CV and Résumé Writing

 

 

 

Curriculum Vitae

 

1.    Curriculum Vitae has been taken from Latin which means “course of Life”.

2.    It includes the list of a person's entire education, publications, accomplishments, projects, awards, achievements, honors, professional experiences, etc.

3.    It sums up a person’s whole career in detail, focusing mainly on academics, research, publications, etc.

4.    It is used most frequently by people with published works and studies.

What to Include in a Curriculum Vitae (CV)

a) Contact Information- It includes the candidate’s name, address, contact details, and email ID.
b) Personal Statement- It includes the reason for submitting the CV and the interest of the candidate in that opportunity.
c) Education- Academic and as well professional qualification is mentioned.
d) Publications- It includes the list of publications in national and international journals, magazines, etc.
e) Awards and Honors- It includes the number of awards and honors in chronological order.
f) Grants and Fellowships- This section has the list of grants and fellowships taken by the candidate.
g) Seminars and Conferences- Seminars and conferences are very important activities in the academic field. These are included in this section.
h) Work Experience- The candidate mentions his experience history in chronological order with all the relevant information.
i) Research Experience- The topic of the research and experience is mentioned here.
j) Non-Academic Activities- It includes co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
k) Languages - this section includes the languages in which the candidate is fluent.
l) Skills- The relevant and related skills are mentioned in this section.
m) Memberships- This includes the membership of any academic or research society.
n) References- A very important section. The candidate shows his integrity by giving at least two very renowned people from the same field.

Resume

1.   A resume is a document that provides a summary of a person’s educational background, work history, credentials, talents, career aspirations, and other accomplishments and skills.
2. A resume must be as brief as necessary, and it is usually a one-page document, but it can be two pages occasionally.
3. There are a few forms of resumes, like reverse-chronological, functional, and hybrid formats.

What to Include on a Resume

a) Contact Information- It includes the candidate’s name, address, contact details, and email ID.
b) Position sought- Candidate must clearly mention the post he is applying for.
c) Career Objective- The candidate must disclose his objective and approach toward the career.
d) Profile Summary- It includes a very brief summary of the candidate.
e) Education- Academic and as well professional qualification is mentioned.
f) Work Experience- It must be in chronological order with relevant details like the name of the organization, designation duration of the job, etc.
g) Skills- It includes the skills relevant to the job.
h) Awards, Publications, Certificates- These details are included whenever it is most relevant.
i) Interest- It mentions the hobbies and extracurricular activities.
j) Personal Information- It includes about parents, date of birth, marital status, social status, etc.
k) Declaration- It is a statement that promises the true information written in the resume by the candidate.
l) Date and Signature- At the end of the resume signature and dates are written.

Features of a Resume

a) Original: A resume must be original as it belongs to a unique identity.
b) Clear and easy to understand: A good resume is easy to read and understand. Headings are clearly labeled and easy to find.
c) Correct contact details: A good resume includes correct contact details like- address, Email, and Mobile number.
d) Concise format: A good resume is always with a logical layout and consistent formatting of font and space.
e) Relevant information: A good resume includes only the most important information for the job being applied for.
f) Action verbs: A good resume includes action verbs to describe past job responsibilities and accomplishments. E.g. "managed," "created," or "led," etc.
g) Tailored to the job: A good resume includes the most relevant skills and experiences for the job, and should use keywords and phrases from the job description in the resume.
h) No errors: A good resume is always free of spelling and grammar errors.
i) Updated and accurate information: A good resume is always up-to-date and includes accurate information about the candidate's education, work experience, and contact information.

Types of Resume

The chronological resume

1.     The information is arranged in chronological order.

2.     The most recent job is written at the start.

3.     It is traditional.

4.     It emphasizes education and work experience

5.     Can be easily focused on your positions and accomplishments.

6.     Main sections are

a.     Career objectives

b.     Summary

c.     Educational history

d.     Personal data

e.     Work history

The functional resume

1. In this resume main focus has been given to skills and strengths.

2. It presents the applicant in the terms of skills.

3. It emphasizes the skills you bring to the job.

4. The main sections are

a.     Objectives

b.     Personal data

c.     Education

d.     Work experience

e.     Skills and certifications

Hybrid/ combination resume

1.    It includes the best features of chronological and functional resumes.

2.    At the top of the resume is a list of one’s skills and qualifications.

3.    Below this is one’s chronological work history. It is not very much popular.

4.    It becomes lengthy.

5.    It may turn out to be repetitious in nature.

 

Differences between Curriculum Vitae & Resume

S	Base	Curriculum Vitae	Resume
1	Length	Lengthier than resume & depends upon experience, posters, publications, and presentations	Not longer than two pages
2	Highlight	It emphasizes academic accomplishments.	It emphasizes skills and job-related details.
3	Function	It is used when applying for positions in academia, fellowships, and grants.	It is used when applying for a position in industry, non-profit, and public sector.
4	Details	It is a detailed account of an applicant’s career history.	It is a summary of relevant details of an applicant.
5	Customization	It is not customized.	It is customized according to the job.
6	Reference	Reference is compulsory in resume.	Reference is not compulsory in resume.
7	Personal Details	It is not compulsory in CV.	It is included in Resume.
8	Example	Applying for a Ph.D. or for a position as a professor at a university	Applying for the post of Engineer, Clerck, Manager, etc.