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Young Forensic Scientists Forum Newsletter - January 2000 Preparing
a Curriculum Vitae |
| The curriculum of life, or curriculum vitae (CV), is a document that is frequently used in conjunction with an application to potential employers, agencies, and professional societies. The CV contains information pertaining to professional and educational achievements, and provides recruiters with a means of evaluating an individual’s accomplishments with the needs of an organization. A CV differs from a resume in length, depth, and selectivity of one’s professional and educational achievements. A resume is typically a brief, one-page, information packed document highlighting specific training and professional achievements tailored to a specific job, internship, or mentorship opportunity. A CV, however, is constantly evolving and ever-changing with the individual’s accomplishments. It details one’s career and educational advancement. It is not uncommon for CV’s to be rather lengthy, especially describing academic careers and affiliations, chronologically. There are a number of points to remember when constructing a CV. It is important to be as accurate and honest as possible. Professional and educational accomplishments are verified for truthfulness, especially in medicine and forensic sciences. Any information included on the CV is indeed “fair game” for investigation and verification. Carefully proofread the CV for grammatical and spelling errors. These errors, regardless of their triviality, convey an indifference to quality. Potential employers desire applicants with a keen attention to detail and accuracy. In addition, avoid “fancy” font styles, frequent highlighting and bold printing. Make an effort to keep the CV straightforward and easy to read. It is not necessary to include high school (secondary school) accomplishments unless the achievement is particularly impressive (i.e., authorship in a peer-reviewed journal, merit scholar, etc.). As with a resume, a CV should always be accompanied by a cover letter expressing your interest in the particular internship, mentorship, or job opportunity. When writing your CV, your name, home address, and phone number as well as fax and e-mail address should be clearly listed at the top of the page. The following are headings for different sections that may be used to construct a CV. Although these categories may not pertain to some forensic scientists, items can be modified or deleted to accommodate one’s training and formal education.• Education• Professional training• Post-doctoral training• Licensure and certification• Academic appointments• Clinical hospital appointments• Research hospital appointments• Major research interests• Teaching experience• Awards • Professional society involvement• Regional contributions• Invited presentations• Bibliography (publications) Since there are many ways of constructing a CV, numerous books and guides are available in community and academic libraries that discuss the preparation of resumes and cover letters. Consulting with a professor or advisor for ideas on how your CV should look can also be very helpful. Furthermore, keep in mind that the CV is a “slice of the pie” in the overall evaluation of an applicant. However, a flawless, well-written CV with relevant achievements and experience may significantly improve an individual’s chances of earning an internship, job opportunity, or society membership. |
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© 1999 Young Forensic Scientists Forum / American Academy of Forensic Sciences |