1. Creating a Winning CV and Personal
Statement
www.trinity.edu/career
210.999.8321
careerservices@trinity.edu

2. How to Communicate Your Experience
on a CV

3. CV vs. Resume
Resume
 Brief summary of your skills
and experience over 1 or 2
pages
 Highly customizable: tailored
to each position
 No particular format rule
CV
 More detailed; can stretch
well beyond 2 pages
 Static: any changes will be in
cover letter
 Clear chronological order
covering one’s entire career

4. When do you use which?

5. When to Use Which
Curriculum Vitae Résumé
Grad/Professional School Admissions Business & Non-profit Professions
Used when applying to academic teaching
and research positions
Summary of education, relevant skills and
experience
Science-based Professions Marketing tool to obtain internships and
interviews
No page limit 2-pages, max
Includes unique sections not used in a
résumé
Content is tailored to the position/audience
References may be included at the end Does not include references

6. Developing a
Curriculum Vitae

7. Requirements
• Contact information
– Name
– Address
– Phone number
– Email address
– Name and page numbers on all pages
(except 1st)

8. Requirements
• Education
– Name of Institution
– Location of Institution
– Degree earned
– Year awarded or expected date of award
– Name of Thesis or Dissertation
– Name of Advisor or Committee

9. Education
Ex.
M.A. in American History, 1996
Columbia University, New York, NY
Master’s Thesis: “The Use of Video in Presidential Campaigns”
Committee: Profs. Michael Jackson, Demi Moore, and Sting
B.A. in History and Journalism, 1994
Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
Undergraduate Honors Thesis: “Rhetoric of Clinton Campaign”
Advisor: Rock Hudson

10. From this point on you have more
latitude in shaping the
organization of your CV. You
should be guided by your
strengths, requirements for the
job, and conventions of your
discipline.

11. Other Sections to Include
• Honors/Awards (Grants, Fellowships and Patents)
• Research Experience
• Teaching Experience
• Publications and Presentations
• Related Professional Experience
• Languages

12. Research Experience

13. Teaching Experience

14. Teaching Experience

15. Publications & Presentations

16. Optional
• Memberships or Professional Affiliations
• Scholarly Associations
• Travel or Study Abroad
• Technical or specialized skills
• Community Involvement
• Certifications or Credentials
• Relevant Coursework
• Professional Development and Training

17. Writing a Personal Statement

18. What is a Personal Statement?
A response to a prompt, question or questions on a
graduate or professional school application form
The personal statement gives you the opportunity to
promote yourself to the selection committee

19. Important!!!
 No set formula
 Only choices to make

20. Understand and Explain Yourself
Show yourself as:
 Interesting
 Insightful
 Revealing
 Non-generic

21. Set Yourself Apart
Be sure to:
 Engage the readers
 Clearly demonstrate what makes you a unique
candidate (take a personal inventory)

22. Answer the Questions
 Be sure your response, fits the prompt or question/s
 Do not use the same statement for all applications
 Tailor your response to each prompt or question and
each school

23. Tell a Story
 Make yourself memorable
And…
 Be truthful and stick to the facts

24. Find an Angle
 Your life doesn’t have to be a soap opera
 Use the personal inventory to help you find your story

25. Concentrate on Your Opening Paragraph
 Introduce relevant elements
 Develop your thesis
 Refer back to the thesis to ensure it is being
supported

26. Tell Who You Are and What You Know
 Show who you are, what makes you tick, and what
makes you stand out from the crowd
 Demonstrate your knowledge of the field
 Highlight specific experiences in your field (work,
research, teaching etc.)
 Use the language professionals’ use in conveying this
information

27. Be Meticulous and Proofread
 Be clear and concise
 Adhere to stated word limits
 Spell check (visit the writing center)

28. Ask Yourself:
 Are my goals well articulated?
 Do I explain why I have selected this school and/or
program in particular?
 Do I demonstrate knowledge of this school or
program?
 Do I include interesting details that prove my claims
about myself?
 Is my tone confident?

29. Questions?
Office of Career Services
Coates University Center, Suite 215
(210) 999-8321
careerservices@trinity.edu
http://web.trinity.edu/x6325.xml