Curriculum vitae
Craft a Job-Winning Resume with AI: Step-by-Step Guide to Stand Out
The job market is increasingly competitive, and showcasing your qualifications and achievements effectively is crucial. A compelling resume is the first step towards landing your dream job. With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), numerous AI resume builder apps and software can help craft a job-winning resume. AI ensures that your resume highlights the right points and metrics to attract both recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS). Here's how you can use AI to create an impressive resume.
How AI Enhances Resume Crafting
Today’s AI technology is driven by sophisticated algorithms that analyze vast amounts of data related to job positions, descriptions, requirements, performance metrics, and successful profiles. AI uses this data to craft a resume and predict its effectiveness for specific roles. Here are some key areas where AI works its magic:
Keyword Optimization
AI identifies and incorporates essential keywords into your resume. This helps your resume stand out to human recruiters and ensures it passes through ATS filters. For example, if you’re applying for a marketing position, AI can highlight terms like “SEO,” “content strategy,” and “digital marketing,” which are likely to catch the attention of both ATS and human recruiters.
Read more: How to Customize Your Resume for Each Job Application
Content Strategy
AI can refine your resume content by rephrasing descriptions and quantifying achievements. These improvements are based on successful precedents, ensuring your resume is both impactful and relevant. For instance, if you’re a project manager, AI might suggest transforming “managed a team” into “led a team of 15 to complete a $2 million project ahead of schedule.”
Formatting and Grammar Check
AI tools can format your resume for ATS compatibility, creating a clean, minimalistic, and easy-to-navigate document. Additionally, tools like Grammarly ensure your resume is free of grammatical errors, enhancing its professionalism. A well-formatted resume with impeccable grammar presents a polished and competent image to potential employers.
4 months ago
Resume vs CV: What are the key differences?
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.
Read Future Resume: How to Project Yourself 5 or 10 Years from Now
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.
Read Perfect Resume: 12 Effective Tips for writing professional CV
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.
Read ATS Optimised CV: How to make your resume Robot-friendly
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!
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2 years ago
Cover Letter for CV: Important Tips and Tricks
Whether applying for an entry-level position or a C-level one, hiring managers often look for one thing along with the CV. And that is the cover letter. It’s a standard procedure to include a cover letter along with the CV even if it's not explicitly mentioned in the application process. So what makes the cover letter equally important as the CV? Let’s find out.
Why is Cover Letter Important?
Before getting to its importance, let's understand what a cover letter is. A cover letter is similar to an application addressed to the hiring manager. It’s a concise letter stating the obvious intention of wanting to be considered for a said position.
But the most important part of a cover letter is describing what makes you a good fit for the position, how you will add value, and how your previous experience along with the academics aligns with the JD of a said position.
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That’s the basics of a cover letter. Now, why is it important? A hiring manager receives countless applications for any position. It’s often difficult to scour through the pile of applications and deeply scrutinize every CV. This is where a cover letter comes in. It's a concise way for prospective applicants to talk about themselves and showcase their ideas better than just numbers and achievements found in a CV.
It’s a sure-fire way to stand out from the crowd and make a positive first impression. A cover letter is like the tie between the CV and the JD. The better an applicant can connect these two in the cover letter, the better their chances become at securing the position.
Read Future Resume: How to Project Yourself 5 or 10 Years from Now
Tips and Tricks for a Brilliant Cover Letter
Now it might seem like an easy task to write a cover letter. But going by the usual template of style and word will only make it a generic letter. There are a few key ways to stand out and potentially make a lasting impression with the cover letter. Here are a few.
The Opening One Liner
It all starts with the first sentence and many people go with the generic route of writing their name. But is it necessary considering the name is already there on the CV? No. Instead, start with something like how excited you are to apply to the said position. Or exactly why you’re the perfect fit for the JD. An exciting opener will grab the attention of the hiring manager and potentially hook them for the entire read.
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Write Out of the CV
Many people make the mistake of simply summarizing their CV in the cover letter. That’s an absolute no-go. Think about it, if you’re going to simply mention what’s already there, how will it be unique? Instead talk about your experiences, both in work and academics. Talk about the positional requirements and how you can bring more than that to the table. In a word, show that you are above and beyond, a perfect fit for all the requirements of the position.
Don’t Point Out the Lack of Experience
Let's face the obvious, not every applicant will have a pristine previous experience. If you are someone who lacks the specific experience, there is no need to be sorry or point that out for that matter. Instead, tie with what you have done in the past and show them that you are excited and looking forward to the challenge of making headway in the new position.
Read Perfect Resume: 12 Effective Tips for writing professional CV
Bring the Stats
In today’s world, numbers speak more than words. They also hold better persuasive power. It can be like the number of projects organized, efficiency created, or leads generated. The idea is pretty simple, make the cover letter as persuasive as possible.
Focus on the Company
The ideal cover letter should be more about what you can do for the company instead of what the company will do for you. The company already knows what it will bring to the table, instead it needs to see that you understand the values, visions, missions, and goals of the company. It needs to be seen that the applicant is equally motivated in their pursuit of excellence as they are.
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Avoid Images
Many people make the mistake of attaching images with the cover letter. But that is not the standard norm. In fact, images should be avoided in CV as well unless stated otherwise. There aren’t any specific rules as to why it should not be. It has long been a standard practice not to include an image.
Use the Correct Form of Address
Most people make the mistake of using “Dear Sir/Madam” as salutations or other random starters. Avoid these vague salutations. Instead, directly address the hiring manager by name. If you do not know who is hiring, just go with “Hiring Manager”. It's best to avoid Sir or Madam.
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Do Not Use Generic Words
There are a lot of generic words like a hard worker, team player, dedicated, loyal, and whatnot. The problem with these words is that everyone is using them. Almost 8 out of 10 applications will be filled with these words. The two that won’t have them will stand out. The goal should be to be a part of that 20%.
Focus on the Keywords
Go over the company profile and understand their industry and line of work. Every JD has a specific role and there are several processes associated with those roles. The target is to correctly identify the processes and mention them within the letter. This will easily help to catch the eyes of the hiring manager and also show a depth of knowledge on the part of the applicant.
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Final Words
Cover Letter can make or break the whole standard of your resume or curriculum viate. The process of getting hired starts with a compelling cover letter. The ultimate goal of the applicant should be to give it a personal touch all the while focusing on what value they can generate for the company and a deep understanding of the role. So far we have mentioned some efficient tips to write an excellent cover letter for your CV. Hope it helps!
2 years ago
Future Resume: How to Project Yourself 5 or 10 Years from Now
More often than not people are scouring to write their CV or resume hastily before applying to a job. There are others who just straight up unload everything, even if it is not relevant to the JD of the position they are applying for. These are all problems and issues pertaining to the current resume culture. But what about the future? Will it still be a single-page document that only speaks what’s written? Or will it be more up close and personal? Here’s everything to know about the future resume.
What is a Future Resume?
A future resume is something that is beyond a structured and formatted piece of paper. While most traditional CVs nowadays have a name, position, personal details, experience, and qualifications, a CV of the future will be much more interactive and insightful compared to the traditional ones in existence.
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There’s only so much an HR can deduct from the CV. A traditional CV by today’s standard is not only outdated, it is often tedious to shuffle through and misleading at times. It only adds to the preliminary screening hassle and often fails to identify the perfectly suitable candidate for a relevant position.
But CVs have been around forever, and many people will argue that it has served the process just fine. Well, there’s no denying that a CV is still by far the most accurate way to judge the competency of a prospective candidate. But what if it can be made even more flawless?
Imagine if AI could be implemented to check for compatibility? Surely computational reasoning will be much more accurate compared to hunch on words.
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Significance of Future CV
The borderline here is a better presentation and effective assessment of a candidate. This is what mainly entails the future CV. But it is much more than assessment or ease of the process.
Automation
The first point is automation. Even though resumes are now dropped through application links and emails, sifting and sorting them is still a time-consuming process. The Future CV will completely automate the process with assistants on both the recruiter and applicant’s end. AI will oversee the entire procedure to ensure maximum efficiency at minimal time loss.
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Anonymity
What if you decided that certain aspects of your CV should be removed? Or that it should only be accessed by the recruiting head? In the current setup, there isn’t any scope like that. The Future CV will leave complete control to the applicant. Applicants will get to decide what to show, when to show and who to show throughout the entire recruitment process.
Centralized Network
The current CV formats require external linking regarding different components. For example, the referees, publications, LinkedIn profile, and other contacts as well as performance proofs. But what if all of these could be made available at a central network? The concept of Big Data comes into play here where the AI will be able to put a weightage on each of these components and draw a compatibility and competence index for each applicant. And as always, the quantitative decision is the fail-safe way.
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Security
Data breaches and data leaks are some of the most pressing issues in current times. A CV or resume contains several personal information that anyone wouldn’t want out in the public. Yet system losses or plain disregard for the personal right to information safety is completely disregarded at times. The Future CV will solve this issue by making the complete screening process cloud-based with a unique blockchain identity. Blockchain security will ensure data safety before and after the screening process.
2 years ago
Perfect Resume: 12 Effective Tips for writing professional CV
Resume are like the first screening for any job. This is the first step that you take as a prospective candidate for any position. Needless to say, a resume and its contents may make or break your chance of getting a job. Regardless of how skilled or passionate you may be, if your resume isn’t articulated properly and sequentially, you have narrow possibility of success. Here are some useful tips that you should follow to write a persuasive resume.
How to write a professional CV
Don’t Write Everything
One of the common mistakes of writing a resume is that people tend to make it as elaborate work history. It can confuse the selectors. You may have worked as a content writer back in your college days but that has nothing to do if you are applying for the position of saying a software engineer. In your CV, mention your job experiences that are relevant to the industry you’re applying to and in line with the position.
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Highlight the Highlights of Your Career
There is a marketing term called ‘keeping things above the fold.’ It refers to highlight the important stuff so that it gets noticed easily. Among all your educational and work experiences, you should highlight the best ones. The key here is to showcase your achievement better for express consideration into the position.
Add a Supplementary Link
It's alright to curtail a little information and keeping things above the fold. But in some cases, the job may require you to state detail information regarding your past experiences about the job, cultural activities or social work. To prepare resume for such jobs, it would be better if you can have some ideas about that industry.
In such cases, we suggest you to build a portfolio website. A portfolio website can showcase all of your achievements as well as give a glimpse of your personal self. More importantly, you can simply add a link to your website in your resume.
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Simplicity is the Key
You will see people knocking some of the fanciest resumes out there in terms of design. But let’s be honest; fancy designs won’t get you the job. It’s always the content of the paper that matters, not the paper itself. We suggest you keep things simple and easy to navigate. Simplicity is the key here as it will not only look professional but will also help the employers to navigate to the important part.
Carefully Include Your Contacts
Gone are the days when we used to see addresses in resumes. There is no need for that anymore. However, you should include a phone number and a professional personal email as your contact in the resume. In addition to that, you should include all the potential places where you can be found on the internet like LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Make it Easy-to-Skim
When you are applying for a position, keep in mind that you are not the only one who is applying. There will be hundreds and thousands of similar applicants and it's safe to assume that not everything that you write in your CV will be read.
The reality is, your CV will get skimmed and they will try to understand what sets you apart and what relevant skills you have to offer.
Based on that, we suggest you make your CV skimmable. Write concise sentences that can give a broader perspective in a short phase.
Working on the bullet points
This point is in line with our previous point that the content of the resume should be skimmable. You may have worked a long time in a place with a lot of achievements, but that doesn’t mean you should include all of it.
An ideal section in a resume should have about 5 to 6 bullet points. Now it is up to you to curate the contents in a way to fit the ideal standard.
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Avoid Technical Jargons
Do not use technical jargons to showcase how much you know about our work. You might feel that it will set you apart from the rest and show the depth of your knowledge. But you should understand that the first person to read your CV might not be someone familiar with the technicalities like a recruiter o a high-level official.
We suggest you to avoid using technical jargons while writing a resume. It's better to design the CV in a way that it's understood by all.
Include Numbers
There's nothing like numbers to back up your claims. Whether it is to show how many clients you have served or your contribution to the development of your organization. Numbers and figures turn heads and give a recruiter a concrete idea about the impact that you can have on the company. With that said, don’t overcompensate with numbers. Keep things clean and professional. Remember that the recruiters are looking for a CV, not info-graphics.
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Education or Experience
One might often think that education is what sets a prospective employee above the rest. It may be true in a certain sense, but it is almost solely limited to entry-level jobs. We suggest you to highlight your experience before your education. Your hands-on experience in a similar setup will go a long way to ascertain your credibility than your GPA.
Include Extra Skills
The pandemic has created a lot of free time for office goers. We hope you used the time wisely to rack up some skills through online courses. Show off your skills and certifications in your resume as they will be added to your skillset, particularly the ones that are directly involved with your industry.
Read:How to ace a Job Interview?
Proofread
One of the common mistakes in resumes is the grammatical errors. Avoid them at any cost. We mean seriously, this point can’t be overemphasized. No matter how good your resume might be, if it has a typo or grammatical mistake, it will only drive down your credibility.
Take a good look for about ten times before you submit your resume anywhere and make sure it's compliant with all the requirements.
Bottom Line
A concrete resume is like getting half the job done in job hunting. So far we have suggested some effective and practical topics to write professional curriculum vitae (CV). We hope these tips will help you to better write your resume and secure that job you’ve been eyeing.
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3 years ago