How to Write a CV

If you apply for a job, keep in mind that a CV is your presentation and the first information about yourself you give to your potential employer. A wrongly or badly written CV may already exclude you from the selection process at the beginning.

Your CV should be brief, structured, clear and preferably written on a computer with a length of up to two A4 pages.

Here are some helpful tips that you can use when writing your CV:

• Personal data – name, surname, titles where applicable, contact information
• Education – provide data chronologically from the last graduation (including current studies) back into the past (primary school should not be included)
  • name of the school, period of study, subjects studied, type of final exam
• Work experience – sort the data chronologically from current to the oldest
  • period from–to (month/year)
  • name of the position and main responsibilities
  • if you held several positions with one employer, provide all the positions under their name
  • young graduates without any employment history write data about their internships
  • if you interrupted your career due to maternity/parental leave or were registered at the unemployment office for more than 6 months, include this information into the CV to ensure there is no gap in the time sequence.
• Other education, seminar, courses – only include information about those which are connected to the position you are applying for
• Languages – state the languages you speak and your level of knowledge – beginner, intermediate, advanced, mother tongue and where applicable, indicate any certificates you may have gained.
• Other skills – indicate skills like driving licence, computer skills and other competencies that are important for the position you are applying for
• Hobbies – this part is optional
• References – state the names of people that can say more about you (former employer, professor at school, do not include your relatives)
• Date and signature – current date, handwritten signature (if sending the CV by post)
• Picture – if you decide to include your picture, place it in the top right corner. The picture should be colour, in passport format and with content relevant to the situation.

• Specimen CV to download (PDF file)

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