CV vs Resume – What is the Difference and When to Use Which?

CV Vs Resume – What’s the Difference

What is a CV or curriculum vitae? Is it any different from a resume?

Why do some candidates apply with a CV and others use a resume? Is any of the two better than the other? Or are both the same? Does it depend on the years of experience the candidate holds? Or is ‘CV’ just another word for ‘resume’, and vice versa?  Let’s find out the difference between a CV and a resume. 

Follow the table to know the difference between CV and resume:

What is CV? & What to Include in a CV?

A CV (short for the Latin phrase curriculum vitae, which means “course of life”) is a detailed document highlighting your professional and academic history.

In the USA, the term ‘resume’ is more common than ‘CV’ where, ‘CV’ usually refers to an elaborated version of a resume that contains much more information than a resume.

Here’s what a CV should contain: 

1. Photo: Insert a passport-size formal photo at the top of your CV.  
2. Personal information: Include your name, address (not complete but at least your city), phone number, and email address and link it to your LinkedIn or other professional accounts. Giving your social media accounts link does not look professional and hireable unless your profile link is required there. Ensure your online profiles are up to date and show up to the goals and professionalism.
3. Work experience: Write about your work experience in reverse-chronological order. This means that the recent organization and role you are serving should come at the top. Focus on your achievements rather than your responsibilities while writing your work experience by highlighting quantifiable information about the job.  
4. Education: Write about your education in reverse-chronological order. Your recent graduation details should come at the top. 

Other section- 

1. Technical Skills: Write down a list of skills that are helpful for the job you’ve applied for. It is a great way to supplement your work history. It also shows what you are good at.
2. Volunteer experience: If your volunteer experience is essential to the job you’ve applied for, you can include it in your work experience section.
3. References: If your employer asks you for references, supply them. Otherwise, it is not recommended to mention reference details in your CV. 

Good Examples for CV 

Use standard, legible, elegant fonts such as Calibri, Cambria, Open Sans, Helvetica, Georgia, or Bookman Old Style in your CV. Outdated fonts such as Times New Roman can make your CV look old. 

Pro tip: Never use a “fancy” curly-tailed font in your CV. Add a touch of class. It will make your CV a nightmare to read.

What is Resume? & What to Include in a Resume?

A resume is a formal document that a job applicant creates to itemize their qualifications for a position.

There are a few specific things you need to know regarding resumes. Let’s start by understanding the meaning of a resume. 

First, the term ‘resume’ is equivalent to the European word ‘CV’. 

Both look similar and are one-page documents that summarize your experiences and educational background, tailored for a specific job you’re applying for.

Basic information on a resume 

• The common length of a resume is between 1-2 pages. 
• A one-page resume is enough if you’ve recently completed your graduation or you’re someone with less than 5 years of relevant work experience. 
• If you hold considerable experience and are a seasoned professional, then you can go for 2 pages. In a very rare case, when 2 pages are not sufficient, you can go for 3.
• Standard American English is preferred. This means ignoring ‘UK’ English uses (e.g. “color” instead of “colour”). 
• Need not give your personal information, like; marital status, gender, birthday, details of children, their age, religion, personal identification numbers, or ethnicity of origin, as they can be grounds for discrimination.
• Avoid giving references in your resume unless the employer specifically asks you to.
• Most importantly, don’t list ‘English’ as a foreign language if you are applying for jobs in the USA.  

Here’s what you can include in your resume

1.List your contact information-  

Pick a resume format/template, and start filling in the contents.

Write down your Name and Surname, Phone number, Address (City and State), and Email Address. 

2.Give a resume summary in 2-3 sentences about your career.

Mention a resume Objective about your motivation for getting into a new field. 

If you are an experienced candidate, then write about your achievements. 

3.Add your Work experience – 

With your Job Title/Position, company’s name & location, and Dates employed in the mm/yyyy format. 

4.Accomplishments and responsibilities along with every job title as per your designation and tenure with the company.

Good Examples for Resume

What about the proper file format for a resume?

Usually, a PDF is the best document to make a resume. It keeps your resume layout intact across all devices.

Although, some companies require resumes in Word doc or DOCX files. 

Before sending it across to the interviewer, pay attention to the job description, confirm with the recruiter and then play by their rules.

Make your resume available in both PDF and DOC file formats, to avoid last minute rush.

Avoid file formats such as JPG or PNG, or files dedicated to graphic software (PSD, INDD, or AI). Some employers might not accept these versions.

Conclusion 

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