Creating a curriculum vitae (CV) as an undergraduate can be a challenge, especially when formal work experience is limited. Many students face the challenge of translating their academic and extracurricular activities into a professional document. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to building a CV that showcases your skills and potential to employers and academic programs by leveraging the experiences you already have.
What to Include in Your Undergraduate CV
For an undergraduate, the content of a CV is a strategic presentation of your academic and personal development. Each section should be curated to build a narrative of your capabilities and potential. This highlights your strengths even in the absence of extensive work history.
Contact Information
At the top of your CV, your contact information must be clear and professional. This section should include your full name, phone number, and a professional email address. Ensure this information is up-to-date and easy to locate so interested parties can contact you without issue.
Education
For undergraduates, the education section is a primary part of the CV and should be placed prominently near the top. List your current or most recent degree first, in reverse chronological order. Include the name of your university, your degree title, your major and any minors, and your expected graduation date. You can also add relevant coursework, your GPA if it is strong, and any academic honors or awards you have received.
Relevant Experience
The experience section is where you can demonstrate the application of your skills. This is not limited to paid employment and can include internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer work. You can title this section to reflect the nature of your experiences, such as “Work Experience” or “Volunteer and Leadership Experience.” Think broadly about where you have developed transferable skills.
Projects and Coursework
Academic projects and coursework can be a good substitute for formal work experience. This section allows you to showcase practical skills and knowledge gained through your studies. Include the title of the project, the course it was for, and a brief description of your role and what you accomplished. For group projects, highlight your specific contributions and any leadership roles you took on.
Skills
The skills section should be a concise list of your abilities. This can be broken down into categories such as:
- Technical skills (e.g., specific software, programming languages)
- Laboratory skills (e.g., lab techniques)
- Computer skills
- Language skills
Soft skills, such as communication and teamwork, are also valuable and are best demonstrated through the descriptions of your experiences in other sections.
Extracurriculars, Awards, and Honors
This section provides an opportunity to show your personality and interests outside of your academic work. Include any involvement in student clubs, sports teams, or community organizations. List any awards, scholarships, or honors you have received, as these demonstrate a high level of achievement and help create a more well-rounded picture of who you are.
Structuring and Formatting Your CV
The visual presentation of your CV is as important as its content. A well-structured and formatted document is easier to read and leaves a positive impression. The goal is to create a clean, professional, and scannable document that highlights your most important information.
For an undergraduate student, a CV should be one page long. Use a professional and easy-to-read font such as Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman, in a size between 10 and 12 points. Maintain consistent spacing and margins of around one inch on all sides. Using bolding and italics sparingly can help draw attention to key information, but avoid excessive design elements that can make the document look cluttered.
When you are ready to send your CV, save it as a PDF file. This will ensure that your formatting remains intact, regardless of the device or operating system the recipient is using. A PDF presents a more professional image and prevents any accidental changes to your document.
How to Write Compelling Descriptions
The language you use to describe your experiences can impact the effectiveness of your CV. Crafting strong descriptions that highlight your accomplishments is a way to make your CV stand out. The focus should be on demonstrating your value and potential to a prospective employer or academic program.
Start each bullet point with a strong action verb to create a sense of accomplishment. Instead of using passive phrases like “Responsible for,” use active verbs such as “Managed,” “Developed,” “Analyzed,” or “Coordinated.” This approach makes your contributions sound more dynamic.
Whenever possible, quantify your achievements with numbers and data. For example, instead of saying you “helped increase event attendance,” you could write “Increased event attendance by 30% through targeted social media campaigns.” Using specific metrics provides concrete evidence of your accomplishments.
Focus on the results of your actions rather than just listing your duties. Explain what you accomplished in each role and how your work benefited the organization or project. This approach demonstrates your ability to make a meaningful contribution.
Tailoring Your CV for Each Application
A one-size-fits-all CV is less effective than one that is tailored to a specific opportunity. Customizing your CV for each application shows that you have taken the time to understand the role and the organization. This approach can increase your chances of securing an interview.
Begin by carefully reading the job or program description and identifying the keywords and required skills. These are the qualifications and attributes that the employer or admissions committee is looking for. Make a list of these keywords and think about how your own experiences and skills align with them.
Once you have identified the key requirements, modify your CV to highlight your most relevant qualifications. This may involve reordering sections to bring the most pertinent information to the forefront or rephrasing bullet points to emphasize specific skills. The goal is to make it easy for the reader to see that you are a good fit for the position.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A polished CV can be undermined by simple mistakes. Avoiding common errors is a final step in creating a professional document. A careful review of your CV can help you catch and correct these issues before they reach a potential employer.
Typos and grammatical errors are one of the most common mistakes and can create a negative impression. Always proofread your CV carefully, and consider asking a friend or career advisor to review it as well. Other common missteps include:
- Using an unprofessional email address.
- Including irrelevant personal information such as your marital status or date of birth, unless specifically requested.
- Adding a generic or uninspired objective statement at the top of your CV.
- Using a photograph, unless it is specifically requested.