PSL voices | Essential tips for writing a successful CV

Article publié le 16 avril 2024

A Curriculum Vitae or CV is often one of the most important documents in a candidate’s application, whether it is for an undergraduate program, a graduate program, an internship, or a student job. In this article, Sonakshi puts together the most useful tips for you to make sure you don't miss out on any important information.

Starting with the essentials: your name and of course if you’re looking for a return, your contact details. You may also include a nice (and professional-looking) photo of you (don’t crop one from a group wedding photo).

Education – Your educational background with the most recent degree on top. This section must include the name of your institution, your degree, and the duration of the degree. Adding the final grade is optional but not necessary.

Professional Experience – Information about your various internships, student jobs, volunteer, or any other relevant work experience must be included. This section should be arranged well by containing information like your position, the time you worked there, and the company name (also where this company is located) and you may include your tasks or general description of your job. If you have so many different experiences, try choosing the ones related to the program you’re applying to. In France, research is highly valued. If you have research experience, don’t hesitate to include it in your CV. For each experience, it is advisable to also mention the skills you have acquired from those experiences.

Languages - You should try to evaluate yourself: mention your results in official language tests if you have taken them (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS,). If you can only say “bonjour” and “croissant”, it is better not to mention French B2.

Awards and Achievements – Include any funding, awards, grants, scholarships etc. Make sure to mention the name of the award, the name of the granting institution, the date the award was given, and what the award was given for.

Skills – This section could include soft and technical skills such as team leadership, laboratory skills, IT skills etc.

Interests/ Hobbies – Here you can mention your hobbies and interests, extra-curricular activities, and your involvement in associations. This part gives an insight into your personality.

There are some common mistakes to avoid:

Don’t go too crazy with the design and try to keep it simple. No company logos, pie charts, memes, etc.
Make sure there are no typos, or grammatical or lexical mistakes. It is always a wise move to proofread your CV or ask a friend to give it a check.
Your CV should be homogenous when it comes to fonts (and font sizes), and colours. The text should be readable and well-spaced. The document should not be more than 2 pages.
Don’t forget to name your CV. It deserves this respectful touch. For example, ‘CV_First Name_Last Name’.

It is crucial to keep in mind that the admission committee or the recruiter will be reading hundreds of CVs. Thus, you must be efficient, concise, and direct. A nicely prepared CV might lower your chances of rejection - Sonakshi