1. Gather information about your education, work experience, projects, volunteer activities and relevant skills before you start writing.
2. Customise your CV to the particular position and company. Be sure to emphasise what is most relevant to the job for which you are applying.
3. Remember that employers are interested in both academic achievements and experiences gained through part-time work, student organisations, volunteering and extracurricular activities.
4. Keep the CV within two pages. You can also write a one-page version to bring along to careers fairs.
5. Write the CV in the same language as the job advertisement.
6. You can find CV templates online or in Word (file – new).
7. Keep your CV updated and error-free.

1. Write in reverse chronological order, with your most recent experiences first.
2. If you are a student, you will probably want to list your education first in your CV. An exception is if your work experiences are more relevant for the position.
3. The order of the remaining sections depends on relevance. Whether it is computer, language skills or skills from volunteering or courses, place the most relevant experiences as early as possible in the resume.
4. Place references at the end.

Contact information

Include your name, phone number and email address. You can also include your postal address or location and a link to an up-date LinkedIn profil.

Date of birth and photo

Some applicants in Norway include their date of birth and a photo, but these are optional. If you include a photo, choose a professional-looking one.

1. A profile is a short introduction at the top of your CV.
2. Use two to four sentences to summarise your background, key strengths and career interests. Tailor the profile to the position you are applying for.
3. Be specific. A generic objective is worthless. Target the objective or profile to the specific position you are interested. Sum up the skills and experiences most relevant for the job.

• Programmer position in educational software development
• Experience of teamwork in IT company
• Have used VMware virtual network in my work with network infrastructure

• High-level knowledge in Excel and BI systems
• Experience in budgeting and writing reports
• Managed sales staff of 5; hiring, training and scheduling

• Experience in writing minutes of meetings
• Arranged and held lectures for large groups

1. For students and recent graduates, education is often one of the most important sections of the CV.
2. Include your degree, institution, expected graduation date and any specialisation relevant to the position. You may also highlight relevant projects, exchange studies, coursework or your thesis topic.
3. Describe what you have learned from your studies in 2-3 sentences. Read the learning outcomes for your study programme. Highlight what is most relevant from your specialisation and/ or transferable skills. Present your competence for different positions in different ways, depending the specifications in the job advertisement.

Some employers want to see when you graduated from high school. If you have a gap before starting higher education, be sure to provide information about this later in the CV. Completing all or part of the high school program abroad can provide information about your language skills and intercultural understanding.

1. Describe your responsibilities and achievements, not only your job title.
2. Focus on experiences that demonstrate transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, customer service, leadership, problem-solving or project management.
3. Whenever possible, use specific examples to show the value you contributed.

1. Waiter at Lolo’s restaurant: Responsibility for training of new staff and supply orders. Maintained good customer relations and worked cash register.
2. Student worker at Lovely University: Responsibility for planning and leading arrangement for new students at my department.
3. Assistant at a kindergarten: Caretaking of 20 children in the age of 2-5. Participating in conducting parent- teacher conferences.

This section may include information that strengthens your application, such as:

• driver's licence
• professional memberships
• international experience
• relevant hobbies and interests
• permits or certifications required for the position

References are persons who can talk about your work experience, work habits, character and skills.

It is now more common to write "References are available upon request" in your CV, and have the list of references prepared going to an interview.

1. Ask your references in advance before you give out their names.
2. Provide 2-3 references that will say good things about you, preferably concerning your skills relevant to the position.
3. Tell your references when you go to an interview, and for what position. Then they are prepared and can highlight your most relevant qualities.
4. It is most common to use a former job manager as a reference. You can also ask your thesis supervisor, colleagues, teachers or others that can provide information relevant to the position.

Examples of what hiring mangers ask when they call your references:

• What was NN’s responsibilities working for/with you?
• How did NN handle these responsibilities?
• How will you describe NN personality and social skills in the workplace?
• What role did NN play in team situations?
• How did NN get along with co-workers, management or employees that NN supervised?
• Did NN work well independently?
• Did NN often seek advise from others?
• How did NN handle pressure or stress?
• Did NN’s work responsibilities change when working for/with you?
• How did NN handle the changes?
• If you had the opportunity, would you re-hire this job candidate? Why or why not?

The quality of AI-generated content depends on your own understanding of the subject. 
You need to know how to use the tool, what to look out for and what needs to be adjusted or improved. Always review the final result carefully and make sure it accurately represents your skills and experiences. 

AI tools can generate text in different languages, but they often draw on English-language sources and communication styles, particularly from North American contexts. 
Make sure the language in your application is professional, clear and appropriate for the position. Support your statements with specific examples rather than general claims. 

AI tools often repeat wording from the job advertisement or produce generic phrases that many applicants may use. 
Whenever possible, use your own words and explain why your experiences and skills are relevant to the position. 

Everything included in your CV and cover letter should be accurate and truthful. 
Remember that you are the person attending the interview, not the AI tool. You should be able to explain and discuss all experiences, skills and qualifications described in your application. 

Employers want to see genuine motivation and interest in the position and organisation. 
AI can help improve the structure and wording of an application, but it cannot replace your personal experiences, reflections and motivations. Make sure your application reflects who you are and what you can contribute.