Before You Start
Get your academic certificates, achievements, medals, etc. all in one place so that you won't forget to mention something which is important.
Do some homework and determine what kind of candidate that your target university is looking for. You can go look at things like course details, research groups, Professor profiles etc. For example, if you're applying to TU Ilmenau (focus: Mobile Communications), you might want to include that summer internship at BSNL in your CV.
Read this document to learn about the 'German' CV.
Reference Documents
All the important academic and extra-curricular achievement certificates.
Your publications, patents, experience certificates, language certificates, training certificates, if any.
Your bachelor thesis details.
Step by step guide
Check whether you want to build a CV from scratch or update your existing CV. Decide if you want to do so online or in your PC.
Follow these links to create or update your CV online. If you like to work on a PC instead (recommended), download the template and instructions here.
Update your personal details. Include/exclude some sections and sub-sections to suit your academic and job profile. Match details to the target university profile. Do not exceed two pages.
Once all the editing is done, cross-verify whether you have entered the correct details. Save the document in its original format and as a PDF file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must-have information in your CV
1. Your work history
2. Educational background and earned credentials
3. Career summary/objective
4. Contact information
5. Foreign languages spoken
6. Any voluntary work done
Must NOT have information in your CV
1. Your religion
2. What you think you are good at unless you have sufficient proof
3. Mention of any activity without a proof
Your CV must have these following parts to stand unique
Identifying Information: In this area, add the basics such as,
1. Name
2. Date and place of birth
3. Telephone number and address
Place these information at very top of the CV.
Education and Academic Qualifications: In this area, add your academics such as
1. List of schools including durations
2. List of collages including durations
3. List of Universities including durations
4. Honors achieved
5. Academic group memberships
Employment History: In this area, add major jobs you were in such as
1. Current job including duration
2. Last job including duration
3. Achievements while working
Personal Information: In this area, add personal skills and accomplishments such as
1. Ability of you to speak or write foreign language
2. Achievements in the sports world
3. Special interests
4. Relevant hobbies
5. Special courses completed
There is no fixed length for a CV but it depends on one’s own information. However, many experts advice that CV should not cross more than 2 pages.
1. Not scannable
2. Section split across pages
3. Not structured in a chronological order
4. Content not tailored to the specific application
5. Using language that is unclear to the reader
6. Including course codes for everything you have taught
7. Inconsistent style of referencing
8. No page numbers
9. Overusing bold and italics
Follow the table for all the projects which you are undertaken
Name of the Project:
Duration:
Guide:
Technologies Used:
Description:
Notable achievements:
In the description area, write description of the project briefly (not more than 50 words) such as what it was and what was the result.
Repeat this format for all the projects where you have worked.
Trivia
It is highly recommended not to use the Europass format as it is. Please make necessary modifications to make your CV look unique and not made from the Europass template.
In general, your CV should be confined to two (A4) pages.
Admission officer probably spends no more than 2 to 3 minutes scanning your Curriculum Vitae, so make sure it is clutter-free and easy to read.
Do not forget to mention the timeline for the different events (recent first).
Putting your photo in the CV is a quite common practice in Europe and a style that is well accepted. But it is left to your discretion.
