Writing a CV

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The European format of CV is used more and more all over the Europe. Job applicant must describe hi/her skills in detail in this CV where the skills are divided into several categories. European format is especially used for job positions with higher requirements on employees. The European CV form you can download here but you can also find it on the internet.

Basic information

The first four pieces of information need to be filled in. If you have an e-mail address, include it as well. Your marital status (single/ married/ divorced/widow-er) and number of dependants are not obligatory (in some European countries it could actually be the basis for a legal complaint on grounds of discrimination if an employer asked questions about a candidate's marital status or number of dependants), but if you enter these, the employer's impression of you will be more complete.

In the References box give contact details of a person (and his or her organisation), who can provide information on you and your qualities. A recent graduate may refer to a teacher of an important vocational subject. If you have been employed or had other work experience before, you may get a reference from your last employer. This piece of information may not be necessary, but it can help you and would be expected in some European countries and even if the employer does not take the opportunity to find out information about you, you will appear more trustworthy. (Clearly, you will use as a referee a person with whom you parted on bad terms.)

Education completed

Item Education level - e.g. basic training, secondary, higher professional, university, doctorate.

Item Course - e.g. bricklayer, commercial academy, faculty of mechanical engineering, law, etc. You do not have to include course codes. If you specialised during your study in a field related to the job you seek, or if you think it could increase your chances in any other way, indicate it in brackets after the course. Do not include your primary school.

Courses, examinations and placements completed

Item Course, examination, placement - give the name and a brief description.

• course: Care and maintenance of pressure devices (Boiler Attendant Certificate);
• course: Arc Welding - official examination;
• marketing course - international CIMA Certificate;
• state examination in English;
• six- month language training in England;
• three-month placement at Beyer, Germany.

Work experience up to now

Item Period - e.g. 1993-97

Item Organisation - give the full name of the organisation and its location. If it is a large company, you can add the respective plant, branch, division, etc.

Item Position - enter your position and describe your work briefly - especially if you participated in successful projects.

Examples:

• bricklayer, besides bricklaying also worked with plasterboard
• Designer, member of development team for HZK fork-lift trucks
• Marketing manager, responsible for market surveys and advertising campaigns

Languages

Examples:

• English - fluent speaking, advanced writing skills
• German - basic reading

Other knowledge, skills and abilities

Include knowledge and skills that increase your labour market value, not explicitly mentioned before (e.g. in courses).

• Driving licence
• Word processing
• Work with databases
• Dealing with people
• Business negotiation
• Single- and double- entry bookkeeping
• Administration of Novell computer network
• Computer aided design
• Preparation of oriental dishes

• Market research
• Knowledge of the welding technology market
• Leading work and project teams

Recent graduates, who do not yet have skills acquired by experience, can include skills drawn from school or college subjects, which are not directly evident from the course title (e.g. environmental science, electronics, telecommunication technology, statistics, price analyses, mathematical modelling, defectoscopy, etc.). You can also include skills acquired in your non-professional life, e.g. festive table setting, childcare, sewing clothes, glazing, concreting, etc.

Publications and lecturing

Note:/

If you have published papers or books in recent years or had presentations published in conference proceedings, include them in the following format:

Using IT in defectoscopy, Technical Journal no. 4/1999,

Managing advertising campaigns, MCH Publishing Prague, 1998, 145 pgs.

If you delivered lectures or presentations at significant conferences or similar events, include those as well, indicating the institution or event, location, date and title or focus of your lectures or presentations.

Membership of professional, trade and similar organisations

Note:

If you are a member of such an organisation, mention it, including possibly also any position of responsibility in the organisation.

Examples:

• Chamber of Architects
• Association of Accountants
• Electrical Engineering Society
• Guild of Slaters - vice-president

Associations based on interest may also be included, if they are related to the professional area of the job (e.g. Club of Website Programmers, but not something like Curiosity Collectors Union). Membership of, and positions of responsibility in, trade unions or political parties may also be inappropriate here.

Career or professional goals

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