A guide to writing CV or Resume for undergraduates...
Career Centre - Centre de carrière
c.v. writing guide
caps.mcgill.ca
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Step 1: Taking an Inventory S- , , . I q w w C.V. C.V. C , , , w w ( C.V.) C.V.) ( w). C w r/xpr, , hvm d v w w . .
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c.v. writing guide
step 1: taking an inventory
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c.v. writing guide
3
step 2: Finding a Suitable Employer
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c.v. writing guide
step 3: choosing the right format •
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argeted or Untargeted A C.V. C.V. w w w w ; w C.V. C.V. w w w w w w / - - . A C.V. C.V. C O ( S 4). E C.V.’ S C.V. .
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c.v. writing guide
5
step 3: choosing the right format
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c.v. writing guide
step 4: writing your c.v.
Step 4: Writing Your C.V. Y C.V. C.V. w w w hw y yr d xpr w drm whhr y r d r rvw. T w C.V. C.V. . N / w . T w w w .
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B) Career Objective or Summary T C O S , w C.V. C.V. I C.V. C.V. w w . . T C O S w . A Crr Objv - ; C.V. C.V. . A C O : •
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Example Career Objectives 1. F A. A. 2. E L w W E. E.
c.v. writing guide
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step 4: writing your c.v.
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c.v. writing guide
step 4: writing your c.v.
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Computer Computer Skills Skil ls •
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c.v. writing guide
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step 4: writing your c.v.
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c.v. writing guide
step 4: writing your c.v.
Career-Related Career-Related Experience (continued) (continued) R A, E, A Mrg A (d-d) •
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H) Extra-Curricular Activities, Interests, and a nd Volunteer Volunteer Experience W , , . . E , , w . T w. w. T .
c.v. writing guide
11
step 4: writing your c.v.
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I) Possible Additional Sections Hr d Awrd
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D’ D’ H L C C B Aw Aw R S ( $2500)
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c.v. writing guide
step 4: writing your c.v.
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S C (S 2007): “P L” Perspectives on Labour and Income, Income , V 19, N. 2, . 16-24.
J) References U , q , C.V. C.V. I, w “R q” C.V. C.V. B . T , w - . L , C.V. Y w : •
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c.v. writing guide
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step 5: Customizing your c.v.
Step 5: Customizing Your C.V. C! C ! Y w C.V., C.V., w . Y C.V C. V. . R, . A w 20-30 C.V. C.V. I w w. w. Y C.V. C.V. w- . H w C.V. C.V. :
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Format and Design •
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c.v. writing guide
step 5: Customizing your c.v.
Presentation Prd •
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c.v. writing guide
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conclusion
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c.v. writing guide
Sample - Untargeted C.V. U h mp wh y d hv r d d wh jb y r g r d w m yr pp.
Your Name in bold and/or large Address Phone number/e-mail LANGUAGES Describe varied levels of fluency according to the following: Fluent, Intermediate, Basic. If you are unilingual, leave this section out. English and French (Fluent) SKILLS Depending on your skills, this section could also a lso be entitled or subtitled Computer Skills, Technical Skills, Laboratory Skills, or Research Skills. Include all software and hardware knowledge, lab techniques, equipment and specific methodologies you are familiar with. EDUCATION Bachelor of ____: Major area of study, Minor area of study McGill University, Montreal, Quebec add academic awards and any subjects taken relevant to your career objective add research undertaken with results if possible
date - date
Diploma of Collegial Studies, Discipline Dawson College, Montreal, Quebec add academic awards and any subjects taken relevant to your career objective
date - date
High School Graduation Diploma It’s usually not necessary to include high school unless: it shows that you have studied in another language or you studied abroad or you went to school in the same town where you would like to work (i.e. you’re a “local”)
date - date
•
•
•
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•
WORK EXPERIENCE List all the paid work experience you have had. Position Title (in bold) Name of company or organization, City, Province use “one-liners” to describe your activities and and “action verbs” to give more impact at least one of the one-liners should describe an initiative you took or an achievement you had with results consider using the P.A.R. formula (problem, action, ac tion, result) emphasize your “transferable skills” : leadership, organization, communication, creativity, etc. you should specify if the position was contract, part-time or summer
date
News Editor (summers) The McGill Daily – McGill University, Montreal, Quebec Oversaw and planned the news section Researched and compiled news leads, and conceived story ideas Edited articles and instructed reporters on effective ef fective writing techniques Wrote general and investigative articles concerning today’s health issues
date - date
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c.v. writing guide
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Sample - Untargeted Untargeted C.V C. V. (continued) (con tinued) WORK EXPERIENCE (continued) Field Research Assistant N.B. Mammal Institute, St. Andrews, New Brunswick Researched marine mammals on-site Analyzed the results of the oceanographic factors of the field study Studied the biology, taxonomy and social aspects of marine mammals Communicated all findings to the research team and participated in group discussions
date
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(Add other positions if applicable) EXTRA-CURRICULAR EXTRA-CURRICULAR AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE List the positions you have held in student and other voluntary organizations. Treat them like “regular” jobs. Position Title (in bold) Name of club, council, etc. describe what you did in this position emphasize your “transferable skills” and any achievements
date
Committee Member Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Organized social activities and fundraising events Responded to student needs at the front desk and via telephone
date - date
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(Add other positions if applicable) AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS List your awards, scholarships and distinctions here if they are numerous. If you have only a few awards or if they are prestigious, you may include them under the relevant degree program, under education. ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS This section will include any additional information about activities you are involved in or interests you have that are not included above. Avoid “reading, sports, films” which is too general. Be creative and specific. This is often the section where where employers look to start an “icebreaker” conversation. Some activities activities could include the following: Sports Activities – mention levels of competition and any prizes awarded in a particular sport. Travel Overseas – mention places traveled, length of stay and any independent trips Personal Improvement – mention organizations and what you learned •
•
•
(Add other activities if applicable) REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST Do not list references, but prepare a list with all contact information. Be certain to contact your references in advance and inform them of the position for which you are applying. Note: Depending
on your combined education, experiences and activities, your C.V. can either either be one or two pages in length. Be sure your second page is at least ¾ ull.
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c.v. writing guide
Sample - Targeted C.V. U h mp wh y w wh w h r y wd wr d/r hv m rr-rd xpr y hghgh.
Your Name in bold and/or large Address Phone number/e-mail CAREER OBJECTIVE Outline your short-term career objective using some of the following criteria: position title(s), department, specialization, and industry. Your CV should focus on how your education, experience and activities relate to this objective. This section could be anywhere from 2 to 3 lines. LANGUAGES English and French (Fluent) Describe varied levels of fluency according to the following: Fluent, Intermediate, Basic. If you are unilingual, leave this section out. SKILLS Depending on your skills, this section could also a lso be entitled or subtitled Computer Skills, Technical Skills, Laboratory Skills, or Research Skills. Include all software and hardware knowledge, lab techniques, equipment and specific methodologies you are familiar with. EDUCATION Bachelor of ____: Major area of study, Minor area of study McGill University, Montreal, Quebec add academic awards and any subjects taken relevant to your career objective add research undertaken with results if possible
date - date
Diploma of Collegial Studies, Discipline Dawson College, Montreal, Quebec add academic awards and any subjects taken relevant to your career objective
date - date
High School Graduation Diploma It’s usually not necessary to include high school unless: it shows that you have studied in another language or you studied abroad or you went to school in the same town where you would like to work (i.e. you’re a “local”)
date - date
•
•
•
•
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CAREER-RELATED EXPERIENCE List all experience relevant to your career objective including your paid employment, extra-curricular extra-curricular activities and volunteer work. Position Title (in bold) Name of company, organization or club, City, Province use “one-liners” to describe your activities and “action verbs” to give more impact at least one of these should describe an initiative you took or an achievement you had with results consider using the P.A.R. formula ( problem, action, result) emphasize your “transferable skills”: leadership, organization, communication, creativity, etc. you can specify if the position was contract, part-time or summer if y ou like
date
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c.v. writing guide
19
Sample - argeted C.V C. V. (continued) (con tinued) CAREER-RELATED CAREER-RELATED EXPERIENCE (continued) News Editor (summers) The McGill Daily – McGill University, Montreal Quebec Oversaw and planned the news section Researched and compiled news leads, and conceived story ideas Edited articles and instructed reporters on effective eff ective writing techniques Wrote general and investigative articles concerning today’s health issues, eg. “The Link between Hot Dogs and Memory Loss” Created first International News section resulting in a twenty percent circulation increase
date - date
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(Add other positions if applicable) OTHER EXPERIENCE List other jobs, extra-curricular activities and volunteer experience that are not directly relevant to your career objective in this section or under separate head- ings if there are many to include. Position Title (in bold) Name of company or organization, City, Province describe what you did in this position emphasize your “transferable skills” (Add other positions if applicable)
date
•
•
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS List your awards, scholarships and distinctions here if they are numerous. If you have only a few awards or if they are prestigious, you may include them under the relevant degree program, under education. ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS This section will include any additional information about activities you are involved in or interests you have that are not included above. Avoid “reading, sports, films” which is too general. Be creative and specific. This is often the section where where employers look to start an “icebreaker” conversation. Some activities activities could include the following: Sports Activities – mention levels of competition and any prizes awarded in a particular sport. Travel Overseas – mention places traveled, length of stay and any independent trips Personal Improvement – mention organizations and what you learned •
•
•
(Add other activities if applicable) REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST Do not list references, but prepare a list with all contact information. Be certain to contact your references in advance and inform them of the position for which you are applying. Note: Depending
on your combined education, experiences and activities, your C.V. can either either be one or two pages in length. Be sure your second page is at least ¾ ull.
20
c.v. writing guide
Action Verbs Cmm
A
C
C
C
C
C
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D
D
D
D
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E
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c.v. writing guide
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Action Verbs (continued) R
A
A
A
A
A
Aw
A
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B
B
C
C
C
C
C
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D
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c.v. writing guide
Action Verbs (continued) Crvy
A
A
C
C
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D
D
D
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E
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F
F
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c.v. writing guide
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CAPS services JOB POSTINGS: Every day throughout the year, employers in search o qualied students contact CAPS with job opportunities. Tese openings can either be internship, part-time, summer, summer, or ull-time permanent positions. positions. All our jobs are posted online on our website. C.V. DROP-IN: You can come by CAPS to have your C.V. reviewed during a daily designated hour. INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS & MOCK INTERVIEWS: I you need someone to help you prepare or an interview, assist in your career choices or simply want to hear some reassuring words, an advisor is available to help make your job search and career planning less stressul. CAREER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS: Tese workshops are ofered throughout the academic year on over 15 topics to help increase your employability. employability. CAREER RESOURCE CENTRE: Whether you are looking or inormation on careers, scholarships, networking, contact inormation inormation or diferent industries, specics on a program o study, or job listings, the Resource Centre ofers a wide array o resources.
CAREER FAIRS: Career airs are organized throughout the year in conjunction with student groups and provide excellent opportunities opportunities or you to meet company representatives representatives rom a variety o industries. PROFESSIONALS ON CAMPUS: Proessionals rom all over come to campus to par ticipate in panel discussions and deliver company company ino sessions. hese networking events are a great resource resource or exploring your career options and increasing your contacts in the working world. PEER EDUCATORS: CAPS Peer Educators’ general objective is to publicize CAPS throughout McGill and increase students’ readiness or the job search process. PACE: An interactive program to help you explore career preerences, personal goals, current market trends, and job search strategies. Tis program is a joint initiative initiative o McGill Counselling Service & CAPS. MENTOR PROGRAM: Te McGill Mentor Program provides ties with proessionals who can ofer valuable advice about career alternatives, alternatives, job requirements, requirements, and career-lie balance.
our timeline of events
September
Brown Student Services Building 3600 McTavish Street
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Tel: Tel: 514-398-3304 Email:
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