Oftentimes, we ask ourselves questions regarding a CV and a Resume. We ask questions like “Is a CV any different from a Resume?”, “Is any better than the other?”, “when and how do you use them?”, “Can a CV be sent instead of a Resume?”, and other questions alike. However, these questions will be answered in this context.
Note: If you need any form of assistance with your CV/Resume, you can contact us today. An expert will review or revamp your resume and help you improve it to better capture the key things that will help you stand out.
Meaning Of CV
In European countries, a CV is used to describe all job application documents whereas, in American countries, the word CV and Resume is used interchangeably. Furthermore, these two terms mean differently.
A CV is an abbreviation for the Latin word Curriculum Vitae which means “Course of life. As the name implies, a CV is a document that gives a detailed description of your journey in life. It covers all your personal information and achievements and needs to be updated whenever there is a new accomplishment.
Meaning Of Resume
A Resume is a French word that translates to “summary”. It is a brief document used in applying for a specific position/job. In a Resume, only aspects of your experience and skills relevant to the applied position/job should be mentioned. Resumes should be kept as short as possible.
Difference Between A CV & A Resume
While these terms may be used as synonyms in some countries there are differences between them and they are stated below
1. Length
A resume is a brief and precise document that shouldn’t exceed a 2-page limit while a CV is a detailed document that has no page limit
2. Function
CVs emphasize academic accomplishments and it is used when seeking positions in academia, grants, or fellowship whereas a resume highlights your professional skills, experience, and achievements. It is used to apply for positions in a company or a regular job.
3. Type Of Information Included
A CV highlights your whole journey in life while a resume only highlights information that is relevant to your applied position.
Importance Of A Well-Written CV Or Resume
A well-written CV or Resume
- Represents you as the most qualified candidate for the job
- Depicts you are a professional
- Shows your career growth.
- Keeps you organized and prepared for interviews.
- Highlights your value.
- Outlines your skills and experience nicely.
- Gives a nice first impression to potential employers.
Can A CV Be Sent Instead Of A Resume?
In European countries, a CV can be sent instead of a Resume because they are the same thing. Whereas, in American countries, there is a huge difference between a CV and a Resume which is explained in this context.
If you are unsure of which to use, contact the employer or manager in charge of the hiring process for clarification.
What To Include In Your CV/Resume (List)
- Full name
- Contact information
- Personal profile
- Research Interests
- Education
- Publications
- Teaching experience
- Work experience
- Conferences and courses
- Skills
- Certificates, awards, and honors
- Languages
- Grants
- References
- Non-academic activities
What To Include In Your Resume (Explanation)
Without much delay, here are the key sections you must include in your resume.
1. Contact Information
Including your contact information on your resume gives the employer a chance to reach you in case of further inquiries. Also, note that not all personal information is necessary to add to your resume, especially marital status, religion, age, height, etc. Here are the most important contact information every employer is concerned about in any CV
- Full Name: Your name as it appears on all your credentials should be written boldly on your resume. Moreover, using the same name on your professional social media platforms will do you good because nowadays, employers or recruiters verify prospective employees’ social persona before hiring them. So, having a good social media presence can enhance your chances of getting hired.
- Phone Number: Use an active phone number.
- Professional Email Address: Ensure your full names appear on your email address and not pet names. Use a working email address.
- Official URL: Add the link to any official website of your own or from any professional platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, GitHub, etc.
2. Profile Summary
A profile summary is an overview of the entire resume; it gives a good summary of all the sections contained in the resume. Moreso, it is important to write a compelling profile summary or personal statement so that it catches your employer’s attention faster and makes him convinced to hire you immediately or read further into your resume. As you read further, you will find a guide on how to write a befitting profile summary.
3. Professional Skills
Skills are important for an entry-level resume. It is the basis of your assessment. Here’s is an expert tip on how to make the most out of this skills section; instead of listing just soft skills or putting both soft and hard skills together, you can do your research on the most relevant skills required for the job and add it in separate sections instead of just one.
4. Work Experience
Write your work experience listing the job title, the name of the organization, the location of the organization, and the duration. Furthermore, list in 4 – 6 bullet points, the activities you carried out while working there.
5. Education
The employer is also interested to know your academic background; what you have spent time doing in school and all that. Now if you have acquired a Bachelor’s degree, and nothing else after that, leave out all others before the B.Sc. That is the standard practice.
6. Certificates/Awards
Add certificates, awards, and any other memberships you are part of. This goes on to demonstrate to the recruiter that you have passion or enthusiasm for the job role.
7. Internships & Training
Don’t forget to mention the internship or training programs you have taken because this will add more spice to your resume, especially if you don’t have enough work experience.
How To Write An Outstanding CV
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to write a compelling CV. I’m certain that by the end of this section, you should know what to write and how to write your CV.
1. Write Contact Details
Make sure you don’t give unnecessary contact information about yourself so that you don’t end up turning the attention of your employer to someone else’s CV just because of a little mistake out of ignorance. So here is an example of how to write down your contact details in a resume.
WRONG
MR. IBINABO ALABO
Date Of Birth: 17th – July – 2000
Age: 24 years
Marital Status: Married
Religion: Free Worshipper
The above details don’t show any iota of professionalism, and it isn’t going to make a good impression on your employers. Hence here’s the right way to go about this.
RIGHT
IBINABO ALABO
Phone Number: +234 8XX XXXX
Email Address: fullname@gmail.com
Location: (City, Country)
Official URL: (link to an official platform)
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2. Mention Professional Skills
Highlight your professional skills. Ensure to only include the skills that are relevant to the job.
Soft Skills
- Communication
- Negotiation
- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
- Excellent Customer Service
- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
3. Describe Past Work Experiences
For your work experience, these are the details employers need from you. They are
- Title of the position
- Name of the organization
- Location of the organization
- Duration
- Activities you were involved in (3-6 bullet points)
Here is an example of how to write the work experience:
(Title of the position), (Name of the organization) || (Location of the organization) || (Duration)
- Managed XXXXXXXXXXX
- Conducted XXXXXXXXXXX
- Developed XXXXXXXXX
- Maintained XXXXXXXXX
4. Write Academic Journey
The education section is for you to demonstrate your academic prowess. This is what you ought to mention here
- The degree you acquired
- Course of study
- Name of the institution
- Location of the institution
- Entry year – Graduation year
Additionally, these too are important to enhance your resume
- Grades
- Research Project
- Majors
- Minors
- Notable Achievements
Here is an example of how to write it
Education
(Insert The degree you acquired/Course of study), Name of the institution || Location of the institution || Entry year – Graduation year
- Grades: 4.0 Magna Cum Laude
- Undergraduate Research Project: (insert title here)
- Achievements: (insert title here)
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5. List Your Certifications & Awards
Talk about the certificates and awards you have acquired, and see how that plays out for you. Going the extra mile to get these demonstrates enthusiasm and passion for the field and industry. This is what is required
6. Other Sections To Include
You can also include other sections like the following which will help give more weight to your resume.
- Hobbies or Interests: In this section, you will list the things you can be involved in outside work or what you always invest your time in. To tailor a good resume, ensure all your hobbies or interests are in line with the job role and the company values.
- Language: If you applied for a job in a multinational company and you are bilingual or multilingual, it is advised you mention it to help you get a chance with your employer.
- Special Talents: Do you have any special talent that relates to the job? If you answered yes, then why not mention it here also?
7. Write A Compelling Profile Summary
A well-structured profile summary gives a detailed summary statement of every other section written on the resume. Despite being a passionate lawyer, ensure all the information written down is representative of you.
Conclusion
Your CV and Resume allow you to capture information on paper that will certainly bring added value to any corporate environment, and you have a limited time to capture and keep the attention of your reader.
How We Can Help You With Your Resume
We are a career brand that renders career services such as CV/Resume writing, personal statement/statement of purpose writing, LinkedIn Optimisation, Interview Guide, and Career coaching. We want to ensure we help you to navigate the tides of the academics, and corporate world. At Fasthire, our experts work on your CV/Resume and Cover Letters so that you stand out from the very first second your Hiring Manager takes a look at it. Contact us today to get an outstanding resume!
What We Offer
At Fasthire Services we,
- Provide professional touch
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- Use keywords related to the position you’re applying for
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- Save you time and stress.
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- Grasp the attention of the interviewer while they are reading your application.
- Positive reviews from our customers.
We trust that this information will contribute to your success. Cheers!
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