Individual CV Clinics

Curriculum Vitae

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is normally a 2 page document highlighting your educational background, employment history, achievements, skills and interests. A CV can be presented in paper or electronic format and should include the following:

Personal Details:  Name, address, telephone number, email address.

Education:  Dates/Details of university attended and degree results, main subjects studied    and  details of major projects, dissertations, work placement (if any), leaving certificate and points obtained.

For technical CV’s ensure that you give detailed information on coursework, equipment used, systems and methods with which you are familiar, final year projects, dissertations and work placement if undertaken.

Employment history:  Details of work history in reverse chronological order i.e. most recent first including dates, post held, employer details and duties/responsibilities. Include all work experience, summer work, part-time work and voluntary work. If you have work experience that is relevant but does not fit in chronologically, use the heading ‘Relevant Work Experience’ at the top and follow on with employment history chronologically (click here for example)

Skills: Include all skills such as Computer/IT skills (packages used/systems), Language, Communication Leadership, Teamwork etc. Driver’s license can be listed here also.

Interests/Achievements: List achievements, interests, hobbies, memberships, involvement in clubs & societies, awards etc.

Referees: One academic and one work related referee. Ensure that you have permission from the referee before you give out this information. Give each referee a copy of your CV so that he/she is aware of your full academic record, employment history and interests.

Tips and guidelines for CV’s:

• Layout is critical
• A CV should always be typed and on good quality white paper
• It should be easy to read and present the important facts clearly and concisely
• This can be done by using bold font or italics (don’t over do it!)
• Place most relevant information first
• Have your CV proof read for mistakes, errors, punctuation etc

To review sample CV’s, please click here

http://www.ucc.ie/careers/students/Job_Search_from_Start_to_Finish/CV.php