What is a Curriculum Vitae?

"Your CV is your passport to the future and you never know when you might be asked to travel, regardless of whether you want to go. "
Anon

A Curriculum Vitae is a detailed summary of your past experience. C.V.s are sometimes called Personal Information Charts or Career Histories. In the States, they are called Resumes. ( Pronounced: Resumay)

People talk about C.V.s as if they are the best thing since sliced bread! Well, if you are job-hunting, a good Curriculum Vitae (Latin for the 'story of your life') can improve your chances of getting an interview. You need to make your C.V. so interesting that an employer will want to read right to the end and follow it up! It will allow an employer to see quickly and easily whether or not you have something to offer each other.

C.V. needs to make a strong immediate impact; it must convey the maximum amount of information in the minimum number of words. Style and presentation are crucial. We therefore strongly recommend you to adopt the format which provides flexibility and the opportunity to present information in a 'punchy' manner. This may not appear like the traditional C.V. but it will allow you to highlight your most significant achievements and attributes - the qualities of most interest to your employer.

FACT: The C.V. is used more often in a process of rejection rather than as a selection tool.