writing a cv/resume for anglophone countries › sites › crl.insa-lyon.fr › ... · objective...

Writing a CV/Resume for Anglophone

Countries

INSA Centre de Ressources en

Langues

What is a CV?

It’s the opportunity for you to “sell” yourself:

What makes you unique?

▪ Highlight your best qualities• Experiences that show skills, desirable personal

characteristics, responsibility, and dedication

▪ Speak to a specific audience• Show what you can bring to this particular

company

WARNING: An unattractive resume WON’T get read!

Too much text ✕ Nice and simple ✓


Langues

How much time does it take an employer to read your CV?

1 minute or less!

So...make it easy to read:

Be concise (1 page)Be consistent (font, layout, order)Be clear


Langues

Using the same CV for each job application : BAD IDEA!

▪ Create a master CV for your own personal reference ▪ ALL education

▪ ALL work experience

▪ ALL skills

▪ Make job-specific CVs for each job application, using only relevant points from your master CV


Langues

What to include in your MASTER CV:

▪ Contact Information

▪ Education starting with your lycée

▪ ALL Work Experience

▪ ALL Skills and Languages

▪ ALL Extracurricular Activities

What to include in your JOB-SPECIFIC CV

(Adapt your CV to the job description)

▪ Contact Information

▪ OBJECTIVE (optional)

▪ Education starting with lycée

▪ Relevant Work Experience

▪ Relevant Skills and Languages

▪ Relevant Extracurricular Activities

▪ Do NOT include a photo!

CVs in Anglophone countries have a

few important differences.

UK:

USA:

To show differences during this presentation:

CV Example Key


Langues

Contact Information

▪ Name

▪ Address

▪ Telephone Number (Country code: +33)

▪ E-mail

▪ D.O.B. (date of birth)

▪ Nationality

▪ Full, Clean Driving Licence


Langues

Contact/Personal information

Sample UK

Harry PotterAddress: 1, rue des Humanités Email: [email protected] Villeurbanne, FRANCE D.O.B.: 14/02/88 Tel: 00 33 478 36 45 89 Nationality: French

Full, clean driving licence

Sample US

George Clooney Address: 1, rue des Humanités Email: [email protected] Villeurbanne, FRANCE Tel: +33 478 36 45 89

Objective

▪ State who you are, what you are looking for and why

▪ Use the job description when available!

Example:

Objective: Master of Engineering student seeking a 3-month research internship.


Langues

This section is optional, and not usually included if you are applying for a specific job.

If you do include it, it should come below the contact information section , and include the following information:


Langues

Education

For every part of your CV, CONSISTENCY IS KEY : Whatever layout you choose, apply it to every item of the same type.

▪ Layout : Bold, italicize, underline▪ Order : Date, Degree, School, City

Examples:

2011-2017 Master of Science in Mechanical EngineeringINSA (National Institute of Applied Sciences), Lyon, FranceSpecialisation: Thermomechanics and PlasticsCourses including: Fluid Mechanics, ThermodynamicsEnd of studies project: Quality Control in Materials

2013-2014 Elite Undergraduate Program,Université Lyon 2, Lyon, FranceCourses included: Fluid Mechanics, Mechanics (all in English)


Langues

Work Experience*

Remember: CONSISTENCY IS KEY : ▪ Layout : Bold, italicize, underline

▪ Order : Job position, Company, City, Responsibilities

▪ Include a brief description of the company if it is not well-known

▪ Order responsibilities from most to least relevant

▪ Use action verbs to detail what YOU did in each role.

July - present Marketing Intern, GGF (General Refrigeration of France), Lyon, France

2015 Collaborated on a 10-member marketing team to design and administer 3 focus group studies

Designed an interactive CD-Rom for company presentations

Developed logos, graphics and icons for company publicity

Sept – August Production Line Worker, EDF, Toulouse, France

2013 – 2014 Managed quality control of products

Assisted regional manager with shipping and billing

*You can include volunteer experience


Langues

Work Experience

▪ Start with an action verb Check CRL website for action verb list

▪ Use the correct verb tense (simple past or simple present)

▪ Choose descriptions based on skills you want to emphasize for that specific job

▪ Create a phrase demonstrating what you did and saying why it matters (=so what?)▪ Organized and analyzed data (what) to find effects of UV ray exposure

on human skin (so what?)

Most relevant to least relevant responsibility

Action%20Verb%20List.doc


Langues

Skills

▪ IT Skills/Technical Skills

▪ Languages▪ Native speaker, Proficient, Intermediate, Basic

▪ TOEIC/TOEFL scores, if relevant, if HIGH ENOUGH

▪ European Reference level : A2-C2

▪ Make sure to add a qualitative description of your language level (“advanced,” “intermediate,” “professionally proficient,” etc.) because some readers will not be familiar with levels and scoring systems.


Langues

Skills

Languages IT SkillsFrench: Native speaker Microsoft Office suiteEnglish: Highly proficient, 11 years FORTRAN

TOEIC score: 825/995 MATLABGerman: Proficient, B2 Level DMTSpanish: Conversational, A2 Level

The skills section of your CV does not need to be long. A simple layout such as the following is sufficient:


Langues

Extracurricular Activities

▪ Keep it simple, clear and RELEVANT

▪ Make it count or take it out.

▪ Remember, DON’T list everything you’ve ever done– choose wisely.

▪ Can you demonstrate:▪ Leadership (president, treasurer, secretary, etc.)

▪ Learning (music, art, language exchange etc.)

▪ Commitment or regular involvement


Langues

Example:

Clubs : INSA Voile Sailing Club – Active member, inter-university competitions

Exchanges : Mexico City, Mexico - 3-month Spanish language coursesMusic: Piano – Conservatory studies for 10 years

Extracurricular Activities


Langues

References

This section is optional. If you include referees, make sure you have asked their permission first!

Referees can be academic, professional or personal. They should be people who are going to advocate for you as a good candidate.

Make sure they are relevant to the job you are applying for.

You should include each referee’s name, contact details and position if appropriate.


Langues

References

Example:

Professional: Rebecca Bradley, Director of Human Resources, Altran89, rue du Dauphiné [email protected] Lyon, France 00 33 478 56 74 24

Personal: Nancy Allen, former Biology teacher12, avenue Franklin Roosevelt [email protected] Lyon, France 00 33 472 12 67 58

Alternatively, you can simply write:

References available upon request

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

How to Translate French Education/Qualifications into English

FRENCH ENGLISH

Prépa Elite UndergraduateProgram/Course in Engineering Sciences

Premier Cycle Undergraduate Program/Course in Engineering Sciences

ASINSA/AMERINSA/ EURINSA Department with emphasis on foreign exchanges and international scientific connections in Asia/Latin America/Europe


FRENCH ENGLISH

Baccalauréat Baccalaureate (Equivalent to A-Levels

Advanced High School Diploma

BTS ou DUT Higher National Diploma (HND) Associate’s Degree

Licence Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)


FRENCH ENGLISH

Diplôme d’ingenieur français M.Eng

Master of Engineering

Mastères specialises/DEA Advanced Master of Science

Doctorat PhD in…

Extra Advice

▪ Do NOT put the title ‘Resume’ or ‘CV’ at the top!

▪ Do NOT say « Engineering Student » as a title…it should be obvious !

▪ Remember to SHOW, not just TELL. Provide information that will help ILLUSTRATE your skills and qualities. Don’t just list adjectives– specify.


Langues

Once you have written your resume and cover letter:

Go to this page:1. Make an appointment for a consultation AND

2. Email us your documents THEN

3. We will respond with corrections and confirm your appointment if necessary

Consultation hours: Catherine: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 13h-14h

David: Thursdays 13h-14h and 15h30-16h30

http://crl.insa-lyon.fr/content/tutorat


Langues

We hope to see you soonin the CRL whether you come to…

▪ Edit your CV/Cover letter

▪ Participate in our conversation workshop :▪ Every Thursday from 16:30-17:30

▪ Work with your class

▪ Watch a movie or a TV series

▪ Prepare for your TOEIC / TOEFL

writing a cv/resume for anglophone countries › sites › crl.insa-lyon.fr › ... · objective...

Documents