Creating a CV

CV guide

Find an elaborate guide on how to write your CV below. In this guide, you will find which parts to include, in which order and how to elaborate on them.

CV checklist

Find a quick checklist with everything that should be included in your CV below.

1. On top of your CV

• The words 'Curriculum Vitae'
• Your name
• Optional: your photo

2. Contact details

• (Personal) Email address
• Phone number
• Shortened LinkedIn URL (how to)
• Place/Country
• Nationality: when applying in a country other than your native country

3. Profile / Professional summary

• A short description of your professional identity focusing on relevant specialisation(s), passion(s), experience(s), skills and/or ambition(s).

4. Education

• Start-End date
• Title study programme
• University name and location
• Specialisation/track (optional)
• Thesis with short elaboration (if relevant)
• Relevant courses
• Relevant projects such as Academic Consultancy Training (optional)

5. Work experience

• Start-End date
• Function title (can be intern)
• Company name and location
• Short description of role
• Tasks, responsibilities and/or results/skills achieved (preferable in bullet points)

6. Extra-curricular activities (optional)

• Start-End date
• Function title
• Organisation name and location
• Short description of role
• Tasks, responsibilities and/or results/skills achieved (preferable in bullet points)

7. Training/Certificates (optional)

• Date
• Name training/certificate
• Short description

8. Skills

A selection of relevant skills in relation to the vacancy:

• Hard skills: languages, IT skills, lab skills
• Soft skills (optional, when not having many hard skills)

• List with skills for inspiration (download)

9. Additional information (optional)

• Publications (or add a longer list as appendix)
• In possession or drivers license
• Interests
• Willing to move / Willing to learn X language

10. References (optional)

• Mention: Available upon request

11. The style of your CV

• Max. two pages long
• Mention your most relevant experiences only
• Always send your CV (and motivation letter) in PDF-format with your name in the document title
• Use a standard, easy to read font such as Verdana, Arial, Calibri etc.