How Do I Get Started?
Writing
a curriculum vitae can seem overwhelming but can be made easier
by organizing your background. To begin, put each of the headings
listed above--and any others that are relevant--at the top of
several sheets of paper (using a computer makes this even easier).
Once you've done that then begin filling in your information
for topics such as those listed above.
Remember To Be Descriptive
When
describing your background be descriptive, use numbers and paint
a broad range of your experience. For example, compare the following
section from Sandra's before curriculum vitae. It is representative
of what the rest of her C.V. looked like.
|
Professional Goal: |
Nurse Practitioner in rural setting. |
|
|
|
|
Education: |
June 1996 -- Bachelor of Science in Nursing,
University of Utah |
|
|
|
|
Employment: |
August 1972 - Present |
|
|
Staff Nurse - Duties include primary care of
patients.
Harborview Medical Center |
|
|
|
|
|
June 1988 - August 1990 |
|
|
Staff Nurse - Member of the IV Team.
Harborview
Medical Center |
Now compare the after curriculum vitae, shown
below, that I created while working with Sandra. Which one does
a better job of pulling together the best of Sandra's qualifications
for acceptance into a Nurse Practitioner program? This program
specialized in training of Nurse Practitioners for rural community
service.
Objective and Summary
of Qualifications |
Seeking acceptance into a Nurse
Practitioner Program with
goal of providing rural
community service utilizing my extensive primary care background.
|
Over 18 years
Registered Nursing experience includes:
|
° |
Providing full-range of nursing care to patients
and families of all ages from economically and culturally diverse
populations.
|
|
° |
Management in a department serving over 30,000
patients annually.
|
|
° |
Training and supervising over 40 R.N.'s; assuming
direct responsibility for total patient care; narcotics control,
assessment and risk management.
|
|
° |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honors, University
of Utah 1972 |
|
As you can see, Sandra's after C.V. starts
off much stronger and summarizes her top skills at a glance.
You may be thinking, "But, I don't have any valuable work
experience." If that's true, then follow a similar strategy
but instead list whatever academic, volunteer or cocurricular
activities that form a foundation of skills or knowledge that
relate to and support your objective. The section from Sandra's
C.V. shown above was then followed by many of the topics listed
earlier on this page.
$9,000 Salary Increase
The first resume workshop in this site shows how Fran's after
resume resulted in a $9,000 salary increase. Fran wanted a $33,000
Corporate Customer Representative job but her resume created
an image of her being at a $20,000 to 24,000 salary level --
that's $9,000 to $13,000 beneath her goal.
