Guest Blog: Resume or CV? Know when to use each to get the job you want.
By Nicole Garrison
When applying for a new job, you want to do everything in your power to make a good impression and increase your chances of getting hired. While there are quite a few things which can help you achieve that, the most important one is related to the way you present yourself.
While many people might not be aware of it, both resumes and curriculum vitae are quite similar but also hold certain differences. These can play an important role in your search for employment. In order to help you succeed, here are some things you should know about both.
What is a Resume?
A resume is a document that describes certain qualities of an individual in a brief manner. It is generally no longer than a page and it aims towards offering the reader enough and important information.
The good thing about a resume is that is can carry a lot of information in a very short length. In addition to this, because of its short length, it is easily modifiable for every niche and every job one wishes to apply for.
What is a CV?
A CV or Curriculum Vitae means the course of life in Latin and serves the purpose of showcasing exactly that. A much lengthier version of a simple resume, the curriculum vitae can be made up of many pages. Thanks to this, the applicant is able to include a lot of details that can easily be overlooked in a resume.
Not only is it possible to include more personal information about one’s interests and other activities, but they are also able to include their whole professional career. Lastly, this document is also organized in chronological order and should be updated frequently.
What are the differences between the two?
The very first and more prominent difference between the two documents is in regard to their sizes. While a resume is usually only a page long, the curriculum vitae are usually more than two pages in length. This comes to show just how much information each can hold about the individual’s professional and personal life and development.
Apart from that, another difference is in regards to the personalization that can happen with each document. A resume is not a document you can just send to every single job application you wish to make. Because of its smaller size, it is easy to modify and adjust to every different job application and the demands of each employer.
On the other hand, a CV is not something an applicant has to modify for each position they apply for. Since it is such an analytically written document, it contains everything a potential employer needs to know about you. What will need to be changed for each position you apply for is the cover letter, which always goes hand in hand with a CV.
Another difference between the two is the reason why each is needed. When it comes to positions with high demand, a resume will help you stand out from the crowd of competitors. Instead, a CV will provide an in-depth chronological analysis of the individual’s accomplishments and passions.
While there are certain differences between the two documents, there is one thing that should never be skipped and that is polishing them. There is nothing worse than finding simple grammar and spelling errors in such important documents. Tools and services such as Supreme Dissertations and Grammarly will help you proofread and edit your resume and CV easily and effectively.
When is the right time to use each one?
Depending on where you live and the local market, different employers will have different requirements. In general, a resume is what employers will prefer in Canada as well as the US. On the other hand, countries such as the UK and New Zealand only require the use of a resume when applying for any position.
Contrary to those, in Australia and South Africa, private companies usually ask for a resume while the public sector will always require an updated CV from their applicants. When it comes to applying for jobs online which are from different parts of the world, it is very likely that you will need to present either or both of these documents.
The point with either of those documents is to prepare them as well as you can. A CV will take more time to put together and will need frequent updating while a resume can be created overnight. Make sure to have an issue of both ready so you can have either one available for each job application. This way, you will always have time to make improvements and stay on top of your game.
Jeremy Wern, an HR manager for TrustMyPaper advises: “When it comes to choosing either of these documents for any job application, the most important thing is to be mindful of what your future employer has asked you to submit. Preparation is always important and it is important for you to follow the rules they set from the beginning of your collaboration.”
Increasing your chances of landing your dream job
By using the right documents when applying for a job, you are essentially giving yourself a bigger chance of getting hired. The way you present yourself through your accomplishments so far should look professional and stay in line with the requirements of your future employers.
Therefore, what is of utmost importance is for you to always pay attention to what a company asks you to present. Making sure that the documents you present are polished will greatly work in your favor, no matter your niche or sector.
About the Author
Nicole Garrison is an experienced and talented writer who is active on content sites such as TopEssayWriting. She’s passionate about digital marketing, small business, technology, and animal rescue. She hopes her content empowers small business owners and others to create growth and increase sales.
