Difference Between CV and Resume
What's the main difference between cv and resume?
When embarking on a job search, the initial action is often to forward the candidate's CV or resume to prospective companies. This serves as the primary stride in the candidate selection process. This stage holds significant importance as it creates the candidate's first impression. Both the CV and the resume play a pivotal role in highlighting the candidate's overall qualifications and skills. However, let's delve into the primary disparity between a CV and a resume.
🎾What exactly is a CV?
The acronym "CV" originates from the Latin term "Curriculum Vitae," which translates to "course of life." Essentially, a CV presents a comprehensive account of an individual's academic journey, professional accomplishments, and personal particulars. It can be likened to a condensed biography that encapsulates various aspects of one's life. The CV encompasses a wealth of information, including educational trajectory, work experience, proficiencies, accolades, honors, interests, and extracurricular engagements.
The primary aim of a CV is to provide a thorough snapshot of an individual's professional journey, expertise, and experiences. A CV should effectively communicate both professional and personal details of a person. As a result, meticulous preparation is essential. This aids recruiters in gaining a comprehensive understanding of a person's accomplishments and skills.
🏅Discover more about the resume
A resume is a concise synopsis of a candidate's qualifications, employment background, accomplishments, and abilities. Crucially, all of this information should directly relate to the specific job and role being sought. The term "resume" originates from French, meaning a summary. It centralizes the candidate's key qualifications and the specialized knowledge relevant to the targeted position. Its purpose is to aid companies in identifying the most suitable candidates for interviews. The chronological arrangement of a resume typically starts with the most recent achievements and progresses to earlier ones.
In comparison to a CV, which provides a comprehensive overview of a person's professional journey, a resume is a more condensed document. Moreover, while a CV emphasizes academic accomplishments, a resume prioritizes employable skills. Additionally, CVs are generally not tailored to specific job requirements, whereas a resume should be customized to match the job's demands.
🥏To make your resume stand out, several elements should be included. Let's explore these aspects.
1. Ensure clarity when describing your projects or responsibilities, along with their outcomes. Avoid excessive elaboration.
2. Highlight your proficiencies, particularly your technical skills. Articulate the problem-solving abilities you possess.
3. Above all, exercise caution to avoid using empty phrases within your resume. Your resume is the factor that propels you to the next phase in the selection process. Thus, it's imperative to craft an outstanding resume that highlights your preferences and competencies through concrete examples and data.
The substance, language, and layout hold equal significance in resume preparation. Tailor your resume according to the institution you're applying to and the specific role you're seeking. Ensure your resume maintains clean formatting and proper margins, employing a legible font.
A well-crafted resume can wield significant influence during an interview. Based on a survey within the recruitment community, a well-structured resume increases the likelihood of a recruiter reaching out by two to three times.
🎲Focusing on the Resume
▫ Thoroughly review the resume at least four times to ensure there are no errors. Accurately include your contact details such as phone number and email.
▫ It's advisable to customize and send your resume based on each job and company. Sending the same generic resume might convey a lack of genuine interest.
▫ Keep the length in check; a concise one or two pages are sufficient. The content should be straightforward, allowing the hiring manager to grasp everything in a single reading.
🔺🔺Things to Avoid
▫ Avoid errors: Spelling and grammar mistakes can create a negative impression. Double-check your phone number, email, etc.
▫ A resume photo isn't obligatory. Details such as religion, caste, marital status, Facebook links, etc., are unnecessary. There's no need for passport numbers, fingerprints, or signatures.
▫ Avoid mentioning expected salary in the resume. This can be discussed later in the process.
▫ When crafting your resume, never prepare it by hand. Handwritten resumes often lead to various errors.
PS: It's important to remember that crafting a strong resume is crucial for securing a desirable job.
An Article By Mujeebulla K.M
CIGI INTERNATIONAL CAREER TEAM