Today, we will take a look at the differences between CV and Resume and help you decide which one to use in which situation. Although both the documents play different roles in different industries, it is very important to understand the nuances between the two.
What is a Resume?
Resume comes from the French word, resume, meaning to sum up. This is usually crisp and focuses on your skills.
Resume is job oriented and highlights your skills for that particular job. This makes it easy to scan through and get an idea of your skills.
What is a CV?
CV comes from the Latin phrase, curriculum vitae meaning the course of life.
CV represents a detailed chronological overview that lists out your career.
Let us look at some factors that you can use to differentiate between these two.
Differences between CV and resume at a glance
At first glance, it might appear that CV and resume are almost the same but the devil is in the details.
| Factors | CV | Resume |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Much longer in length | Maximum up to 2 pages |
| Focus | Focus is on career | Focus is on professional skills |
| Contact details | Multiple ways to contact you can be mentioned | Mainly phone number & email is sufficient |
| Work details | Mentions detailed work experience | Mentions designation, duration, & firm mainly |
| Cover letter | Multiple ways to contact you can be mentioned | Mainly phone number & email is sufficient |
| Skills | Certifications in chronological order | Skills with highest proficiency are prioritised |
1. Difference in Format
Resumes are short & crisp
- A resume is a precise description of your career that can be covered in under 2 pages.
- It is always concise and talks only the specifics as necessary. It is about your work experience and showcases your proficiency.
- Once the recruiter goes through it, the recruiter knows what you bring to the table in terms of employable skills.
CV’s are much longer
- A CV is prepared with details that can go beyond 2-3 pages.
2. Difference in content
A Resume talks about skills
- Resume provides you the flexibility to present only the most important skills, in the best light.
- Resume allows you to show the skills a recruiter is looking for and not bog them down with unnecessary chitter chatter.
CV talks about entire educational and professional career
- CV consists information about your educational background including achievements, projects, research papers and publications.
- CV also covers any recognition & awards you received throughout your career.
3. Difference in the order of events
A CV follows chronological order
- When designing a CV, you list out all your achievements, in chronological order, i.e. stating them in the order they happened.
- This helps the recruiter understand your growth as a professional. They can easily understand who you are as a person and if you would be a good fit for the role.
A Resume can follow any of these three formats
- Chronological: The details are listed out in sequence as they happened.
- Functional: The skills required for the job specification are highlighted at the top.
- Combinational: Skills with highest proficiency are followed by a combination of the above two formats.
Now that the basic differences are clear, let us look at what data to put in both of them. The differences can be tricky to understand, after all, they share a lot of similarities at their core.
| Contents of a CV | Contents of a Resume |
|---|---|
| Cover letter | Summary Statement |
| Contact Information | Contact Information |
| Educational Background | Education & Certifications |
| Work Experience | Work Experience |
| Projects Undertaken | Key Skills & Technologies |
| Honors, Awards, Fellowships, Grants | |
| Publications & Presentations | |
| Professional Memberships | |
| References |
Since organisations can ask for any of these documents depending on the position/job role they have the opening for, let’s take a couple of examples to understand more.
When should you use a CV?
An example of good usage of the CV is in the academic industry, as it gives an exhaustive insight into where you currently stand in your career. This can help the academic institute make an assessment of your management skills, subject knowledge and your people skills can be suitable for a role as an educator & administrator, making you a suitable candidate for many roles.
When should you use a Resume?
In contrast, when applying for a job in tech/IT/software development, a resume can be your best friend. An IT recruiter has to go through numerous candidates for even a single position. A well-made resume will put your best skills at the top of the resume, to attract the recruiters.
Still not sure which one to go with?
If you are still not sure which one to go with, have a look at the job profile & answer these questions.
- Does the job ask for a specialised skill?
- Does the job require multiple skills? Or is it focused on a few special skills?
- Is the job role in a management position? Most management positions require a CV.
If the document is not mentioned in the job description, one solution is to contact the recruiter for more information on the required document. If that is not possible, go with the resume.
Resume is a safer bet!
If you are still not sure which one to go with, resume is a better bet as it showcases your skills in the best light. Also, because of its crisp nature, it is easier for the recruiter to go through it. A CV makes for a much longer document, which can put off some recruiters. So better to err on the side of caution and go with a resume just to be safe
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