Although both resumes and curricula vitae are used in job applications and some employers may use the terms correspondingly, these two formatted documents have a few sharp differences. We will discuss here the cue differences between a resume and a CV, what to cover in each and when to use one versus the other. This will help you to prepare the right document for your job applications as well as career growth.
What is a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
CV is an acronym of the word Curriculum Vitae, which is a Latin word meaning ‘course of life. A CV is a written document containing details of a person’s past education, experience, knowledge, skill, competencies, accomplishments, projects, awards, honours, etc.
Actually, CV is a biography of an individual’s academic background and professional experiences. It is also about a person’s area of interest, hobbies and extracurricular activities.
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CV is not modified according to the job rather it remains the same for all jobs. You should arrange it systematically so that a proper sketch of your career can be drawn.
A CV is usually two- or three-page long, sometimes more than that if necessary. Generally, the length of your CV will depend on your experience; the more experience you have, the longer your CV will be. In some countries like In the USA and Canada, a CV is used only for academic applications: academic jobs, grants, research fellowships, etc.
What to Include in a CV
-Contact Information
-Research Objective, Personal Profile, or Personal Statement
-Education
-Professional Academic Appointments
-Books
-Book Chapters
-Peer-Reviewed Publications
-Other Publications
-Awards and Honors
-Grants and Fellowships
-Conferences
-Teaching Experience
-Experience in Research or Lab
-Graduate Fieldwork
-Non-Academic Activities
-Languages and Skills
-Memberships
-References.
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What is a Resume
A resume or résumé is taken from the French meaning ‘to sum up. A resume is a short, compact document that is used for job applications. A resume provides recruiters with a brief overview of your work history. Your resume should be good to target a specific job and be one to two pages long. Actually, your resume is a snapshot of your professional profile.
You need to prepare your resume in such a manner so that it will make an impression on the potential employer because it can open the doors of an interview. Besides, it helps the recruiter to select the most suitable candidate for an interview. You must present the latest details first in your resume.
What to Include on a Resume
A resume usually includes a professional or summary statement, dedicated skills section and a detailed description of your recent and relevant professional achievements.
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You can share your education experience and relevant professional associations. You can list relevant internships, apprenticeships, volunteer work or personal projects if you have little or no professional work experience,
The Basic Difference Between a CV & a Resume
Before going to the key differences between a resume and a curriculum vitae you should take note of which region of the world you’re applying in along with your career path and decide which is more appropriate to use for you.
The difference between a CV and a Resume includes:
-A CV is an illustrative document which lists out all the details about your career whereas a Resume is a snapshot of your working life; presents all the details which are required for a job.
-A CV is full-scale while a Resume is short.
-The word CV is a Latin word and the word Resume is a French term.
-The length of a resume is shorter- one or two pages while there is no specific length of a CV. It can be 2 to 10 pages or more.
-CV puts emphasis on academic details. On the other hand, a resume is centred on non-academic details and highlights key skills and competencies that match the job.
-A CV is static and you cannot customise it but a Resume is dynamic that changes according to the job.
-A CV includes references but a resume doesn’t.
- If you want to apply for academic positions, fellowships, advanced research, etc, you need a CV. On the contrary, a Resume is suitable if you wish to apply for a job, internship or take part in a job fair.
-Curriculum Vitae (CV) focuses on expertise but a resume focuses on the contribution; how your work made a difference where you have worked.
- Generally, education or academic qualifications are shown at the top of the CV whereas in the resume education is indicated after the experience.
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Resume vs. CV: Key International Differences
In the U.S., a resume and a CV are two clearly different types of documents used for different purposes. In other regions of the world like the UK, New Zealand and parts of Europe, employers use the term CV to describe both CV and resume. They use the same style of documents and don’t use the term “resume” at all. In South Africa, Australia and India, the terms CV and resume are used vice-versa.
In South Asia, job seekers use a slightly different document namely biodata which contains more personal documents; date of birth, gender, race, ethnicity, marital status, and salary. It’s most often and commonly used in India and Bangladesh.
Conclusion
The difference between a CV and a Resume is very specific and clear. Usually, a CV covers all the aspects of a person’s career whereas a Resume is frank to the particular job. A CV is more detailed than a Resume. There is no mismatch and confusion between these two terms. In most countries, in the case of employment demand, a CV or a resume from the candidates. The contents of the two terms; CV & Resume differ in many respects which is discussed in this article. Hope it helps!