What is a CV?
- A CV originates from the Latin word of Curriculum Vitae translated into Georgian as “way of life”. A CV is a document that highlights the owner’s professional and academic history. For the most part it includes: work experience, achievements, awards, grants, funding, academic and publicist papers. A CV is required to apply for a vacancy or to apply to a university.
- The word resume is synonymous with the CV in the Georgian language, although the concepts are different from each other. The resume translates from French as a summary, an abstract. The latter is a shorter overview of previous experiences, skills, and detailed information on education. The CV, on the other hand, is a longer and more detailed document, focusing on academic papers and research.
- In the US and European countries, CVs and resumes are not interchangeable and are not considered as two names of the same concept, unlike in Australia, South Africa, and Georgia.
- A CV demonstrates potential, skills, and experience with the employer, so it is an important document and enough time should be spent drafting it. A properly created CV is a big step forward in the career development path.
Basic Tips for a Good CV
Focus on the specific
Most employers spend less than 1 minute reviewing their resume before putting it aside.
- While sending your resume, make sure it fits the entire application process.
- The long word should be out in short: two sheets of A4 paper is sometimes more than enough, regardless of your experience or education.
- If you do not have work experience, focus on education and training, volunteering activities, and practices.
Be clear and concise
- Use short sentences and avoid clichés. Focus on exciting training and work experience for a specific vacancy.
- Give specific examples. Define your achievements.
- Constantly update your resume as you gain work experience.
Always format your CV in line with the specific vacancy.
- Emphasize your strengths as needed by the employer and focus on the skills needed to get the job done.
- Describe any obstacles in your learning or work experience that you have acquired after gaining skills that will be useful to the employer in the future.
- Before you send your CV to the employer, review and make sure it meets the requirements.
- Do not artificially increase the volume of the resume as the truth will reveal itself at the actual interview.
Focus on the visuals of the CV
- Present your skills and competencies clearly and logically so as to highlight your strengths.
- Post information relevant to the vacancy.
- Pay attention to grammatical errors and punctuation.
- Use widely used fonts and layouts.
- Use PDF format when submitting your resume; this will protect you from technical glitches (word file cannot be opened by all computers, or opened with disarranged font).
Check your CV again before sending
- Do not forget the cover letter (if requested by the employer).
- Correct any grammatical errors and make sure the text is in the correct order.
- Reread the resume to make it really clear and understandable.
Photo
Most employers ask you to add a photo to your resume. The photo gives credibility and facilitates the perception of the candidate. The resume photo should be in academic style, taken in a work environment or preferably in 3 X 4 format. The photo is of great importance in shaping the attitude of the recruiter. A photo taken in an entertainment facility or similar non-work environment has a negative effect on the employer, and despite your skills, you may still not be on the interview list.
Remember, a resume should look just as good as you. It makes a first impression on the employer and is your business card.
Email address
An email address is an important factor in shaping an employer’s mood and it should have a formal look. Mostly use a combination of first and last name. If not available, you can use a number or a dot. When the address is informal (e.g. [email protected] or [email protected]) this gives the employer a less serious attitude towards you. We also recommend using the world's most widely used mailing addresses of Gmail, Yahoo, or the ones ending with your university domains.
