You were looking for a job and the recruiter asked you to submit a CV?
The resume has been known in the job market widely. But who is this bad boy in a leather jacket, cowboy hat, smoking a cigar while calling himself Mr. CV?
Fret not. We have picked up our magnifier to explore every angle and solve this new case of Mr. CV, one who has intimidated our super tough guy resume.
Here will try to find answers to the most frequently asked questions and topics related to CV.
- What is a CV?
- What does CV mean?
- Is there a difference between CV in America and CV in England?
- What’s a Resume?
- CV vs Resume
- Difference between CV and Resume
- What to keep in mind for a CV Format?
- Format of CV
- How to write CV?
- What are some CV Examples?
What Is a CV?
A CV is a document that job applicants use to apply for a job. It consists of their professional and academic accomplishments. A CV is generally used in the areas where a person’s specific knowledge or expertise is required, such as in academia or medicine.
It is longer and runs for at least 2-3 pages. A CV contains a lot of information that a resume skips.
What Does Cv Mean?
A CV definition can never suffice to understand the essence of the word. CV stands for “curriculum vitae,” which is a Latin phrase. The word curriculum means “the course of,” and vitae means meaning “life.” Probably this is where CV supremacy comes from.
It talks about your education, achievements, and employment in detail. A CV conveys everything you have done so far in your life.
Next time you wonder what a CV is, remember it is a documented testimony of everything you have been and achieved in life.
Is There a Difference Between CV in America and CV in England?
CV is used globally. However, its purpose varies in America and England.
Your CV would mean nothing other than a resume if you are in England. Yes! Our bad boy goes by the name of ‘resume’ in the European countries. This identity theft is because a CV runs for 1-2 pages only and lists all the essential accomplishments and skills of job seekers.
In America, a CV is a comprehensive document used in academia and medical circles. It can be 2-12 pages long as it is not tailored for a particular job, unlike a resume.
What’s a Resume?
A resume is the first thought that strikes our head when we mentally prepare for a job hunt. It is a mandatory document that we must have while applying for any job.
It offers an overview of your professional, educational and personal details and necessary skills, but it does not run as long as a CV. A resume helps to create the first impression in the minds of the hiring managers.
Difference Between CV and Resume
If a resume is vital for a job, and if a CV helps get a job too, what is the difference?
Don’t worry. We are here to clear the confusion.
The significant difference between CV and resume lies in how the ideas are presented.
| CV | Resume |
|---|---|
| Comes from the Latin phrase “curriculum vitae,” meaning “course of life” | Comes from the French word “résumé,” meaning “summary” |
| Gives a detailed account of academic and professional achievements | Gives a brief account of academic and professional achievements |
| It is not tailor-made for a particular job | It is tailor-made for specific jobs |
| Longer in length (2-12 pages) | Shorter in length (Maximum 2 pages) |
| Mostly used to apply to academic roles, grants, research, and teaching positions | Mostly used for industry positions |
What to Keep in Mind for a Cv Format?
Whether it is a CV, resume, cover letter, or letter of interest, every document used in the professional world needs to follow a particular format. Always remember your CV will be the first point of professional contact between hiring managers and you. Therefore, it must contain relevant information.
A standard CV must include the following pointers:
- Contact Information
- Personal Statement
- Academic History
- Professional Experience
- Skills
Those are the essential elements of a CV. But will that make you stand out from the crowd?
Chances are bleak. Therefore, let us add a few more sections to your CV so that hiring managers are hooked on your CV.
- Professional Certifications
- Additional Courses
- Publications
- Awards and Honors
- Grants and Fellowships
- Volunteering Experience
- Personal Projects
- Hobbies and Interests
CV Format
Right formatting plays a vital role while drafting a CV. It makes it human as well as ATS friendly. A CV that is pleasant to the human eye will only see the dawn of the day; else, we know where most of the CVs end up.
Do the CV formatting in a basic manner. It should neither be too catchy nor should look absolutely dull.
- Font Size: It should be between 10.5 and 12.
- Font Style: Choose a simple font like Arial, Times New Roman, or Helvetica and stick with it throughout the CV.
- Length: There is no restriction on the length of the CV.
- Margins: Keep the margin between 0.5 to 1 inch.
- Font Color: Choose a normal black-colored font unless you feel all arty.
- File Format: Save in a pdf format so that it is accessible for every recruiter.
How to Write CV?
If you are wondering how to write a CV, we have some suggestions. A CV that would stand out for the recruiter will include the earlier mentioned vital sections correctly.
Contact Information
The contact information section would comprise your full name, email address, and phone number. If you want to include your address, add only the city, state, and zip code.
Personal Statement
A personal statement is a 100-word statement present at the top of your CV that gives an overview of your qualifications and skills. Consider it as a teaser for your CV. If you have some experience, include that in your personal statement as it will hint to the recruiters about what you have to offer than just what you are seeking.
Professional Experience
Detailing your professional experience including your roles and responsibilities, experience, and achievements. The most recent professional experience will come first followed by the others in descending order of chronology.
Ensure to keep the order as job title, name of the organization, years worked
Underneath each pointer, elucidate roles and responsibilities performed in that organization
Make use of figures. Recruiters have an eye for the impact you made in numbers.
Academic History
This can include all your schooling- high school, graduation, post-graduation, or even any doctoral programs you have attended. However, it is advised to include only two recent educational experiences in this section as recruiters do not have time to learn about your high school.
Include high school only if that’s your highest level of education. Also, if you do not have a plethora of professional experience, push this section before work history.
Add Relevant Skills
Match the skills that you have and that the job description mentions. Place them first as it would increase your chances of getting shortlisted.
Additional Sections
It is the space where you can go on bragging about your achievements. Whether it is your awards and honors, or publications, everything can find a home in this section. This is the section that is primarily responsible to lengthen your CV and make you different from the rest, so make it count!
Edit and Redraft
This is the last step in drafting a CV. Once everything has found its perfect spot, make sure to read your CV so that it is free of any errors. You would not want to send a CV that has grammatical errors or structural inconsistencies.
Read aloud and seek feedback from friends or family members.
CV Example
Now that you have an idea of what a CV definition is and how to write a CV, let us have a look at a CV example to give you an idea of what the end result should look like.
Key Takeaways
A CV is a rundown of your academic, professional, and educational achievements along with skills and honors. While drafting a CV, it is important to keep these points in mind.
- A CV is different from a resume as it elaborates your professional and academic achievements at length.
- A CV has no length bar so feel free to add relevant information especially if you are seeking a job in academia or science.
- In the case of other industries, try to keep it limited to a page or two. Only include relevant information right from the beginning of the CV.
- Divide the CV into at least 5 sections- contact information, personal statement, academic history, professional experience, and skills.
- Additional sections can include professional certifications, publications, awards, grants, etc.
- Ensure that the CV is easy to read. Use fonts that are soothing to the eyes, add big section headings, and keep margins all around.
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