Curriculum Vitae or Resume:Which One is Right for Me?

Anne Scammon,Director, Career Learning & Experience GW Career Center

Goals for today

• What is a CV?• What does it include?• How is it organized?• How does it differ from a

resume?• Where can I get help

writing my CV?

VITA DEFINED

• --a summary of one’s personal history and professional qualifications submitted as part of a job, graduate school, or internship application process

VITA FORMAT

• No standard formula for preparing a vita

• Designed around the strengths and achievements of the individual

• Length determined by the unique experiences of the individual and the target audience for the vita

BASIC CATEGORIES

CONTACT INFORMATIONEDUCATION/TRAININGEXPERIENCEOPTIONAL CATEGORIESREFERENCES

CONTACT INFORMATION

•Name• Licensure abbreviations (with Name) • Address• Phone Number• Email Address• Website

EDUCATION/TRAINING

• NAME OF DEGREE• DATE OF DEGREE (GRAD DATE)• NAME & LOCATION OF INSTITUTION• MAJOR/MINOR/CONCENTRATION(S)• OPTIONAL INFO

– Relevant Coursework– Academic Honors– Study Abroad Experience

EXPERIENCECan include:

– PAID/NON-PAID– PART-TIME/FULL-TIME– INTERNSHIPS/PRACTICA– VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY SERVICE– MILITARY

• Variations– SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS– RELATED EXPERIENCE– ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Organizing Experience

• Chronological– Jobs organized by date, reverse

chronological order– Stable employment record put in

best perspective

• Functional– Experiences grouped by

functional skill areas– More flexible and creative format– De-emphasizes employment gaps

• Combination– Combines the features of

Chronological & Functional

SAMPLE FUNCTIONAL HEADINGS

• ADMINISTRATIVE• COMMUNICATION• CONSULTING• DESIGN• FUND RAISING• GRANT WRITING• INSTRUCTIONAL

DESIGN

• ORGANIZATION• PLANNING• PROGRAM

DEVELOPMENT• RESEARCH• SYSTEMS

MANAGEMENT• TEACHING• TECHNICAL

EXPERIENCE

INCLUDE:• position title• name of organization• organization’s location

– City & State or Country

• Dates– Month & Year

• duties/skills used/responsibilities• accomplishments/results

Sample Vita Category Headings• ACADEMIC

PREPARATION• CERTIFICATIONS• COURSES TAUGHT• CONSULTING• ASSISTANTSHIPS/

FELLOWSHIPS• INTERNSHIPS/

PRACTICA• PRESENTATIONS

• PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

• RESEARCH INTERESTS

• SERVICE ACTIVITIES

SAMPLE VITA CATEGORIES• Academic Preparation• Academic Background• Education/Educational

Background• Educational Overview• Professional Studies• Degrees

• Thesis• Master’s Project• Comprehensive Areas• Dissertation• Dissertation Title

• Professional Competencies

• Professional Highlights

• Course Highlights• Proficiencies• Areas of

Knowledge• Areas of

Expertise• Areas of

Experience

SAMPLE VITA CATEGORY HEADINGS (CONTINUED)

• Professional Experience

• Professional Overview

• Professional Background

• Teaching Experience• Experience Summary• Experience Highlights• Research Experience• Administrative

Experience• Consulting

Experience• Related Experiences

• Academic Service• Professional

Service• University Service• Faculty

Leadership• Committee

Leadership• Departmental

Leadership• Professional

Activities

SAMPLE VITA CATEGORIES (CONTINUED)

• Scholarly Presentations

• Conference Presentations

• Convention Addresses

• Workshop Presentations

• Programs and Workshops

• Conference Participation

• Conference Leadership

• Memberships/Affiliations• Professional

Memberships• Professional

Organizations• Professional

Certification(s)• Certificates• Licensure• Special Training• Teaching Interests• Academic Interests• Research Interests• Educational Interests• Professional Interests

REFERENCES

AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

ORLIST ON SEPARATE

SHEET

Other options:Credentials, Dossier,

Portfolio

REFERENCES

• 3-5 References3-5 References– Name & TitleName & Title– AddressAddress– Phone Number(s)Phone Number(s)– Email Email (if used regularly)(if used regularly)

• Use Combination of ReferencesUse Combination of References– Employment, AcademicEmployment, Academic

• Be Sure to Ask PermissionBe Sure to Ask Permission

PERSONAL DATA(GENERALLY NOT INCLUDED)

• MARITAL STATUS• CITIZENSHIP• CITY/COUNTRY OF BIRTH• BIRTHDATE• HEALTH• PHOTO• HEIGHT/WEIGHT• WILLING TO

TRAVEL/RELOCATE

DO’S• BE CLEAR, CONCISE, CONSISTENT• POSITIVE• CREATE A “RELEVANCY GRADIENT”• HONEST• USE BOLD, UNDERLINE, AND/OR ITALICS TO

HIGHLIGHT CERTAIN AREAS

DON’TS• STATE SALARY REQUIREMENTS• GIVE REASONS FOR LEAVING EMPLOYERS• LIMIT GEOGRAPHIC RANGE• EXPOUND ON PHILOSOPHY

– this may be a separate document• OFFER ANY NEGATIVE INFORMATION

COMMON MISTAKES• DISORGANIZED• POORLY TYPED/PRINTED• OVERWRITTEN• TOO SPARSE• NOT RESULTS ORIENTED• IRRELEVANCIES• MISSPELLINGS, TYPOS• DOESN’T MATCH OBJECTIVE

TIPS

• KEEP ONE MASTER DOCUMENT

• UPDATE IT REGULARLY• TAKE THE TIME TO

TAILOR IT TO YOUR AUDIENCE

• KEEP IT UNDER YOUR CONTROL

CV vs. Resume

• Purpose– Resume = Marketing tool– CV = History of You

• Content– Resume = succinct and

relevant to reader– CV = broader in content but

should maintain relevancy

• Page Length– Resume = 1 page– CV = 3 pages and up

Career Center Services• Career

workshops / programs

• Consulting• 48-Hour

Critique Service• Online

Resources• Mock

interviewing• Career Fairs• Federal Work

Study

• CCInfo• Cooperative

Education• GWork Job

listings• On-Campus

Recruiting• Career

Resource Room• Experiential

Education

Questions?

GW Career Center1922 F Street NW ~ (202) 994-6495

http://gwired.gwu.edu/career

Monday - Thursday 8:30AM to 6:00PM

Friday 8:30AM to 5:00PM