5 major difference between resume and CV

Ever wondered why British people use CV (curriculum vitae) and Americans use resumes for seeking a job? Although there are significant differences between the documents, people around the world use them inter-changeably. Know the major differences between the two documents before applying for a job or grant.

1. Definitions.

A resume is a short or not more than two page summary of your relevant skills and achievements. Although the exact length of a resume is not fixed, in general it should not be too long, unless in rare exceptions and highlight a candidate’s qualifications and skills. The main purpose of a resume is to make a candidate stand out from the competition. It includes relevant information such as your past education, current and past employment experience, required skills and abilities for the given job and additional achievements, certificates and recognition that can add to the overall appeal.

A curriculum vita is very similar to a resume. It is longer than a resume and lists all your accomplishments and information, even if they are not directly related to the position or purpose in question. CV is traditionally used within the academic community. It carries additional information such as earned degrees, teaching and research experience, presentations, publications, honors, affiliations and projects done. Unlike a resume, a CV tends to provide much more information about your academic and professional achievements.

2. When to use what.

Resumes are generally used when people apply for business positions. Each time a candidate applies for a job; his or her resume should be rewritten to reflect skills, experience and credentials that will be ideal for that particular position. For example, if a candidate were to simultaneously apply for two different positions- a science teacher and a designer, he or she would likely add different qualifications in each resume.

A curriculum vita is used when applying for a faculty, research, or leadership position at an academic or scientific organization. Other areas where curriculum vita is used include international job applications, clinical or scientific applications. This is the reason for a CV to be two to three pages while the resume would not go beyond one page i.e. any big data.

3. Differences by location.

The general rule to follow here is that if you are applying for a post in America, use a resume. If you are applying anywhere else in the world, use a CV. However, if you are looking for an academic position, or for a grant, it is better to use a CV, regardless of your location. Things are further confusing by the rising popularity in the UK of short CVs which are short and are similar to a resume.

One of the goals to use a short CV was to highlight it from the rest, but almost everybody copies this and it no longer has the same benefit as it used to be. As a result people are sticking to the conventional style of CV for the same objectives that it disappeared in the first place. Whether you choose to follow the popular method or stick with old style is up to you.

However, it is safer to have both versions and decide which one to send out on a per-company basis. Take some time and carefully write yourself both a resume and CV so that you’ll always be ready with the appropriate document to hand, whatever you are asked for. Copywriting agencies can get these documents ready for you. If you can’t afford for a copywriter, take a look at some CV and resume samples and incorporate their features into your writing.

4. Main Features.

A resume is a short and concise document at its best; the employer will spend a minute or so viewing your qualifications. It would contain of only what is strictly required to the job applied and nothing unimportant things. It is more important to craft all the information in one page. A resume normally is not accompanied by a cover letter because the main reason you’re presenting the resume is fast processing, hence a cover letter would defeat the purpose.

A CV is an in-depth document that can be lengthy and it contains a high level of detail about your achievements, a great deal more than just a career biography. The document is presented in reverse chronological order (i.e. the latest achievements first). Start by preparing a list of all your background information, and then organize it into categories. Make sure to add dates on all the publications you add. The CV is normally accompanied by a cover letter, which summarizes the information it contains. Any changes in your profile are made in the cover letter.

5. Styles.

A resume can be written in three different styles:
• Chronological resume- which represents your skills and main achievements,
• Functional resume- which mainly focuses on your skills and experience,
• A combination of both- which gives equal importance to both skill and achievements.

A CV usually can be written in three different styles:
• Functional CV,
• Targeted CV,
• Performance CV.

Taken from: Guest Post (article, By Kelly Marsh), Google (images).