In This Post
Curriculum Vitae
Resume
CV Vs Resume: Summary
What is a resume? Is it different from a CV? Why do some people apply for a job with a resume while others use a CV? Which one of these two documents is better than the other? In order to settle the debate of CV vs. resume, this blog will cover all the vital information about resumes and Curriculum Vitaes (CVs) that makes both of these documents different from each other.
So, let’s get started.
CV Vs. Resume: Exploring the Differences
Here are some of the most significant differences between a CV and a resume. From definition to formatting, these job application documents are different from each other in many ways. Let’s get further insights in this regard by discussing CV and resume separately.
- CV (Definition, Format, and Usage)
- Resume (Definition, Format, and Usage)
- CV Vs. Resume Difference – Summing It All Up
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Definition
The full form of CV is curriculum vitae, which is a Latin phrase meaning ‘course of life.’ You can take it as an in-depth document that gives details about the whole course of your career. An ideal CV needs to be of two or three pages. However, depending on the necessary details about people applying, It can also be laid out over 10 pages, if needed. A curriculum vitae contains details about education, career, publications, certifications, awards, and other achievements.
Format
Since there is no rule regarding how long a CV should be, it can include the following information about you.
- Contact Information
- Research Objective
- Professional Profile
- Education
- Professional Academic Appointments
- Co-workers Professional Reviews
- Certifications and Achievements
- Conferences
- Grants and Fellowships
- Teaching Experience
- Research Experience / Lab Experience / Graduate Fieldwork
- Languages and Skills
- Non-Academic Activities
- Details About Memberships
- References
Usage
Generally, job postings specify whether they need your CV or resume. In case, your prospective employer has not mentioned in the job ad as to which one of the two job application documents they want the applicants to submit, you can always ask them. Since curriculum vitae is a very detailed document about your educational and professional achievements, it can also be used when you are trying to switch your career and applying for a different industry or field, for which you don’t have any relevant work experience.
Resume
Definition
A resume is a straight-to-the-point and concise document that is meant for applying for a particular job. Unlike the case of a CV, you should try keeping a resume as brief as possible while fitting in the maximum relevant description. In most of the cases, resumes should be one page long. Let’s suppose you have over 15 years of experience in the field you are applying for, and you really believe that the information you can include in your resume can add value to your application, you can make it maximum two pages long. In case of a resume, you can only list down the aspects of your skill sets, work experience and highlights of your specific contributions that have relevance to the job you have applied for.
Pro Tip: A cover letter helps add more weight to your job application as in clearly states your intent and reasons to apply for the job. The cover letter needs to highlight your achievements, skills and experience that you have discussed in your resume, elaborating how they will help you successfully contribute your part in the job you are applying for.
Format
Since it’s a shorter and to-the-point document, your resume can include the following information.
- Full name
- Title of the position you’re applying for
- Contact information
- Career summary or objective
- Work experience
- Education
- Languages and proficiency
- Relevant skills
- Completed Projects
- Relevant certifications and interests (if there are any)
Usage
Since a resume is one of the hardcore field-specific job application documents, you can only use it to apply for a job in a particular field. However, if you have plans to switch your field, then it may hold no relevance. In that case, you have to document a CV, which holds your complete educational and career record.
CV Vs. Resume Difference: Summing It All Up
Before wrapping up this blog, let’s take a one final look at the two key differences between a CV and a resume.
Length
Length is one of the most noticable differences between a CV and a resume. For instance, A CV is a comprehensive document, which has no length restrictions and can go over 10 pages, depending on your experience and education, whereas a resume has to be short and to-the-point, making it usually a 1- or a 2-page document.
Purpose
Since a resume is a field-specific job application document, it is only written with the intent to avail a particular career opportunity in a company. However a CV, on the other hand, has all your education and work-related information and can also be used for academic purposes, such as applying for a PhD or a research programme and field switching.
This brings us to the end of our CV vs. resume debate. We hope you find it useful and informative. Give us your opinion on how we can make our blogs more informative for our readers by emailing us blog@zameen.com.
On a side note, you might also be interested in reading our blogs on things to research about a company before an interview, ways to increase productivity at work and freelancing in Pakistan.
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