Experience and CV writing guide
A standard CV structure
- Contact details: full name, phone number, a professional email address; a portrait photo if the employer asks for one.
- Career objective: a few short sentences on the role you want and the value you bring.
- Education: major, university, dates; notable results and scholarships.
- Experience: internships, part-time jobs, projects, clubs – most recent first.
- Skills and certificates: professional, language, IT and soft skills backed by evidence.
- Activities and awards: choose those relevant to the role.
Write experience employers believe
- Start each line with an action verb: “designed”, “organised”, “supported”, “analysed”.
- State concrete results instead of general claims.
- Only include what you can explain at interview; honesty comes first.
Tailor your CV to each vacancy
Read the job description carefully and bring the skills and tools the employer asks for to the top of your CV. Prepare a separate CV for each role, keep it to one or two pages, save it as a PDF and give the file a clear name.
What employers value
- Solid professional knowledge and the ability to apply it to real situations.
- Soft skills: communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time management.
- Willingness to learn, adaptability and readiness to start with small tasks.
- Attitude and professional ethics: punctuality, neat presentation, tidy documents, openness to feedback.
Preparing for interviews
- Research the company, its products and the role.
- Prepare a short self-introduction and an example for each skill on your CV.
- Prepare questions for the employer about the work and career development.
Applying for a lecturer post
State your academic degree, field of training, published or accepted research, teaching experience, language proficiency and the courses you can teach; prepare a sample lesson, as the selection process may include a teaching demonstration.
Reference: the article on the strengths employers value in students and the 2026 lecturer recruitment notice – Thanh Do University website.
Experience and CV tips by major
Information Technology
Experience to build while studying
- Personal or team projects with public source code (web, mobile apps, data processing)
- An internship at a software company or a corporate IT department
- Programming clubs, coding contests and hackathons
What to highlight in your CV
- State the languages and technologies you actually used in each project and your role
- Describe measurable results: features delivered, fewer bugs, faster processing
- Include a link to your code repository or a product demo in the CV
Keywords employers look for: programming, testing, databases, Git, APIs, Agile/Scrum teamwork, English for technical documentation.
Automotive Engineering Technology
Experience to build while studying
- An internship at a service workshop, car dealership or assembly plant
- Hands-on diagnostics with scan tools and reading automotive wiring diagrams
- Learning about electric and hybrid vehicles and smart automotive electronics
What to highlight in your CV
- List the systems you have worked on: engine, chassis, body electrics, air conditioning, safety systems
- Name the diagnostic tools and software you have used
- Mention trade certificates, occupational safety training and a driving licence (if any)
Keywords employers look for: diagnostics, maintenance, repair, automotive electrics, electric vehicles, occupational safety, service advisory.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology
Experience to build while studying
- An internship at a factory, M&E contractor or power company
- Projects with microcontrollers, PLCs, sensors and automation systems
- Reading and drafting electrical drawings with specialist software
What to highlight in your CV
- Describe each project: requirements, solution, components and test results
- Name the software you used: circuit design, PLC programming, simulation
- Mention electrical safety certificates and hands-on installation experience
Keywords employers look for: PLC, automation, circuit design, microcontrollers, IoT, equipment maintenance, electrical safety.
Accounting
Experience to build while studying
- An accounting internship at a company or an accounting services firm
- Practice with accounting software and spreadsheets (functions, pivot tables)
- Learning about e-invoices, tax filing and financial statements
What to highlight in your CV
- State the areas you have handled: receivables and payables, inventory, tax, payroll, general ledger
- Name the accounting software and specific spreadsheet skills
- Emphasise accuracy, integrity and confidentiality with data
Keywords employers look for: general accounting, tax, e-invoices, financial statements, accounting software, Excel.
Business Administration
Experience to build while studying
- Internships in sales, marketing, HR or supply chain
- Start-up projects, business idea competitions and student clubs
- Part-time customer-facing work: sales, customer care
What to highlight in your CV
- Show results through concrete actions: campaigns you ran, customers you served
- Highlight data analysis, planning and presentation skills
- Give each CV a clear focus (sales, marketing, HR, etc.)
Keywords employers look for: sales, marketing, customer care, data analysis, planning, teamwork.
Office Management
Experience to build while studying
- An administrative internship at a public agency or company
- Practice drafting documents in the correct format and managing records
- Organising events and meetings for a club or faculty
What to highlight in your CV
- Highlight document drafting, office software and calendar management skills
- Describe coordination and organising tasks you have handled
- Emphasise professionalism, care and confidentiality
Keywords employers look for: administration, records, archiving, office software, event organisation, communication.
Law
Experience to build while studying
- An internship at a law office, law firm or corporate legal department
- Moot courts and legal debating competitions
- Practice with legal research and contract drafting
What to highlight in your CV
- State your areas of interest: corporate, civil, labour, intellectual property, etc.
- Describe the files and cases you have assisted with (without confidential client information)
- Emphasise reasoning, writing and presentation skills
Keywords employers look for: in-house legal, contract drafting, legal advice, legal research, litigation.
Pharmacy
Experience to build while studying
- Placements at a pharmacy, pharmaceutical company, hospital or testing laboratory
- Knowing prescription rules, good pharmacy practice and drug storage
- Continuing professional development courses in pharmacy
What to highlight in your CV
- State where you trained and what you did: medication advice, stock management, testing
- List certificates and professional updates you have completed
- Emphasise professional ethics and carefulness
Keywords employers look for: medication counselling, GPP, pharmacy stock management, quality testing, medical representative, clinical pharmacy.
Nursing
Experience to build while studying
- Clinical placements at hospitals, clinics and elderly care facilities
- Practising basic nursing procedures and first aid
- Learning a foreign language if you plan to work abroad
What to highlight in your CV
- List the wards where you trained and the procedures you perform confidently
- Mention first-aid and language certificates (if any)
- Emphasise dedication, patience and communication with patients
Keywords employers look for: patient care, nursing procedures, first aid, elderly care, communication.
English Studies
Experience to build while studying
- Internships in translation and interpreting, teaching assistance, tour guiding or international customer service
- Taking international tests (IELTS, Linguaskill, etc.) to prove your level
- Joining internship or exchange programmes abroad
What to highlight in your CV
- State your certificates, scores and their validity
- Mention documents you have translated, events you have interpreted and classes you have assisted
- Prepare an error-free bilingual Vietnamese–English CV
Keywords employers look for: translation, interpreting, English teaching, customer service, tourism, international office work.
Chinese Studies
Experience to build while studying
- Internships at Chinese- or Taiwanese-invested companies or import–export firms
- Taking the HSK to prove your level
- Summer camps and student exchanges at partner universities
What to highlight in your CV
- State your HSK level and specific translation and interpreting skills
- Describe experience working with Chinese-speaking partners and customers
- Prepare a bilingual Vietnamese–Chinese CV
Keywords employers look for: Chinese translation and interpreting, assistant, import–export, e-commerce, tourism.
Hospitality Management
Experience to build while studying
- Placements at hotels, resorts and restaurants (front office, housekeeping, food and beverage)
- Enterprise semesters at major tourist destinations
- Practising a foreign language for serving international guests
What to highlight in your CV
- State the departments you worked in and guest situations you handled
- Mention languages and hotel management software you have used
- Emphasise service attitude, professional presentation and ability to work shifts
Keywords employers look for: front office, housekeeping, food and beverage, guest care, languages, shift supervision.
Vietnamese Studies (Tour Guide)
Experience to build while studying
- On-tour guiding practice and internships at travel companies
- Studying history, culture, destinations and commentary skills
- Practising a foreign language to guide international visitors
What to highlight in your CV
- List the routes and sites you have guided and the groups you have supported
- Mention a tour guide card and languages (if any)
- Emphasise communication, problem-solving and stamina
Keywords employers look for: tour guide, tour operations, commentary, customer care, languages.
Education
Experience to build while studying
- Placements at schools, education centres and training organisations
- Designing lessons and life-skills education activities
- School counselling support and volunteering with children
What to highlight in your CV
- Describe the programmes and activities you designed and who they were for
- Highlight your use of technology in teaching
- Emphasise patience, listening and explaining skills
Keywords employers look for: curriculum design, education management, school counselling, life skills, corporate training.
Need help with your CV or job search?
Leave your details and what you need help with. Ms Trang will contact you and connect you with the university’s careers and employment team.
See also
- Lecturer vacanciesPositions, requirements, benefits and how to join the university’s teaching staff.
- Jobs & internshipsVacancies from partner companies and enterprise-semester programmes for students.
- Career paths by majorTypical roles and workplaces for each major, and graduate employment figures.
- Part-time jobs for studentsPart-time work that fits your timetable, introduced by the university and partner companies.
- Job-search, interview and salary tipsFinding a job, interviewing and discussing pay for new graduates, by field.