1. The Curriculum Vitae (CV): Design Basics for Students Aleta Wolfe Career Counselor

2. What is a CV? Curriculum vitae Curriculum vitae Latin “course of life” Latin “course of life” Used in lieu of a resume for professional, academic or international positions. Used in lieu of a resume for professional, academic or international positions. Used for application purposes, as well as a means for introducing invited speakers Used for application purposes, as well as a means for introducing invited speakers

3. How is a CV different than a Resume? Longer (2+ pages) Longer (2+ pages) In the U.S., a CV is used primarily when applying for international, academic, education, scientific or research positions or when applying for fellowships or grants. In the U.S., a CV is used primarily when applying for international, academic, education, scientific or research positions or when applying for fellowships or grants. Content Summary of academic, teaching, research, publications, presentations, honors, and service Purpose Career biography Resume is a marketing tool

4. Contents of a Standard CV Contact information Contact information Professional objective Professional objective Education Education Professional licenses and certifications Professional licenses and certifications Work experience Work experience Clinical rotation experiences Clinical rotation experiences Presentations Presentations Publications Research experience Scholarly activities Awards and honors Grants Professional memberships Community service activities References

5. Contents of Standard CV Complete contact information Complete contact information Include your mailing address Include your mailing address List professional email address List professional email address Add your phone/cell with area code Add your phone/cell with area code Professional objective Professional objective The more specific the better The more specific the better Tailor to each position you target Tailor to each position you target Residency versus clinical position Residency versus clinical position

6. Contents of Standard CV Education Education Degree completion dates Degree completion dates Major Major Institution attended (California State University, Fresno) Institution attended (California State University, Fresno) Professional licenses/certifications Professional licenses/certifications Include licensure/certification numbers/dates of expiration Include licensure/certification numbers/dates of expiration Work experience Work experience Title of position, dates of employment Title of position, dates of employment Name of organization, location Name of organization, location Description of experience, responsibilities, and achievements Description of experience, responsibilities, and achievements

7. Contents of Standard CV Internship/lab/clinical rotation experiences Internship/lab/clinical rotation experiences List experiences similar to work experiences List experiences similar to work experiences List lab equipment used List lab equipment used List rotation site, preceptor, short description of activities for clinical experience (if applicable) List rotation site, preceptor, short description of activities for clinical experience (if applicable) Presentations Presentations List titles, audience, dates List titles, audience, dates Include academic presentations to highlight communication skills Include academic presentations to highlight communication skills

8. Contents of Standard CVs Publications/Posters Publications/Posters List all publications in AMA style List all publications in AMA style Include newsletters, case reports, original research Include newsletters, case reports, original research Research experiences Research experiences List any research experiences (lab technician, data collection experience, faculty projects, etc.) List any research experiences (lab technician, data collection experience, faculty projects, etc.) Describe research skills developed Describe research skills developed Scholarly activities Scholarly activities List involvement in special projects and activities List involvement in special projects and activities Examples: data collection role in study, experiences with relevant class projects, etc. Examples: data collection role in study, experiences with relevant class projects, etc.

9. Contents of Standard CV Awards and honors Awards and honors List specific awards, scholarships, recognitions List specific awards, scholarships, recognitions Grants Grants List grant (submitted and funded), funding source, amount, dates List grant (submitted and funded), funding source, amount, dates Professional & student memberships Professional & student memberships List membership in organizations/campus clubs List membership in organizations/campus clubs Leadership positions held and committee involvement (dates) Leadership positions held and committee involvement (dates)

10. Contents of Standard CVs Community service activities Community service activities List/describe volunteer and community service activities List/describe volunteer and community service activities Remember: activities with student organizations Remember: activities with student organizations References References Generally provided separately Generally provided separately Ask before listing someone as reference Ask before listing someone as reference Give them an updated copy of your CV in advance Give them an updated copy of your CV in advance

11. Different Versions of CVs One CV does not fit all positions One CV does not fit all positions Update and reorganize titles and content Update and reorganize titles and content Prioritize key experiences important for the position to be presented early within CV Prioritize key experiences important for the position to be presented early within CV Professional objective tailored to the position Professional objective tailored to the position

12. Stylistic Considerations Order of contents of CV should reflect individuals strengths and take into consideration experiences necessary for the position Order of contents of CV should reflect individuals strengths and take into consideration experiences necessary for the position Use action words when describing experiences Use action words when describing experiences List items in reverse chronological order List items in reverse chronological order Conservative, 12-14 size font throughout Conservative, 12-14 size font throughout Avoid excessive lines, graphics, shading, etc. Avoid excessive lines, graphics, shading, etc. When printing: When printing: Use 8 ½ X 11 inch resume quality paper Use 8 ½ X 11 inch resume quality paper Single sided laser printing (Career Services Computer Lab) Single sided laser printing (Career Services Computer Lab)

13. Important “Cs” of CVs Clear Clear Well-organized, content flows well Well-organized, content flows well Concise Concise Include relevant and necessary information Include relevant and necessary information Complete Complete Includes everything-you need to show qualifications Includes everything-you need to show qualifications Consistent Consistent Use consistent design, fonts, layout Use consistent design, fonts, layout Current Current Keep up to date, update at least annually Keep up to date, update at least annually

14. Important “Don’ts” for CVs Spelling or grammatical errors Spelling or grammatical errors Proof, proof, proof.... then proof again!! Proof, proof, proof.... then proof again!! Have numerous people review Have numerous people review Submit for review in OptimalResume Submit for review in OptimalResume Difficult to read fonts/small font size Difficult to read fonts/small font size Minimal 12 point font Minimal 12 point font Standard fonts preferred Standard fonts preferred Think conservative Think conservative Cheap paper Cheap paper Use white, cream, gray resume paper Use white, cream, gray resume paper

15. Important “Don’ts” for CVs (cont.) Folding, stapling Folding, stapling Send in large envelope to organization Send in large envelope to organization “Mass” mailing “to whom it may concern” “Mass” mailing “to whom it may concern” Target specific individual within a company Target specific individual within a company Weak objective/philosophy Weak objective/philosophy Lack cover letter Lack cover letter First impression; need strong letter First impression; need strong letter

16. Cover Letters It’s the introduction to your skills, abilities, passion, and interest in the position It’s the introduction to your skills, abilities, passion, and interest in the position Need to make your letter unique to stand out from the rest Need to make your letter unique to stand out from the rest Creative/unique letters Creative/unique letters Show that you have researched the position and/or organization Show that you have researched the position and/or organization Refer to connections that you might have Refer to connections that you might have Faculty members, employees, supervisors, etc. Faculty members, employees, supervisors, etc.

17. Cover Letters (cont.) Cover letters should be addressed to a specific individual Cover letters should be addressed to a specific individual Verify correct name spelling, title, gender Verify correct name spelling, title, gender First paragraph First paragraph State interest in the position State interest in the position Add name of individual that referred you to this opening Add name of individual that referred you to this opening Include several sentences which indicate interest in position and qualifications Include several sentences which indicate interest in position and qualifications “After spending a great deal of time working as an intern in a pharmaceutical laboratory, I was interested to learn about the position for a Lab Assistant at Medicines Are Us.” “After spending a great deal of time working as an intern in a pharmaceutical laboratory, I was interested to learn about the position for a Lab Assistant at Medicines Are Us.”

18. Cover Letters Second/third paragraph Second/third paragraph Refer to CV enclosed and highlight experiences that prepare you for the position Refer to CV enclosed and highlight experiences that prepare you for the position Personalize the qualities listed on CV pertinent to the position Personalize the qualities listed on CV pertinent to the position “The most enjoyable experience I have had during my summer internship with XYZ Company occurred during my group project. Seeing the sense of accomplishment on the faces of my project team members really made me feel proud...” “The most enjoyable experience I have had during my summer internship with XYZ Company occurred during my group project. Seeing the sense of accomplishment on the faces of my project team members really made me feel proud...” Closing statement Closing statement List contact information if any questions, enthusiasm for position, offer to provide any additional information List contact information if any questions, enthusiasm for position, offer to provide any additional information

19. On-line Resource Materials for CVs and Cover Letters Numerous on-line resources providing examples and templates for CVs and letters: Top 10 Curriculum Vitae Writing Tips Top 10 Curriculum Vitae Writing Tips Top 10 Curriculum Vitae Writing Tips Top 10 Curriculum Vitae Writing Tips Writing a Curriculum Vitae Writing a Curriculum Vitae Writing a Curriculum Vitae Writing a Curriculum Vitae CV Tips CV Tips CV Tips CV Tips

20. Questions? Thomas Building, Room 103 559.278.2381 www.fresnostate.edu/careers careerservices@csufresno.edu