The job market is competitive and if you’re new to it, then your résumé and curriculum vitae (CV) are your primary weapon to stand out from the rest of the competition. Without making a proper résumé, you are left drifting in an open sea of other applicants all trying to reach the same destination as you. Thus, knowing how to make a proper résumé and CV can get you miles ahead of the majority of other people.
So first, we have to differentiate between the two. Since these two terms are often used interchangeably, it’s also important to clarify to potential employers which one they are actually asking because there are cases when they ask for a CV when they were actually referring to a résumé. So it’s essential for us to also know their key differences.
Now for résumés, they are typically only one page long while a CV is maybe two or more pages long. A résumé is also tailored to fit the job or specific company that you are aiming for while a CV is more general in content. Lastly, we must also know the differences in their purpose in general. A résumé is more commonly used for applying for jobs, non-profit positions, and public sector positions. On the other hand, a CV is more commonly seen used in the academic setting such as for research, when you are applying for grants, and for when you are applying for a higher position.
Next, we must know about their important parts. Firstly, for résumés, usually has two main parts– the header and the body. However, for more specific parts, we first have your personal information and how they can contact you easily. This includes things such as your full name, address, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile or a link to your online portfolio.
The next part would include all of your professional qualifications which would essentially tell your employers why you should be hired for the position and not somebody else. So include everything relevant that you can put in here such as your personal skill, certificates, educational degree, soft skills, and other competencies that will make your résumé as appealing as possible to the employer.
In particular, you can also make a separate section for your work experiences such as the previous job titles that you’ve had, the number of years you’ve spent in each position, and your accomplishments, and contributions in a previous job position. You can also make a section for your educational background which can include the name of your school, your GPA, and graduation date.
Furthermore, you can also put your career objective to clarify why you are applying for the position. Lastly, this one is optional if you have some, but a career summary would also be great as your employer can easily see all the relevant experiences that you’ve had along with the references and awards that you have.
On the other hand, the curriculum vitae (CV) has many parts. Like the résumé, the first parts you will usually see are the personal and contact information, but the next part would be your academic history and experiences as a professional in reverse-chronological order meaning the latest ones would be first. This lets your potential employer know your main qualifications.
The next ones would be the qualification and skills that you have that are relevant to the position you are applying for. Any awards you have won, presentations you have given, and research or articles that you have published may also be put into your CV. This puts a lot more substance into your CV as it shows how competent you are for the position.
Speaking of being competent, the other parts that help you highlight this part of you would be if you have any professional and civic affiliations membership such as those non-profit organizations, charities, and other foundations that help a community. You may also put in the name of the organization or institution that has awarded you with a grant or scholarship before along with your license and certifications related to the position you are applying for.
In conclusion, these are the main parts and tips that you will need when it comes to making a résumé or a CV. Remember that a résumé is more commonly used when applying for a job, nonprofit, or if you want to work in the public sector.
While a CV is more likely to be used when you are applying for positions within academia one of the main difference between a résumé and a CV is their length which is different because a CV typically contains a lot more of your academic and research achievements to make it fit for the position you are applying for.
Make sure to also remember that there can be different types of résumé depending on your need and that if you don’t have a certain section yet for the CV because you are a fresh graduate, then it’s also okay! Make note of the given tips and guides above to make your very own résumé and CV. Doing so will significantly help you and increase your chances of success in your next job search!
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