The Curriculum Vitae (CV): Design Basics for Students Aleta Wolfe Career Counselor.

The Curriculum The Curriculum Vitae (CV):Vitae (CV):

Design Basics for Design Basics for StudentsStudents

Aleta WolfeAleta WolfeCareer CounselorCareer Counselor

What is a CV?What is a CV?

Curriculum vitae Curriculum vitae Latin “course of life”Latin “course of life”

Used in lieu of a resume for Used in lieu of a resume for professional, academic or professional, academic or international positions.international positions.

Used for application purposes, as Used for application purposes, as well as a means for introducing well as a means for introducing invited speakersinvited speakers

How is a CV different than a How is a CV different than a Resume?Resume?

Longer (2+ pages)Longer (2+ pages) In the U.S., a CV is In the U.S., a CV is

used primarily when used primarily when applyingapplying  for for international, international, academic, education, academic, education, scientific or research scientific or research positions or when positions or when applying for applying for fellowships or grants.fellowships or grants. 

ContentContent Summary of Summary of

academic, teaching, academic, teaching, research, research, publications, publications, presentations, presentations, honors, and servicehonors, and service

PurposePurpose Career biographyCareer biography Resume is a Resume is a

marketing toolmarketing tool

Contents of a Standard Contents of a Standard CVCV

Contact Contact informationinformation

Professional Professional objectiveobjective

EducationEducation Professional Professional

licenses and licenses and certificationscertifications

Work experience Work experience Clinical rotation Clinical rotation

experiencesexperiences Presentations Presentations

PublicationsPublications Research Research

experienceexperience Scholarly activitiesScholarly activities Awards and honorsAwards and honors Grants Grants Professional Professional

memberships memberships Community service Community service

activitiesactivities References References

Contents of Standard CVContents of Standard CV Complete contact informationComplete contact information

Include your mailing addressInclude your mailing address List professional email addressList professional email address Add your phone/cell with area codeAdd your phone/cell with area code

Professional objectiveProfessional objective The more specific the betterThe more specific the better Tailor to each position you targetTailor to each position you target

Residency versus clinical positionResidency versus clinical position

Contents of Standard CVContents of Standard CV EducationEducation

Degree completion datesDegree completion dates MajorMajor Institution attended (California State University, Institution attended (California State University,

Fresno)Fresno) Professional licenses/certificationsProfessional licenses/certifications

Include licensure/certification numbers/dates of Include licensure/certification numbers/dates of expirationexpiration

Work experienceWork experience Title of position, dates of employmentTitle of position, dates of employment Name of organization, locationName of organization, location Description of experience, responsibilities, and Description of experience, responsibilities, and

achievementsachievements

Contents of Standard CVContents of Standard CV

Internship/lab/clinical rotation experiencesInternship/lab/clinical rotation experiences List experiences similar to work experiencesList experiences similar to work experiences List lab equipment usedList lab equipment used List rotation site, preceptor, short description List rotation site, preceptor, short description

of activities for clinical experience (if of activities for clinical experience (if applicable)applicable)

PresentationsPresentations List titles, audience, datesList titles, audience, dates Include academic presentations to highlight Include academic presentations to highlight

communication skillscommunication skills

Contents of Standard Contents of Standard CVsCVs

Publications/PostersPublications/Posters List all publications in AMA styleList all publications in AMA style Include newsletters, case reports, original Include newsletters, case reports, original

researchresearch Research experiencesResearch experiences

List any research experiences (lab technician, List any research experiences (lab technician, data collection experience, faculty projects, etc.)data collection experience, faculty projects, etc.)

Describe research skills developedDescribe research skills developed Scholarly activitiesScholarly activities

List involvement in special projects and activitiesList involvement in special projects and activities Examples: data collection role in study, Examples: data collection role in study,

experiences with relevant class projects, etc. experiences with relevant class projects, etc.

Contents of Standard CVContents of Standard CV

Awards and honorsAwards and honors List specific awards, scholarships, recognitionsList specific awards, scholarships, recognitions

GrantsGrants List grant (submitted and funded), funding List grant (submitted and funded), funding

source, amount, datessource, amount, dates Professional & student membershipsProfessional & student memberships

List membership in organizations/campus clubsList membership in organizations/campus clubs Leadership positions held and committee Leadership positions held and committee

involvement (dates)involvement (dates)

Contents of Standard Contents of Standard CVsCVs

Community service activities Community service activities List/describe volunteer and community List/describe volunteer and community

service activities service activities Remember: activities with student Remember: activities with student

organizationsorganizations

References References Generally provided separatelyGenerally provided separately Ask before listing someone as referenceAsk before listing someone as reference Give them an updated copy of your CV in Give them an updated copy of your CV in

advance advance

Different Versions of CVsDifferent Versions of CVs

One CV does not fit all positionsOne CV does not fit all positions Update and reorganize titles and Update and reorganize titles and

contentcontent Prioritize key experiences Prioritize key experiences

important for the position to be important for the position to be presented early within CVpresented early within CV

Professional objective tailored to the Professional objective tailored to the positionposition

Stylistic ConsiderationsStylistic Considerations Order of contents of CV should reflect Order of contents of CV should reflect

individuals strengths and take into consideration individuals strengths and take into consideration experiences necessary for the position experiences necessary for the position

Use action words when describing experiencesUse action words when describing experiences List items in reverse chronological order List items in reverse chronological order Conservative, 12-14 size font throughoutConservative, 12-14 size font throughout Avoid excessive lines, graphics, shading, etc.Avoid excessive lines, graphics, shading, etc. When printing:When printing:

Use 8 ½ X 11 inch resume quality paper Use 8 ½ X 11 inch resume quality paper Single sided laser printing (Career Services Computer Single sided laser printing (Career Services Computer

Lab)Lab)

Important “Cs” of CVsImportant “Cs” of CVs ClearClear

Well-organized, content flows wellWell-organized, content flows well ConciseConcise

Include relevant and necessary informationInclude relevant and necessary information CompleteComplete

Includes everything-you need to show Includes everything-you need to show qualificationsqualifications

ConsistentConsistent Use consistent design, fonts, layoutUse consistent design, fonts, layout

CurrentCurrent Keep up to date, update at least annuallyKeep up to date, update at least annually

Important “Don’ts” for Important “Don’ts” for CVsCVs

Spelling or grammatical errorsSpelling or grammatical errors Proof, proof, proof . . . . then proof again!!Proof, proof, proof . . . . then proof again!! Have numerous people reviewHave numerous people review Submit for review in OptimalResumeSubmit for review in OptimalResume

Difficult to read fonts/small font sizeDifficult to read fonts/small font size Minimal 12 point fontMinimal 12 point font Standard fonts preferredStandard fonts preferred Think conservativeThink conservative

Cheap paperCheap paper Use white, cream, gray resume paperUse white, cream, gray resume paper

Important “Don’ts” for CVs Important “Don’ts” for CVs (cont.)(cont.)

Folding, staplingFolding, stapling Send in large envelope to organizationSend in large envelope to organization

““Mass” mailing “to whom it may Mass” mailing “to whom it may concern”concern” Target specific individual within a Target specific individual within a

companycompany Weak objective/philosophyWeak objective/philosophy Lack cover letterLack cover letter

First impression; need strong letterFirst impression; need strong letter

Cover LettersCover Letters

It’s the introduction to your skills, It’s the introduction to your skills, abilities, passion, and interest in the abilities, passion, and interest in the positionposition

Need to make your letter unique Need to make your letter unique to stand out from the rest to stand out from the rest

Creative/unique lettersCreative/unique letters Show that you have researched the Show that you have researched the

position and/or organization position and/or organization Refer to connections that you might have Refer to connections that you might have

Faculty members, employees, supervisors, etc.Faculty members, employees, supervisors, etc.

Cover Letters (cont.)Cover Letters (cont.) Cover letters should be addressed to a Cover letters should be addressed to a

specific individual specific individual Verify correct name spelling, title, genderVerify correct name spelling, title, gender

First paragraphFirst paragraph State interest in the positionState interest in the position Add name of individual that referred you to this Add name of individual that referred you to this

openingopening Include several sentences which indicate interest Include several sentences which indicate interest

in position and qualificationsin position and qualifications ““After spending a great deal of time working as an After spending a great deal of time working as an

intern in a pharmaceutical laboratory, I was intern in a pharmaceutical laboratory, I was interested to learn about the position for a Lab interested to learn about the position for a Lab Assistant at Medicines Are Us.”Assistant at Medicines Are Us.”

Cover LettersCover Letters Second/third paragraphSecond/third paragraph

Refer to CV enclosed and highlight experiences Refer to CV enclosed and highlight experiences that prepare you for the positionthat prepare you for the position

Personalize the qualities listed on CV pertinent to Personalize the qualities listed on CV pertinent to the positionthe position

““The most enjoyable experience I have had The most enjoyable experience I have had during my summer internship with XYZ Company during my summer internship with XYZ Company occurred during my group project. Seeing the occurred during my group project. Seeing the sense of accomplishment on the faces of my sense of accomplishment on the faces of my project team members really made me feel project team members really made me feel proud . . .” proud . . .”

Closing statementClosing statement List contact information if any questions, List contact information if any questions,

enthusiasm for position, offer to provide any enthusiasm for position, offer to provide any additional informationadditional information

On-line Resource Materials On-line Resource Materials for CVs and Cover Lettersfor CVs and Cover Letters

Numerous on-line resources providing Numerous on-line resources providing examples and templates for CVs and examples and templates for CVs and letters:letters:

Top 10 Curriculum Vitae Writing Top 10 Curriculum Vitae Writing TipsTips

Writing a Curriculum VitaeWriting a Curriculum Vitae CV TipsCV Tips

Questions?Questions?Thomas Building, Room 103

559.278.2381

www.fresnostate.edu/careers

[email protected]