Your first CV?-What to include (Part 1)
What is a CV?
A CV, (short for Curriculum Vitae), is a one page, easy to write document advertising your abilities whilst giving a glimpse into your unique personality.
Why do I need a CV?
The basic answer is: "To advertise yourself for the job you want". This is because Employers seek responsible applicants with a positive attitude and strong work ethic. Submitting a CV shows maturity, organization and determination. Students or first time job applicants sometimes don’t realize that they have more than enough information for a CV even if they have never had a 'real' job. For example, a school leaver's CV can include volunteering, hobbies, school activities, academic achievements and relevant course work. All of these experiences say a lot about you and can give a real picture of who you are and how much of a fit you are for a role.
What should I include in my CV?
Employers want you to make their job as easy as possible! It can be difficult to think of what to include, but do not despair! Read on for a step by step guide for what you definitely need to include.
1. Provide Contact Information
A CV follows a standard business format with 1/2-inch to 1-inch inch margins and a readable font like Arial. Start with your name and contact information so the employer can quickly and easily reach you for an interview. Include your current address, phone number and email. Its not by force-but, those details are generally centered on the page in positioned flush left.
Example:
Rita Jae
Full Time Fabulous Street
Postcode
RitaJae@email.org SIDENOTE: HAVE A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL ADDRESS!
2. School /College Name
Employers are interested in knowing where you are attending school. Preference may be given to those who attend a school nearby because you must be punctual and have a reliable means of getting to your job after school. If you are seeking a job further away from your school/home, you may want to mention that you have access to a car or convenient public transportation when writing a cover letter or interviewing. In this section you will identify your school, when you are going to finish the course, and your expected grade.
Example: EDUCATION A. Fabulous School, class of 2021 ( Grade...)
3. Highlight Academic Achievements
A CV for a teenager or first time job applicant usually lists academics toward the top of the CV. This section is where you can proudly outline your success in the classroom. Grades are a powerful indicator of a student’s desire and ability to study and master new material. Employers prefer workers who can catch on quickly and perform their duties with minimal supervision.
Example: ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND DISTINCTIONS
Student Class Rep (Every quarter)
Student Leadership Scholarship Recipient, 2018
Outstanding English Student, 2018
4. Identify Personal Strengths
This section should accurately describe what strengths and assets you would bring to any job. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the following type of attributes are highly valued by hiring managers: leadership, teamwork, written communication, problem-solving, analytical abilities and technical skills. So an easy way is to make a bullet list of your best qualities.
Example:
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Leader and Team Player
Effective Communicator
Problem-Solver
Quick Thinker
Social Media Expert
5. Include Interests and Activities
Let the employer know how you spend your time outside of school as it reflects initiative, sociability and intelligence. Your extracurricular activities can set you apart from less motivated students who haven’t taken advantage of opportunities the school has offered.
Example:
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Basketball Team Captain (2018
Writer, Puffin Student Newspaper (2018)
Chess Club (2016 to present)
6. Mention Paid and Volunteer Experience
Individuals with little to no work history may want to include volunteer work with any paid jobs held in the past. Whether or not you were paid, you gained real life experience by helping out at a business, organization, nonprofit agency or church or even babysitting. Write down when and where have you donated time to support a good cause and consider including that on your CV .
Example:
EXPERIENCE Anchorage Humane Society (2017 to present) Paid duties entailed feeding animals and sanitizing cages (five hours a week); volunteer activities include walking dogs, scheduling volunteers and updating the social media presence.
7. References
Anyone who can verify who you are for the employer and can confirm your suitability for the role can be used as a reference. You can simply state, References available on request.
8. Get a trusted person to proof read your CV
Once this is done, you are ready to go get your coins boo! x