Prepare or review your CV in English

What we are going to see today?

1. The difference between CV, Curriculum and Resumé

2. Types of CVs
3. How to write your CV
4. The cover letter
5. CV Analysis – Write / Review your own CV
6. Who would you hire?
 What the hell is the difference
between a
CV, a Resume or a Curriculum?
Curriculum vitae is Latin meaning "course of life"
and résumé is French meaning "summary".
In the business world, the word résumé (also spelled
resumé and resume) is used especially in the
United States and in English Canada. Curriculum
vitae and "CV" are used in the United Kingdom in all
contexts, with résumé having very little currency.
The term curriculum vitae means "course of
life" in Latin.
While it is appropriate to write either curriculum vitae or
just vita, it is incorrect to use the phrase curriculum vita,
the form vitae being the genitive of vita. The plural of
curriculum vitae is curricula vitae.
In many contexts, a résumé or CV is short (usually
one page), and therefore contains only experience
directly relevant to a particular position. Many
résumés contain precise keywords that the potential
employers are looking for, make heavy use of active
verbs, and display content in a flattering manner.
Remember: a CV is simply a way for two people to
communicate. It´s not an end, it´s just the beginning
of a future conversation. Don´t try to have ALL the
information about you in it, summarize and keep only
important information there!
In the past, résumés/CVs used to be no longer than two
pages, as potential employers typically did not devote
much time to reading résumé details for each applicant.

In some countries employers have changed their views

regarding acceptable résumé length.
Styles
A simple résumé is a summary typically limited to
one or two pages of size A4 or Letter-size
highlighting only those experiences and credentials
that the author considers most relevant to the
desired position. CVs are typically longer.

CVs are usually chronological, functional or mixed.

Today we also have online CVs, sometimes even
in the format of videos.
Chronological résumé
A chronological résumé enumerates a candidate's job
experiences in reverse chronological order.
The chronological résumé format is the most common
résumé layout in use.
Functional résumé
A functional résumé lists work experience and
skills sorted by skill area or job function.
The functional résumé is used to assert a focus to
skills that are specific to the type of position the
candidate is looking for.
Functional résumé
The functional résumé works well for those making a
career change, having a varied work history and with
little work experience. A functional résumé is also
preferred for applications to jobs that require a very
specific skill set or clearly defined personality traits.
Combination résumé
The combination résumé balances the functional and
chronological approaches. A résumé organized this way
typically leads with a functional list of job skills, followed
by a chronological list of employers. The combination
résumé has a tendency to repeat itself and is therefore
less widely utilized than the other two forms.
Online résumés
The Internet has brought about a new age for the
résumé. As the search for employment has become
more electronic, résumés have followed suit. It is
common for employers to only accept résumés
electronically, either out of practicality or preference. This
electronic boom has changed much about the way
résumés are written, read, and handled.
The art of résumé writing
Writing a resume is a bit like creating a work of
art. There is a hint of poetry to it: given strictly
limited space and conditions, you try to say who
you are, expressively.
What motivates and moves you?
What work does your heart want to do?
Where are your hidden (or not so hidden) talents?
What you´ve done that makes you feel proud?
What calls for your passion, competence and loyalty?
 Things you can´t miss on
your Summary:

Number of years of experience you have in the area

Education, training and certification
Your key skills, talents, special knowledge related to the job
you are applying to
Something unique about your personal work style or attitute
 The cover letter

A cover letter is highly recommended. But you must be careful

when writing it:

1. The more personalised the letter is, the better;

2. It will demand some research;
3. It will be more successful if you mention results you had in the
area of the company you are sending your letter to;
4. You´ll need details of the person who will receive the letter;
5. It will make your Cv more effective than others!
Let´s hope you´re not sending your Cv to a person like this!
Credits:

The resume Catalog: 200 Damn Good Examples

Yana Parker
Wikipedia.com
Youtube.com
 Thank you!

Carol Olival
Pedagogical Director
Wall Street Institute
sm@wsischool.com.br

www.wsischool.com.br