How to write a Resume/ Curriculum Vitae (CV) to study Abroad

A Resume or CV (Curriculum Vitae) or the Bio-data are more or less a same thing. It is basically a document that provides your personal, professional, educational and other information required to apply for jobs & admissions in foreign universities.

The biggest question before the students while drafting a Resume is what format they should use? The answer to their question is that there are thousands of formats are available on the internet from where you can choose one that suits your profile best. People makes various kinds of Resumes/CV but you have to choose a format and draft it in such a way that it should cover your all the information that you are willing to share with the university where you are applying for admission.

Though there are thousands of formats are available online but every resume has some common points which we can also say a standard format. What are these essential points that every standard resume has and which you also should not miss while drafting your CV? But still final decision is up to you that what you want to include and what you want to remove in the resume. You must highlight your positive attributes that stands out your resume from other resumes. Let’s have a look at what are the essential components of a Resume. Below is the list of the essential components of a resume which are usually found in every Resume that students apply for studying abroad:

Personal Details:
The first point of the Resume is the personal details of the candidate. Personal details include your name, address and other essential contact details like your mobile number and e-mail address.

Objective:
After personal details many candidates write a brief para about their objective as why they want to apply and join a particular course. Why they want to learn this particular course and what shall be the benefits of doing this course for themselves and towards the society after completion of the course. All such points are covered under the objective section.

Educational Qualification:
Educational Qualification is the most important part of the resume. Every selection committee will definitely go through your educational qualification whether they read any other section of your resume or not. So, while writing the educational qualification always include all your degrees and diplomas or any other qualifications that put a good impression on your academic record in the eyes of the reader at the first instance. You should not miss anything that stands out your resume from other resumes. If you have any additional qualification that increases the weightage of your resume you must add such points.

Work Experience:
The next section usually is the work experience. If you have work experience in the same field in which you are applying for higher studies then you must show your work ex in your resume. It adds weightage in your resume and it also stands you out with other candidates who don’t have work experience. Suppose if you are applying for MBA and you already have some work experience of corporate sector then you must share it with the selection committee.

Co-curricular Activities/ awards and achievement/ projects undertaken:
At this part of the Resume some candidates write their academic achievements and some write about their participation in co-curricular activities and some write about the projects they had undertaken in previous schools or organizations. If you have any academic achievements or you have undertaken any projects or you have participated in any co-curriculum activities which you think would be appropriate for you to share with the selection committee of the university where you applying for the admission then you must write down such points as well.

Skills
The next section is skills. Usually, in this section candidates share their knowledge about their computer skills. For instance, what all software you can handle, in which all platforms you can work like windows, Linux, Android, Macintosh, iOS etc. you can also share any other information if you possess any other skills related to the subject in which you are applying for higher studies.

Interests/hobbies
Interests & Hobbies is also a very important part of the Resume because it reveals your personal interests & hobbies, like music, singing, dance, sports or any other activity that you like. If you have knowledge about any musical instrument then it adds weightage to your Resume because universities also look for such students who can participate and represents their country in universities cultural programs. So, if you possess any such skills and if you have any such hobby don’t forget to mention it in your Resume.

Format/ Font Size/ Alignment
The formatting of the Resume is also a very important part of the Resume/CV drafting. What should be the font size and style of writing that is a very important part. If you don’t know what style you should choose then ‘Times New Roman’ is the most common style that you can try with. But if you like ‘Areal’ or ‘Verdana’ then you can try that also but the point here is it should go with the flow of writing style & content of your resume.
Once the Resume has completed you must align it. Set the margins so that when you take out the print out it should be uniform from all sides leaving adequate space on the edges.

Types of Resume/CV

There are two types of Resumes/CV:
a) Academic Resume/CV
b) Professional Resume

Academic Resume is used for Academic purposes/study purposes like applying for admissions in foreign universities and Professional Resume is used for job purposes. So, while drafting a resume you must keep in mind that you have to select a correct template for drafting your Resume/CV.