Crafting a Winning CV: Skills, Sections, and Interview Tips

Posted on Jan 22, 2025 in Other university degrees and diplomas

A CV, or curriculum vitae, is a summary of a person’s education and professional history used for job applications. It’s your opportunity to showcase your skills, qualifications, experiences, and abilities. A good CV should be concise, accurate, engaging, and thorough.

CV Sections:

  • Personal Information: Name, surname, address (street, number, postal code, city, country), telephone number (+34), email, date of birth.
  • Education: List in chronological order, with the most recent and relevant information at the top.
  • Work Experience: Detail your professional history.
  • Personal Skills:
    • Languages: (Mother tongue, basic-A, independent-B, proficient-C). Specify listening, speaking, writing, and reading levels.
    • Communicative & Organizational Skills: Highlight abilities that benefit the job (e.g., patience, teamwork, kindness).
    • Computer Skills: Mention software proficiency (e.g., image editors, text editors, scripting).
    • Driving License: Include if applicable.
  • Additional Information: Employment status, hobbies (music, sports), and interests relevant to the job.

Why are CVs Used?

CVs are a good way to make a selection without needing a face-to-face interview. They can also be used for unexpected calls to check if a candidate is truly interested. They reduce costs and speed up the process, especially for candidates who live far from the interview location.

Key Differences: Face-to-Face vs. Phone Interviews

Face-to-Face: Considers body language, physical appearance, clothing, and punctuality.

Phone: Emphasizes the quality of answers, tone of voice, and how you handle the situation.

Interview Preparation:

  • Dress: Appearance matters.
  • Body Language: Maintain eye contact, use voice emphasis, and smile.
  • Environment: Control your surroundings (minimize distractions like kids, pets, and connection issues).

Interview Tips:

  • Have important information at hand: CV, relevant names, emails, company details.
  • Prepare for common questions.
  • Research the job and company thoroughly.
  • Choose a quiet place, free from distractions.
  • Use formal language, avoid filler words like “ohm,” “eeeh,” “aha.”
  • Ensure a good connection with the interviewer.

Cover Letter Structure:

Writer Address

Company Address Date

Greeting: Dear Ms/Mr

Paragraph 1: State the job you’re applying for, how you found out about it, and why you are applying.

Paragraphs 2-3: Describe relevant work experience and education, and explain why you are the right person for the job.

Paragraph 4: Provide contact information and the best time for an interview.

Ending: Signature, Write name

Scientific Language:

  • Use standard, unabbreviated syntax.
  • Employ lexically dense noun phrase structures.
  • Use nominalized vocabulary.
  • Use elevated vocabulary.
  • Incorporate terms with specialized technical meanings.
  • Reference scholars without biographical details.
  • Maintain terminological precision and avoid ambiguity.
  • Maintain neutrality.
  • Use lexical and visual resources.

Text Types:

Descriptive, narrative, argumentative, expository, instructive.

Academic Writing:

Main parts: The writing process, elements of writing, vocabulary for writing, writing models.

Abstracts:

Include background, aim and thesis of the paper, method of research, and results of research.