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Resume & CV
Jun 16th 2022

Crafting an Outstanding Biodata: Format Tips and Sample Templates

Biodata formats, popular in south Asian countries, such as India,contain information about you and can serve a couple of purposes --introduce you to your potential employer or life partner.But how can you create a biodata format for a job that no employer can resist? What should you include in a job biodata? What are some tips that can assist you in crafting the perfect job biodata? These are the questions that this article will answer.Read on to learn all you need to know for making a killer job biodata!Table of Contents:What Is a Biodata Format?How to Create Biodata Formats for Job Hunting?Biodata, Resume, and CV: What Is the Difference?Tips for Making the Best Bio Data for Job📚Further Reading: Wondering how to make the perfect biodata for marriage? Check out the latest matrimonial biodata format on Cake!Boidata Sample - Shah Rukh Khan (Created by Cake, Click to view complete resume and download) What Is a Biodata Format? Should you check the Cambridge University Dictionary, you’ll learn that the official definition of the biodata is “information about a person’s life, work, and career accomplishments.” You’ll also come across other descriptions like “Biographical data that gives facts about the life and work experiences of the candidate.” In practice, biodata, or biodata format, is a document that contains information about you and serves as an introduction for different purposes. Predominantly, a biodata is used for job and marriage and popular in the following countries:IndiaBangladesh Pakistan Sri LankaWhen you are creating a bio data format for job, you need to carefully think about how to catch the recruiter's eye. Read the job posting thoroughly and showcase desired skills and qualities by including your education background, skills and work history. However, the recruiter also expects to see some more personal details about you on your biodata format: information about your gender, ethnicity, religion, hobbies, etc. Created by Cake How to Create Biodata Formats for Job Hunting? As explained above, a biodata format focuses mainly on you and who you are. For a bio data for job applications, you can include the following sections:PhotoObjective or SummaryPersonal DetailsEducationWork ExperienceSkillsAdditional Information1. PhotoIncluding a photo on your biodata is optional. If you choose to include one, ensure that it reflects your professionalism. A professional portrait can add a personal touch to your biodata, potentially making the recruiter view it as more than just a piece of paper.2. Objective or SummaryNext, include a short passage summing up your professional background, skills and work experience, that would qualify you for the role in your biodata. List your career goals and/or life goals in this short paragraph in the biodata for job too, so that the recruiter can determine whether your goal and the company's are aligned.Example of an objective for a job biodataBangalore-based Stanford graduate Data Engineer with 3 years of experience in designing and implementing solutions for business problems who specializes in data mining and data analysis and looks forward to leverage data engineering skills to help ABC Corp. to achieve its vision.Example of a summary for a job biodataData Engineer with a MS in data science from Stanford University based in Bangalore. Proficient in MySQL, Python, C/C++. 3 years of experience in data pipelining and real-time data marts.📚Further reading: How to write a professional summary for a resume? Created by Cake 3. Personal DetailsThis is where a biodata for job differs from a regular resume or CV. The hiring manager expects to learn more about your background and personal information. Typically, those personal details include:Current positionPhone numberEmail addressContact detailsPlace of residencePostal addressDate of birthNationalityMarital statusParents’ namesGenderReligionHeightRace SalaryHobbiesInterestsStrengthsCharacter traits Created by Cake 4. EducationEducational background is essential on a job biodata as it demonstrates the skills you possess and the training you've received. HR can use this information to determine whether to invite you for an interview. To clearly display your educational qualifications on a biodata for job applications, consider including the following elements:Name and location of the schoolGraduation yearMajor(s) and minor(s)If you are a recent graduate or applying for entry-level positions, including relevant courses or modules you have taken can be beneficial. Alternatively, you can also include your GPA if it is 3.5 or above to demonstrate that you are a hard worker and a quick learner, making your job biodata more attractive. You may consider adding the following:GPARelevant coursesHonors and awardsRelevant club or society experienceExample of education on a job biodataM.Sc at Stanford University, 2013 - 2014Major: Data ScienceCGPA: 7/10B.Ac at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi 2008 - 2012Major: Computer ScienceCGPA: 8.5/10 Created by Cake 5. Work ExperienceIn a job biodata, the work experience section is arguably the most important. HR primarily assesses your suitability for the role by examining your work experience. To showcase your abilities, clearly list the following on your job biodata:Professional titleName and location of the companyEmployment periodDuties and responsibilitiesExample of work experience on a job biodataSenior Data Engineer at Infosys Technologies Ltd, 2018 - PresentTrain and mentor a team of 10 junior data engineersDesign and implement business solutionsSoftware Engineer at Wipro Technologies Limited, 2015 - 208Identified issues in the operating system and improved operating proceduresPreviewed peer codes Created by Cake 6. SkillsIncluding skills on a job biodata is essential to convince HR that you are qualified for a particular role. After all, a job biodata is a document with the ultimate purpose of securing you an interview and helping you land your dream job. You need to demonstrate to the recruiter, who reviews your biodata, that you can perform the required tasks for the position and potentially more. The skills section in the biodata is where you can achieve this.Examples of skills on a job biodataSQL/NoSQL/Python/C/C++AWSAzureData Warehousing SolutionsData AnalysisETL Tools7. Additional InformationLastly, if you have additional information or experiences that are relevant to the position you're applying for, include them in an 'Additional Information' section on your job biodata and explain them in detail.CertificationsHonorsHobbies and interestsVolunteer experienceExample of additional informationProfessional Data Engineer by Google, 2019 Biodata, Resume, and CV: What Is the Difference? Although a job biodata, a resume and a CV are similar in their purposes, there are hidden nuances between them. Biodata for Job To begin with, it's important to know that a biodata lists personal information in detail, including your name, date of birth, gender, first language, nationality, place of residence, and marital status, among other details. Typically, these details are required when applying for positions in government offices, agencies, and research grants. A job biodata format also includes your educational qualifications and previous job experiences in chronological order. Applicants should be cautious not to include information that could potentially lead to misuse of their data. It's worth noting that overseas clients hiring remote freelancers usually don't require Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Most importantly, remember to keep the description concise and limited to a single page in length. While you can include references, the primary focus of this document is on you as an individual. Resume A resume provides a concise job summary, offering a quick overview of the positions you've held in the past and the successful projects you've handled. A resume does not need to be overly detailed but should typically span 1 or 2 pages. When attached to an application, a resume highlights your core competencies and educational qualifications, making it particularly useful for internship applications. References should never be included in a resume.📚Further reading: 5 Useful Resume Tips to Help You Get a Foreign Job from India Curriculum Vitae (CV) The Curriculum Vitae (CV) covers anywhere from 2 to 4 pages, and if you have compelling information to add, the document can extend to several pages. Since you've just graduated, you may not have extensive work experience, but that's okay because you can emphasize your educational qualifications, which should be presented at the top of the page. Include details about your degrees, professional affiliations, additional courses, extracurricular activities, and part-time positions where you gained on-the-job experience. A great CV may also encompass any research you've conducted and the results you've achieved. Experts who specialize in creating such documents recommend describing your talents, hobbies, technical skills, and any other relevant information related to the job you're applying for. It's a good idea to include references. Tips for Making the Best Bio Data for Job When creating a biodata format for job applications, remember that each application receives an average of just 6 seconds of reading time. This is the time you have to make a strong impression on the hiring manager. To increase your chances of securing an interview invitation, adhere to the following principles while crafting your job biodata: Make iteasily comprehensibleBe cautious about the personal information you revealFocus on what makes you perfect for the positionHighlight the main points that are likely to interest the readerCut down on the unimportant pointsRefer to samples for more ideas When you begin creating a biodata format for a job, the first step is to thoroughly study the company's requirements and the job description. Only after doing so should you design your biodata to capture the interest of hiring managers. If you're unsure about how to complete a biodata form, you can use online resume makers for guidance.With Cake, the best free resume builder, we provide you with hundreds of free resume templates download and various resume examples that help showcase the best you. Landing your dream job will be a piece of cake!Create Resume
Resume & CV
Aug 25th 2025

A Comprehensive Guide to Writing a CV [CV vs. Resume, Full Form of CV Definition]

Created by CakeResumeMany people often mistake the full meaning of a CV for a resume since they are both commonly defined as documents required for an application. While a resume is used for general job applications and is more common in the US, Australia, and Canada, a CV (Curriculum Vitae), on the other hand, is used for job application in academic, education, scientific, medical, or research fields. Hence, a CV is usually longer and includes more detailed information compared to a resume. There are more remarkable distinctions between these two documents - which will be explained further in this article. We'll walk you through everything CV in this article, from the full form of CV explanation to how to write aCVfor general and academic job applications.Without further ado, let's jump right in! TABLEOFCONTENTWhat Is a CV? – Full Form, Definition, Types, ExamplesWhat Is a Resume? – Definition, ExamplesCV vs. Resume – The Key Differences When to UseHow to Write an Academic CVHow to Write a CV for Job ApplicationsWhat Is a CV? – Full Form, Definition, Types, ExamplesThe full form of a CV is "Curriculum Vitae," a Latin term meaning "course of life." A CV is used to showcase a candidate's qualifications, experience, and accomplishments throughout their academic and professional career. By reading a CV, a hiring manager can determine whether or not an individual is qualified for the vacancy. In general, the term "CV" is used everywhere in the world, including the UK, New Zealand, the European Union, and Asia. A CV can also go under different names in different countries, such as biography, employment record, or "biodata" in India. There are two major types of CVs that you need to know: academic CV and job application CV. They are categorized based on the purpose of use. Let's have a quick look! Academic CV Anacademic CVis explicitly written for academic purposes and emphasizes your contributions to a particular field of study or practice. These contributions include publications, projects, achievements, awards, honors, etc.If you are applying for a position in education, science, medicine, or research, you must provide a comprehensive academic CV. And if you aspire to be a researcher or pursue higher degree programs such as a Master's or Ph.D., using this CV type is also advisable. Job Application CV A job application CV can be used for a job search and application in nearly all industries.It emphasizes the job seeker's work experience, skills, accomplishments, and educational background. This type of CV is particularly useful for executives and high-level professionals. What Is a Resume?The term resume is French for "summary," referring to a document used for summarizing one's experience that is relevant to the job they're applying for. A resume is usually paired with a cover letter to express motivation for the job and explain why the applicant is a good fit for the company. The purpose of resumes is to give your potential employer a brief overview of your competencies, work experience, and achievements in the field. In most cases, recruiters and employers prefer a concise resume without a lot of extraneous information. As they only spend approximately six seconds reading a resume, you should keep it short but still cover all necessary information.Read this article to learn more about resume. CV vs. Resume – The Key Differences When to UseNow that you understand the fundamental distinctions between a CV and a Resume, let's examine them in greater detail. Pay attention to the differences in content, length, and when they should be used.CVPurpose:Applying for academic positions.Content:Personal details, academic background, work experience, extracurricular activities, and accomplishments.Length:No limit, depending on the amount of information included in the CV.Design Layout: Minimal and simpleCountry Region:Globally, Asia, the EU, and New Zealand.ResumePurpose: Applying for jobs.Content: Information relevant to the specific position, such as areas of expertise, skills, and work experience.Length:1 to 2 pages.Design Layout: Vary from field to field with different resume formatsCountry Region:US, Australia, and Canada How to Write an Academic CV1. Contact Information The first thing you must include in a CV is your personal information and contact information. This includes your full name, mailing address, phone number, and email address. Additionally, you may want to include your LinkedIn profile or other professional social media accounts if they are relevant to your field. 2. Personal Statement A well-written personal statement is indispensable when pursuing higher education or applying for an academic position. It can help highlight the educational background and qualifications, personal traits, and other academic achievements in the first place. Personal Statement Example in a Master Program Application “Final-year law student at Florida State University with strong organizational skills and the ability to speak good English, Spanish, and French. Placed second in the Wayne Law 2020 Spring Moot Court In-House Competition. Eager to earn an LL. M. at Vermont Law School.” 3. Education This section is a crucial part of an academic CV, as school advisors and recruiters want to see whether you have obtained fundamental knowledge of the field or required courses. When writing this section, you should follow the standard format of anyeducation section on a resume. Another side note is that you should also include your relevant coursework or thesis title if related to the position you’re applying for. 4. Publications Here is the list of types of publications that you can include in an academic CV Research papersPeer-reviewed publicationsBooks/Book chaptersBook reviewsArticles For each type, provide all details, including the title, journal title, publication date, and page numbers (if relevant). 5. Awards Besides publications, you can also highlight your academic accomplishments from school to strengthen your position. A high GPADean’s ListScholarshipsHonor RollAwards won for a specific activity or course 6. Grants Fellowships It is important to includeresearch grants and fellowshipsin an academic CV since they are awards that graduate students and postgraduate scholars compete for. These awards are given based on their potential to make a positive and lasting impact in their academic field and can support graduate study, scholarly research, or professional development. Fellowships are available in all fields and for individuals at any career stage, from undergraduate study to executive leadership development programs. For these reasons, you can strengthen your CV with this section. Here's what to write in the grants and fellowships section in an academic CV: Program titleStart and end dateWhat you have done and accomplished 7. Conferences Presentations You can include a list of the presentations and talks you've given, includingposter presentations. Additionally, any conferences or panels you've organized can give you an advantage over others. 8. Experiences In your academic CV, you can include any relevant experience you have in teaching or research/lab work. When describing your teaching experience, highlight your skills and explain how they relate to the job you are applying for. If you are a science student or research scientist, showcase your knowledge and skills related to research or lab work in this section of your CV.You can refer to this teacher resume writing guideline to know what and how to write. 9. Non-Academic Activities In addition to academic experiences, sharing non-academic information can also showcase your capabilities. Here are some examples: InternshipVolunteer workPersonal projectsExtracurricular clubs/teams 10. Languages Other Skills In addition to providing a detailed CV, showcasing your language abilities is also helpful. Consider adding your proficiency level when mentioning your other language skills (intermediate, advanced, professional working, or native/bilingual).You can refer to this article for more details aboutlanguage skills and proficiency levels on your resumeand CV. When crafting a CV, it's crucial to highlight your computer skills and other transferable skills that you've gained through education, internships, volunteering, and previous work experiences. These highly valuable skills can be utilized in various job roles and industries.For more details on how to write an academic CV, we have a separate article to walk you through a writing guidelines onhow to write an academic CV.Now that you know everything about academic CV, let's move on to how to write a CVwhen applying for a job How to Write a CV for Job Applications 1. Contact InformationSame as the academic CV, you must include your contact information in a job application CV so that recruiters know how to contact you. Contact information must include: Full nameProfessional titleEmailPhone numberComplete address (optional)Social media page or personal website (optional) Make sure to provide accurate details and a professional email address to ensure a successful recruitment process. 2. Career Objective This can go by the name of a personal statement, career objective, or summary of qualifications. This part is placed at the top of your CV and provides a summary of your skills and qualifications relevant to the job opening. Think about it as a self-introduction to hiring managers in order that they want to read on to know more about you. 3. Work Experiences 4 basic elements to include in the work experience section are:Organization/company name and its locationJob titleYour employment periodJob responsibilities and accomplishments 💡 Tip: You could also include part-time, contract, and freelance work as long as you can illustrate your skills.Read this article to learn more abouthow to write a work experience section on your resume/CV. 4. Education If you're a fresh graduate, it's essential to include detailed information about your educational background, highlighting the key learning and skills you acquired during your education. Remember to put this part before the employment/work experience section. In this section, you should cover the following elements: School name (with location)Degree levelMajor minorGraduation yearGPA (recommended if it’s high)Relevant coursework (recommended if it’s beneficial for your application)Academic honors (award, scholarship, publication) And if you're an experienced professional, consider going brief on this section, especially if you have three to five years of experience.💡 Tip: Avoid listing your GPA unless you have 3.5 and above. 5. Awards Honors Awards and honors which you have earned for going beyond average either in your studies or on the job should also be mentioned. Here are some examples of career-related prizes that can make your CV stand out from the crowd:Employee of the Month/YearTop PerformerEmployees' Choice AwardStudent honors To make your CV even more specific and convincing, including measurable achievements/responsibilities that led to receiving the award or honor would be beneficial. 6. Publications When applying for academic, research, or science jobs, it is crucial to showcase your published papers and contributions. This will showcase your expertise and exceptional research and writing abilities.Learn how to list publications on resume with recommended formats and example. 💡 Tip: When listing publications in a CV, consistent formatting is key 7. Conferences Presentations As long as the presentations you've made or conferences you've attended are relevant to the job requirements, adding them to your CV is always a good idea. Here are some great examples of conferences and presentations listed on a CV:Constitutional Law Colloquium, Houston, TX, October 2021Business Analytics and Decision Sciences Conference, Chang Gung University, Taiwan, August 2020 8. Skills As a job seeker, it's important to showcase your skills on CV/resume to hiring managers. To increase your chances of being considered for a position, it's recommended to list both soft and hard skills. Aim for five bullet points for each category. There are also 3 ways to structure the skills section: Expanded bullet listIntegrated with work experienceCategorized skills sectionA job application CV is somewhat similar to a resume, if you want to know more, learn how to write a resume with our ultimate writing guide and tips! We also recommend you to look at this resume format to know which one to choose when creating a job application CV.So, we hope that this article has been helpful to you. Let's have a quick recap: 🔑Key Takeaways:A CV full form is "Curriculum Vitae";It focuses mainly on the academic aspect, but can also be use to summarize your whole career in detail;A CV and a resume differ in terms of length, content, and intended use.A CV is one of the most important application documents across the globe, including Asia, the UK, the European Union, and New Zealand.Don't let resume mistakes hold you back. Scan your resume with our AI checker and get personalized recommendations to land more interviews. Scan Resume Now--- Originally written by May Luong ---
Resume & CV
May 20th 2023

How to Create The Best CV for a PhD Application (+ Example CV)

Created by CakeIn this article, you will learn about:How to Write a Good CV for a PhD ApplicationWhat to Include in an Academic CV for a PhD ApplicationTips for Writing the Best PhD Application CVHow to Pick the Best Academic CV Template for a PhD Application CV for PhD ApplicationSampleDuring the process of applying for a PhD, there are many documents that are required, and an academic CV for your PhD application is one of them. It’s important to write an impressive academic CV during a PhD application, so that you can present an overview of your educational background and display your ability to pursue a PhD. In this article, Cake will guide you through a step-by-step process on how to create an academic CV for your PhD application, along with a sample academic CV for a PhD application at the end of this article.How to Write a Good CV for a PhD ApplicationStep 1: Research on the desired school and program. First of all, you should begin by narrowing down your choices. What is your desired school? What program do you want to attend? It’s important to keep your mind set on a certain goal before starting on the process of writing your CV to apply for a PhD, so that you can create a customized academic CV that best fits the PhD program you are applying for. Make sure to do a thorough background research on the school and program you want to attend. Step 2: Choose the right CV format for your PhD application. Most applicants prefer using the reverse chronological CV format for their PhD CVs. It’s a suitable CV format for prospective PhD students, because you can list your qualifications and publications from the most recent to the oldest, which helps the admission board understand your current educational background, while providing information on your research interest and past achievements. Step 3: Look up PhD CV templates examples online for reference. After picking a suitable resume format for your PhD application, the next step is to find some inspiration. If it’s your first time writing a CV for a PhD application, it’s completely okay to rely on online resources, as long as you do not plagiarize any content. If you want to find the best CV template for your PhD application, consider searching the keywords “PhD student CV template” or “academic CV for PhD application template” online to find a suitable CV template for your PhD application. After you’ve chosen a resume template for your PhD application, it’s time to look for some actual resume examples. Typing the keywords “CV for PhD application sample” or “PhD candidate CV example” into the search engine may help you find some good CV examples for a PhD application. Step 4: Tailor your PhD CV to the school and research topic. Now that you’ve got the basics down, the next step is to tailor your PhD CV to your desired school and program. It’s important to create an academic CV that fits your research topic, so the school will know that you are goal-driven and clear on what you want to study during your PhD. Step 5: Proofread. There’s one last important step to writing a CV for a PhD application. Make sure to double check and proofread your CV before submitting your PhD application. An academic CV for a PhD admission should be free of mistakes, so the school will see how dedicated and detail-oriented you are.What to Include in an Academic CV for a PhD Application1. CV Header A CV header should include personal details and is crucial in a CV for a PhD admission. This section is usually located at the top of your academic CV and includes basic information, such as your full name and contact details, location, along with a brief phrase that states your educational background and interest in specific research topics. 2. Research Interests Since you are writing an academic CV, describing your research interests in a clear and concise way is important so that you can demonstrate your dedication and passion for your chosen field of study and the PhD program. This is similar to a career objective for your PhD application. If you’re having trouble thinking of what to write, consider searching the keywords “sample career objective for PhD application” online for references. 3. Education/Academic History Your academic history should be listed in reverse chronological order, from the most recent to the oldest. If you’re still pursuing a degree, state it clearly in your PhD CV. This part of your PhD candidate CV is important, because it helps the institute see that you are qualified to study for a PhD with the hard skills you currently possess. If there are a few courses where you performed exceptionally well academically, consider including them in your PhD application resume. 4. Work, Research, or Teaching Experience Next is the “work experience” segment of your CV for a PhD admission. In this part, list your relevant work, research or teaching experience. Since most candidates applying for the same PhD as you may have a similar level of education, including the details on your past work experience may help you stand out from other applicants. Keep in mind that you should try to include research experience that is relevant to the PhD program you are applying for in your CV. This shows your dedication and in-depth knowledge in this particular field of study. 5. Skills Now, let’s start working on the “skills” section of your PhD application resume. In this section, you should include any hard or soft skills that could help prove that you are capable of becoming a successful researcher. You can consider including: Technical knowledge and experience (e.g. computer softwares that are commonly used in your field of research)Skills you’ve developed in previous courses or assignments (e.g. academic writing, presentation skills, laboratory skills, etc.)Your level of proficiency in foreign languages 6. Publications Most undergraduate or postgraduate students do not have publications under their names, but if you do, remember to include them on your PhD student CV. If you have publications to list, for example any journal articles, books or chapters, published reports and patents, list them in this section of your PhD CV in reverse chronological order. Pay close attention to details, such as the format style (choose either MLA or APA style) when you are referencing your works.Further reading:How to List Publications on Resume (+ Format Examples) 7. Awards, Honors or Funding We’re almost finished with creating your CV to apply for a PhD! In this part of your PhD CV, you can include any relevant awards, grants, scholarships and funding you’ve received in the past. Including your awards and funding can show your competency as a researcher and add some bonus points to your PhD application resume. 8. Additional Information Last but not least, here’s a list of additional information you can consider including in your CV for a PhD application. Academic association membership: this can show your commitment to a research topic.Previous conferences or seminars you’ve attended or spoken at. Tips for Writing the Best PhD Application CV✅ Tip 1: Customize your PhD CV for the school. As we mentioned previously, it’s important to have knowledge on the institute and research program you are applying for. It’s even better to do research on your instructors and have a clear understanding of their research topics. It’s important to customize your PhD CV, so they can see that you are goal-oriented and clear on what type of research you want to focus on. ✅ Tip 2: Highlight what makes you unique. Since most applicants probably have outstanding educational qualifications, it’s crucial to highlight what makes you unique. This is why you should list your relevant research experience, skills, publications and honors in your CV for PhD applications. ✅ Tip 3: Quantify results on your PhD student CV. Just like any other CV you would create to apply for a job, you should quantify results on an academic CV for a PhD. Having quantifiable results can prove your competency in a research field. ✅ Tip 4: Adopt CV action words. CV action words are verbs that you can use to provide a clearer overview of your ability when you're listing your qualifications in a CV for a PhD application. Instead of stating that you “did” some research as a student, using action verbs like “identified” or “investigated” specifies your role and makes you look much more professional. If you’re having trouble figuring out what action words to use to describe your experience, consider looking online for PhD application CV examples. ✅ Tip 5: Write a PhD CV for a specific field of study. The process of applying for a PhD differs depending on your field of study. If you’re aiming for a PhD in Language Studies, your publications could be the key information that can help you stand out from other candidates. However, if you are writing a CV for the following fields of study, it’s important to include your experience in laboratory research, such as: CV for PhD application in physicsCV for PhD application in biologyCV for PhD application in chemistry How to Pick the Best Academic CV Template for a PhD Application🖋 Q1. How long should a PhD application CV be? Keep your academic CV for a PhD application short and simple. It should only be around 2-4 pages, depending on the amount of relevant experience you have. If you are planning to write a PhD CV that is 4 pages long, be sure to include the most vital information in the first two pages. 🖋 Q2. What is the best font to use in a CV for a PhD admission? It’s important to choose fonts that are both formal and easy to read. Consider going along with a font that you use most often when you’re writing research papers:Times New Roman. List of fonts for your CV/resume:Century GothicLucida SansCalibriGeorgiaGaramondHelveticaTahomaVerdana 💁‍♀️ Reminder:Adjust your font size and margins according to the layout of your PhD CV, ideally 14-16pt for the headers and 10-12 for the body text. 🖋 Q3. What format should a CV for PhD applications be in, Word or PDF? You should definitely send your PhD CV in PDF format, so formatting of your CV does not change when it is viewed on different devices. You should only submit your academic CV in Word format if the institute specifically requests you to do so. CV for PhD Application Sample Lily MillerOutstanding Alumni of Stanford University [email protected]213-785-3065Los Angeles, California (USA)Research interests Social psychology (social cognition, stereotypes and prejudice) Education Stanford UniversityM.A. in Psychology2014 - 2016 Stanford UniversityB.A. in Psychology2010-2014 Experience Research AssistantDepartment of Psychology, Stanford UniversitySept 2016 - May 2017 Assisted Dr. Gerstenberg in research on 10+ topics related to Social psychology.Managed and documented all findings related to the research topics. Teaching AssistantIntroduction to Social Psychology, 2015Sept 2015 - May 2016 Instructed lessons on stereotypes with the guidance of Dr. Gerstenberg.Graded assignments and exams of more than 100+ students. Skills Hard Skills An in-depth understanding of the social determinants of behaviorPsychological research methodsResearch skillsSpecific knowledge in neuroscience, social and forensic psychologyPsychology major theories and history Soft Skills Problem solvingTime managementResearch ethicsAcademic writingPresentation skills Publications Miller, Lily. “Why Do We Care So Much about the Opinions of Others?” The Current Social Behavior of Humans, 20 May 2016.Miller, Lily. “The Main Problem behind Panic Buying and How to Avoid It.” The Current Social Behavior of Humans, 13 Apr. 2015. Awards honors Teaching Assistant Award, Stanford University, 2015Social Psychology Research Grant, Stanford University, 2016Member of American Psychological Association (APA) since 2016 With Cake, the best resume builder online you can easily create your CV for PhD application online and download your CV in PDF format for free. Trynow!Create CV--- Originally written by Celine Chien---
Resume & CV
Aug 26th 2025

40+ Hobbies and Interests to Put on a CV/Resume (Guide + Examples)

Created by CakeResume"Never place your hobbies or interests on the resume or CV."If you ask most recruiters and hiring managers now, you'd hear this. Well, this statement is true to some extent. But did you know that if done correctly, hobbies and interests can help you stand out from other candidates?Other than checking if you're qualified enough through your work experience, achievements, and skills, many recruiters will look at the hobbies and interests section and evaluate if they will be the perfect match for the role and the company's culture. So the questions here are, "How do they know if YOU are thecandidate that suits the position AND the company culture?", and "For which vacancy should you include the hobbies and interests?".In this article, we will answer everything related to the hobbies and interests on resumes and CVs—the appropriate circumstances to includehobbies and interests on a CV, how you should list hobbies and interests on your resumes/CVs, a list of interesting hobbies and interests to include in resumes/CVs, and more expert tips on writing hobbies and interests for CV. TABLE OF CONTENTSShould You Put Interests and Hobbies on a resume/CV?How to Put Hobbies and Interests on a Resume/CVBest Hobbies and Interests to Put for a Resume/CV (50+ Examples)5 Tips for Writing Hobbies and Interests on a Resume/CVShould You Put Interests and Hobbies on a Resume/CV?Recruiters typically spend less than a minute reviewing a resume or CV, which means it's crucial to include all necessary information within the limited space of your resume or CV.With that being said, there are specific circumstances where you can have your personal interests on your CV.💡 Tips:While hobbies are activities that you enjoy doing in your spare time. Interests, on the other hand, are things or subjects that fascinate and pique your curiosity. You might be interested in art, but you can't say art is your hobby. 1. When theHobbies in Your Resume/CV Match the Job Requirement This is the most important point to remember when considering including a hobbies and interests section on your resume/CV. Say you're applying for a position in a marketing and advertising firm and one of your hobbies happens to be painting and sketching. Those examples of hobbies on your CV are good because it shows that you understand design and visual art.2. When Space Is Not an Issue on Your Resume or CVHaving a "Hobbies/Interests" section in your CV is always better than an empty space. Leaving a significant blank area on your resume/CV will make you look like you don't have anything to offer on the table, and no one will perceive it positively. 3. When You Have Little to No Work Experience For fresh-out-of-college job seekers, one of the ways to grab the hiring manager's attention is with an eye-catching field of interest in your CV.📚 Further reading:3 Tips to Write a Professional Resume for Freshers Just Out of College 4. When the Job Ad Specifically Asks You to Include Your Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume/CV When the job post specifically asks you to include your hobbies and interests on your resume/CV, it's non-negotiable. But remember only to put relevant hobbies and interests that reinforce your skill sets. 5. When the Employer Seeks Unique Individuals to Their Team Some companies highly value personalities that can enrich the work environment. Thus they will prefer someone who is not only professionally qualified but also who gets the company's morals.Some Other Reasons Why You Should List Down Your Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume/CV Having a hobbies and interests section on your CV will allow you to show recruiters that you are, after all, just a human being with different passions, likes, and dislikes. The interests, hobbies, and even other activities on your CV can also reflect qualities that the company might find valuable and help you stand out from other candidates. Moreover, the area of interest in your CV can amplify your work experience and/or educational background. It can also be another means for you to demonstrate the characteristics and skills that the employer requires. And lastly, another benefit of having your hobbies and interests listed on your CV is it will make it easier for the hiring manager to approach you since your field of interest has complied with the company's culture. How to Put Hobbies and Interests on a Resume/CV 1. Read the Job Description Carefully To understand the required skills for a job, carefully read the job description. This will help you identify the interests and hobbies that align with the job's requirements. Additionally, some companies provide an "about the company" section in their job description. By picking out keywords related to the company's values, you can include them in your hobbies and interests section and catch the recruiter's attention. 2. Always Research about the Company Go to their website and other social media accounts to check out what they promote (outside of their products and/or services). For instance, major corporations usually have to publish a CSR report annually, and from these reports, you can analyze what the companies value most. 3. Make a List of Hobbies and Interests and Select the Most Suitable Ones Write every hobby and interest you have, go over them and examine which ones will make you look good if you incorporate them in your CV’s interests and hobbies field. Now that you've selected the interests and hobbies to be put on your CV, you might wonder, what to write for interests and hobbies in a CV? "Can I just write 'video games' or 'a foodie' in the area of interest on my CV?" First off, there is no right or wrong way to write hobbies and interests in a CV. However, there are always better ways to present them, let's look at the below section! 4. Use Bulleted Point Using bullet points to list hobbies and interests in your resume and CV is the simplest way and it is straightforward. But at the same time, it is unclear and can come across as lazy. Because there is no further explanation when you opt to write with the bulleted list, whatever you put is a free interpretation depending on the reader. Here’s an example of hobbies and interests for CV using bullet points: HOBBIES INTERESTS PhotographyTravelPlaying ChessOutdoor activitiesDancing So what's other way for you to include your hobbies and interests while provide further clarification? The answer is to adopt an expanded bullet list. This way, you can elaborate your hobbies and interest on your resume and CV – what the hobby/interest entails, how the specific hobby/interest contributes to your skill set, or how long you have been involved in this area of interest, to name a few. However, this type of writing can take up a lot of space, so be aware of that. Here’s an example of hobbies and interests for CV using expanded bullet points: HOBBIES INTERESTS Nature and sports: join monthly hiking with Outdoor Enthusiast Club, 5 years of playing basketballFood blogging: write restaurant reviews, photograph food, and compose cooking and baking recipesParticipate in weekly recycling in the local community and monthly beach clean-up dayTake the guesswork out of resume writing. Our AI resume checker analyzes your resume against industry standards and provides instant feedback.Get Feedback Best Hobbies and Interests to Put for a Resume/CV (50+ Examples)So, we guess now you have enough information to decide whether or not you should include interests and hobbies and how to put them in your resume/CV. When do it right, this section can tell a lot about you as a person. Hence, you'll want to create an appealing narrative by choosing the right hobbies and interests for your resume and CV. So, what are the best hobbies and interests to include on a resume and CV? Don't worry, we've compiled a list of the interesting hobbies and interests that should be included to your resume and CV. Consider each one and think of what narrative they will say about you. Good hobbies and interests for CV examples to show teamwork skillsSoccerRock-climbingBasketballParticipating in local community theater/musicalVolleyballGood hobbies and interests for CV examples to show analytical thinking skillsWritingPlaying chessComposing musicSketchingLearning sign languageGood hobbies and interests for CV examples to show interpersonal skillsMixologyLanguage exchange meet-upsBook clubVolunteering at an animal shelterJoining a choirGood hobbies and interests for CV examples to show patienceDecoupageGardeningKnittingTai chiYogaGood hobbies and interests for CV examples to show marketing skillsHost a podcastPhotographyHosting dinner partiesPersonalCopywritingGood hobbies and interests for CV examples to show problem-solving skillsBuilding puzzles and legosBoard games enthusiastTinkering appliances/gadgetsSculpture makingWoodworkingGood hobbies and interests for CV examples to show determinationCampingTriathlonPotteryCalligraphyCookingGood hobbies and interests for CV examples to show intelligenceLearning new languagesGeocachingUpcycled DIY projectCrossword puzzlesSudokuGood hobbies and interests for CV examples to show technology-savvy skillsCodingPersonal blog/web designStrategic video gamesBuilding PCVideography (with DSLR and drone)Good hobbies and interests for CV examples for a fresher CVFootballDancingVolunteering at a retirement homeBakingSolo traveling5 Tips for Writing Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume/CVWe're glad that you stick with us until the end of this article. We're almost done, just a few more insider tips for you. Then, you can start making your resume and CV complete with the hobbies and interests section. 💡 Be specific. Try to leave as little ambiguity as possible to prevent the hiring manager from perceiving your hobby or interest negatively. 💡 Be efficient. Although you need to be specific, don't elaborate the interests in your resume/CV with too many words that it starts taking too much space. Work with the space you have left. 💡 No exaggeration. List 3-5 hobbies and interests for a CV. The hobbies and interests section on your CV might help you stand out, but it's not the main selling aspect of your CV, so it’s best to keep them short. 💡 Place it at the bottom of your CV. The list of hobbies and interests on your CV, your hobbies and interests section should always be put last as they serve more as an addition. You might even consider not including them at all if you have more important things to add to your CV. 💡 Avoid violent or dangerous hobbies and interests in your CV. To avoid bias and discrimination, you shouldn’t include the below types of hobbies and interests:❌ Hobbies and interests that seem violent and dangerous.❌ Hobbies and interests that portray signs of antisocial behavior.❌ Hobbies and interests that disclose sensitive information such as religious affiliations, sexual orientation, political views, etc. 🔑 Key Takeaways:Although it might seem like an easy section to fill out, the hobbies and interests section should be well-curated just like the rest of your resume/CV contentPersonal interests on a resume and CV should be done attentively and intentionally because you want them to speak to the recruiter, that they strengthen your skills to fulfill the job position, and resonate with the company's culture. Ultimately, a perfect resume/CV is one that is the most relevant to the job. --- Originally written by Teresa Edria---
Resume & CV
Dec 3rd 2021

High School Graduate Resume: Examples & Useful Tips

Created by CakeIn this article, you will learn: Tips on writing a great high school graduate resumeHow to create a good job objective for a high school graduate resumeHow to write a professional resume summary for a high school graduateHow to list high school education on a resumeHow to write a high school graduate resume with no experienceHigh school graduate resume sampleFinding a job is never easy, even more so for high school graduates for the lack of professional experience. A resume for a high school graduate is thus one of the most crucial elements. It can reflect a job applicant’s value, strengths, and background. As most fresh high school graduates have few work experiences, designing a top-notch high school graduate resume is the first thing to nail the job-seeking processes.Tips on Writing a Great High School Graduate ResumeA resume is essentially a summary of your educational and professional background. If you recently graduate from high school and have limited experience, you might not have much to write on your resume. However, despair not! Here are some tips to help you make up for the lack of employment history on your resume. Tip 1: Adopt an ATS-friendly resume format. An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is a human resource software for the employer to efficiently organize a large number of resumes. To stand out from competitors, your high school graduate resume has to be high-ranking in ATS, which means adopting an ATS-friendly resume format is necessary. Tip 2: Refer to online resume templates and examples. There are now plentiful resume resources online, including examples, templates, and resume builders, which you can refer to when writing your resume after graduating from high school. With a high school graduate resume template, you can develop your own unique resume effortlessly. Tip 3: Tailor your resume for the job position and adopt keywords in the job description. By tailoring your resume, you can show your enthusiasm for the position and how you strive to get the job. Also, pay attention to the differences between resumes and CVs (Curriculum Vitae). Resumes are used for regular job applications, whereas CVs are more common for people who wish to find a job in academia or scientific fields. Thus, check the job description carefully, adopt keywords from it and create the resume or CV for senior high school graduates accordingly. Tip 4: Quantify results on resumes. With statistics in the resume of a high school graduate, the hiring manager can easily let review the applicant’s achievements effortlessly. What is more, the significance of your experience can be shown explicitly with numbers. Tip 5: Include relevant academic accomplishments. An obstacle high school graduates may encounter is that they do not have sufficient working or related experience to show in their resumes. Usually, in this case, they can instead include their academic accomplishments and transferable achievements that demonstrate their skills. However, this kind of information may be considered irrelevant and distract the employers. So read the job description carefully and only include the relevant ones! How to Create a Good Objective for a High School Graduate ResumeAn objective in the resume states your goal or purpose of the career. The length of a well-written resume objective can range from 2-3 sentences. There are principal elements for crafting a successful career objective for a high school graduate in the resume: Your traitsCareer goalsPersonalized statementsSpecified experiences The following career objective examples for a high school graduate are provided for your reference. Example of objective in high school graduate resume with little work experience:Enthusiastic and self-motivated high school graduate, with 2-year experience in fashion retail. Seeking a part-time sales assistant position in GU Company. Example of objective in high school graduate resume with no work experience:Passionate and responsible high school fresh graduate, who is looking for an entry-level position in retail. Looking forward to learning and improving marketing strategies and procedures while gaining customer service skills.How to Write a Professional Resume Summary for a High School Graduate A resume summary, as the name suggests, summarizes the content and the important parts of the resume. For applicants, especially a recent high school graduate, a resume summary is crucial because it determines if the hiring manager will continue reading the rest of the resume. As a result, applicants should ensure that they have gotten a summary stated in their high school graduate resumes that catch the eye. Information that should be highlighted in this section includes: 1. Experience First and foremost, try to pick out the key experience that adds value and attracts the attention of the employer. Think about what you have done, and most applicants have not. Keep in mind that the experience must be related to the position you applied for, and it must have happened in recent years. 2. Skills In the application process, both the soft and hard skills of all applicants will be evaluated. To amaze the hiring managers at the very beginning, read the job description thoroughly and embed your compatible skills in the high school graduate resume summary. 3. Qualifications While some qualifications are prerequisites, others are just a plus. They are always helpful because they attest to your ability. If you own any relevant qualifications, remember to mention them in the resume summary. Example of resume summary for high school graduate with no work experience:Ambitious high school graduate with a 3.85/4.0 GPA and sound attendance record. Served a term as student congress chairperson with 65% support from student representatives and organized a vote of government members of student council successfully. Example of resume summary for high school graduate with little work experience:Diligent high school fresh graduate with clear concepts of sales, marketing, and customer services. Past participant of city youth marketing trainee camp. Served as a summer marketing intern at ABC Co. Attained a 1300+ score in SAT. Example of resume summary for high school graduate with various skills:Versatile high school graduate with Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and English proficiency. With practical experience in social media marketing, keyword analysis, and database management. Currently serves as the student ambassador of a company in the FMCG industry. How to List High School Education on a Resume Education is where you can stand out as a high school graduate looking for a job. An eye-catching education background balances out the lack of relevant work experience or skills in your high school graduate resume. Here is information you need to put in this section and how you can organize it: 1. The degree and where you obtain it Specify the type of your degree and the name and location of your high school you graduated from in the resume as the types of schools, such as including public schools, private schools, international schools, and vocational schools, and degrees vary. Thus, make sure you mention the correct degree and school name here. 2. Duration The duration and the graduation year are vital as well on your high school graduate resume so that the recruiter will know there is no gap in between. 3. GPA Not all enterprises take much care of your academic performance. Nevertheless, it is still recommended that you incorporate their final GPAs into the senior high school graduate resume if your GPA is 3.7 or above. 4. Honors and awards If you have earned any honors or awards during secondary school or upon graduation, feel free to bring them up in chronological order. Still, avoid trivia content and keep the important ones. 5. Electives and extra-curricular activities If you have taken any electives or participated in any unique, noteworthy events, briefly introducing them in your high school graduate resume can be a clever idea as they might impress the employer unexpectedly.Example of education on a high school graduate resume:Victoria First Science High School (CA, U.S.) | 2018-2021 | GPA: 4.0/4.3Honors Awards:2020 Science Vision AwardNational Science Youngster Scholarship2019 Elizabeth’s Charity: Volunteer of The YearExtracurricular Activities:Cheerleading CaptainPresident of Physics Club Example of education on a high school graduate resume:ABC High School (LA, US) | 2016-2020GPA: 3.7AP in History, Physics and MathStudent council secretary How to Write a High School Graduate Resume with No Experience Do not worry too much about the absence of related experience. By following the advice below, you will be able to nail the job application! Advice 1: Choose the right resume format. There are three common resume formats:ChronologicalFunctionalCombination Resume For high school graduates, the functional format best suits them because it emphasizes skills instead of showing work experience directly. Or you can choose to list your extracurricular activities chronologically and write a combination resume as a high school graduate. Advice 2: Write a career objective. As mentioned above, a clear career objective shows your vision and ambition as a starting professional, arousing the interest of the employer. Advice 3: Highlight your education. With the tips and advice above, we believe you are now able to generate a well-written part of education. Try to craft an intriguing story for the hiring manager to find out! Advice 4: Include your portfolio/side project/personal website. A personal website and/or portfolio are unique and valuable materials and can have positive effects on your application. The more special a high school graduate resume is, the more likely it will stand out from competitors. Advice 5: Write a sincere cover letter. A sincere cover letter works to your advantage when you compete with many applicants with similar conditions. It helps the hiring manager to see the efforts you put in and your passion for the position. High School Graduate Resume Sample Marshall CarneyAward-winning sales representative with great communication skillsSouthaven, MS+1-228-5742296 [email protected] Resume objective Desire to secure an entry-level sales position at a fashion retailer, to apply the communication skills gained in the High School Student Sales Trainee Program. Graduated from Southaven Christian School and has been a representative in the student council. Resume summary Fresh high school graduate passionate about fashion branding and sales operations. Highly competent team player, having participated in multiple inter-class projects to completion. Has a sense of style, being able to discover high-end fashion designs.SkillsHard skills:PhotoshopIllustratorVideo EditingJavaFrench (fluent)Soft skills: Time ManagementTeamworkCreativityWillingness to LearnOpen-mindedness Work experience XYZ Corporation High School Student Sales Trainee Program, MS01/2020 - 11/2020 Awarded the trainee of the yearSolved 10+ real-world business and sales cases efficiently Student helper at Lily’s Bookstore, MS01/2019 - 01/2020 Responsible for 200+ merchandises’ promotionsIncreased magazines’ sales by 30% Education Southaven Christian School, TN | 2018-2021 GPA: 3.8/4.3Awards and honors2021 Ted-Amanda Love Academic Scholarship2020 Second Runner-Up in Inter-class Speech Contest Extra-curricular activities 2019 Representative in Student Council2019 Captain of Volleyball Club --- Originally written byFu-Yen Chen---
Resume & CV
Aug 25th 2025

100 Key Core Competencies Examples to Put on Your Resume [w/ Definitions]

Core competencies in a resume can go under many names such as “Core Qualifications” or “Highlights”. They are a list combining your skills, abilities, and qualifications that make you a good fit for the position.For example, below are 5 examples of core competencies in business:Research skillsConflict resolutionCommunication skillsForecastingTask delegation The purpose of putting core competencies in a resume is to pique the employer’s interest since the very beginning. Hence, it’s very important to write this section properly and provide outstanding key competencies examples. Table of Contents:What Are Core Competencies on a Resume?20 Core Competencies ExamplesHow to Use the Core Knowledge Competencies Examples on a ResumeCore Competencies Examples (for Different Resume Types) What Are Core Competencies on a Resume?The concept of core competencies was first introduced by C.K. Prahalad and Gary Hamel. According to the authors, core competencies are referred to as a unique set of skills and resources that helps a company to operate more effectively and efficiently than competitors in the market. Simply put, they are what makes an organization or individual stand out from the crowd. In the context of resume writing, core competencies include your strengths, soft skills, and hard skills related to the position you are applying for. They are often listed in a separated section and as phrases instead of full sentences. The point is that employers will be drawn to your CV/resume and have a picture of you from the start. Note that they only spend an average of 7 seconds on an individual application, hence, grab their attention by listing key competencies in your resume. 20 Core Competencies ExamplesLet's check out the list of common competencies examples as well as key competencies for your CV:CommunicationTeamworkManagement SkillsCustomer ServiceLeadershipCreative ThinkingAdaptabilityInnovationProblem-solvingMultitaskingInterpersonalAnalytical SkillsCritical ThinkingTechnical SkillsComputer SkillsMicrosoft Office SkillsDecision-makingOrganizational SkillsTransferable SkillsJob-related Skills 1. Communication Communication skills facilitate the interaction, understanding, and coexistence among individuals in both the workplace and personal life. Examples of communication skills on a resume: Negotiation skills Active listeningPhone skills Public speaking Accepting feedback 2. Teamwork Teamwork skills are the ability to interact and cooperate effectively within a group, team, or organization. Nowadays, most tasks require collaboration so employers value professionals with strong teamwork skills. Examples of teamwork on a resume: ToleranceRespectfulnessCommunicationTask delegationNetworking 3. Management skills Management skills cover a wide range of areas, including: planning, supervision, evaluation, budget control, etc. They are important attributes that help you manage your tasks efficiently and accomplish your career objectives. Examples of management skills on a resume: Planning organizingCoordinatingEmotional intelligenceConflict managementRisk management 4. Customer service Customer service skills are traits and practices necessary to communicate with customers, ensure their satisfaction, and solve their problems. Examples of customer service on a resume: Communication skillsRelationship developmentProblem-solvingNegotiation skillsAttention to detail 5. Leadership Leadership skills incorporate a set of personal traits and techniques which are especially beneficial for managerial positions like team leaders, supervisors, managers, or C-suite executives. Examples of leadership skills on a resume: Recruiting trainingStrategic thinkingPrioritizing tasksTeam buildingConflict resolution 6. Creative thinking Creative thinkers are able to see things from diverse perspectives and actively explore different approaches to a problem or a challenge. Examples of creative thinking skills on a resume: Analytical mindsetOpen-mindednessExperimentationActive listeningDivergent thinking 7. Adaptability Adaptability refers to the ability to adjust mindset and behaviors to fit into a new environment. Examples of adaptability on a resume: Fast learnerNetworkingCommunicationAnalytical thinkingSelf-motivation 8. Innovation Similar to the concept of innovation in business, innovation skills drive you forward with your creative thinking, determination, and courage. Employers would expect someone who will bring new ideas that can make a breakthrough and contribute to the organization’s growth. Examples of innovation on a resume: Creative thinkingBrainstormingIdea developmentResearch skillsAnalytical thinking 9. Problem-solving Having problem-solving skills means that you are able to handle difficult or unexpected situations and come up with an effective solution in a given time. Examples of problem-solving skills on a resume: Critical thinkingDependabilityDecision-makingRisk assessmentConflict resolution 10. Multitasking Multitasking is switching back and forth among different tasks, and effectively performing one right after the other. Examples of multitasking on a resume: Planning organizingOrganization skillsDependabilityTeam-buildingDeadline-driven 11. Interpersonal Interpersonal skills refer to the behaviors and tactics used to effectively communicate, interact, and work within an organization. They are considered as a specific type of social skills essential for both career and personal life. Examples of interpersonal skills on a resume: Written and verbal communication skillsDiplomacy (handling affairs without hostility)Inspiring and motivating other team membersRelationship buildingResponsive 12. Analytical skills If you can collect information and analyze it thoroughly, it means you have analytical skills. These are often required to successfully solve problems and make decisions. Examples of analytical skills on a resume: Logical reasoningData collectionResearchForecastingReport Analysis 13. Critical thinking Critical thinking is a thinking strategy that allows you to be logical when approaching an issue. You will need to understand the matter thoroughly and use the given facts to resolve it. Examples of critical thinking on a resume: Problem-solvingObservationActive listeningResearch analysisRelevance 14. Technical skills Technical skills, also listed as hard skills in some cases, are job-specific capabilities or knowledge that must be learned through online/university courses, hands-on experience, and training. They are often geared towards a specific career or a general set of expertise. Examples of technical skills on a resume: Industry knowledgeAbility to operate a specific toolSoftware proficiencyData analysisTechnical reports 15. Computer skills Whether or not you are proficient in using different tools, software, and applications on the computer to produce desired results efficiently - that’s the basic concept of computer skills. Examples of computer skills on a resume: Word processingWeb browsersScheduling toolsSocial media managementWeb development programming 16. Microsoft Office skills You may see “Microsoft Office Skills" very often in the requirements section in a job posting. These are the techniques and practices that you learn when working with Microsoft Office programs or tools. Examples of MS Office skills on a resume: Creating and formatting documentsData presentation visualizationExecuting formulasTask delegation and assignment on OutlookPrinting 17. Decision-making Decision-making skills demonstrate your proficiency in choosing between two or more alternatives in a certain situation. Examples of decision-making skills on a resume: Analytical thinkingProblem-solvingProfessionalismRisk assessmentEmotional intelligence 18. Organizational skills Organizational skills are a set of attributes that help you to plan and organize tasks effectively and be professional in a business setting. Examples of organizational skills on a resume: ProfessionalismCoordinationPlanning schedulingAttention to detailFacilitation 19. Transferable skills Transferable skills, or portable skills, are personal traits and abilities that are relevant and helpful across different areas of life. They can be utilized whether you are a student or employee; entry-level or higher-level professional. Examples of transferable skills on a resume: Time managementPersonal motivationPersonal developmentAvoiding stressNumeracy skills 20. Job-related skills Job-related skills are specific skills that allow you to excel in a particular job, for example, the job you’re applying for. Some are attained by attending courses or developed through professional experience at work. Examples of common competencies in business: Ceaseless innovationGreat customer serviceResult-drivenProblem analysisSituational awarenessTired of sending resumes into the void? Our AI resume checker ensures your resume is optimized for both ATS systems and human reviewers.Optimize My ResumeHow to Use the Core Knowledge Competencies Examples on a Resume💡 Write down a list of your core strengths If you don’t know where and how to start, list out all knowledge and qualifications that you have and pick the 5-10 most outstanding key competencies for your CV. They should be those that makes you stand out from the rest. 💡 Keep your core competencies writing concise but descriptive As mentioned above, employers find it easy to read if you use bullet points to list out core competencies in your resume. They will be more impressed to see how you elaborate further on what you’ve listed.Example of core competencies in entrepreneurship: “Leadership skills: Led a team of 6 front-end developers, ensuring 100% uptime.” 💡 Tailor each resume core competencies for each application Similar to hard and soft skills, core competencies in a resume should be tailored to match the specific position. You may have plenty of strengths but not all of them can benefit you at work.For instance, creative thinking is a key skill for creative industries such as writers, designers, and artists rather than managerial positions or public sector jobs. 💡 Place your core competencies in the correct resume section You can present your key competencies in the following resume sections: Resume profile (check the examples below)Work experienceA separate section for your core strengths and qualifications 💡 Think about your core competencies in a professional setting Bear in mind that you’re writing a resume to apply for a job, not a biography. Thus, avoid listing what can be seen as too personal and not beneficial for your actual job, such as humor and extroversion. Core Competencies Examples (for Different Resume Types)Keep on reading to see resume core competencies examples for different professions:Project Manager Core Competencies Resume ExamplesCore Competencies in Resume for Freshers ExamplesCore Competencies for Sales Resume ExamplesCore Competencies for Logistics Resume ExamplesTeacher Core Competencies for Resume ExamplesCustomer Service Core Competencies Resume Examples1. Project Manager Core Competencies Resume ExamplesCreated using CakeResume2.Core Competencies in Resume for Freshers ExamplesCreated using CakeResume3.Core Competencies for Sales Resume ExamplesCreated using CakeResume4.Core Competencies for Logistics Resume ExamplesCreated using CakeResume5.Teacher Core Competencies for Resume ExamplesCreated using CakeResume6.Customer Service Core Competencies Resume ExamplesCreated using CakeResume🔑 Key Takeaways:Adding core competencies in your resume/CV can quickly show employers what value you can bring to the organization.When providing key competencies examples, keep in mind to list them properly and professionally, either at the top of the resume or in a separate section. --- Originally written byMay Luong ---
Resume & CV
Aug 26th 2025

What Is a Declaration in CV & +20 Declaration Statement Examples

Created by CakeResumeIn this article, you'll read about:What Is a Declaration in a CV?When to Add a Declaration in a CVHow to Write the Best Declaration for Your CVCV Declaration ExamplesDeclaration in CV – CV ExampleA CV declaration statement is a simple line that allows you to prove and authenticity of your CV information and that you take responsibility for the information that you mentioned in it. A declaration in your CV also helps avoid confusion for the employers after knowing that your information is genuine. Though it can be used in CVs made in any part of the world, a CV declaration statement is more commonly used in India.What Is a Declaration in a CV?A declaration in a CV serves to authentify the information you’ve provided in your CV. The declaration is located at the bottom or at the end of a CV. The statementA CV declaration statement consists of 1-2 sentences, in which you will have to state that the information in the CV is true and you will take full responsibility for any false. It is usually located at the bottom or at the end of the CV as a conclusion and to declare that you were truthful regarding all the information you’ve listed in the document. LocationAfter writing down the statement, in the following line, include the present location on the left-hand side. DateThe date goes after the location, which is also on the left-hand side. This information has to be on the day after you have completed your CV. Full nameYour full name should be on the right-hand side on the same line as your location. Signature Lastly, your signature should be under your full name. If you are handing in the hard copy of your CV, signing it by hand would better show the authentication of your CV. But, note that most CVs are digitally submitted nowadays. You may simply type out your full name or include an e-signature before you send the digital file. When to Add a Declaration in a CVAfter knowing what is a declaration in a CV, you might wonder when and under what kind of situations you should include it in your CV. Here are some conditions that will require you to include a CV declaration statement: 💡 You are in a country where a CV declaration statement is a common practice.If you are applying for a job in India, a CV declaration statement is needed because it is a familiar practice when handing in CVs to the company.💡 For formal job applications. Once you know that it is common practice in your country to include a CV declaration statement, you should include a declaration in your CV so that employers have the guarantee that everything written on your CV is true and authentic. 💡 Applying for jobs in a company that has a defined hierarchy. Including a declaration in a CV can help your employers or interviewers put trust in the information that you have provided. It also helps the people reviewing your CV to verify the truthfulness of the information more quickly, since they could know who wrote it in an instance. 💡 Applying for a government job or a job in academia. If you are applying to work for the government or the scholars, background checks are necessary. Therefore, a CV declaration statement should be included to ensure your truthfulness. 💡 Delivering through a third-party to the company. The purpose of a declaration in a CV is to gain trust from an employer. If you did not hand your CV in yourself, you should include the declaration to avoid confusion. How to Write the Best Declaration for Your CVA CV declaration statement is only one or two sentences. It may be very short but informative. To let you know more about the details in creating one CV declaration statement, we will go through the steps below. ✍🏻 Step 1: Write a concise statement (1-2 sentences). First, you need to write the CV declaration statement. When writing your statement, you should be clear and direct. The sentence has to deliver the message that your information on the CV is true and accurate. ✍🏻 Step 2: Place the statement at the bottom of the CV. The declaration for your CV should be placed at the bottom or the end of your CV. It has to be the last thing for the CV so that employers can see it after reading everything. ✍🏻 Step 3: Include your location current date in the left-hand corner at the bottom of your CV. After that, your location where you wrote the CV and the date when you completed the CV are needed on the left side. ✍🏻 Step 4: Include your full name and signature in the right-hand corner at the bottom of your CV. Lastly, you should put in your full name and a signature on the right-hand side to claim that the CV is written by you. You can refer to this template below as an example when writing your CV declaration statement. CV Declaration Template[Declaration statement][Location][Date][Signature][Name] CV Declaration ExamplesI hereby state that all the information noted above is accurate to the best of my beliefs and I take full responsibility for the correctness of the information.I hereby declare the information on the CV is accurate to the best of my familiarity.I hereby certify that all facts mentioned above are true to my concern, and I am answerable for their accuracy.All information stated above is accurate and true to my knowledge and beliefs.I hereby declare that the information stated above in this CV is error-free. I will take responsibility if any fraud were committed.All information above is right and truthful to my knowledge and faith.All statements above are free of errors, and I take full liability for the correctness of the information.I hereby certify that all information above is correct to the best of my beliefs and I am responsible for the authenticity of the information above.The information mentioned above is true to the best of my belief, and I take full responsibility for any correctness of the information.I genuinely declare that all information provided above is true to my knowledge.I ensure the information above is accurate to the best of my knowledge.I solemnly declare that the information in this CV is free of errors to the best of my beliefs. I take full responsibility for the correctness of the information.I hereby declare that the information contained in this CV is true to the best of my knowledge.I hereby declare all of the information above is accurate and correct.I solemnly announce that all of the information stated in this document is true to the best of my knowledge.I hereby declare that all the information provided above is under facts or truths to my knowledge.The information mentioned above is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I take full responsibility for the truthfulness of the said information.I genuinely announce the information stated in this resume is truthful to the best of my beliefs. I take full responsibility for the correctness of this CV.I hereby state that the information provided in this resume has zero errors, and I will take full responsibility for the accurateness of the document.I gravely announce that the information mentioned above is correct. Therefore, I take full responsibility for the correctness of the CV.Declaration in CV – CV ExampleTake a look at the CV example below. A full CV will be shown and you will notice why a CV declaration statement is at the bottom of all information. Henry SohContent Writer098-1234567 New Taipei City linked.in/me/henry.soh Seeking a full-time remote job as a content writer at an organization where I can fully extend my writing skills. Gaining more experiences as a writer and a fresher, and also gaining more knowledge while writing for a company. I can work my creative ideas to contribute to the company’s target. WORKEXPERIENCE Assistant Editor ALLS Digest (Department Magazine)2019 - 2021 Managed students’ subscriptionsComposed students’ revised works into the magazineContacted the subscription’s authors to discuss about publicationDiscussed the topics and requirements with lecturers in charge for the next calling for papers EDUCATION Applied Linguistics and Language StudiesChung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan 2018 - 2022 GPA: 3.8/4.0Courses Taken:Simultaneous InterpretationConsecutive InterpretationAdvertising and Marketing Translation ORGANIZATIONEXPERIENCE Head of Secretary TeamInternational Student Association 2020 - 2021 Delivered all working documents on time perfectly when collaborating with a committee group of 15 people for a year without any issues.Won the competition in the club evaluation competition. SKILLS Microsoft WordMicrosoft PowerpointContent WritingCreativityOrganizational Skills I hereby declare the information provided above is correct to the best of my knowledge and beliefs. I take full responsibility for the correctness of the information.New TaipeiMarch 1st, 2022Henry Soh 🔑 Key Takeaways:The declaration in your CV can be the ending line for your CV, a statement to prove your authenticity, and also your professionalism when treating work. Therefore, you should always include the CV declaration statement in your CV if the country you reside in or are applying the job in commonly practices the inclusion of a CV declaration.Take the guesswork out of CV writing. Our AI resume checker analyzes your CV against industry standards and provides instant feedback.Get Feedback--- Originally written by Ryan Goh---
Resume & CV
Aug 25th 2025

How to Include Projects in Resumes (Samples, Tips, Templates)

Created by CakeResumeAlthough the project section isn't the main section of a resume, it can be helpful sometimes, especially for freelancers, designers, and software engineers. In this article, we will show you how to mention your projects on your resume effectively.TABLEOFCONTENTSWhy You Should List Your Projects on Your ResumeTypes of Projects to List in a ResumeHow to Include Projects in a Resume (+ Samples Template)Tips on How to List Projects on a ResumeResume Projects Section Examples Why You Should List Your Projects on Your Resume Adding projects in your resume can help catch the recruiter's attention as it provides additional information about your skills and expertise. Hiring managers can evaluate if your abilities and approach align with their company's vision and needs.Personal projects can also showcase your passion for the field. For candidates lacking work experience, such as students or recent graduates, projects on a resume can make up for that deficiency. Career changers with impressive projects in their resume can be highly valued as they bring knowledge and skills from various areas of the industry.📖 Further reading:What is a Resume? [Definition, Element, Writing Tips, and Examples]Types of Projects to List in a ResumeIf you’re not sure where to start with, consider the types of projects and related details that are suitable for your resume. There are three major types of projects to include in a resume. 1. Work ProjectsProjects you have participated in from your previous workplace are ideal, since they showcase your ability to communicate with real clients, meet real problems and needs, and achieve KPI goals. However, do notice that you should avoid listing projects that are confidential in the resume.2. Personal ProjectsPersonal projects that you’ve initiated proves your passion for the work in the resume. In addition, personal projects in a resume present your growing ability and skills. The topic you choose to work on also shows your traits that could be wanting in the hiring manager’s organization.3. Academic ProjectsAcademic projects accomplished at school in a resume show your competency. Technical skills or soft skills such as teamwork and leadership are valuable talents to gain with each experience. Including academic coursework projects in your resume is especially ideal for students.💡 Reminder:Categorize your projects and strategically choose which to list in your CV. Dumping your projects without appropriate organization and explanation is dangerous for job applicants.How to Include Projects in a Resume (+ Samples Template)When listing projects in a resume, whatever is most relevant to the job role comes first. If you are a fresher or student writing freelance or academic projects, list it in the education section in the resume. For career changers or project-focused positions such as IT, engineer, or Project Manager, you might consider adding a dedicated additional “Related Projects” section in your resume to emphasize different expertises. 1. Replace the Work Experience Section with a Project Section. When a project-focused resume demonstrates your skills better than other layouts, replacing the work experience with a project section is a good idea.Here's an example of replacing the work experience section with a project section on resume: PROJECTS Food delivery Explainer ad |Manhattan AgencyJune 2020Project manager and producer for a team of 5 motion designers.Produced a 2-minute explainer animation for a food delivery company within 3 weeks.Completed the animation 7 days earlier than expected, help the agency cut $1k expense.Digital Banking app for CitiBank |ABA CreativeJuly 2017User experience researcher for a $30k project.Collaborated with Scrum team to develop information architecture, prototype, and finalizing digital bank app that attracted 100k users with 97% satisfaction rate.2018 Red Dot communication design winner.Conducted thorough research on young segment investing habits to gain valuable insight on demands and needs. 2. Include a “Key Projects” Subsection under a Work Experience Description. Another way to list your projects in a resume is to highlight “Key Projects” under a work experience section. Crucial projects for big clients are always eye-catching. Small projects that are experimental or insightful are informative as well.Take a look at this example of listing key projects in the resume work experience section: WORKEXPERIENCE Operation Data Analyst |Nevins SolutionsJan. 2020 - Jul. 2021Key Projects: Logistic report for SpeedyExtracted failure rate, time, location, and transportation from clients to generate valuable reports for suggestions and helped clients cut 30% customer compensation expense.Utilized MS, SQL, Python to visualize data reports monthly and transform them into actionable insights for clients, stakeholders, and PMs. 3. Include the Projects in the Resume Education Section. When listing academic projects in a resume for freshers or students, place it under the education section. Creative coursework or final year projects in a fresher resume are welcoming.Here's an example of listing projects in the education section of a resume: EDUCATION University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MichiganB.S. in Computer ScienceRailway Rerouting System, TokinLineJan 2021Responsible for Field Study, interactive prototype, crowdedness detention development.Apply Wise PaaS and security camera IoT to capture motion recognition.Use YOLO image recognition to calculate numbers of passengers and categorize into 4 levels of crowdedness.Food Delivery Chatbot,Food GeniusMay 2020Developed chatbot in Python for a school restaurant and invited 200 students to train quality optimization.Gained 93% accuracy feedback and positive encouragement from restaurants and local students.Don't let resume mistakes hold you back. Scan your resume with our AI checker and get personalized recommendations to land more interviews.Scan Resume NowTips on How to List Projects on a ResumeNo matter how your projects in a resume are structured, there are 5 crucial tips and principles. These are the aspects you should consider when you list and describe projects on a resume. 1. Provide Project Detail and Quantified Description in theResume Aside from the basic information such as name and date, you should also include enough details such as quantifiable results and key insights. Namely, list details that can be measured or anything that sharpen your skills in the projects. 2. Be Concise with the Descriptions Since you are listing your project in a resume rather than a portfolio, your description should be strong and concise. Make your descriptions short and cut directly to the point.When choosing adjectives and describing your accomplishments for projects in a CV or resume, go for the keywords that are used in the job description. 3. Be Consistent with the Format of the Projects List Consistent format makes your resume easier to read and more appealing visually. Stick with the same font style, size, and color in each heading in your CV or resume. 4. Use Descriptive Language and IncorporateAction Verbs The nuances of your description can bring different effects. For example, action verbs such as “led”, “developed”, “created”, “accomplished”, and more can demonstrate your initiative.To make your project description in the resume more appealing, relate it to the applying industry or position. 5. Consider Including the Link to Your Online Portfolio. If you have a personal website that includes the essence of your projects, including academic, personal, or work, be sure to include the link in your resume. A personal portfolio or website is a great way to think out of the resume and present your personal styles and more process details during each project. Resume Projects Section ExamplesResume Projects Examples: Python ProjectsAWS ProjectsWeb Development ProjectsTableau ProjectsDevOps ProjectsEcommerce ProjectAcademic ProjectsPersonal Projects 1. Python Projects Highway Accident Data Analysis Scraped data from governmental sources to analyze and visualize accident types, location, seriousness, and time on the map.Sharing results on Medium, acquiring 100+ claps within a day. 2. AWS Projects Airline Booking web application Worked with a team of 5 people to create a flight reservation app that provides flight search, flight payment, flight booking, and loyalty points that include end-to-end testing and CI/CD.Deployed automation and monitoring using AWS systems. 3. Web Development Projects Interactive website for designer agency Created Awwwards “Sites of the Day “Winning interactive website for a local design agency in 2 months.Used JavaScript, Processing, and Python in projects to incorporate motion graphics. 4. Tableau Projects Stock Returns Heatmap Data Visualization Extracted stock data using Google Finance to build Heatmap, Treemap, and stock returns dashboard with Tableau.Published step guides video on Youtube and gained 1k views. 5. DevOps Projects Financial and Tax Preparation Service app Set up CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins.Developed monitoring reports automation in a team of 5 developers.Maintained 50+ Unix servers with 97% up-time. 6. Ecommerce Project Fitness Studio E-commerce Website Built website and visual identity for local fitness studio client.Increasing sports and fitness product sales by 50% by rebranding color scheme, logotype, and studio visual marketing materials. 7. Academic Projects Senior project, New York University, 2019 Researched local broadway troupe and interviewed 10 real audiences to illustrate 3 personas and customer journey map.Designed service streamline prototype to expand community and fans loyalty. 8. Personal Projects Hunter City, Interactive Augmented Reality Game Developed an online multiple player interactive AR game that allows the player to explore their local city.Use Unity, photon server, and MySQL to develop a fast prototype.Gained SUS 93 score in usability testing and 97% positive feedback. 🔑 Key Takeaways:For freelancers, a project-focused resume is a great way to demonstrate your style and skills.Connect your projects in the resume with the applying job role to show technical and soft skills for the job role.Add academic projects under the education section if you’re a studentAdd personal projects section in your resume if you have a handful of projectsHighlight “Key projects”: the most relevant, unique, or thorough projects in your resumeAdding a personal portfolio website link to document thorough details and processes.Find this article helpful?Follow our blogfor more!Originally written by Wu Chao Min ---
Resume & CV
Aug 26th 2025

How to Write Language Proficiency Levels on a CV

Created by CakeResumeIn this article, we will cover:How to Write Language Proficiency Levels on a CVWhere To Put Language Proficiency Levels on a CVHow To Describe Language Levels in a CVHow To Determine Your Language LevelsLanguage is a valuable skill to have listed on your CV. When writing your CV, having your language proficiency levels clearly displayed will help you stand out to employers. For example, they may work in a multilingual market and need their potential hires to be fluent in more than one language. Including your language fluency levels on a CV will also set you apart from your monolingual counterparts because a language skill indicates to employers that you are versatile and dynamic. English speakers even earn more than speakers of other languages, which makes it especially important to indicate if you are proficient in English on your CV. It can be difficult to know how to write language levels on a CV, since there are many format options and different terminology. But having your level of language on your CV can help you catch the attention of your prospective employer. It's important not to overlook this information and make space on your CV for your language proficiency levels.How to Write Language Proficiency Levels on a CVIt is important to include language knowledge levels on your CV. Since a CV is meant to highlight your skills and experience in more depth than a resume, it’s important to be detailed on your CV about your level of language. First, start by listing the languages you speak as well as any regional variants if it’s applicable. For each language, you should indicate your proficiency levels on your CV. It can be hard to know how to describe language levels in your CV. Apart from listing the languages you speak, you can use some proficiency terms to explain your level of competence. There are some common scales to indicate your language proficiency levels on a CV, as well as several professional frameworks. Here are some common language proficiency levels used on a CV. ✏️ General Proficiency Levels These are common terms you could use to describe your language levels on a CV. Native: A native speaker is someone who has spoken this language from childhood. You should still include your native language when describing your language levels on your CV!Proficient: Someone at this level can have complex or technical discussions with little or no accent, and they have an extensive vocabulary.Fluent: A speaker at this level can participate in formal and informal conversation with clarity but may show some grammatical weaknesses.Conversational: At this level, a speaker can understand enough to contribute or have conversations but may need help with more complicated terms or ideas. Using ‘conversational’ to describe your level of language on your CV would inform employers that you don’t have a full professional proficiency.Beginner: Someone at this level can answer simple questions and understand basic commands. Using these terms on your CV as a language level description will help to clarify your ability and your language skills levels in your CV. This will help employers to understand how competent you are in that language. If you are looking for more universal terms to use to describe your language fluency levels on your CV, you can use a language framework. ✏️ Language Frameworks When writing languages in your CV, the level of proficiency can be challenging to describe clearly. One way to be concise about your fluency level is to use a standard framework when writing different levels of language proficiency for your CV. There are three common frameworks you could use to assess language proficiency levels on your CV: Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR)American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) 1. Interagency Language Roundtable The ILR is scaled from 0 to 5 and includes intermediate ‘plus’ levels. 2+, for example, indicates higher working proficiency than 2, but not enough to be considered level 3. You can find out more about ILR here. The ILR is most commonly used in the US, so keep that in mind when using ILR on your CV to indicate your language skills level. ILR levels are: No proficiencyElementary proficiencyLimited working proficiencyProfessional working proficiencyFull professional proficiencyNative or bilingual fluency Examples ofusing ILR to describe language proficiency for your CV:Spanish — Professional Working Proficiency, Level 3+ (ILR)American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) 2. American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)The ACTFL is widely used in North America, so using ACTFL to describe your language levels on your CV might be more common in those markets. It has 5 different proficiency levels: NoviceIntermediateAdvancedSuperiorDistinguished Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced all have 3 subcategories: Low, Mid, and High. You can find more information about ACTFL here.Examples ofusing ACTFL to describe language levels on your CV:Mandarin – Distinguished (ACTFL)Italian – Intermediate low (ACTFL) 3. Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) The CEFR has 6 levels, from A1 to C2. A1 and A2 indicate beginner and elementary, B1 and B2 are intermediate, while C1 and C2 are advanced. The CEFR is widely used for European languages and is accepted internationally. You can find out more about CEFR here. Examples ofusing CEFR to describe language levels on your CV:English – Advanced, Level C2 (CEFR) Regardless of the framework or proficiency terms you use to describe your language fluency levels on your CV, it helps to be consistent and use the same framework throughout your CV. Where To Put Language Proficiency Levels on a CVNow that you know how to describe your language levels in your CV, the next task is to find the most appropriate place to display this information, to catch the attention of an employer. Where you place your language skills level in your CV depends on the type of position you are applying for, and whether language skills are uniquely valuable to the role. There are several possibilities for listing your language levels on your CV. 💡 Skills One place you can put language levels on a CV is the skills section. This is ideal for people who aren’t multilingual or don’t need to cater their CV to have language proficiency levels for a specific job. In a skills section, list languages in order from most to least fluent and include your language proficiency levels in the CV as well as any assessments or certificates you’ve acquired. ✅ Pros: Great for mono-lingual applicants❌ Cons: May get overlooked CV Skills Sample:Team manager for several high-profile projectsFamiliar with resource allocationFluent in EnglishConversational French 💡 Languages If you are multilingual, you may benefit from having a language section on your CV, to indicate your language skills level. This would be more appropriate if the job you are applying to requires you to speak more than one language. In this case, the language levels on your CV should be something to emphasize. A language section should be prominent on your CV. Under a ‘languages’ heading, list your language ability from most to least fluent, along with language fluency levels on your CV. ✅ Pros:Highlights your ability❌ Cons: May take up unnecessary space on a CV CV Languages Sample:English – Advanced, C2 (CEFR)Spanish – Intermediate, B2 (CEFR)Italian, Sabino dialect – Beginner, A2 (CEFR) 💡 Certifications If you have been certified proficient in any language, it might be more useful to list your language levels on your CV under a certificates section. A certificates section often includes more than just language levels on your CV. Certifications like TOEFL for English or TELC for European languages are great to indicate your level of language on a CV and show potential employers the proof of your language ability. Under certificates, list the language and the certificate name, as well as your proficiency level. ✅ Pros:Indicates proof of proficiency❌ Cons:May not stand out if you have many certificatesCV Certificates Sample:Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)Standard First Aid (Red Cross) How To Describe Language Levels in a CV1. Show proof of proficiency. A certificate of language proficiency can clarify your language fluency levels on your CV and add a lot to your application. It shows employers that a professional body has recognized your language ability. 2. Include your native language. This is often overlooked by applicants, but when writing your CV language proficiency levels, it’s important to include your native language. The employer may prefer a native speaker, and this will help you stand out, so native language is important to include when describing your language levels on your CV. 3. Write "near native" for advanced skills. If you haven’t spoken the language since childhood but your fluency is just as good, it would be helpful to further qualify your proficiency using this term. Using “near native” to describe your level of language on your CV can help you stand out. 4. Include "bilingual" in your CV headline. If you are bilingual, include your language knowledge levels in your CV headline. Employers value a dynamic applicant with language skills, regardless of the job, and including this information in your headline can draw attention to your CV. 5. Use a separate language section. If you are multilingual, or if the job you are applying to requires multiple language skills, a language section can highlight your qualifications, and provide space for more detailed language levels on your CV. 6. Be consistent in the scale you use. When describing language fluency levels on your CV, use the same scale and proficiency language for simplicity. For example, it would be confusing to use CEFR to describe one language skill and ILR for another language in the same section. How To Determine Your Language LevelsThere are several ways to determine your language levels on your CV. It is completely appropriate to self-assess your level of language on your CV. One simple way of doing this is to look at the different proficiency levels and judge your ability by comparison. If you can’t have complex or abstract discussions in that language, then you know you aren’t yet proficient, and you can use fluent or conversational to describe your language skills level on your CV. If you can understand more than simple questions, you shouldn’t use beginner to describe your language skills levels in your CV. If it is your second language, be honest about your ability and comfort level, and try not to oversell your capability. Language proficiency is more than speaking. You shouldself-test your understanding through reading, writing, and listening as well. If you are having trouble self-assessing alone, it might help to find a free assessment online. This can help you clearly define your language levels for your CV. All three language frameworks mentioned above offer free assessment guidelines and questionnaires. The ILR has assessments for reading, listening and speaking.The ACTFL offers interactive guidelines.The CEFR has charts with detailed descriptions of each level. If you are struggling to self-assess using online resources, or if your job might require it, it could be helpful to take a proficiency exam with a governing body, before including your language skills levels in your CV. Including language levels in your CV can help you stand out as a valuable applicant. Be sure to use clear language, or a proficiency framework, to describe your level of language on your CV. Think about which section of your CV to have language skills level: skills, languages, or certificates. Try to self-assess your ability honestly or take a proficiency exam. Finding the best way to work language levels into your CV can help distinguish yourself as a strong candidate for any job. Ready to give your resume the edge it needs? Try our AI-powered resume checker to identify gaps and optimize your content in seconds.Check My Resume--- Originally written by Tiffany Quinn---
Resume & CV
Jul 28th 2022

How to Write Time Management Skills on Your Resume (+Tips and Examples)

Created by CakeTABLEOFCONTENTSWhat Are Time Management Skills for Resumes?10 Examples of Time Management Skills for ResumesWhere to List Time Management Skills on a Resume/CVTips on How to Describe Time Management Skills on a ResumeHow to Improve Your Time Management SkillsIn today's fast-paced society, time has become a rare resource that people are expected to manage effectively. Research done by Zippia showed that an average corporate employee normally spent 51% of their daily work on low to no value tasks. It is therefore important to include time management skills when crafting a resume. As multitasking becomes more prevalent today, hiring managers seek candidates who possess good time management skills to handle tasks in an organized, productive, and effective way. According to LinkedIn, time management skill is one of the top five most sought after soft skills. Let’s discuss what time management skills are in more detail. Time management skills come in different forms and structures, but they emphasize the process of taking conscious control over time spent on specific tasks, particularly to enhance effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. Let's also take a closer look at the importance of time management in two cases. Both time management skills in a workplace and time management skills for students are important as time management skills can be seen as an asset in terms of learning, solving a problem, and conducting tasks. When time management skills are incorporated in a resume, it can especially boost both professionals and students in both career and academic applications.What Are Time Management Skills? By definition, time management skills refer to a wide range of skills that allow you to manage your time and work effective. They are valuable skills as more often than not you need to handle more than one taskat the same time. Time management skills are not easy to master, but once you do, they can benefit you substantially both in and out of the office.Below are four ways good time management skills can help you: ☑️ Better concentration When you manage your time well, you'll always be able to determine which task/project to focus on at any given time. There will be no distractions from everything else on your mind. ☑️ Highly-organized and clear-minded With the increased focus/clarity summarized above, you will have more mental power to carry out your daily tasks. You'll also have well-structured thoughts because you've planned your time effectively. ☑️ On track Proactive time management at work requires systematic planning and scheduling to help you stay on track, make appointments, and meet deadlines. ☑️ Low level of stress You can easily become overwhelmed when you have so much going on at once. Acquiring good time management skills will bring structure to the chaos, subsequently helping you to feel less stressed. 10 Examples of Time Management Skills for ResumesAs mentioned before, time management skills are difficult to say on a resume. It is mostly because there's no universal way to measure them and time management skills encompass more than keeping an eye on the clock. We break them down into 10 skills that you can put on your resume to show the recruiter your time management ability and provide examples for your reference.1. Planning Good time management starts with strong planning skills. Without a good schedule of which tasks should be completed, it can be very difficult to manage your day or week.For example, you have a pile of research to hand in on an early Monday. By planning your energy and time accordingly, you will be able to finish the task in a timely manner. Time management skills resume phrases related to planning that you can put in your resume are:SchedulingMemoryDelegationSummarizingOptimization 2. Prioritizing Prioritizing is an essential time management skill where it allows you to identify what needs to be done based on limited time and energy. For example, your pile of research comes in various levels of importance and urgency. It is possible to use the priority matrix where you allocate your tasks according to urgency and importance. By this simple approach, you understand what tasks to focus on and what things to put behind.Prioritizing-related time management resume phrases that you can include are:Team-mindedMonitoringGoal settingMultitaskingAccountability 3. Goal Setting No matter what target you are setting - short-term or long-term - goal setting is a fundamental time management skill where it pushes you forward with concrete motive, method, and direction. Also, having goals when managing a task provides a shared recognition of small victories which help to build momentum towards big achievements. As an example, a product manager may set attainable and measurable milestones such as KPI or performance targets to acknowledge small victories throughout a long-term project. 4. Problem Solving Problem solving often demands good time management skills.The ability to manage and solve problems in a given time is an important quality when hiring managers assess job candidates.The ideal candidate has the ability to mix analytical thinking with creative problem-solving. They are comfortable in making decisions, and they can handle challenging situations in the workplace. 5. Multitasking Multitasking is a time management skill where candidates switch focus between tasks so effortlessly that it appears as though they are doing several things at once. For example as the head of the hospital’s emergency department, you must manage your time between various incoming patients, while making accurate decisions at the same time. 6. Delegating Effective time management skills also involve prioritizing and managing tasks according to one's expertise and that of others. For instance, a good product manager assigns tasks like market research, cost structure analysis, and quality control to subordinates where he or she concentrates on analyzing a market entrance strategy towards a new product. By utilizing time and energy wisely, the goal can be achieved efficiently with minimal stress. 7. Breaking Down Tasks This time management skill is important when it comes to a huge and complicated task where different factors and decisions affect one another. Therefore the ability to break down tasks into milestones will help you simply visualize your ultimate goal, thus allowing for easy monitoring of progress. Imagine yourself managing a one-month project proposal where your goal is to increase the user rate of an app. You might need to break down the project by weeks, followed by days and milestones to get the job done on time. Your small objectives in a timeline might start with a focus group interview, followed by problem identification, customer analysis, product research, etc, then coming up with a proposal that fits the needs of the consumer, to increase the usage rate. This example shows effective time management skills where you break tasks down into smaller parts. 8. Scheduling People may get confused between scheduling and prioritizing. Scheduling centers on the skill of managing time between various tasks, which is quite different from prioritizing. For example, as a marketer, you are required to conduct several interviews and focus group studies before you can determine your marketing strategy. The results 1ision-making process, so it is important to schedule the work flow accordingly. Good time management skills are vital in these situations. 9. Decision Making Another key time management skill is the ability to make a quick decision. That's because second guessing may lead to a waste of time, resources and energy. For example, as a business manager, you are required to make decisions upon a MA case. Those decisions involve complex evaluations under a certain amount of time pressure and is where decision making skills come into play. 10. Managing Stress Stress management as a form of time management skills in the workplace can prevent mental breakdowns and burnouts. Although crunch times and emergency situations are unpredictable, having a certain amount of skill in managing stress will eliminate unnecessary tension when delivering results.For example, you can cultivate good time management skill by :Creating realistic deadlines and making a plan to meet themEliminating long hours workingAllocating time and resources appropriately to goalsIncluding risk management and contingency plans Where to List Time Management Skills on a Resume/CVNow that we've looked at individual skills that are part of time management skills, we can move on to where you can put them in your resume. There are three major sections on your resume where you can include descriptions of your time management skills1. Resume Summary/Objective You can also incorporate your time management skills in your resume summary and objective section. By doing so, you immediately catch the attention of the hiring manager. Using effective phrases on a resume will highlight your time management skills.Example of time management skills in the resume summary/objective section:"Objective: To obtain a position at ABC company as a product manager, with effective time management skills in delegating and prioritizing.""Product Manager looking to put my excellent time management skills to good use at BPW Company." 💡 Tip:To show you have good time management skills, tailor the resume statement with the right time management skills resume phrases to ensure you are effective in communicating with potential employers. 2. Work Experience Section The primary way to mention good time management skills is to incorporate them into your work experience section, in which you describe your past accomplishments and experiences.Take a look at this time management skills on resume example for a project manager resume: Product Manager | OSIM Integrated Technology2018 - 2020Averaging 10% under budget, completing projects within deadlines on 15 products.Assisted in restructuring the product development process to meet deadlines for all critical projects.Maintain team's on-time schedules throughout 3 high-priority launches, completing all deliverables before deadlines. 💡 Tip:Mentioning past experiences that show your time management skills will give the hiring manager a more comprehensive picture of your capabilities. 3. Skills Section Another effective method to show time management skills on your resume is to assign an independent section where skills are highlighted. It is best to customize for each job application to demonstrate how time management skills correspond with job requirements.The first step is to identify keywords from the job description and create a checklist of time management skills. Using the identified keywords, you now can elaborate and give specific details on your time management skills.Example of how to demonstrate time management skills:Planning and Scheduling:Implemented a deadline incentive scheme that offered a bonus based on the article fee if writers submitted articles early. As a result, additional days were available for editing and layout, which greatly reduced error rates and boosted morale in the company.Delegating:Delegated tasks to team members according to their expertise, facilitated weekly 30-minute meetings to review progress and reevaluate direction, reducing the amount of time spent communicating mutual goals and updating.Cake provides the best resume builder with many templates examples for talents to demonstrate your qualifications. Let us help you land the dream with a strong resume (free download)!Create ResumeTips on How to Describe Time Management Skills on a Resume 💡 Describe your time management skills using descriptive resume keywords. Include strong and compelling action words like enhanced, achieved, influenced, etc. to describe relevant time management skills that draw attention to your strengths and show an employer why you deserve the job.💡 Look for the skills that your employer is looking for in the job description.As mentioned before, it is vital to identify relevant time management skills according to the job description. So let us examine how to accurately identify the skills.First, most managers will list down relevant soft skills (time management skills in this case) necessary for the position. All you need to do is to take note of all your skills and make sure to include them in your resume.However, some employers do not mention skill requirements for job positions. In this case, you have to imply relevant time management skills required from the job position, qualifications, duties, and so on. 💡 Be very precise on your capacity to manage time. As we all know, time management is a transferable and unmeasurable skill.Therefore, when writing time management skills on your resume, make sure you show your skills in a measurable way, whether it's by statistics, numbers orany concrete results. How to Improve Your Time Management SkillsYou can improve your time management skills in order to be a more competitive candidate for new positions. Here are some tips on how to do so: 1. Establish short-term and long-term goals. You can learn time management through setting goals on a daily basis and by assessing short and long-term objectives. There are online and offline tools available such as Notion and Trello that help you visualize goals in an organized way. In addition, SMART principles allow you to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals.2. Keep a calendar. A calendar is a simple way of visualizing and managing your tasks according to dates, weeks, and time frames. By keeping a calendar while you manage your everyday tasks and jobs, you will gradually gain knowledge and control over time. 3. Optimize and find the best way to manage your time. There are tons of ways to develop good time management skills, whether it's by forming a to-do-list or setting a countdown timer. Keep in mind that whatever you choose, find and develop the best approach where you can keep on track effectively according to your preference and suitability. Don't worry about trying other time management tools as time management skills require practice through trial and error. 🔑 Key Takeaways:To conclude, time management is an essential skill that hiring managers value in the workplace. Keep in mind the required time management skills on a job application so that you understand what employers expect to see on your resume. Moreover, offering a structured and detailed explanation that makes you stand out. Identify a suitable section on your resume where time management skills can be included. Then, you're more than ready to showcase your time management skills on your resume. --- Originally written by Vivian Chen ---

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