Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Remember that you may customise your CV for each application. This is even preferable if you want to increase of being invited for a job interview. So, you might list different courses for one job or internship than for another.

A few other things to take into consideration

• Your CV is your first impression.
• The content is more important than the layout.
• It may look different in another country. So if you want to go abroad, check which structure and layout applies in that country.
• It may also look different in different industries. So do your research beforehand to find out what is applicable.

“Think from the reader’s perspective! A CV must be relevant; you have to sell yourself to the recipient, who has a specific perspective. Create a different CV for every employer. Every organisation is different and has different needs. Try to find out as much as possible, for example, through the website, a recruiter or friends. The reader is looking for proof of your suitability in your CV, so make sure you provide it!”

- Marianne Derksen, former graduate recruiter at Shell -

• Use a maximum of 2 A4 pages. If you are unsure whether it should be on one page for a particular application or organisation, ask beforehand.
• It’s common to write your CV in reverse chronologic order. So, you start with your most recent activities and education and work your way back. This way, the most relevant and interesting activities and information immediately stand out.
• Formulate verbs and sentences actively and in the present tense.
• Use a clear and well-organised layout. Again, a CV is read in an average of five seconds.
• Ensure a consistent layout and writing style.
• Use the same font as in your cover letter.
• Add a footer: Curriculum Vitae [your name];
• Send your CV as a PDF document and put your name in the title of the document.

• Formulate long sentences. If you know you need a lot of words to describe your work experience, feel free to use bullet points.
• Cram everything in. If you struggle to fit everything onto one page, use two pages instead.
• Make spelling mistakes. Use a spelling check.
• Use unclear abbreviations or jargon; if you are in doubt, ask yourself: “can a layman understand what I mean within 5 seconds?”
• Use the third person to write about yourself.
• Use too many different fonts or too much colour. Keep your layout simple.
• A personal statement that’s too general, such as ‘I’m a law student and looking for a challenging job’. This isn’t really personal. Explain what a challenging job is for you and what you bring to the table beyond your law degree.

The CV tips on the Career Zone apply to any CV. However, an academic CV has a few exceptions. For example, an academic CV, at 3 to 10 pages, is much longer than a traditional CV. A list of publications can span multiple pages, which you can also add as an appendix.

In addition, an academic CV focuses on topics that are less relevant to a traditional CV:

• Teaching experience – experience as a teaching assistant, for example.
• Publications – not just your thesis, but also articles or reports you've written or contributed to.
• Research – consider the research you've conducted, the research methods you've used, as well as the findings and/or recommendations that have emerged from your research.
• Presentations – perhaps you've given a presentation at a conference or been a speaker at an event.
• Conferences/conferences – not only as a speaker but also as a participant, you can share valuable information about your field at events you've attended.
• Awards – any awards or honours are also relevant to an academic CV. Mention what you received the award for, who awarded it, and when.
• Grants or fellowships – perhaps you've received funding for your research. This speaks volumes about the promise of your work and is therefore worth mentioning.
• Registrations – If you have a registration in your name in addition to a title, please mention this. Consider, for example, a BIG registration.
• Patents – The same applies if you have a patent in your name.

Source: https://lerensolliciteren.nl/academisch-cv/

Note: if you want to know what the person(s) who will be assessing your academic CV really consider important, please contact them in advance to ask.

These days more and more employers are asking for video CVs. When creating your video CV, it’s crucial to keep your story short and sweet. 

Tell in short sentences: 

• What you studied;
• the knowledge and skills you can bring to the organisation;
• what your strengths are (relevant tot he position you’re seeking);
• your motivation for the job;
• what relevant (work) experience you have for the position.

Also, make sure the image and sound are of good quality and use a neutral background! You can find more information about the content of your story on the elevator pitch page.

Here you’ll find several sample CVs to inspire you in writing one. They include the required sections and follow the most common order. The format of the CVs varies from simple to colourful. Consider what suits you and what you think is appropriate to send to the company you’re applying to. Perhaps a colourful, personalised CV is more suitable for a creative position, a startup or small organisation, while the more standardised CV is more suitable for a larger, established company or organisation. There is no right or wrong. Make it your own. 

Also, look online for professional, ready-made CV templates. Note: most formats or templates are one page. You don’t have to stick to this, so feel free to make it two pages.