Chapter 1: Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Resume

Introduction:

➢ Career development is the process of self-knowledge, exploration, and decision-making that

help in your professional growth and shapes your career.

➢ The person should identify his/ her personality, skills, and interests to develop a strong
awareness of their own strength and blind spots for them to be able to work hard and develop
their skills.

What is a CV?

➢ A Latin phrase meaning literally ‘course of life’.

➢ A brief account of your education, qualifications, and previous employment.
➢ It is how you present yourself to the outside world, the world of work.
➢ It is a form of personal marketing so it should show you in the best light possible.
➢ A marketing tool / Request for an interview.
➢ A snapshot of what you believe are your most important experiences and qualifications.
➢ A Living document which will reflect the development in a professional career.

What is resume?

➢ A French word means Summary

➢ A structured summary of a person’s education, employment background and job qualifications.

Differences between CV & Resume?

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 Why CV/Resume important?

• CV/resume is the beginning of a new job or opportunity.

• It is applied to impress an employer so they will want to schedule an interview with you.
o Recruiters if receive around 100 CVs, must select only one & less time to review
o Around 20 to 60 seconds to read a CV.
o The initial impression is important

Types of CV:

• Should be clear, concise, professional, and pleasing to the eye.

Paper / PDF • Use bullets, bolding & indentation.
• Take this resume with you on job interviews.

• A plain text resume for on-line submission.

Electronic • Typically, must conform to job specifications.
• Use left justified and space indented formatting.

• Typically includes links to homepage, images.

HTML
• Avoid this type of resume.

Types of CV formats:

• Relative experience is needed.

• Highlight your work experience in reverse chronological order.
Chronological
• Be sure not to leave gaps.
• The most widely used format for working professionals.

• Highlight specific skills for which the work has high demand.
Functional • Seldom used by new graduates.
• Frequently used to change jobs or careers.

• Highlight specific work experience.

• Highlight specific skills.
Combinational
• Use reverse chronological order.
• The best CV style for most college students.

One-page
• Usually for professors or famous individuals.
summary CV

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Structure of CV:
There is no right or wrong – It is according to personal flavor but there are guidelines for
writing CV/resume.
Standard CV sections:

1. Header or Personal data 7. Skills

2. Objective 8. Hobbies and interests
3. Qualifications /Education 9. Projects
4. Work experience 10. Publications
5. Honors/activities 11. References
6. Relevant courses
1) Header section

• Include:
o First line should be your name and abbreviated qualifications (e.g., MBBS, BSc).
o Include contact address: permanent, current
o Include your e-mail address: use professional e-mail
o Include your phone number
o Use photograph (professional photo)
• Optional data
o Nationality
o Date of birth
o Gender
o Marital status

• Characters:
o Larger than the largest font used in the body.
o Avoid using decorative fonts.
o Don’t use black or gray shaded background.
o Exclude titles Mr., Mrs, Ms

2) Objective section / career statement / personal statement

• An optional section but highly recommended part of a CV (Written after personal data)
• It’s a quick way to highlight how you are suitable for the role in question by stating:
o Your most relevant experience and skills
o Your professional goals regarding your future career.

• Tips to write good one:

o Make the statement clear & concise & to the point. (Max 1-3 sentences or 10 words)
o Don’t be over-descriptive or over-specified.
o Meet the job’s perspective.

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• Objective section must answer the questions:
o What are your goals?
o What are your dreams, your hope?
o What do you want to become?

3) Qualifications

• Recommended when there are substantial skills & work experience relating to desired job.
• If it is used, it should be placed near the top of the resume.
• It should contain facts only not opinions.
• Examples:
o Opinion-oriented summary of qualification
▪ ability to multi-task
▪ good problem-solving skills
o Fact-oriented summary of qualification
▪ Excellent computer skills (use PowerPoint presentation weekly)

4) Education

• Degrees should be listed in reverse chronological order with the most recent listed first.
• Recommended items:
o Degree granted or seeking
o Date of graduation or anticipated So it’s recommended section
o Collage, university, city and country but some parts are optional

• Optional items: GPA and relevant courses

• Where to put this section?

o Recent graduate: immediately after the objective section.
o Experienced candidate: at the end of your resume (work experience is more relevant)

5) Work experience

• Each experience will include up to six parts:

1. Organization name
2. Location
3. Position title
4. Beginning and end date
5. Responsibilities and duties
6. Accomplishments

• Types of experience:
o Work experience: for which you are paid.
o Voluntary/community service.

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 6) Honors/Activities section

• Should only contain honors, awards and scholarships earned during your time in college.
• May include academic or extracurricular items: academic/service-related items are preferable.
• Include a brief description if not self-evident from the title.
• List with most recent first
• Can be listed in a separate section if you have more than one or two entries; if not, incorporate
them in the education section

7) Skills section

• Hard skills include

o Computer / Language
o Typing speed
• Soft skills include
o Critical thinking
o Communication
o Teamwork
• Where to put it?
o Skills can be found in various places on a resume.
o They can be put in the summary of Qualifications section.
o They can be put in their own section (Summary of skills/ Relevant / Professional skills)

8) Hobbies and interests

• Enlist related interests and hobbies related to the job.

• Irrelevant hobbies are not needed.
• No political or religious affiliations.
• Avoid listing too many hobbies.

9) Project section

• Actual contribution in projects gives a high level to CV.

• Impressive or relevant projects.
• Focus on outcomes.

10) Other sections

• Courses section:
o Must be relevant to the job you’re trying to land

• Publication section:
o This is most common in academic CVs
o Always bold your name in authorship
o You may include submitted and/or pending publications and/or presentations

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 11) References:

• You carefully choose someone

o Knows you and likes you
o He/she must be credible & competent

• Minimum two qualified persons are chosen after taking their permissions.
o They are provided with a copy of your CV
o Ask for their feedback and tell them about the job & why this job.
o For each of those, the following data must be fulfilled:
▪ Name
▪ Title
▪ Organization
▪ Business address
▪ Phone number and e-mail.

• A separate reference sheet must be prepared:

o Use the same paper as the resume itself.
o Bring reference sheet (and resume) with you to any interviews.
o Do not mail reference sheet with resume and cover letter unless required.
o Reference sheet is a stand-alone document.
o Should include your header from the resume.
o Try to arrange contact information in pleasing fashion.

Cover letter

Why do I need to write a cover letter?

• To focus on elements of your background that are particularly relevant.

• Letter acts as your verbal introduction.

How to write it?

1. Send it to a person, not a place (Avoid “to whom it may concern”)

2. First sentence should tell why you are writing
3. Highlight your skills
a. Use two or three paragraphs
b. Give in-depth description of your strength points.
c. Each paragraph should be stand-alone (could be moved to different location in text)
4. Close with a promise of action (Looking for your positive response)

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Tips during designing resume/CV:
Follow institutional specifications. Make sure that your CV aligns with the format expectations
of the institution, employer, or grant agency reviewing your CV. If available, obtain CV
guidelines from several of the organizations to which you wish to apply.

• Tips to follow:
o Read your CV as if you were the company you are applying to.
o Could be scanned easily
o Use bold only for headers
o Use suitable fonts as Arial or Times New Romans
o Use fonts body text should be 10 to 12 point and headings between 14 and 18
o Use black ink on white background. A minimal amount of color and design
o The same format is used throughout the sections.
o Concise framework: Bullet points & short sentences.
o PDF file is preferred due to its stability

• What to avoid?
o Don’t use italics, underlining or graphics
o Vague statements or irrelevant data should not be used.

• Proofreading:
o You only get one chance to make a first impression.
o Be sure to check spelling, grammar, titles, and punctuation.
o These errors can adversely affect the reader's impression of you.
o Ask colleagues and mentors to read your CV and cover letter to ensure that your story is
being told effectively, to check for critical omissions, and to find errors.

• Maintain your CV as a dynamic document.

o Create a comprehensive dynamic CV file to save all activities and accomplishments that
could be added to the next updated version of your CV.
o Depending on the position you are seeking, you might select specific projects in this file
to include in your updated CV.
o Update your CV semiannually. When you have an urgent request to submit your CV, it
will be ready to go.

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 Interviewing skills

Definition

• Interview is a conversation between two people.

• Interviewer is the person who asks questions.
• Interviewee is the person who answers.

Why is interview important for joining a job?

1. To know the motivation of the candidate for joining the job.

2. To evaluate the overall personality of the candidate.
3. To know the qualifications and skills of the candidate.
4. To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate.

Types of interviews:

• According to the method: face-to-face, phone and online.

• According to the aim: competency-based or behavioral-based interviews.
• According to type of questions:

➢ Held in formal atmosphere

Formal
➢ Pre-decided procedure and questioned (fixed questions)
➢ Any place and any type of question can be asked
Informal ➢ No specific procedure follows
➢ Next question is determined by the answer of the previous one.

Situational ➢ An imaginary situation is told to candidates, and they asked to respond to it

➢ It's structured interview
Directive
➢ Same set of questions is repeated for every candidate to make comparison
➢ Non- structured interview
Non-directive ➢ No specific format
➢ Candidates are free to express themselves

Phases of an interview:

• Before (preparation)
• During (Presentation & content)
• After

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How to prepare for the interview?

1) Research the job and place:

• Understanding key information about the company/institution you’re interviewing with can
help you go into your interview with confidence.
• Using the company’s website, social media posts and recent press releases will provide a
solid understanding of the company’s goals and how your background makes you a great fit.

2) Review the job requirements:

• You may want to print it out and begin underlining specific skills the employer is looking for.
• Think about examples from your past and current work that align with these requirements.
3) Know your resume:
• Take at least five copies of your resume on clean paper in case of multiple interviewers.
• Highlight specific accomplishments on your copy that you can easily refer to and discuss.
• Bring a pen and a small notebook.
• Prepare to take notes, but not on your smartphone or another electronic device.
• Write information down so that you can refer to in your follow-up thank-you notes.
4) Recruit a friend to practice answering questions:
• Practicing your answers out loud is an incredibly effective way to prepare.
• Say them to yourself or ask a friend to help run through questions and answers.
• You’ll find you gain confidence as you get used to saying the words.
5) Anticipate question:
• Prepare your answer to the common question: “Tell me about yourself, and why are you
interested in this role with our company?” The idea is to quickly communicate who you are
and what value you will bring to the company and the role—it’s your elevator pitch.
• There is no question you cannot answer
6) Treat everyone you encounter with respect:
• This includes people on road and in the parking lot, security personnel and front desk staff.
• Treat everyone you don’t know as though they’re the hiring manager.
• Even if they aren’t, your potential employer might ask for their feedback.
7) Be prepared to present yourself.
8) Visualize yourself in the interview.
9) Know where you are going (what are your future plans).
10)Be prepared to give behavioral based examples: Prepare some examples of situations that
started negatively but ended positively and your role in changing the outcome.

What makes the first impression count?

o Be on time: When you arrive early, use the extra minutes to observe workplace dynamics.
o Suitable dress: you can ask them about the dress code in the workplace
o Smile: Display confident body language and a smile throughout.
o Avoid fidgeting (being impatient).

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 How to present yourself in the interview?

o Greet each person with respect.

o Practice good manners and body language:
✓ Practice confident / accessible body language from the moment you enter the building.
✓ Take a deep breath and exhale slowly to manage anxiety & encourage self-confidence.
✓ The interviewer should extend their hand first to initiate a handshake.
✓ Stand, look the person in the eye and smile.
✓ A good handshake should be firm but not crush the other person’s fingers.
o Be prepared and responsive to questions.
o Take time to organize your thoughts and express confidence in your abilities
o Be attentive to body language: No gum, watch those pens
o Don’t criticize organization or past boss.
o Do not speak negatively about previous employers
o Respond truthfully to the questions asked:
✓ While it can seem tempting to embellish your skills and accomplishments, interviewers find
honesty refreshing and respectable.
✓ Focus on your key strengths and why your background makes you uniquely qualified for the
position.
o Tie your answers to your skills and accomplishments:
✓ With any question you answer, you must tie your background to the job by providing
examples of solutions and results you’ve achieved.
✓ Use every opportunity to address the requirements listed in the job description.
o Keep your answers concise and focused:
✓ Your time with each interviewer is limited so be mindful of rambling.
✓ Practicing your answers beforehand can help keep you focused.
o Consider each interview an adventure.

What is the content of your interview?

• Listen carefully to the question.

• Understanding behavioral based interviewing: Use STAR technique.
▪ S= Situation: Describe the situation you were in.
▪ T= Task: Describe the task you had to do.
▪ A= Action: Describe the action you took.
▪ R= Result: Describe the result of your actions.
• Rehearse your answers / Sell yourself.
• Silence is golden, know when to stop answering.
• Link your background to the position.
• Focus on your accomplishments.
• Turn weakness into strengths e.g. Always thinking, working hard.

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How to follow up after a job interview?

• Ask about next steps:

o After your interview, it is appropriate to ask either your interviewer, hiring manager or
recruiter about what you should expect next.
o This will likely be a follow-up email with results from your interview and additional
requirements like an assignment or reference list or another interview.
▪ Send an e-mail or thank-you card to everyone who interviewed you (within 24h)
▪ Mention anything you have forgotten during the interview.
▪ Address and correct any mistakes you made.
▪ Remind the interviewer why you are qualified.

Tips for successful interview:

1) Be prepared before the interview.

2) Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses.
3) Be prepared for unexpected questions.
4) Be aware of body language.
5) Be well-groomed.
6) Don’t criticize the past co-workers

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 MCQ questions

1) CV & resume
Why is a CV/Resume important?
a. To impress friends and family
b. To fulfill legal requirements
c. To provide a quick summary of qualifications and experiences
d. To showcase your artistic skills

What is the primary purpose of a CV/Resume?

a. To secure a job or opportunity
b. To serve as a piece of artwork
c. To impress your friends
d. To fulfill government regulations

How much time do recruiters typically spend reviewing a CV?

a. Several hours
b. 20 to 60 seconds
c. A few days
d. As long as it takes

Which type of CV format includes links to homepage and images?

a. Paper/PDF
b. Electronic
c. HTML
d. Plain text

What type of CV format is recommended to avoid?

a. Paper/PDF
b. Electronic
c. HTML
d. Plain text

What is the most widely used CV format for working professionals?

a. Functional
b. Chronological
c. Combinational
d. One-page summary

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When listing degrees in the Education section of a CV, what order should you follow?
a. Random order
b. Alphabetical order
c. Reverse chronological order
d. Most prestigious degree first

What should be included in the Header section of a CV?

a. Detailed work experience
b. Nationality, date of birth, and gender
c. A list of hobbies and interests
d. Contact information, including name, address, email, and phone number

Which of the following is NOT recommended in the Header section of a CV?

a. Larger than the largest font used in the body
b. Decorative fonts
c. Black or gray shaded background
d. Including titles like Mr., Mrs., or Ms.

What is the purpose of the Objective section in a CV?

a. To list your hobbies and interests
b. To provide a detailed work history
c. To highlight your skills
d. To quickly demonstrate your suitability for the job

What should be the maximum length of an Objective section in a CV?

a. 10 pages
b. 10 sentences
c. 10 words
d. 10 paragraphs

When should you include a Qualifications section in your CV?

a. Always
b. Only if you have substantial skills and relevant work experience
c. Only if you are a recent graduate
d. Never

In the Education section of a CV, which item should be listed first?

a. Date of graduation
b. GPA
c. University name
d. Relevant courses

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 What types of experiences can be included in the Work Experience section of a CV?
a. Work experience only
b. Voluntary/community service only
c. Both work experience and voluntary/community service
d. Academic achievements

In the Honors/Activities section, what should be listed with the most recent entry first?
a. Awards
b. Scholarships
c. Extracurricular activities
d. Academic achievements

Where can you include your skills in a CV?

a. Only in the Hobbies and Interests section
b. Only in the Education section
c. In the Summary of Qualifications section or a separate Skills section
d. Nowhere

What type of hobbies and interests should be listed in a CV?

a. All hobbies and interests, regardless of relevance
b. Only political and religious affiliations
c. Only relevant hobbies and interests related to the job
d. Irrelevant hobbies and interests

When listing projects in a CV, what should you focus on?

a. The number of projects completed
b. The time spent on each project
c. The outcomes and your contributions to the projects
d. The technical details of the projects

2) Cover letter
Why is it important to write a cover letter when applying for a job?
a. To provide a detailed history of your work experience.
b. To introduce yourself to potential employers.
c. To demonstrate your proficiency in design.
d. To showcase your academic qualifications.

What is the recommended approach for addressing a cover letter?

a. Begin with "To Whom It May Concern."
b. Address it to a specific person.
c. Avoid using any salutation.
d. Use a generic greeting like "Hello."

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What should be the content of the first sentence in a cover letter?
a. A detailed description of your qualifications.
b. A brief introduction of yourself and the reason for writing.
c. A request for an interview.
d. A summary of your entire work history.

How should you present your skills in a cover letter?

a. Use a single paragraph to briefly mention your skills.
b. Provide an in-depth description of your strengths in a single sentence.
c. Use two or three paragraphs to highlight your skills.
d. Mention your skills in a separate attachment.

What is the recommended way to conclude a cover letter?

a. Express your gratitude for considering your application.
b. Include a list of references.
c. Close with a summary of your education.
d. End with a promise of action and a request for a response.

What is the key advice for designing a CV according to the given information?
a. Use a variety of fonts for visual appeal.
b. Include graphics to make it visually appealing.
c. Stick to a consistent format throughout the document.
d. Avoid using bullet points and short sentences.

Which of the following is NOT a recommended font for the body text in a CV?
a. Arial
b. Times New Roman
c. Comic Sans
d. Helvetica

What is the preferred format for submitting your CV according to the given information?
a. Word document
b. PDF file
c. PowerPoint presentation
d. Excel spreadsheet

What should you avoid when designing your CV?

a. Using italics and underlining for emphasis.
b. Adding color and intricate design elements.
c. Using a single font size for all text.
d. Including specific, relevant data.

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 Why is proofreading important when creating your CV?
a. To make your CV longer and more detailed.
b. To impress the reader with your vocabulary.
c. To ensure your qualifications match the job requirements.
d. To avoid errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation that could negatively impact your
impression.

3) Interview

Why is an interview important for joining a job?

a) To evaluate the overall personality of the candidate.
b) To know the qualifications and skills of the candidate.
c) To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate.
d) All of the above.

What are the types of interviews based on the method used?

a) Face-to-face, phone, and online.
b) Competency-based and behavioral-based.
c) Formal and informal.
d) Situational and directive.

What is the main purpose of preparing multiple copies of your resume for an interview?
a) To give to the interviewers as a reference.
b) To distribute among other candidates.
c) To keep as a backup in case you forget your answers.
d) To use as a notebook during the interview.

Which of the following is NOT a tip for successful interview preparation?

a) Being aware of body language.
b) Knowing your strengths and weaknesses.
c) Criticizing past co-workers.
d) Being prepared for unexpected questions.

What technique can be used to answer behavioral-based interview questions effectively?

a) STAR technique.
b) SWOT analysis.
c) TQM approach.
d) SMART goals.

What should you do after a job interview to follow up effectively?

a) Send an email or thank-you card to everyone who interviewed you.
b) Wait for the employer to contact you.
c) Critique the interviewers' performance.
d) Forget about the interview and move on.

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What should you do if you arrive early for an interview?
a) Use the extra time to observe workplace dynamics.
b) Wait outside the building until the exact interview time.
c) Enter the building quietly and find a hidden spot to wait.
d) Call the interviewer to ask if you can come in early.

What is the purpose of the STAR technique in answering interview questions?

a) To make your answers longer and more detailed.
b) To provide a structured response to behavioral-based questions.
c) To deflect questions you don't want to answer.
d) To make your answers more creative and imaginative.

How should you respond to questions about your weaknesses during an interview?
a) Deny having any weaknesses.
b) Turn weaknesses into strengths, if possible.
c) Criticize your previous employers for not recognizing your strengths.
d) Refuse to answer such questions.

What is the appropriate timing for sending a thank-you email or card after an interview?
a) Within 24 hours.
b) Within a week.
c) Within a month.
d) Only if you receive a job offer.

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