RESUME V/S CV


"A resume is a bridge that stands in the middle of you and the job you’re applying for. And to get that dream job, your bridge must be strong enough"

Resume? CV? Are they really the same? What should you forward to your hiring manager? Read on to unravel the jargon of the corporate world and have a better understanding of the aforesaid term, and know when to use what.

The primary difference between a CV and a resume is the one that is between that of data and information. What resume is to data, CV is to information. CVs and resumes differentiate on the basis of length, purpose and the layout. A CV actually is a full record of your career and a resume is a brief customized list of skills and achievements.

What is a Curriculum Vitae?

Wikipedia refers to curriculum vitae (CV) as ‘‘a summary of academic and professional history of achievements’’. Basically, a CV gives a complete list of the candidate’s experience and skills. It provides in-depth information about one’s achievements and life work, somewhat like a career biography.

CVs for freshers will be shorter than those of candidates with notable work experience.

resume-vs-cvs

CV is organised according to categories and chronology. It is important to note that a CV remains static, it never changes for different job positions, unlike a resume which is tailored for the specific job purpose.

It is seen that the Indian curriculum vitae is credential-based, it provides an all-inclusive listing of the candidate’s education , degrees, skills , certifications and awards, professional and personal affiliations and memberships, previous work experience and other achievements.

What to include in your Curriculum Vitae?

Your curriculum vitae would be your introduction to your prospective employer. Along these lines, your curriculum vitae must contain your personal information i.e. your name and contact information (complete with postal address, telephone number and an e-mail address)

In addition to these, a CV includes your work experience of all kinds (internships, jobs, part-time work and research work), publications, academic qualifications, degrees, licenses and any other relevant information which you might find is important for the position being applied for.

If you are considering to write your curriculum vitae, you must make a list of all the information stated above and organize it into different categories


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How to write a Successful CV

Choose the format most appropriate for your CV. (hyperlink to different types of CVs)

Make sure to include the following on your CV:

  • Name and Contact Information
  • Objective/Summary
  • Educational Qualification
  • Work Experience
  • Publications
  • Awards and Titles
  • Grants and Scholarships
  • Conferences Attended
  • Other experiences
  • Graduate Fieldwork
  • Non Academic Activities
  • Languages and proficiency level
  • Skill Proficiency
  • References
What is a Resume?

According to the Wikipedia, a resume is ‘’a document used and created by a person to present their background skills, and accomplishments.’’

A resume is a short crisp document which gives the employer a brief idea about the candidates past work experience and relevant skills. A ‘resume objective’ is optional however preferable to add.

With the Indian context, resumes are competency-based; they are documents which intend to market the candidate’s skills, achievements, and work experience, if any.

A resume must be as crisp as possible. Ideally, it must be one page long. The idea is to stand out from the crowd.

Tips for writing CV and Resume

By now you must be well versed with the difference between a CV and resume, and must have decided what to write for your upcoming job interview. The question remains HOW? Here are a few tips and rules to follow so that your CV or resume stands out, and show your human resource manager that you are a good fit for the job.

Match your resume to the position.

This is the most primary prerequisite for writing a resume. Highlight your work experience and education which seem to be relevant for the job being applied for.

For example if you are applying for a job as an investment banker, you should put your experience as a banker/ stock analyst at the top of your resume. Other things to highlight must include your educational qualifications, published research work that you may have been a part of, testimonies of your previous employers(s) and your professors. Adding keywords from the job description to your resume objective is advisable.

resumes-vs-cvs

Use a Template

Using a template is the most simple, fuss-free way to structure a CV and that would also make sure that you do not miss out on any important information. Using a template will make your CV / resume organised, which will make sure that the employer will not overlook any information, which could be a deciding factor in your employability as opposed to your competitors.

Proofread and edit.

Nothing could be more embarrassing than a well-structured concise CV / resume with relevant qualifications and experience but with grammatical and spelling errors. Take help from a professional if required.

Your document, however perfect it may seem in the first draft, could have many edits to do to make it look attractive, and concise to your employer.

You might want to weed out certain information which is not required for the job application. For example, voluntary work done during a summer vacation in school may not be required in your resume if you are applying for a job as a writer in the newspaper, it would be significant if you were applying for a similar job at an NGO. Invest time to proofread your CV or resume and be thorough with it.


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“We would love to help you create your CV. You can whatsapp us on +91-9716366366 and consult an expert for free”

How to write a Successful resume

In some large organizations, with the use of Artificial Intelligence, resumes are being reviewed without human intervention for its first screening. Resumes must be concise, which should successfully pass the screening by robots and also appeal to the end human who would hire you.

resumes-vs-cvs

Just like writing a CV, you must choose a format which suits you and the job description best. Read about chronological, functional or combinational resumes.

Here are some key points to include in your resume:

  • Contact Information
  • Objective/Summary
  • Work Experience
  • Academic Qualifications
  • Skills and language proficiency
  • Additional Sections (Awards, Certifications, Courses etc)
  • Hoping that this article has cleared your doubts and questions regarding CVs and resumes. In case you still have questions, leave a comment or ask in the personal chat box, and We will answer all your questions. Best of luck for your job seeking!

    Your CV or resume is your first impression for any company . With the help of CV Owl you can get a well structured CV and your time will be saved. Everything on your CV should be written in a formal manner and in a precise way. You have only 20 seconds to impress your recruiter with your CV, make the best out of it. Visit our series “The HR Talk” where we help you know everything about your job interview from the recruiters.

    Try CV Owl as we help you furnish a fully-formatted in a chronological order resume or cover letter You can also try our CV Review service, through which you get a CV writing expert reviewing the insight of your CV and advising you, so that you can make your CV stand out .


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