WHAT IS A CV?

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a written document, typically used in job applications, which individuals prepare to introduce their potential to employers. It contains information about the individual's skills, experience, educational background, work experience, etc.

HOW TO PREPARE AN EFFECTIVE CV?

The prerequisite for preparing an effective CV is to realistically define your career goals. Defining your career goals is an important factor that will help you highlight your personal and professional qualities that are relevant to the position you are applying for and state your purpose for applying. Your CV should include personal information, educational background, work and internship experience, skills, training and certifications, and references.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

•     Your full name, full address, contact telephone number and email address should be centred at the top of your CV. Your personal details, telephone number and email address must be up to date. Your email address should consist of your first name and surname and be formal.
•     The photograph you choose should be appropriate for the position you are applying for. A positive photograph should be preferred, without excessive retouching.
•     Date of birth, place of birth and marital status should also be included under this heading.
•     It is appropriate for men to include information about their military service. (Military service is linked to the policies of the country or institution to which the application is being made. In particular, indicating that this service has been completed within the country may be an advantage for male candidates. If the duties performed during military service are relevant to the position applied for, this may also be an advantage.)
•     Nationality should be included. (This should be included, especially for applications made abroad.)
•     Driving licence should be included. (If it is a requirement for the position applied for, it must be included.)

EDUCATION INFORMATION

•     Schools and departments attended should be listed in reverse chronological order. That is, the most recently completed school should be listed at the top.
•     When providing school information, the year of enrolment and graduation should be stated.
•     Degrees, achievements, and overall grade point average obtained during school life should be included if they are not too low.

WORK AND INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

•     Work and internship experience should be listed in reverse chronological order.
•     The relevant position held at the workplace should be specified, and the responsibilities and tasks performed in that position should be listed.
•     When listing these, it is important to highlight the achievements obtained in relation to the tasks performed and responsibilities assumed.

SKILLS

•     Known foreign languages and computer programmes should be listed along with their levels. In addition, specific skills required for the position applied for should be added.
•     Areas of interest should be listed. In particular, those that may be relevant to the position applied for should be added.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATES

•     Professional courses and training attended, as well as certificates obtained, should be included. They should be added in chronological order, detailing the subject of the training, the institution where it was obtained, the start and end dates of the training, and the name of the trainer.

REFERENCES

•     References should be selected from individuals with a connection to the position applied for.
•     References must be reachable, and permission must be obtained from the relevant person or persons to be included as a reference.
•     If too many references are provided, they may be divided into sections. These sections may be divided into professional, academic, and personal references.
•     Each reference should include their full name, current title, position at their place of work, and contact details (email and telephone number).
•     If reference details are not to be shared, the phrase ‘Will be provided upon request’ may be included.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

•     Foreign language skills should be rated separately for reading, writing, speaking and listening.
•     If available, test scores may be added (IELTS, TOEFL, YDS, etc.).

INTERESTS

•     You may include interests that set you apart from others. Using general terms will be ineffective. You may mention artistic, sporting, or cultural activities.

COVER LETTER

How to Prepare a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a cover page added to the front of a CV that provides additional information alongside the CV.

•     The cover letter should explain why the applicant is applying for the position, their suitability for the position, and their career goals and expectations.
•     The cover letter should consist of an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• In the introduction, the applicant should introduce themselves.
• In the body, they should explain why they are interested in the position they are applying for. They should describe their relevant characteristics and explain why they are suitable for the job.
• If the application is general and not for a specific position or job, career goals and expectations should also be included.
•     The conclusion section should include a thank-you sentence and information on how communication can be maintained in the future.

WHAT ARE THE KEY POINTS FOR PREPARING AN EFFECTIVE CV?

•     When preparing a CV, avoid long, repetitive and exaggerated expressions.
•     It should be concise and understandable.
•     It should be written in the third person singular.
•     Fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial, size 11 or 12, are preferable.
•     Pay attention to spelling and punctuation rules.
•     Emphasise your skills, achievements, and how these achievements benefit the employer.
•     Prepare a cover letter for the position you are applying for to accompany your CV.
•     Follow a reverse chronological order.
•     A photograph should be added to the CV. The photograph should be a passport-style photo and should not be exaggerated. Informal, unclear, and full-length photographs should not be included.
•     Information that is not accurate should not be included.
•     The CV file should be saved as ‘First Name Last Name’. It should not be sent with frivolous names.
•     The email address under the personal information heading should not be arranged in an unprofessional manner. An email address containing the first and last name should be used.
•     Except for the names of well-known institutions and organisations, the use of abbreviations in the CV should be avoided.