www.mcgill.

ca/caps
c.v. writing
guide
Career Planning Service
Service de planication de carrire
2 c.v. writing guide
C.V. Writing
Your C.V. is your own personal advertisement. Tink of it as a promotional brochure. Its main
purpose is to illustrate skills and experience relevant to the type of work you are seeking. Te C.V.
highlights those things about you that are the most interesting, impressive and unique, without giv-
ing away all the details. It should help employers determine whether your skills match their needs.
It should also sufciently impress a potential employer so that he or she invites you to an interview
to learn even more.
Although the terms C.V., curriculum vitae, and rsum are used interchangeably in Quebec, they
are distinct. More specifcally, the C.V. is generally used for academic positions and is much longer,
as it includes publications, conferences, etc. A rsum is shorter and only contains information that
is relevant to a particular position. For our purposes, however, we will use C.V. as a general term.
Tere are fve steps to writing an efective C.V.:
Taking an inventory of your skills and experiences 1.
Finding a suitable employer 2.
Choosing the right format 3.
Writing your C.V. 4.
Customizing your C.V. for each application 5.
Tis booklet explains these fve steps in further detail. Remember that McGill Career Planning Ser-
vice (CaPS) has a wide variety of resources to help you prepare your C.V. You may want to attend a
workshop, make an appointment with an Advisor or attend our daily C.V. Drop-In. Finally, consid-
er checking out the Career Resource Centre and our online resources for sample C.V.s and informa-
tion specifc to the industry you are targeting. Your C.V. should always target each type of job or
position you are seeking. (Generic C.V.s are far less efective and will result in fewer interviews.)
Step 1: Taking an Inventory
Self-assessment is the frst and the most important step in choosing an occupation, planning your
career, and starting a job search. It is equally important when you are writing your C.V. Commu-
nicating and articulating your interests, skills, achievements and values efectively to an employer
is critical to a successful job search, whether in writing (in your C.V.) or verbally (during an inter-
view).
Consider what interests/experiences, skills, achievements and values you want to showcase to a
potential employer.
Interests/Experiences
Understanding your interests and experiences, and matching them with a suitable employer is nec-
essary to having a satisfying career. Refect on all the activities you participated in during the last
fve years, including school, work, volunteering and leisure. Ask yourself:
What have you liked and disliked about each activity?
What did you learn from each activity?
c.v. writing guide 3
To simplify your task, you may want to consider making a chart similar to this one:
Activity Liked Disliked Learned
Coaching hockey Building team
Leading a group
Giving constructive
feedback
Violence on the ice Leadership
Communication
Skills
Tere are two types of skills: hard skills and sof (or transferable) skills. Hard skills are easily mea-
sured and consist of factual knowledge that is usually learned during formal training or at school.
Hard skills include technical expertise, laboratory techniques, computer skills, and languages. Sof
skills are somewhat less tangible and can be acquired in various areas of ones life, such as school,
work, or extra-curricular activities. Tese skills can be transferred to various work situations.
List your strengths and skills and identify those areas you need to improve in order to reach your ca-
reer goal. Once you have done so, identify concrete situations where you demonstrated these skills.
Tis exercise will also be useful when preparing for an interview.
Skills Examples
Leadership, initiative, problem-solving, com-
munication
As a new camp counselor, proposed and led
weekly meetings with the crew to discuss par-
ticular issues faced by the campers.
Achievements
Achievements are occasions where you recognized a problem or a situation that could have been
improved and you acted on it. Achievements illustrate your abilities and skills, and are indicative of
your potential for taking initiative and solving problems. Tey prove you were successful in what
you undertook.
Past performance is the best predictor of future performance; therefore, the more achievements you
can identify, the easier it will be to impress a potential employer. During interviews, you will ofen
be asked about your achievements. To help you identify these, think of things you are proud of. Te
following questions can be used to trigger your memory of past achievements:
Did you receive some form of recognition (award, title, trophy, etc.)?
Did you intervene in a situation that could have become a serious problem had you not
detected it?
Did you make a suggestion that was adopted by your classmates, team or coworkers?
Did you accomplish a task using less than the usual resources?
Did you satisfy a particularly difcult client?
Did you initiate something?
Have you trained or taught people?
Tip
Sof skills that all em-
ployers, regardless of
industry or discipline,
look for in potential
employees include:
Communication
skills
Creativity
Initiative
Interpersonal skills
Leadership skills
Organizational skills
Problem-solving
skills
step 1: taking an inventory
4 c.v. writing guide
To help you identify your achievements, you could use the S.T.A.R. technique:
Situation
Provide a brief overview of the situation.
Task
Outline the specifc task or responsibility you were asked to accomplish.
Action
Explain the action or activities you took and why.
Result
Describe the positive result or outcome of your actions.
Values
Values are beliefs we develop early in life shaped by our family, culture, education, religion, and dif-
ferent socialization processes, and that we continue to maintain throughout our lives. Tey make
up our fundamental beliefs about what is right and wrong, good and bad.
Tere are countless values, including being healthy, having a family, having material possessions,
following your religious beliefs, having job security, etc. Take the time to think of what is most im-
portant to you and list them. Once you have listed your values, identify those:
that you must have at work;
that you would like to have at work, but are not necessary; and
that are least important to you.
Sometimes we take our values so much for granted that we are not even aware of them, and mistak-
enly assume that others hold the same values we do. Behaving in ways that are inconsistent with our
values may lead to frustrations and/or depression. It is important to become aware of ones values
and seek environments that are compatible with them.
Step 2: Finding a Suitable Employer
Once you have compiled a list of your interests, skills, achievements and values, it is time to tailor
them to your industry/job of interest.
First, think about what kind of employer you would like to work for. Te following are important
considerations:
Size and type of organization
ex. local, national, international, non-proft, service-oriented, unionized, etc.
Position characteristics
ex. challenging, solitary, part of a team, prestige, responsibility, variety of tasks, project-
oriented work, opportunity for advancement, etc.
Geographic location
Type of supervision
ex. formal supervisor, causal supervisor, set own schedule, autonomous, etc.
Working hours
ex. regular, fexible, long, shif work, company scheduled vacation, opportunity to work
from home, etc.
step 2: Finding a Suitable Employer
c.v. writing guide 5
Salary and benefts
ex. fnancial security, health insurance, dental insurance, pension plan, child care, educa-
tional support, company car, etc.
Travel
Work environment
ex. indoors, outdoors, fast-paced, dress code, etc.
Using the considerations listed above, make an ideal job profle, identifying the kind of organi-
zation you would ideally like to work for. As you begin researching employers and job postings,
consult your list of values from Step 1 (Making an Inventory) and your ideal job profle. Are your
values compatible with characteristics of the organization? If not, you may want to consider looking
at other possibilities.
Once you have found a suitable organization or job posting that matches your values, think of the
employers needs and match them with your interests, skills and achievements. You may want to
consider making a chart similar to this one:
Employers Needs Your Qualifcations
Graphic design experience Marketing Assistant, website design
Graphic design training Continuing Education courses
Computer literacy Familiar with Adobe Design Suite, Microsof
Ofce and Dreamweaver
Community service Designed websites for a number of non-proft
organizations
Now it is time to start composing your C.V. by organizing and laying out the information you have
compiled in Steps 1 & 2.
Step 3: Choosing the Right Format
C.V.s can be either targeted or untargeted and formatted in three distinctive ways: chronological,
functional or combined. Students most ofen choose a combined C.V., but the most important fac-
tor is that your C.V. highlights your accomplishments and abilities, as well as your personal career
objectives.
Targeted or Untargeted
An untargeted C.V. is used when you do not have a clear idea of what job you are seeking or do not
want to limit your application; whereas a targeted C.V. is used when you know what area you want
to work in and/or have some career-related experience you can highlight. A targeted C.V. ofen
includes a Career Objective (described in Step 4).
Examples of targeted and untargeted C.V.s are provided in the Sample C.V. section of this publica-
tion.
Chronological
Tis type of C.V. organizes employment and volunteer experiences chronologically with the most
recent information frst. Tis format is good for demonstrating growth in a single profession: job
Tip
As you start to think
about your ideal job
profle, you may want to
consult the books in the
CaPS Resource Centre
and the What Can I Do
With My Degree in... on
our website.
Alternatively, talk to
people you know who
have experience in the
feld or industry. You
might want to research
relevant professional
associations to learn
more about networking
possibilities.
step 3: choosing the right format
6 c.v. writing guide
titles and organizations are emphasized and responsibilities and accomplishments are described in
detail. Tis format is suitable for individuals with continuous work experience who have not had
frequent job changes or prolonged periods of unemployment. It is not always the best choice for
students right out of school.
Functional
Te functional C.V. highlights the skills you have developed over the years and their application to
the job for which you are applying, and focuses less on job titles and employment history. Te at-
tention is always on the skill acquired and less on the context of its acquisition.
For any C.V. to be efective, it should be composed with a target industry or position in mind, but
this is especially true for functional C.V.s. Tis format clusters skills and qualifcations under spe-
cifc headings. For example, you may include headings such as Communications Skills, Leadership
Skills, Project Management, Teamwork, etc. What is critically important when writing a functional
C.V. is to match your skill and qualifcation clusters with the employers needs.
Tis format is suitable for individuals who want to emphasise skills gained in non-paid experiences
(volunteer, extra-curricular) or the classroom. It may be particularly efective for individuals enter-
ing a new feld in which they have little direct experience.
Combined
More ofen than not, the combined C.V. is the format of choice. It has fexibility that comes from
combining both the chronological and functional formats. Tis format stresses your skills and ac-
complishments, but also provides a chronological work history.
Te combined C.V. is particularly suitable for students because it lists your relevant work experi-
ence, but also highlights your abilities and transferable skills that may have been learned in the
classroom or non-paid environments.
Which format is best?
Te format of your C.V. depends on a variety of factors. Refer to your compilation of interests, skills
and achievements from Step 1 and consider the chart below:
Chronological Functional Combination
P
r
o
s
Emphasizes relevant
work experience, conti-
nuity and career growth
Highlights skills not ap-
parent in job descriptions
or acquired in other ways
Good for beginning or
changing career paths
A way to bring together
disjointed employment
experiences
Highlights both skills and
experiences
Most detailed and com-
prehensive format
Good for targeting a spe-
cifc job or industry
C
o
n
s
Exposes gaps in em-
ployment history
Skills may not be readily
apparent
Fails to provide support,
with specifc sources, for
the skills highlighted
Does not represent a clear
career path
Can be confusing if not
well written
Can lose focus
step 3: choosing the right format
Tip
If you are still unsure
which format suits you
best, you may want to
make an appointment
with an Advisor or con-
sult our numerous books
in the Career Resource
Centre.
c.v. writing guide 7
Step 4: Writing Your C.V.
Your C.V. is your own personal advertisement so what you choose to include and how you sell your
skills and experience will determine whether you are asked for an interview.
Te following are the basic components of a combined C.V. for students. Note that your contact
information and career objective and/or summary always come frst. Te other sections can be pre-
sented in whatever order you feel is most relevant to the position for which you are applying.
A) Contact Information
Contact information includes your:
Full name
Current and permanent address (if you live in Montreal during the school year but are at
home in the summer, you might want to include both your temporary and permanent ad-
dresses)
Phone number and optional fax number
E-mail address
Optional website address
Your contact information always comes frst and can be incorporated into a header to save space
and make the C.V. look more attractive. Also ensure your voice mail message and e-mail address
are professional; avoid funny or strange nicknames (ex. [email protected]).
B) Career Objective or Summary
Te Career Objective and Summary sections are fast, efective ways to hook the reader into looking
at the rest of your C.V. It gives your C.V. focus so the employer does not have to sif through all the
sections to fnd out what position you would be good for. Te Career Objective or Summary should
follow your contact information.
A Career Objective should outline your short-term goal; the rest of your C.V. should focus on relat-
ing your experience to this goal. A Career Objective is:
one or two sentences which summarizes the career direction you hope to take; and
should answer one or all of these questions: what, where, with whom and at what level of
employment?
Including a Career Objective indicates that you have a fairly clear idea of what you would like to do.
Keep in mind that it could limit you if your application is too precise or not clear enough. As an
alternative, you can mention your Career Objective in your cover letter.
Example Career Objectives
To utilize my education and experience to enhance organizational efectiveness and cli- 1.
ent relations as a Financial Administrator.
To combine my degree in English Literature with my reputation as a creative individual 2.
to launch my career as a talented Writer and Editor.
Tip
Make sure your con-
tact information is
up-to-date. Nothing is
more frustrating for an
employer than outdated
contact information. If
your contact informa-
tion changes, be sure to
submit a new C.V. to the
employer and request
that the old one be dis-
carded.
Tip
Include a Career Objec-
tive if you have a fairly
clear idea of the depart-
ment or position you are
interested in.
If you are not sure, or do
not want to limit your
application, a Summary
might be better.
step 4: writing your c.v.
8 c.v. writing guide
A Summary of Qualifcations, on the other hand, highlights your strongest selling points and the
most relevant qualifcations and experiences (specifying duration, responsibilities and accomplish-
ments). A Summary is:
three to fve sentences summarizing your qualifcations; and
includes skills and experiences you have to ofer to the organization.
Including a Summary is also a good idea if your C.V. is going to be electronically scanned.
Example Summaries of Qualifcations
Dynamic motivator and problem-solver with excellent organizational skills looking to 1.
pursue a career in the area of Public Relations, Marketing and Broadcasting. Proven
administrative capabilities and experienced in training and project coordination.
Bilingual Environmentalist with a solid education in the areas of waste management and 2.
impact assessment. Excellent written and oral communication skills with strong knowl-
edge of environmental regulations and federal policy planning.
C) Languages
When listing the languages you speak, start with those that are the most relevant to the workplace,
even if they are not your mother tongue. If you are fuently bilingual, specify Fluent English and
French (written and spoken). If you are not fuent in French but can get by, indicate English,
French without mentioning your level of profciency - you can save that for the interview.
If you speak languages other than English and French, list them and indicate your level of prof-
ciency (fuent, conversational, working knowledge or basic). If you are unilingual, it is preferable to
leave this section out.
D) Education
For students entering the workforce for the frst time, and who have less work-related experience,
this section is extremely important and deserves a lot of attention. In it:
list your degrees and years of study in reverse chronological order (if you have not yet re-
ceived your degree, you can put the expected date with expected next to it or to present;
include the name and location (city, province/state, country) of the institutions where you
studied, as well as scholarships and educational awards (if you have many of these, you may
want to create a separate section called Awards and Scholarships); and
include any specialization (major, minor), authorships, thesis, or honours work if relevant
to the job for which you are applying.
If you are working on a post-secondary degree, it is not necessary to list your high school unless the
school is prestigious, you studied in another language relevant to the job, or you want the employer
to know what city or country you grew up in.
Tip
If your G.P.A. is high,
you may want to con-
sider mentioning it.
step 4: writing your c.v.
c.v. writing guide 9
Afer you have listed your schooling, you may wish to consider listing any other educational train-
ing you have received, including certifcations, workshops or seminars attended, licensures, etc.
under the subheading Certifcation and Additional Training or Professional Development.
Education
Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Civil Laws date-date (expected)
McGill University, Montral, Qubec
Bachelor of Arts; History Honours, Minor in Political Science date-date
McGill University, Montral, Qubec
Graduated with First Class Honours and a cumilative GPA of 3.7/4.0.
Certifcation and Additional Training
Diploma in Graphic Design date-date
Maisonneuve College, Montral, Qubec
E) Skills
Tis section summarizes the information you gathered in Steps 1 & 2 and reinforces your Summary
of Qualifcations. It indicates the relevant skills you possess and can ofer to the employer (refer to
the chart you made in Step 2). In this section:
highlight relevant skills and how you have acquired them; and
choose only those skills that are important for the job for which you are applying.
Example 1:
Communication Skills
Facilitated small group discussions as a Teaching Assistant.
Created weekly e-bulletins for McGill students as a Publications Assistant.
Worked with students to improve their cover letters and C.V.s as a CaPS Peer Educator.
Computer Skills
Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Dreamweaver).
XHTML and CSS.
step 4: writing your c.v.
Tip
Remember, relevant
skills may include both
the hard skills and sof
skills you have acquired
through work, volunteer,
extra-curricular, intern-
ships and school experi-
ences.
10 c.v. writing guide
Example 2:
Skills
Laboratory Techniques:
Assisted in gel electrophoresis as a Research Assistant.
Used Western blotting to detect specifc proteins within tissue samples.
Measured the mass-to-charge ratio of ions using mass spectroscopy.
Computer Skills:
Microsof Excel.
AutoCAD.
F) Career-Related Experience
A Career-Related Experience section is included in a targeted C.V., which is normally used when
you know what area you would like to work in and/or have career-related experience you can high-
light. Your targeted C.V. will then have two experience sections: one that is career-related and one
for other work experience.
In this section:
List your experience in chronological order starting with the most recent.
Include the period of employment (season, month and/or year).
Specify the position titles (create one if need be; ex. Ofce Worker if you had a general
position in an ofce environment).
Include the name and location of the organization (city, province; country if not in Canada).
Describe your responsibilities and write specifc examples to demonstrate your sof and
transferable skills such as communication, leadership, and organization.
Emphasize the elements of your previous jobs that relate to your career objective.
Write using action verbs in single lines.
You may combine entries where appropriate. For instance, if you worked for the same company for
the past couple of summers, but held diferent positions, you can bring them together under one
entry. Tis will save space, but also highlight career growth within the positions you have held.
Career-Related Experience
McGill Career and Placement Service, Montral, Qubec
Graphic Designer and Desktop Publisher date - present
Produce brochures and booklets for distribution to students.
Administer monthly career e-bulletins to the McGill community.
Consult with Career Advisors regarding graphic-related projects.
Tip
You can change Career-
Related Experience for
a more targeted heading,
such as Teaching Ex-
perience, Professional
Experience, Research
Experience, etc.
step 4: writing your c.v.
c.v. writing guide 11
Tip
You may organise the
components of your
career-related and work
experience diferently.
For example, if you feel
that your job title will
have more impact on the
reader, you may want to
list it frst. If, however,
the employers name is
relevant, you might want
to list it frst.
What is important is
that you are consistent.
Do not alternate be-
tween these formats on
one C.V.
Career-Related Experience (continued)
Raven Truck Accessories, Edmonton, Alberta date-date
Marketing Assistant (date-date)
Led a marketing team with the goal of increasing sales.
Maintained and updated company website.
Oversaw production of company catalogue.
Corporate Development Assistant (date-date)
Assisted the V.P. of Corporate Development in developing strategies to improve com-
pany growth and sales.
Developed and implemented companys privacy and health policy.
Launched companys intranet.
Other Work Experience
RBL Warehouse, Edmonton, Alberta
Accounts Payable Clerk date-date
Matched invoices with shipping receipts.
Inputed payable amounts into computer system.
Mailed cheques.
G) Work Experience
A general Work Experience section is included in an untargeted C.V. Format this section like the
Career-Related Experience described above.
Work Experience
Groundskeeper date
Jagre Ridge Golf Course, Edmonton, Alberta
Groomed golf course each morning for its clients.
Worked as a member of a large team of 12.
Proposed and implemented a more efcient process for watering the greens.
H) Extra-Curricular Activities, Interests, and Volunteer Experience
While these sections are not mandatory, they can be very important for students. Employers may
look at it carefully, especially if your work experience is limited. Tey may also use this information
to learn more about your personal characteristics and as an icebreaker during an interview. Tese
sections can also demonstrate that you are a participating member of your community.
step 4: writing your c.v.
12 c.v. writing guide
If you participated in student clubs or did community work, describe these in the same way you
would for paid work (remember to use action verbs and achievements) and place them in a separate
section under the title Extra-Curricular Activities and/or Volunteer Experience.
Under the title Activities and Interests, briefy mention your leisure and/or additional activities if
you have something substantial to mention. Be specifc. For instance, state Elected Team Captain
of community hockey team as opposed to just stating Hockey.
Volunteer Experience
Peer Educator date-date
McGill Career and Placement Service, Montral, Qubec
Met with students to review and ofer feedback on their C.V.s and cover letters.
Organised classroom presentations to promote CaPS activities and services.
Conference Organizer date-date
Canadian Constitutional Afairs Conference
Designed and maintained Conferences website.
Extracurricular Activities
Stage Actor date-present
Performed in over 12 plays throughout high school and university.
Leisure Activities
Dedicated member of Ultimate Frisbee team for three years.
I) Possible Additional Sections
Honours and Awards
If you have been recognized for excellence or for an important contribution, you may include an
Honours and Awards section. However, be selective in putting down awards: they should be sig-
nifcant, relevant and current. Another option is to create a sub-section. For example, in Education
you could include a sub-section that lists your academic honours.
Honours and Awards
Deans Honour List date-date
Chamber of Commerce Business Award date
Rutherford Scholarship (value $2500) date
Tip
Tese sections can be ti-
tled in a variety of ways.
You can break them up
into themed headings
like on the right; or you
could group ideas under
one main heading, such
as Activities. Subse-
quent sub-headings
could include:
Sports
Academic Involve-
ment
Community In-
volvement
step 4: writing your c.v.
c.v. writing guide 13
Professional Associations
If you belong or have belonged to one or more professional associations that are relevant to your
career goal, list them. Your participation in an association demonstrates your interest in and com-
mitment to the feld. You may also include specifc information about your role.
Professional Associations
President date-date
Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers
Publications
In this section, list books and/or articles you have written and published. Include the name of the
publisher, co-authors (if applicable), title, journal, date and relevant page numbers. Individuals who
have published their thesis or dissertation may also include the title of their work.
Publications
Statistics Canada (Summer 2007): Payday Loans in Perspectives on Labour and Income,
Volume 19, No. 2, pp. 16-24.
J) References
Unless you are applying for an academic position, or the job posting requests it, do not include ref-
erences on your C.V. Instead, you may write References available upon request at the end of your
C.V. Be prepared to provide three references to a potential employer at any time. Te best refer-
ences are supervisors or professors, or people you know from volunteer or extra-curricular activi-
ties. List your references on a separate sheet, using the same type of paper and font face you have
used for your C.V.
You should include the following information:
Name
Title
Connection to you
Name of organization
Address
Phone number
E-mail
Tis list is to be handed to a potential employer only when it is requested (usually at the interview).

Tip
Remember to verify that
the information you
provide is accurate. Al-
ways let your references
know they might be
contacted. Take advan-
tage of this time to talk
to your references about
the position so they can
emphasize the things
which are most relevant.
step 4: writing your c.v.
14 c.v. writing guide
Step 5: Customizing Your C.V.
Congratualtions! You have now prepared a basic C.V., but there is still work to be done. You cannot
send the same C.V. to each employer. Rather, it is important to take the time to customize each ap-
plication. An employer will most likely spend only 20-30 seconds scanning your C.V. In that time
you need to convince the reader you are a candidate with the skills and background suitable for the
job being ofered and deserve an interview. Your C.V. should be well-organized and visually appeal-
ing.
Here are some suggestions you should keep in mind when preparing your C.V. for a particular em-
ployer:
Content
Make sure your C.V.s content is targeted towards your specifc employment objective. Do
not include extraneous or irrelevant material.
Review, review and review. Tere should be no spelling or grammatical mistakes. (Do not
rely solely on spell check because a word may be spelled correctly, but used incorrectly.)
Use action verbs to describe your skills, accomplishments and responsibilities.
Keep your statements short. Do not use lengthy sentences or descriptions.
Be concise! Eliminate fuf, such as responsibilities include...
Be positive - do not include negative information.
Update your C.V. regularly as you acquire new skills and experiences.
Organization and Layout
In Canada, your C.V. should be approximately two pages in length. Te frst page is the
most important so present your most compelling information frst. If the reader is not
convinced you are a strong candidate by the end of the frst page, they have little reason to
continue reading.
Organize your sections in an order that best supports your employment objective. If your
education is your strongest selling point, put it frst; if your work experience is your stron-
gest selling point, put it frst instead.
Include your Contact Information at the top of the frst page. Include your name and phone
number in the top corner of each subsequent page.
Format and Design
Your C.V. should be cleanly formatted. Use a common type face (Arial, Verdana) and do
not change fonts throughout (changing fonts decreases readability). Use a legible font size
(preferably 11 point).
Section headings should stand out: use capital letters, a bold type face or underline to
emphasize section headings.
Your header can be formatted in a diferent font and should be larger (approx. 14-16 point),
but be tasteful in your choice!
Your margins should be around 3/4 all around.
step 5: Customizing your c.v.
c.v. writing guide 15
Presentation
Printed
Your C.V. should be laser printed on good quality 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Avoid using patterned
paper, which may decrease readability. If you choose to use a colour other than white, use a
neutral tone (avoid dark or brightly coloured paper because it does not fax or copy well).
Do not print your C.V. double-sided. Staple your pages together instead of using a paper
clip. Do not staple your cover letter to your C.V.
Avoid folding your C.V. Mail or drop it of fat in a large envelope.
Email
Many employers request that your C.V. be emailed. Te preferred method is as an attachment
(Word or PDF).
Scannable
Some employers, particularly big frms, may scan the C.V.s they receive. If you know that your C.V.
is going to be scanned, you want to keep the following guidelines in mind:
Use as many keywords as you can: these are diferent from action verbs in that they are
nouns, phrases and terminology that demonstrate some of your skills or achievements and
are known to be valued in the industry (buzzwords). Tey are usually hard skills. You
could include a section on your C.V. titled Keyword Summary and list as many keywords
that you feel are relevant.
Do not use italics; instead, use capital letters to designate section headings.
Other C.V. Styles
C.V.s for Graduate Students
Graduate students wanting to work as academics, physicians or professionals can have C.V.s that
are three to ten pages long. Tose seeking a research career outside of academia or a non-academic
job should limit their C.V.s to two pages. In either case, your C.V. should include some additional
information, including:
Dissertation title
Research undertaken and interests
Teaching experience
Publications
Presentations
Other academic experience (organizing conferences and administrative and editing work,
etc.)
Grants and awards
Te CaPS ofce keeps samples of C.V.s for graduate students, including those seeking an academic
position, a non-academic job or a research position. Stop by the ofce and ask for one.
step 5: Customizing your c.v.
16 c.v. writing guide
One-Page C.V.
Tere are certain instances where a one-page C.V. is recommended, namely when applying for a po-
sition in the U.S. or applying to consulting or investment banking frms. In these instances, brevity
is the rule. Employers will use your C.V. to test you ability to be concise: every word should count.
International C.V.
Few of the domestic rules apply to an international-style C.V. Tese should be used when apply-
ing to schools, agencies and organizations outside of North America. Most organizations will also
require a detailed application to accompany the C.V.
Te components of an international C.V. ofen include:
A Career Objective: you should address the geographic setting, feld of work and level of
entry.
Personality traits: tell the employer what type of person you are, your qualities and your
strengths.
Professional skills: include your skills that are relevant to the job. Give concrete examples.
Education.
Work experience.
International experience: if you have international experience including education, paid-
work, volunteer work, and travel, group it together under this heading. You should have
two work experience sections: one for international and one for other.
In Canada, it is illegal for employers to request personal information; however, Canada has no con-
trol over what international organizations may require from potential job applicants. International
employers may want to know:
Age
Marital status and number of dependents
Spouses occupation
Availability
Language
Nationality and national origin
For more information on international C.V.s, consult the books and samples in the CaPS Resource
Centre.
In Conclusion...
You should consider your C.V. as a marketing tool: its main purpose is to advertise your experience,
education and skills to a potential employer. Your C.V. should demonstrate that you would be a
valuable member of the organization. As such, it is important to tailor your C.V. to the organization
and the industry. Do your research! Develop a list of keywords and skills required for the position
and consider how your own skills match the needs of the employer. Your C.V. should present infor-
mation in sequence and in a manner that best connects your background with the requirements of
the employer. A strong, coherent C.V. will help you secure an interview.
conclusion
c.v. writing guide 17
Sample - Untargeted C.V.
Use this sample when you do not have a clear idea of what job you are seeking or do not want to limit your application.
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 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 date - date
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
add academic awards and any subjects taken relevant to your career objective
add research undertaken with results if possible
Diploma of Collegial Studies, Discipline date - date
Dawson College, Montreal, Quebec
add academic awards and any subjects taken relevant to your career objective
High School Graduation Diploma date - date
Its 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. youre a local)
WORK EXPERIENCE
List all the paid work experience you have had.
Position Title (in bold) date
Name of company or organization, City, Province
use one-liners to describe your activities 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, result)
emphasize your transferable skills : leadership, organization, communication, creativity, etc.
you should specify if the position was contract, part-time or summer
News Editor (summers) date - date
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 writing techniques
Wrote general and investigative articles concerning todays health issues
18 c.v. writing guide
Sample - Untargeted C.V. (continued)
WORK EXPERIENCE (continued)
Field Research Assistant date
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
(Add other positions if applicable)
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) date
Name of club, council, etc.
describe what you did in this position
emphasize your transferable skills and any achievements
Committee Member date - date
Students Society of McGill University (SSMU)
Organized social activities and fundraising events
Responded to student needs at the front desk and via telephone
(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 employers look to start an icebreaker conversation. Some 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 be one or two pages in length. Be sure
your second page is at least full.
c.v. writing guide 19
Sample - Targeted C.V.
Use this sample when you know what area you would like to work in and/or have some career-related experience you can high-
light.
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 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 date - date
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
add academic awards and any subjects taken relevant to your career objective
add research undertaken with results if possible
Diploma of Collegial Studies, Discipline date - date
Dawson College, Montreal, Quebec
add academic awards and any subjects taken relevant to your career objective
High School Graduation Diploma date - date
Its 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. youre a local)
CAREER-RELATED EXPERIENCE
List all experience relevant to your career objective including your paid employment, extra-curricular activities and volunteer work.
Position Title (in bold) date
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 you like
20 c.v. writing guide
Sample - Targeted C.V. (continued)
CAREER-RELATED EXPERIENCE (continued)
News Editor (summers) date - date
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 writing techniques
Wrote general and investigative articles concerning todays health issues, eg. The Link between Hot Dogs and Memory Loss
Created first International News section resulting in a twenty percent circulation increase
(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) date
Name of company or organization, City, Province
describe what you did in this position
emphasize your transferable skills
(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 employers look to start an icebreaker conversation. Some 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 be one or two pages in length. Be sure
your second page is at least full.
c.v. writing guide 21
Action Verbs
Communication
Advertised Called Circulated Coached
Communicated Conferred Corresponded Defned
Discussed Displayed Distributed Drafed
Edited Emphasized Explained Extracted
Familiarized Informed Instructed Interested
Interpreted Issued Learned Lectured
Listened Lobbied Mentored Oriented
Perceived Politicked Presented Promoted
Publicized Questioned Reasoned Recommended
Redirected Represented Referred Related
Responded Showed Spoke Summarized
Talked Transcribed Translated
Transmitted Tutored Wrote
Initiative
Acted Applied Attended Automated
Collected Compiled Conserved Considered
Consolidated Contemplated Contracted Delivered
Detected Devised Discharged Discovered
Dispatched Dispensed Engaged Engineered
Established Examined Expanded Expedited
Founded Handled Helped Implemented
Increased Induced Inspected Instituted
Interviewed Introduced Inventoried Investigated
Launched Maintained Manipulated Monitored
Moved Ofered Operated Packaged
Participated Performed Problem-solved Processed
Proposed Provided Received Recruited
Reviewed Risked Shipped Solicited
Sorted Stafed Submitted Systematized
Trained Troubleshot Utilized Verifed
Interpersonal Skills
Accomodated Adjusted Advised Agreed
Arranged Assisted Collaborated Consulted
Contributed Cooperated Counselled Empathized
Facilitated Guided Harmonized Infuenced
Mediated Moderated Modifed Motivated
Negotiated Personalized Persuaded Provided
Reconciled Related Requested Respected
Screened Sensed Served Shared
Sold Taught
22 c.v. writing guide
Action Verbs (continued)
Results
Accomplished Accounted Achieved Advanced
Altered Answered Attained Attracted
Awarded Benefted Built Changed
Combined Completed Constructed Convinced
Critiqued Decreased Dismantled Earned
Eliminated Enlarged Expanded Finished
Generated Identifed Improved Integrated
Involved Justifed Made Manufactured
Marketed Obtained Ordered Predicted
Prevented Produced Profted Protected
Raised Realized Reduced Rehabilitated
Remembered Repaired Replaced Reported
Reorganized Resolved Restored Retrieved
Revised Separated Solved Tested
Turned around Transformed Traveled Updated
Upgraded Validated Won
Leadership
Administered Addressed Allocated Anticipated
Appointed Approved Arbitrated Assessed
Assigned Authorized Awarded Balanced
Chaired Conducted Controlled Decided
Delegated Designated Directed Disapproved
Discharged Encouraged Enforced Enlisted
Evaluated Executed Gathered Headed
Inspired Governed Hired Led
Managed Oversaw Presided Recommended
Regulated Required Selected Settled
Signed Spearheaded Specifed Sponsored
Stipulated Supervised Team-built Trained
Organization
Arranged Analyzed Assembled Budgeted
Calculated Compared Coordinated Charted
Checked Clarifed Determined Disproved
Filed Organized Planned Prepared
Purchased Recorded Reported Scheduled
Technical
Appraised Audited Catalogued Computed
Diagnosed Dissected Experimented Financed
Fixed Hypothesized Judged Litigated
Modeled Navigated Observed Piolted
Prescribed Programmed Researched Served
Surveyed Tabulated Traced
c.v. writing guide 23
Action Verbs (continued)
Creativity
Adapted Authored Composed Conceived
Created Designed Developed Dramatized
Drew Energized Established Estimated
Forecasted Formulated Illustrated Improvised
Initiated Innovated Invented Investigated
Originated Painted Played Proposed
Researched Revised Shaped Sketched
Studied Set up Symbolized
Adjectives
Accurate Active Adaptable Advantageous
Analytical Artistic Benefcial Better
Bigger Calm Capable Careful
Competent Complete Confdent Conscientious
Considerable Creative Critical Decisive
Dependable Desirable Determined Diligent
Diplomatic Distinctive Distinguished Durable
Dynamic Efective Efcient Empathic
Energetic Esteemed Excellent Exceptional
Extraordinary Flexible First-class First-rate
Flourishing Forceful Fruitful Functional
Good Greater Helpful Humourous
Illustrious Imaginative Important Imposing
Improved Independent Industrious Infuential
Innovative Insightful Larger Logical
Lucrative Major Methodical Money-making
More Notable Noteworthy Ongoing
Orderly Organized Original Outstanding
Patient Perceptive Perfect Phenomenal
Powerful Practical Prestigious Productive
Professional Proftable Progressive Prominent
Prosperous Punctual Reliable Remarkable
Renowned Reputable Respected Responsible
Resourceful Rewarding Satisfed Sensitive
Signifcant Singular Sizeable Skillful
Solid Solvent Sound Stable
Strong Substantial Sucessful Superb
Superior Supportive Torough Triving
Top Upbeat Uncommon Unique
Unparalleled Unsurpassed Uppermost Useful
Valuable Versatile Winning Workable
Worthwhile
Brown Student Services Building
3600 McTavish Street
Tel: 514-398-3304
Email: [email protected]
JOB POSTINGS: Every day throughout the year, employers
in search of qualifed students contact CaPS with job opportunities.
Tese openings can either be internship, part-time, summer, or
full-time permanent 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: If you
need someone to help you prepare for 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 stressful.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS: Tese workshops
are ofered throughout the academic year on over 15 topics to help
increase your employability.
CAREER RESOURCE CENTRE: Whether you are looking
for information on careers, scholarships, networking, contact
information for diferent industries, specifcs on a program of study,
or job listings, the Resource Centre ofers a wide array of resources.
CAREER FAIRS: Career fairs are organized throughout
the year in conjunction with student groups and provide excellent
opportunities for you to meet company representatives from a
variety of industries.
PROFESSIONALS ON CAMPUS: Professionals from all
over come to campus to participate in panel discussions and deliver
company info sessions. These networking events are a great resource
for 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 for the job search process.
PACE: An interactive program to help you explore career
preferences, personal goals, current market trends, and job search
strategies. Tis program is a joint initiative of McGill Counselling
Service & CaPS.
MENTOR PROGRAM: Te McGill Mentor Program provides
ties with professionals who can ofer valuable advice about career
alternatives, job requirements, and career-life balance.
CaPS services
September
- Campus recrultment for Sprlng graduates lnterested ln the Computer Sclence, Consultlng,
Lnglneerlng and |nvestment 8anklng lndustrles
- 1ob appllcatlon deadllnes
- Management Career Palr
- Tech Palr for Lnglneerlng and Computer Sclence students
October
- Campus recrultment: lst, 2nd, and nal round lntervlews occur
- McGlll Arts Graduate and Professlonal Palr
November
- Campus recrultment nal oners
- Career Development Days
1anuary
- Campus recrultment for summer (lnternshlp) posltlons ln the Computer Sclence,
Consultlng, Lnglneerlng and |nvestment 8anklng lndustrles
- Summer [ob appllcatlon deadllnes
- Campus recrultment lntervlews and nal oners
Pebruary
- Career Month: Targeted |ndustry Panel Dlscusslons, Targeted Career Palrs
and workshops
March
- Graduate Student Career week
May
- 1ob Plndlng Club
August
- 1ob Plndlng Club
- McGlll Sclence Graduate and Professlonal Palr
our timeline of events
2007-2008 Content and Design: Owen Ripley and Linda Cicuta