Saturday, 15 October 2011

CV Resume Format and Templates

Sample of CV Resume Format and Templates- Download

As you may already know, a CV/ resume is your first chance at selling yourself to a job recruiter or employer, and providing a neat CV format, with the right words, will more likely go a long way to get you a Job interview. For your CV or resume to work it’s best for you, you have to put some time to creating it.
There are several materials online on CV template, CV format, examples of CV, sample of CV, sample resume, to help you prepare good Curriculum Vitae to submit for your Job application. On this page, here on Afterschoolafrica, I have compiled a list of online resources and tools to help you work and create a nice self promotional document for your job application. Whether for Fresh graduates CV or professionals, you will find this handy while working out your next CV. For clarification purpose, let us briefly understand the difference between a CV and a Resume.
 
 
What is the difference between CV and Resume?
Although we often use the terms 'Curriculum Vitae' (CV) and 'Resume' interchangeably, there is a difference between these two documents. Here are the main difference between a CV and a Resume.
• CV- Curriculum Vitae is a Latin word for ‘The Course of Life’, while Resume stands for ‘Summary’. While a CV focuses on the course of the applicant’s life to the present, a Resume is a brief summary of your skills and achievements.
• As a general rule, a CV is expected to have a length of 2 or more pages. A resume should be less than 2 pages (one in most cases). Hence, a resume is shorter than a CV.
• Both a CV and a resume should include your full name, address, contact information, education work experience and skills. In addition, a CV can and should include awards, teaching experience, hobbies, referees, grants and fellowships, diplomas, computer skills, work related skills, courses completed and any other relevant information while a Resume is a summary of your skills, experience and education.
• United States and Canada use a resume as a general rule for job application. However, in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, most job employers expect to receive a CV.
• In the United States, a CV is used primarily when applying for academic, education, scientific or research positions or when applying for fellowships or grants.

From the explanation above, this post appears to be more about CV since most companies in Africa request CV for job application (though there could be exceptions). However, even as I’ll be using the words CV and resume concurrently on this post, it will be helpful to take note of the terms for cases where an employer consciously requests for a resume instead of a CV. If that is the case, submitting a CV instead of a Resume may automatically disqualify you for the job.

Sources: Here and Here


 
 
Sample of CV/resume
All the CV samples on the links below are available in Microsoft word format.

1. EasyJob: Resume builder, CV Templates, sample resumes and cover letters
EasyJob.net offers resume builder software with over 25,000 professional resume templates, which contains and places at your disposal the resume writing knowledge and advice of professional resume writers. You’ll also find lots of resources and materials for creating your CV/ resume. Free and Paid versions are available.
Go Here



2. CV-Resume.org: Different CV formats
Here you can download Sample CV for Professional, functional, experienced and executive job applications. You can also download a list of skill phrase examples employers like to see on your CV. For example, if you are applying for a Sales Job, you’ll find something like “Professional appearance and manner, ability to utilize all techniques to stimulate sales”. You will find a variety of (not overwhelming) examples of sentences on personal skills which you can take into account when writing your CV.
Go Here


3. CVTips.com- CV Example Templates
On this site, you’ll get access to a list of several examples of CV templates available for download. Examples of CV for different job specifications, skills and qualification levels are available. You’ll also find some interesting CV tips on this site to help you while creative your job application document.
Go Here


4. Career Service center- University of Delaware- Resume-building advice and sample resumes (PDF)
University of Delaware provides a free guide to writing resumes and cover letter on their career service page. This material is available in PDF format.
Go Here


5. SeekCV.com- CV samples
This site has a collection of CV samples which are quite different from the usual CV you see. You’ll like to check it out and come up with some fresh concepts for your own document.
Go Here


6. PlacementPapers.net- Resume-type
You’ll also find a variety of resume formats to download on this page. The document on this site is more of resume type. However you will find them useful.
Go Here


 
 
How to use CV Templates Format
When you have decided on a CV template that is best for your preference, you still need to tailor the document to make it more personal. With thousands of people downloading and using similar CV samples and templates, CVs soon begin to look alike to employers. You still need to make your CV appear unique.
 
 
What to do?
Pick more than one (different) CV samples. Blend both concepts to come out with a new and unique template. What you should look out for in CV/resume samples or templates is the basic outline and concept. Change the fonts, layout and whatever you need to suit your application. It’s just about how creative you can be. CV and resume samples should be used to get an understanding of what a CV should look like, what should or should not be included, proper styles and formats and what employers generally look for. So get a standard sample of CV and make it above standard.
Also remember that you will be judged based on the appearance of your CV. Your resume only has a few seconds to be scanned by the recruiters (at first stage of selection), so make it as appealing as you can to make a good first impression.
The more original and creative it is, the better your chance at being called for an interview.

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