As a graduate, you are expected to have learnt how to write speeches, essays, articles, journals, resume’s or curriculum vitae but unfortunately, most secondary schools do not teach their students most of these things and if they do, its been rushed without the students assimilating the basics. These students in turn enter the university without prior knowledge of writing, making it difficult for most graduates especially in Nigeria to write an ordinary article talk more of a curriculum vitae. This article was written to address the problem of preparing a simple but professional curriculum vitae or resume.

A Curriculum Vitae CV is an official document that outlines a person’s educational, professional and personal history which is usually prepared for Job applications. It gives a detailed understanding to your employers on who you are or better still, it markets your potentials, abilities, qualifications and skills. It is also called a Résumé. It is different from an application letter.

An application on the other hand is a formal letter that tells your interested recruiter that you have the qualities that they need as stipulated in where you found their requirement. While an application letter cannot be used to make multiple applications, a CV can be used to make multiple applications that is why it is requested more often than application letters.

It should be noted that employers prefer reading CVs at leisure time or outside working hours as the case maybe. So, lets say an employer has about 500 CVs piled up at his desk and he needs about 20 candidates to call for the interview. Do you think he would have time for a CV that is ambiguous, badly written with irrelevant and wrong information? He would just dump those and move on to the others.

Let me sound this as an important notice. There is no best way in preparing or constructing a CV. Everyone has a format or boasts of a particular format but all still contains the relevant information needed. The main thing here is to present a simple, non ambiguous but professional CV. So with that said, let’s move to how to prepare a CV

1. First and Foremost, you should write your personal details which usually contain name, address, email, phone number, state of origin e.t.c. An example is given below:

TOLU, ADEBAYO VINCENT

100, Jigawa Street Casimo Town, Jigawa State.

Email: toluadebayo@gmail.com

Phone: 09046456785, 07077777097

PERSONAL DATA

Gender: Male

Marital status Single

Date of Bir 4th January, 1900

State of Origin: Jigawa

Local Government Area: Lapai

Nationality: Togolese

2. Secondly, You should put your educational qualifications which give a detailed information about the schools, universities you attended. An example is given below:

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ATTENDED WITH DATES

2014-2015: University of Yales, lome, Jigawa State.

B.Sc.Biophysics (second class honours, upper division)

2003-2008: Pretty International College, Cole street, Lai-mohammed, Togo.

Senior Secondary School Certificate

1993-2001: Nigeria Staff Primary School, Gwanam, Abuja.

First Leaving School Certificate

3. The third part is your work experience which most employers require and inquire to know whether you have any experience. Be brief but clear in this part of your CV. Example:

WORK EXPERIENCE

2013-2015: Government Secondary School, Dogara-Dajem LGA, Jigawa State.

Maths Teacher

2010-2012: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Taraba State Command.

Secretary

2012-2013: Marina Hotels, Yadon, Abuja.

Hotel Receptionist

4. The next part to write should be your Skills and Strength. I have found out that most people are not honest in this category. This is where you sell yourself, so you are expected to list what you know how to do best. Things like having good communication skills, being a good team player, being a computer literate e.t.c applies here. An example is given below:

More at http://www.nigerianinfopedia.com/how-to-write-a-simple-but-professional-resume-curriculum-vitae-cv/

Educative

Very nice

nice one