A CV

Learn how to write a curriculum vitae, often called a CV in the UK or résumé in American English. 

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

Reading text

Maria Jones

Digital Marketing Specialist

Profile

I have five years' experience in various digital marketing roles. I have a proven ability to create successful marketing campaigns in line with brand identity and values. I am a strong collaborator with outstanding communication skills, and have comprehensive experience of using my specialist knowledge and expertise in analytics for a wide variety of marketing initiatives.

Employment History

June 2017 – present
Digital Marketing Specialist for Zinco, a global insurance start-up

  • My role involves working to tight deadlines to design, create and launch marketing campaigns via social media.
  • I have developed advanced knowledge of a range of social media platforms and digital marketing tools.
  • I specialise in driving successful campaigns and excel in analysing their impact.
  • I have experience launching digital billboards in places such as train stations and shopping centres.  

Sept 2016 – June 2017
Creative break from employment to travel and blog

  • I travelled through 12 countries, met several professional bloggers and started my own travel blog.
  • I built up a community of followers and started to monetise my blog through sponsored posts.

May 2014 – Aug 2016
Digital Marketing Assistant, Krunch Ltd

  • Responsibility for overall social media strategy and regular posting on key channels.
  • I played a key role in numerous campaigns to boost engagement with our brand.
  • I also supported three product launches.

Education

2014 Diploma in Digital Marketing, Leeds Beckett University, UK
2012 A-levels (Psychology, English, Art & Design), Leeds City College, UK

Skills and Interests

Competent WordPress developer
Skilled in Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrator
Advanced Spanish (C1)
Intermediate German (B1)
Photography
Travel

References

Available on request

Tips

  1. Start with a short profile to show who you are and what you offer.
  2. List your employment history, starting with the present.
  3. Explain any gaps, for example time spent travelling or having children.
  4. Use bullet points for your main responsibilities and experience in each role. Choose the aspects of your previous jobs that are most relevant to the new job you are applying for.
  5. Then give your educational background. List the relevant qualifications that you have, starting with the most recent. Include the title of your qualification, where you studied and the date you successfully completed it.
  6. Consider putting Education above Employment if you don't have a lot of work experience yet. 
  7. List other experience or interests you may have if they are relevant to the job.
  8. If you have someone who could support your application, add their contact details or say References available on request at the end.

Discussion

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Worksheet83.72 KB

Language level

Average: 4.7 (15 votes)
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Submitted by AndreaHI on Thu, 04/01/2024 - 23:30

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I have a CV, the most important item in a CV (English or Spanish) is the profile because is in this part where you must show to the recruitment main abilities and relevant experience.

Submitted by Georgiana on Mon, 02/10/2023 - 12:01

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So, after I have written this CV or resume, where do I place it? I just write it and la di da, leave it somewhere hanging between the sky and me?

Hello Georgiana,

Many companies request a CV when you apply for a job with them, so people typically email them as an attachment.

All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team

Submitted by Ensiye on Sat, 09/09/2023 - 19:43

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Thank you for sharing these tips. you have nearly covered everything.
I can state two points about jobs that have to be attached portfolios to their CV, like programming.

It's better to have a section with the title "Portfolios".Use bullet points for each portfolio and explain what it is about and what most technologies have been used in a maximum of two or three lines.

Another tip that can be useful is that at the end of your explanation about each portfolio, link the demo and source code of your portfolio. it can be done by this sentence: You can see live in this "link" and also see source code on "GitHub".

Submitted by Lyubov Filimonova on Wed, 22/03/2023 - 09:38

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Hello friends,
Now I am looking for a new job, so I should to update my Cv in the job internet portal. I agree with great advices from this topik and will follow them.
Thank you!

Submitted by inaki07 on Thu, 23/02/2023 - 17:27

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I havent got a CV, some tips are that write formaly and all the experiences, educational information about you, also previous jobs you had, your skills, interests like hobbies, dates of the information.

Submitted by daniannrhc on Wed, 31/08/2022 - 04:41

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Yes, I have. It was a requirement for joining an organization at university. But I don't have any tips from myself to share. Because I too, search for many references on the internet, whether its the structure or the template. Recently I just watch the right things to do to write CV for scholarships from a scholarship awardee in youtube and I was surprised. The CV for school apply purposes and the CV required for either a job or an organization is different. So maybe the tips from me is to get the references as many as possible, because it helps me a lot.

Submitted by Rita25 on Wed, 22/06/2022 - 03:04

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I am a current student, By the end of my course, I will have to write my CV. This is such a good example. It is well written and essentials qualifications required for the job are specified. I'll definitely use this example as a guide to create my own CV. I've certainly learn a lot from this site. Kudos!

Submitted by Abrarhussain on Wed, 05/01/2022 - 23:36

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Yes I have a CV. Yes I have a tip, make sure the summary is brief and to the point.

Submitted by Suraj paliwal on Sun, 07/11/2021 - 13:08

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No, I'm a still a student but I have many tips for a effective CV.
Write only important things
Not in detail write a short and concise
Carefully read this article you find important tips for a CV.
Thank you