To create a good curriculum vitae (CV), you should consider your personal strengths and then create a CV that highlights those strengths as much as possible. You should consider how to best make an impact with the start of your CV, since the initial information you provide may determine whether someone continues reading or not. It can also be advantageous to read samples of other people’s CVs, and use these samples to help you generate ideas to strengthen your own CV. You can then create a good curriculum vitae by refining your CV until it is effective and easy to read.
A good curriculum vitae is a CV that is easy to read, successfully conveys important information to a reader, and emphasizes your strengths over any weaknesses. While a CV is similar to a résumé in many respects, it is typically longer and can include information that might otherwise be absent from a résumé. This means that a good curriculum vitae will relay more information than a résumé, but maintain the direct voice and concise nature of a résumé. You should begin your CV by considering what information is relevant and demonstrates your strengths.
If you have a great deal of educational experience but not much professional experience, for example, then you should lead with your education. A good curriculum vitae highlights your strengths and places greatest emphasis on the details about you that make you attractive as a potential employee or team member. There are numerous resources available in books and on the Internet with curriculum vitae tips and samples of other people’s CVs. You should read this information and look at the samples to get a sense of what a good curriculum vitae looks like, though you should not merely use a sample as a template to copy.
A good curriculum vitae is personalized and specific to you, which is why you should not use a template. You should also be prepared to create numerous CVs before you find the perfect one, much like any other written document that often requires multiple drafts. Friends and family can read your CV and provide you with advice or suggestions for improvement. Even if they are unable to provide you with professional advice, they can make suggestions regarding the information you have provided, the flow of the CV, and your layout that can help you craft a good curriculum vitae.
