point. Consider the relevance of the information and situate it in a sound order. Make it easy for the recruiter to find specific information. Also, use a simple, easy-to-read font.

·   Focus on what you bring to the employer, not what you want from the job. This is an opportunity for you to market yourself and stand out from the other candidates. List your important capabilities for the job you are applying for. For research functions in the life sciences it is important to state in which kind of technologies you are experienced.