If you are thinking about how to write your cv, it is useful to keep in mind that it has to cover all of your professional life, including published papers, summer work, education and any professional work. Of paramount importance is the need to focus on all the things that bear some relation to your present-day appointment application. Writing just about one’s career experience and educational experience is a common fault. This means that you miss out on additional material such as technical certifications or awards that might make you really stand out as an impressive prospect.
Any professional certifications and licenses that touch your occupation and your capability to do your job must be listed on your cv. This notion is straightforward for those professionals who cannot really perform their jobs without having a license to do so. Some examples of professions that demand licences or qualifications are real estate agents and health professionals. If you fall into this group, make certain you place a specific section in your resume to cover your qualifications and licences. The header should say “Professional Certifications” or “Professional Licenses”, or something of this nature. In this section, list all your certifications etc in reverse chronological order.
If your professional sphere doesn’t have any specific requirements for credentials and licenses, it can be more of a puzzle to include similar information when thinking about how to write your cv. For instance, you might have received a training certificate for project management study, even though your job doesn’t really demand that you have such a credential. However, it is especially useful to list any development in your resume, since it will help you to stand out from the group.
Have a good think about all the seminars and development courses you have attended over the years. The courses attended in your present-day job should be fresh in your mind, and may be more relevant than those from quite a few years ago. For example, if you have done some project management training and this aspect is a vital feature of the post you are applying for, make sure you include this training.
Your listing of licences and certificates is, in essence, a summary of your professional employment and experience. Make a list, in reverse chronological order, and study which of the items you listed are relevant to your professional goals. Your final resume need have no more than five most recent certifications and licenses. Each of the certificates and licenses you use should include the date on which they were received. If you took a course over time, for illustration, show the completion date in the style of month and year only.
The exact name of the credentials or the licence should be listed, along with an issuing organization. By all means reference one of your certifications in your cover letter if it is relevant to the position you are applying for.
The list of certificates can be typed on its own page if there is a great amount of information to cover. You should always list a few most recent items; however if the listing exceeds five items, let the potential employer understand that extra information is available on request. Lastly, recall that one of the most important factors in considering how to write your cv is it should focus only on those elements that sell you as the best candidate for the job.
If you need to receive access to top quality and contemporary information and resources on how to write your cv, be sure to have a look at Paul Robertson’s practical and informative posts on Writing A Good CV.