Search the internet for a sample of a completed curriculum vitae. The curriculum vitae should include personal achievements, education, honors and awards, volunteer work, work experience, computer skills and language skills. A curriculum vitae for graduate school should reflect to prospective employers motivation, energy, enthusiasm and an initiative. Clearly emphasize believable competency statements and back them up with clear evidence.
Choose a CV format. The layout of your curriculum vitae is one of the important elements that a recruiter can use to determine your skills and personality. It must be clear, concise and easy to read. The headings in your CV layout must be consistent throughout your curriculum vitae. Use the same font and size throughout your CV. If you make the same heading type is it difficult to read. Use a business font such as Arial, Times New Roman or Callibri. The heading of each section should be easy to read (bold, or a larger font) and always have a space after the section. Use bullet points to format the content and italics to emphasize the text. For example, italicize the name of the school.
Create "Experience" Section. In the Experience section include internships, volunteer work and extra curricular activities. If you held a student position that highlights your leadership ability, communication or presentation skills, include it in this section and a brief description of the experience.
Create "Education" section. In the education section arrange the education in reverse chronological order. Focus on the grades and include dates you attended each university, degree subject and specialization. Include the schools you have attended and what programs you were enrolled. Include any certifications or awards you have with relation to your study.
Write "Employment" section. In the employment section include each of your paid jobs that are related to your area of study. If you do not have related work experience, list any job that you had and the duties you performed. This will show work ethic, dedication and motivation. Make sure to include the start and ending dates for each listing. Between each position make a spacing for easier reading.
Proofread your CV. Decide if your curriculum vitae has conveyed your overall image and if any details are omitted. Proofread and edit your CV. Use spell-check and read your CV out loud to identify tone and to ensure you did not construct faulty sentence structure. Have a professional look over your CV before sending it. For example, ask a professor to review your CV and give an opinion.
Print your CV. Print your CV so you can see the layout and if the sections are easy to distinguish when on paper. Again check for spelling and layout mistakes, fonts and spacing.