When job hunting, you are likely to come across two different documents: a resume and a CV. What is the difference between these? Which should you use? What are the merits and disadvantages of each document, and help you decide which one is right for your needs? Do keep in mind that while these are generalities, your situation might be different from the examples provided here. Keep reading to learn more about these differences and discover which one works best for you.
What is a Resume?
A resume is a document that details your work history and education. It is a summary of your work history. Resumes are more common than ever before. They are typically used to filter through resumes and identify top candidates. While resumes are most often used by employers to find candidates, they can also be useful for career transitions or finding new jobs. In the past, job seekers had to rely on networking to find new jobs, but with the explosion of online job listings like those on EZJobs, sending a resume has become a more popular way to find new opportunities.
Format of a Resume:
There are multiple resume formats available on the internet. Resume formats that could be used by the experienced, resume formats for the freshers and resume formats for college students. One example of resume format is shared below. There are hundreds of templates and examples on EZResume.
Also Read | A Guide to Write a College Resume
What is a CV?
A CV or Curriculum Vitae is a listing of your work history and education. It is a listing of all your skills and experience. This can be a bit more challenging than a resume, as you must list every single skill you possess, from your experience to your education. CVs can be an excellent resource if you are hoping to find work in a specific area. For example, if you are hoping to become a doctor and are looking to find jobs in hospitals, you might list your clinical experience on your CV. This will help employers see that you have experience in the field and make you more attractive as a hire.
Format of a CV:
There are multiple CV formats available on the internet. CV formats that could be used by the experienced, CV formats for the freshers and CV formats for college students. One example of CV format is shared below. There are hundreds of templates and examples on EZResume.
What Is the Difference Between a CV and a Resume?
While each of these documents has several similarities, there are also significant differences between a resume and a CV that you will want to be aware of before creating either one. There are pros and cons to both resume and CV writing, but it all comes down to the situation you are in.
If you are just starting your career and do not know what type of job you want or where you would like to work, then a resume is the way to go. If you have no idea what to do for a resume or where to start, then a resume is a better option for you.
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If you have experience in one field and are hoping to transition into another, then a CV is better for you. If you want to focus on a specific skill set or are simply looking to stand out among the crowd, then a CV is the right choice. It comes down to how you feel and what is best for you.
Now we will list out and explain some of the major differences between a resume and a CV so that you would know which one to use while attending an interview or applying for a job.
Length
One could say that the main difference between a resume and a CV is length. A CV is longer, whereas a resume is shorter and more focused. A resume should ideally be no more than one or two pages long; however, a CV can be anywhere between two and ten pages long. In contrast to a CV, where you can go into more depth about your accomplishments, a resume must include all key information in a simple and brief manner.
Layout
Another major difference between these two documents is the format or layout of these documents, with a CV includes a more detailed version of a description of your academic background, professional experience, awards and certificates, achievements, and so on, and a resume is relatively less lengthy than the former.
Resumes often begin with the contact details and a career objective, followed by a section on the education and experience of the candidate. The skills part and any other sections the applicant needs are included at the bottom. A CV, on the other hand, has no set structure. However, it would have to mention your education, employment history, publications, skills, interests, and achievements. Finally, a thorough summary of all relevant prior employment and accomplishments should be included. A CV has a pre-determined format that is widely acknowledged worldwide, whereas it is normal to modify the format of a resume to the requirements.
Purpose
When submitting an application for a position that is not academic or research-based, include a resume. In the US, the majority of charitable, governmental, and corporate employers require a resume as part of your job application.
Employers can quickly assess an applicant’s qualifications for the position by looking at the one-page format of a resume. Candidates are rejected or given further consideration based on the information found in their resumes that is relevant.
A CV is perfect for specialised job responsibilities that call for a certain level of competence because it contains numerous pages of information about your professional skills and experience. When applying for research roles or jobs based on education, think about using a CV because the complete description of your qualifications will appeal to companies in such fields.
Information
Your CV serves as an academic journal in which you list all of your graduate qualifications, accolades, and certificates. Considering that it may be changed as you go, it is universal in nature. A resume, on the other hand, must be written (or at least custom-made) for each job you are applying for and focuses more on your professional than on your academic achievements.
Chronology
The chronological order in which the information is provided is a key factor in determining how a CV and a resume differ from one another. When writing a resume, it is indeed important to list events in chronological sequence, which are followed by your accomplishments listed in a similar manner. A resume, however, does not necessarily need to be structured in a particular manner.
Geography
Employers refer to both CV and resume-style documents as CVs in other parts of the world, such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and portions of Europe. They hardly ever use the word “resume.” The terms “CV” and “resume” are generally used interchangeably in South Africa, Australia, and India. However, a resume and a CV are two fundamentally different kinds of documents in the United States.
How to Write a Resume or CV
Both a resume and a CV are documents that detail your work history and education. They are incredibly similar in structure and format, so the only major difference between these two documents is the FOCUS.
A resume is a listing of all your work history and education, whereas a CV lists all your skills. If you are writing a resume, then you will want to start with a few sentences about your career and experience, followed by a summary of your education. You might also include a section about your skills, followed by relevant experience. The sections you create will vary, but you should have at least a basic outline of what you want written out before you begin writing.
If you are writing a CV, you will want to start with a brief description of your education and experience, followed by a listing of all your skills. You might want to include a few sentences about your experience and how it relates to the position you are applying for.
How to Write a Resume
Both a resume and a CV are documents that detail your work history and education. They are incredibly similar in structure and format, so the only major difference between these two documents is the FOCUS.
Resume: A resume is a listing of all your work history and education, whereas a CV lists all your skills. If you are writing a resume, then you will want to start with a few sentences about your career and experience, followed by a summary of your education. You might also include a section about your skills, followed by relevant experience. The sections you create will vary, but you should have at least a basic outline of what you want to be written out before you begin writing.
CV: If you are writing a CV, you will want to start with a brief description of your education and experience, followed by a listing of all your skills. You might want to include a few sentences about your experience and how it relates to the position you are applying for.
Why Should You Use a Resume Instead of a CV?
If you are just starting your job hunt, it is important to find a way to stand out from the competition. One of the best ways to do that is by using a resume to highlight your most impressive skills and achievements. That way, hiring managers know that you are the person for the job even before they look at your application. However, you cannot just put your best foot forward on a resume. Instead, you will want to focus on your most relevant experience and achievements. And since you have very little time to convince a hiring manager to take you on, you will need to make your resume very short and to the point. As a result, you might have to leave some of your most impressive skills and achievements on your resume to keep it short and to the point.
How to Write a Resume
First, think carefully about which industry you are interested in working in and the type of job that would be the best fit. This will help you create a clearly defined resume format that will highlight your skills, experience, and accomplishments in a way that will appeal to the specific audience you are targeting.
Next, you will want to list out your relevant skills, experience, and achievements you want to highlight to make it easy for hiring managers to find you quickly. You do not want to include every skill, experience, and achievement you have ever had, but pick out the ones that are most relevant to the job you are applying for.
When it comes to job hunting, you have two main documents at your disposal: a resume and a CV. It can be tough to decide which to use, particularly when you are just starting out. Whatever you choose, we understand while job-hunting personally or on job portals, you do not have the time to sit with making your documents from scratch. To make things easier, online resume builder like EZResume helps you create your resume automatically while you just must fill in the important information that you would like your resume to have and select a template.