How else is a resume called

What is a CV?

A curriculum vitae is a marketing document that gives a summary of a job seekers career history, academic qualifications and also explains their future potential. Indeed the phrase ‘curriculum vitae’ is Latin for ‘the story of your life’. It is also occasionally known as a resume, although this term is more commonly used in America.

A completed CV aims to impress recruiters and is sent as a application to jobs adverts or as a speculative approach to prospective companies.

CVs are valuable and important because they are your first and maybe only direct communication with a potential employer. Presentation is key. For this reason alone it should be carefully thought out, designed and written so that it makes an immediate positive impact on key decision makers. When a reader looks at your resume they should be able to quickly gain a clear indication of your experiences and potential. Bear in mind that the person reading it will never have met you, so keep it grammatically error free and focused, as it will be seen as a reflection of you as a person.

To summarize your CV is essentially a marketing tool that gives you a opportunity to sell yourself and your abilities to employers. It should have:

What should a CV include

Your resume will be made up of a number of sections, these may vary depending on the length and breadth of a candidates career. The essential and fundamental parts that every CV should include are:

Aim your CV at winning a job interview
With some people there is a misconception that a CV alone will get you a job, this is a misunderstanding of it’s role. No hiring manager will offer a prospective candidate a position just by looking at their resume. Companies only use them to decide whom to interview. A CV is there to win you a interview and it should be written with only that objective in mind.

Apart from applying for jobs, a CV is also useful for:

In a CV presentation is everything
You could be the best qualified and most suitable applicant for a job, but if your CV is rambling, disorganized and does not highlight your key abilities then you will probably be over looked. To be short listed for a role format your curriculum vitae so it shows:

Keep your CV short and sweet
In the UK it is recommended that your CV be no longer than two pages. However in the USA a resume can typically be a one page document. To help you save space only include factual information that is relevant to the vacancy or accomplishments that you feel the employer would be interested in.

Keep your CV up to date
As you go through your career and working like you will gain new qualifications and skills, it’s therefore important that you keep your resume updated. Modify it accordingly by adding any new skills or qualifications that you have gained. This way it will give a modern overview of your achievements.

Resume vs. curriculum vitae (CV): What’s the difference?

Pore over everything in my C.V.
But you’ll still know nothing ’bout me

Sting, “Nothing ’Bout Me”

When Sting released this song in 1993, some of his American fans may have wondered, “What’s a C.V.?” It remains a surprisingly common question. Specifically, what is the difference between a curriculum vitae (CV) and a resume?

How are these terms used differently in different countries? And if I’m an American applying for a job in the UK and the employer wants to see my CV, what exactly am I expected to send?

It can actually be a bit confusing. There are two levels of confusion here: 1) What do the words mean? and 2) What do the words mean where? To make matters worse, the conflicting explanations you can find on this topic sometimes only add to the confusion.

So let’s look at the meaning of each of these terms.

What is a resume?

From the French word for “summary,” a resume (also spelled résumé ) is a short document with a job applicant’s contact info, profile, work history, education and skills. In most cases, a resume should be one page only, although two-page resumes are sometimes considered acceptable.

Can a resume be two pages?

A resume would generally be brief, at around one page, but it can be up to two. If yours takes up two pages, don’t worry, this is perfectly acceptable.

A resume is a primary job search document and should almost always be accompanied by a cover letter. At the very least, the general recruiting consensus is: Unless your target employer specifically notes that it doesn’t want a cover letter, including one increases your chances of getting hired.

Job seekers often ask: “What are the five or six things that should be included in a resume?” Resumes typically include the following:

Some resumes include references, publications, certifications or other relevant information. Yet the widespread preference for one-page resumes often requires omitting a considerable amount of information.

All the tips, tools, templates, and examples you need to learn how to write a resume in 2022

In the United States and Canada, the document we’ve just described is almost always called a resume. Yet in most of the English-speaking world outside the Americas, the same document is called a curriculum vitae, or CV.

What is a curriculum vitae (CV)?

CV is simply the abbreviation of “curriculum vitae,” a Latin term that means “the course of your life.” As described above, “resume” is the French word for “summary.”

And here comes the simple part …

Resume and CV usually mean the exact same thing

In most cases, the words ”resume” and “CV” are synonymous — simply different terms for the exact same thing. CV means resume and resume means CV.

A narrower definition of “curriculum vitae” (CV) describes a document that is used primarily in academia.

This is the CV you’d need if you were a college professor looking for a job, or if you were seeking a fellowship, grant, postdoctoral position or research job at an institution of higher learning. These CVs are sometimes required for people seeking admission to graduate school, and in some cases for research positions in scientific fields such as medicine.

This “academic CV” is a much longer document that lists virtually all of an individual’s educational credentials, publications and awards. That’s why it’s sometimes referred to as a “long-form” CV, where “course of life,” takes on a much more meaning.

An academic curriculum vitae (CV) provides a much more exhaustive list of an individual’s achievements than a resume.

For example, a history professor might include academic details about her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctoral work, including the topic of her dissertation, as well as a mention of any time served as a teaching assistant or lecturer. She would also include a list of articles she’s published in academic journals, plus memberships in relevant organizations and any awards or special recognitions.

Here’s a list of some of the components an academic CV may contain:

This is a lot more information that you could fit into a one-page resume, and this level of detail is the primary distinction between a resume and an academic CV.

Your resume may be the most important page you write in your life. Follow our top 20 resume writing tips to make yours a success.

If you’re unfamiliar with what an academic CV looks like, there are two good examples included with this primer prepared by the University of Illinois Graduate College.

Do all jobs require a CV or resume?

In general, yes, you would be expected to send a CV or resume when you apply for a job. However, in some cases, the employer will only ask that you fill out an application form. They might also ask for both.

CV vs. resume: what do I call it?

Whether your own application document bears the title “CV’ instead of “Resume,” or vice versa, generally depends on geographic location. Where do you live? Where are you applying to work? As we’ve stated, “resume” is the term commonly used in the U.S. and Canada, while “curriculum vitae” or “CV” is the term used in most of the rest of the world.

But there can be exceptions, so your best clue is: What has the prospective employer asked you to submit — a CV or a resume? If in doubt, you can always ask for more specific instructions.

The same goes for any uncertainty you might have about whether to submit an «ordinary CV» — the same thing as a resume in regions outside Canada and the U.S. — or the long-form curriculum vitae used in academic settings worldwide. As described previously, this document emphasizes scholarly achievements, publications, fellowships, grants, research experience and the like. Again, if this is not clear in the application instructions, inquire to find out.

Academic CV vs. resume: what are the differences?

These are the main differences between a resume / «ordinary» CV and an academic CV:

This is an important point when talking about regional differences.

CV vs. resume: Which is better?

But if you are wondering the question is whether it’s better to submit a short, “normal” resume/CV vs. a long-form academic CV, that’s a different question altogether. It depends entirely on your field. If your background and target job is in academia, or certain scientific or medical specialties, the recipient may be expecting a lengthy academic CV.

Simple answer: For the vast majority of jobs, a short, ordinary resume/CV is all you need.

Do freshers need a CV?

A resume/»normal» CV would be more appropriate for a fresher as it is short and concise. Generally speaking, a fresher won’t have much in the way of experience, so this makes more sense to use. However, pay attention to what the employer is asking for.

What is the difference between a CV and a resume in the U.S. and Canada?

As you may know, the British equivalent of “subway” is “underground,” Americans call a queue a line, and if you ask for a biscuit in England, they give you a cookie.

There are said to be 160 dialects of the English language, each with its own distinctive way of saying things. Americans and Canadians in particular have developed unique accents, vocabularies and spelling styles over the centuries because of the oceans that isolate the Americas from the rest of the world.

We can thank this same geographic divide for any confusion over the difference between a “resume” and a “CV.” “Resume” is simply an American/Canadian version of what the rest of the world calls a “CV.” With the exception of specialized academic CVs, what’s called a resume in the U.S. and Canada is the same thing that’s called a CV almost everywhere else.

So if you’re a job seeker in the U.S. looking for a new job in the UK and you’re asked you to submit a CV, how do you know whether the recruiter wants to see an ordinary resume or a long-form academic CV? The answer almost always lies in the field of work. If the job is not in academia (or a related field, like medical hiring), then an ordinary resume is usually all that’s desired.

Some jobs may lie on the fringes of academia — for example, a research scientist position with a private chemical firm — and it may be unclear which type of CV is preferred. If in doubt, contact the company and ask.

What is the difference between a CV and a resume in the UK and elsewhere?

In the UK and most English-speaking countries outside the Americas, the word “CV” is usually used to describe what Americans call a “resume.” Some of these countries do occasionally use the word “resume,” but they use it interchangeably with “CV.”

Some researchers have tried to spell out specific regional differences on the meaning of “resume” and “CV” in various English-speaking countries outside the Americas. It’s been suggested, for instance, that the understanding of the two terms is slightly different in New Zealand than in Australia, reportedly because Australia leans more toward South Africa’s definitions.

The University of Western Australia offers this clarification: “In Australia, resume and CV are used interchangeably. … In other countries resumes and CV are different. When applying for work overseas check what is meant by a resume or CV in that country.”

Beware of drawing fixed lines on what the terms mean in any country. There is enough variation in their usage that we shouldn’t expect every country to have its own unique definitions. Nor should we expect every country to be internally consistent on what these definitions are.

The key takeaway here is that when most people outside the Americas say “CV,” they’re talking about the same thing Americans and Canadians call a “resume.”

The only exception to this rule, and it applies worldwide, is that longer and more exhaustive CVs are required for academic positions, fellowships and the like with institutions of higher learning. This is true whether you’re in Mumbai, Manchester or Miami.

The vast majority of all job applicants do not need to worry about compiling a detailed, academic-style CV, and in fact for most job seekers such a lengthy document would be a detriment to their cause. This is true whether you’re in Canberra, Cape Town or Cape Cod.

Bottom line, if you’re ever in doubt about whether a potential employer wants a 1-page resume or a multi-page CV, it can’t hurt to contact the company and inquire. Ultimately the best advice for any job seeker is to deliver exactly what the employer is looking for.

And this is true whether you’re in Durban, Delhi, Dublin or Denver.

Introduction to international resume formats and how to customize your resume for new countries or cultures.

What does a good CV look like in 2022?

Whether you need a resume-type CV or a long-form list of all your academic achievements, you want a professionally designed document that looks as good as it sounds.

You should be able to glance at your resume/CV at arm’s length, without reading anything it says, and get a good visual impression just from looking at it. This requires an attractive layout and smart use of typography.

Some points to consider:

The importance of a visual elements in your resume is as important as its content. Effective job searches start with visually striking, technically functional and a content-optimized Resume

You’ve probably heard of the Curriculum Vitae (CV) more than once. In some cases, it’s used as a synonym for the resume. In others, it seems like it’s something completely different.

So, which is it? What’s a CV, anyway? Is it any different than a resume? If so, how?

What is a CV? [+ Real-Life Example]

The term CV is an abbreviation of the Latin word Curriculum Vitae, which is literally translated to “the course of your life”.

A CV is a very in-depth document that describes your career journey step-by-step, including all sorts of personal information. You can look at the CV as a comprehensive description of everything you have ever done, all the achievements you are proud of, and all the publications that bear your name.

You need to update your CV every time you accomplish something new academically or professionally. Meaning, whenever you get a new job, publish something new, obtain a new certificate, and so on.

Real-Life CV Example

Want to see how a CV looks like in practice? Check out a real-life sample below.

Elizabeth Smith is a marketing professional with a specialization in online marketing. She’s applying to become a professor at a university.

In Elizabeth’s CV, you can see a summarized snapshot of her life: everything she has studied, all the conferences she has been to, the skills she obtained, and a list of her publications.

Since she’s applying for a job in a university, Elizabeth mentions her academic achievements and interests first, and professional experiences later.

Want to create an awesome CV, but don’t want to spend hours playing around with the formatting & layout? We’ve got you covered! Use one of the 8 Novorésumé CV templates.

What is a Resume? [+ Real-Life Example]

A resume is a short, straight-to-the-point, document created for the purpose of applying to a specific job.

Unlike the CV, you should try to keep a resume as short as possible. In 99% of the cases, you’d want to keep your resume to 1-page max. If you have 15+ years of experience, or really believe that the extra information you can mention can add value to your application, you can make it 2 pages tops.

In a resume, you only mention the aspects of your work experience and skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. A good resume highlights specific contributions you have made in your previous work and showcases how your different skills can be useful for the position you are applying to.

The resume is usually accompanied by the submission of a cover letter which states your intent for applying to the job. The cover letter builds upon the skills and experience you have touched upon in your resume, explaining how they’re going to help you excel at the job you’re applying for.

Making a resume and continuously updating it can be a hassle. Want a modern-looking resume done in less than 5 minutes? Try our online resume builder. It’s free, and you can select amongst 8+ templates.

Want to learn more about what you can mention in each of these sections? Check out our guide on what to put on a resume.

Real-Life Resume Example

To get a better idea of what a resume looks like, check out the example below.

In this case, Elizabeth Smith is applying for a job as a marketing specialist, not a professor.

Unlike Elizabeth’s CV, her resume is significantly shorter and more to-the-point. She only mentions relevant work experiences, skills, certifications, and education. After all, the hiring manager cares about her skills as a marketer, not her academic achievements.

The ordering of information is also a bit different. In Jane’s CV, she mentions her academic experiences first and then moves on to work. Here, it’s the other way around, with minimal emphasis on Jane’s academic successes.

Want to get started with your resume, but don’t know how? Check out the Novorésumé guide on How to Make a Resume. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about making a resume, one step at a time.

Now that you have a clear idea about what’s a CV and what’s a resume, here’s a complete list of the differences between the curriculum vitae (CV) and resume:

To give you a better idea of how a CV and a resume differ, here are the two other examples side-by-side:

By now you should have a clear idea about the differences between the CV and the Resume. Here’s where it gets a tiny bit trickier: these differences generally only apply in the United States.

In all of Europe, the word CV is essentially just a synonym for the resume. So, if you’re applying for a position in the EU, and the job asks for a CV, you should know that it actually means a resume.

Conclusion

Now, let’s sum up everything we learned in this post:

Now that you know the difference between a CV and a resume, it’s up to you to decide which one fits your purposes and job hunting process best.

It’s tough out there as it is! Here at Novorésumé, we are committed to making that process simple and fun for you.

In less than 5 minutes, you can create a professional, modern-looking CV or Resume. All you need to do is go through our slick template gallery and choose the format that suits you best.

Choose among 16+ templates for building a resume or a CV for any industry or job position. You can even select a template for the cover letter that goes with your CV or resume.

CV vs Resume: Key Differences to Choose Between the Two

What is a CV? Is it any different from a resume?

Why do some candidates apply with a CV and others use a resume? Is any of the two actually better than the other? Is resume just another word for CV, and vice versa?

In 5 minutes you’ll learn everything you need to know about the CV vs. resume difference.

This guide will show you:

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Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.

One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:

[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.

If you’re just looking for the bottom line, here it is:

The Difference

A resume is a one- to two-page document presenting key facts about your professional experience, educational background, and skills. A CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a longer document that details the whole course of your career. A resume is used for job search, a CV—for academic purposes.

Not quite clear? See the detailed overview of a CV versus a resume below:

A (full form Curriculum Vitae which is Latin for “course of life”) is an in-depth document which describes the whole course of your career in full detail. It’s usually two- or three-page long but can just as well be laid out over 10+ pages, if necessary. A Curriculum Vitae contains details about your education, professional career, publications, awards, honors, and other achievements. In the USA and Canada, a CV is used only for academic applications: academic jobs, grants, research fellowships, etc.

To see what it looks like check out the CV example below.

Curriculum Vitae Sample

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Sample CV made with our builder—See more templates and create your CV here.

As you can see, what goes on a CV is very detailed and comprehensive: many sections, no bullet points, just plain text (after all, CV meaning is a course of life, no wonder it’s that long!)

Below you’ll see a full list of sections to put on a CV.

What to Include in a CV:

Before we show you a full resume/CV comparison, let’s quickly define résumé.

Resume

A (or résumé, from French “to sum up”) is a short, concise document used for job applications in the US and Canada. The purpose of a resume is to provide recruiters with a brief overview of the candidate’s work history. A good resume should be targeted at a specific job and one to two pages long.

Have a look at the below example made with our builder in US resume format. The difference between a resume and a CV is clear, isn’t it?

American Resume Sample

You can use our convenient Online Resume Builder to create a perfect American Resume. Simply pick one of our resume templates here.

If you want to learn more about how to write a job-winning resume, switch over to: How to Make a Resume for a Job (Samples & a Writing Guide)

Or check out a dedicated example of a resume for your job. We guarantee you’ll find it here: 99+ Resume Examples for All Jobs in the World

What should be on a resume, then?

What to Include on a Resume:

So now you know how should a resume look, but before we move on, a technical thing that confuses many job seekers: How to type a resume?

What’s the Proper Resume Spelling?

Although originally spelled “résumé” in French, in English both forms—”resume” and “résumé”—are correct.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

The Difference In a Nutshell

The difference between a CV and a resume lies in the length, layout, and purpose of these documents. CVs have no length limit; resumes are typically one to two pages long. A CV details the whole course of the candidate’s academic career; a resume summarizes skills and work experience.

Difference between CV and Resume

Length

Layout

Purpose

CV

In-depth description of your academic and professional experience

For academic placements

Resume

Brief document highlighting your professional experience

For all kinds of jobs

All of the above holds true for the US and Canada.

But what about international applications?

Resume vs. CV: International Differences & When to Use Which

In all of Europe (the UK, Ireland, and other European countries), as well as New Zealand, the term CV is used to describe an equivalent of a US resume: a short, targeted document you use to apply for jobs. There’s no such thing as a “resume” there.

There are only minor, region-specific differences between a New Zealand or European CV and an American resume. To learn more about writing a job CV, see: How to Write a CV for a Job Application

In Australia and South Africa, “Curriculum Vitae” and “resume” are synonyms that can be used interchangeably. Both words stand for a brief, one- to two-page document.

In South Asia, job seekers might need to use a slightly different document: a biodata. It’s a document which contains more personal, “biographical” data (hence the name): date of birth, gender, race, ethnicity, marital status, and salary. It’s commonly used in India and Bangladesh.

If a South Asian employer asks you for a “resume” or a “CV” specifically, don’t send over a biodata. Go for a document that follows the American resume rules.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here’s what it may look like:

Key Takeaway

Here’s all you need to know about the resume/CV differences and when to use which document:

I hope this article helped clear up the differences between CVs and resumes. If you’re still not sure about some points, leave a comment. I’ll answer all your CV vs. resume questions!

What Is A CV? Examples And Definition Of Curriculum Vitae

Diving into the workforce for the first time, searching for a new job after being laid off, looking for a little extra income — all of these situations can send you running to the computer to try to figure out how to get hired.

For most job opportunities in the United States, a resume is the preferred document that hiring managers and recruiters expect to see. But if you’re working in academia or scientific research, or applying for a job overseas, then you might need a curriculum vitae (CV).

In this article, we’ll cover what a CV is, who needs one, the standard format for CVs, and provide an example CV to help you to get an idea of what one looks like.

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What Is a CV?

A CV is a curriculum vitae, which is a Latin expression that roughly translates to the “course of my life.” As such, a CV is a comprehensive review of your life’s work, including your:

Memberships to societies

Many people get confused because they think the term curriculum is related to your education, but a CV is so much more than just an explanation of your education, which we’ll discuss later.

If the idea of something that chronicles the “course of your life” seems a bit exhaustive and probably too extensive for your professional objectives, then you’re most likely from the United States or you don’t need one in your job hunt.

Who Needs a CV?

In the United States, Americans prefer things short, succinct, and to the point — usually. Most American resumes reflect this attitude and that’s what employers want and are looking for. You’ve probably heard that your resume should only be one page long.

That wisdom is changing a little bit as people tend to have more job experience, related coursework, and certifications now. It’s not uncommon to see even Americans crafting resumes that are two pages long, but they rarely go longer.

That’s a lot of information about resumes, but what about CVs? If you’re not living in the United States or looking for a job in the United States, you may discover that employers don’t even ask for a resume; they go right to the CV. That means that if your dream is to work in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, etc. hiring managers are going to expect you to present a CV.

That doesn’t mean you’re free and clear of the CV if you’re in the United States though. Higher-level technical, scientific, and academic careers in the United States also may require a CV.

Once you learn a little more about them, you might find that a CV fits your career situation better than a resume and make the switch. Let’s talk about the differences so you can decide if a resume or a CV is best for you.

To summarize, people who need a CV rather than a resume are applying for:

A role in academia

A fellowship grant

A research role

A job in medicine

Some legal positions (usually those that involve research and publication)

Any job that asks for a CV

Update Your Resume Now To Get Your Next Job Faster

How Is a CV Different From a Resume?

The key difference between a CV and a resume is that a resume is brief, while a CV is extensive (nearly to the point of being exhaustive). That’s where the main difference lies. A curriculum vitae is designed to be much more thorough.

It’s not so much an appetizer for your prospective new employer so much as a seven-course meal, complete with dessert, that’s meant to give potential employers a deep look into everything you’ve done and then some.

If we break it down by the common elements, a resume and a CV both include the following:

At this point, you’d typically wrap up your resume. You might add a few optional sections on things like volunteer work or impressive projects, but a resume only really needs the above sections.

If you’re writing a CV you’ve still got a lot of work to do because you’re going to need to include the following information, too:

Membership in professional organizations

Extracurricular activities (interests, hobbies, travel experience)

Education (with more information than a resume)

Wow — right? The CV is more extensive, but it doesn’t include references and it includes extracurriculars, which people in the United States have left off their resume for a long time now.

You can see now why a curriculum vitae is used in the U.S. for more specialized and higher-level positions. It gives employers that intimate view of who the candidate is as a person, where you don’t need to be that thoroughly investigated to work at your local burger joint or most other jobs for that matter.

There’s probably one big question you have right now – how long is a CV? Well, it certainly isn’t the one or two pages that a resume is, but there’s no set limit or requirements for a CV length.

Typically, they run in the range of three to five pages. You’re not meant to bowl anyone over with the sheer length of your CV, but if you legitimately have enough experience to fill a longer CV, then a longer one you shall write.

How Is a CV Formatted?

If you think a CV is the right approach for you, then you not only need to fill it with wonderful things that highlight you as a professional; you need to make it look sharp and professional. Beyond that, there’s no set format.

CVs are not like resumes where employers expect to be able to glance at them and instantly spot the differences.

Your CV is sort of like a professional autobiography and it needs to have its own highlights, features, and interesting sections that capture the job recruiter’s attention and makes them want to keep reading. While this varies by individual and often by the particular job they are seeking to get, the following tips can help you format a CV.

Easy to read. Font, margins, white space — all of those things are important and should be considered when you create a document you expect someone to be comfortable reading.

Job essentials. If you’re applying for an academic job, then your education will probably be most essential.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a job as a research scientist, you’ll slide your education further down and bring your research experience to the top of your CV. This is where you might need a couple of versions of your CV, depending on the position you want.

Parallel construction. If you’re using bullet-points in one area, full sentences in another, and then abbreviated sentences in another you’re going to drive the reader a little nuts. Stick to one type of construction and follow that throughout.

Individualism. The main goal of a CV is to make you stand out and be more impressive than other candidates. Do this by showing off your accomplishments and making a CV that is more amazing than any others. By the way, charts and graphs and sometimes pictures can be a part of an awesome CV.

Then again, there’s one more thing you can do.

Make a new resume and get more interviews.

Plus, a great resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our resume builder here. Here’s what it may look like:

What Should I Include in a CV?

Suddenly you’re thinking we threw you for a loop. Wait?! We’re supposed to put pictures and other visual elements in our curriculum-vitae? The answer is — maybe.

It all depends on the position you’re applying for and how relevant this data is to your experience. If you’ve gone to another country and helped establish a new school and boosted enrollment while serving as Principal, then a photo of that school isn’t out of context at all.

You get the idea, if the graphical elements relate to the position and further illustrate your point while also creating visual intrigue, then by all means add them to the CV.

What else do you need in a great CV? Use the following as a checklist to help you get started. You can add and subtract some of the elements or move them around if they don’t reflect your experience adequately:

Additional training or continuing education

Awards or significant recognition

Membership in professional organizations

Common CV Mistakes to Avoid

Resumes and CVs are different, but similar. This means they also share some common mistakes but there are other pitfalls in CVs too. Shared mistakes include:

Spelling and grammar errors

Not tailoring it to the job

Using a generic template that’s not customized

Not highlighting your individual skills/talents/accomplishments

Writing in passive voice

Poor visual layout

Now let’s look at some common CV mistakes. Remember a CV is much longer so it’s going to give you more opportunities to make a mistake.

Focusing on duties

Not addressing employment gaps or career changes

Lying or exaggerating so much it’s unbelievable

Lack of substantiating evidence

Not having an outside proofreader review it

No matter which one you choose to represent you when you’re applying for a job, it’s important to remember that you’re responsible for creating interest in your skills, qualifications, experience, and education.

Example CV

William Bunter

Education

Ph.D in Literature of the Americas | 2012
University of Connecticut

Dissertation: Poetry of Place: Reading New Englandly: An exploration of the unique cultural perspective of post-WWII New England poets, including Elizabeth Bishop, Wallace Stevens, and Robert Lowell.

M.Phil in Early American Literature | 2007
Trinity College Dublin
B.A. in English | 2005
University of Connecticut

Publications

Bunter, William. Protestantism and Culture: The Birth of a New Language: Big City Press (2008)

Else, Julie. Dances With Demons: Stories of Hardship and Perserverance in the New World: Happy Publishing; Chapter 7: “Witchy Women.” (2010)

“Puritan Lies and the Fundation of Emerging Literarture,” New Ideas Quarterly 12(3), 27-34.

“Unmasking the Literary Heroes of Apocrypha,” New England Press 5(6), 90-112.

“Old Stories, New Meanings,” Sarasota Journal 8(9), 11-23.

Professional Experience

University of Connecticut
Adjunct Lecturer | 2007-2009

New England Literature, English 2102

Intro to Literary Theory 1102

Short Stories From Canada 2230

Graduate Teaching Assistant | 2009-2012

Intro to Reconstruction Era Literature 1231

Intermediate English Literature 2003

Honors and Awards

Latin American Literature Study Grant 2018

Teaching awards from UCONN: 2009, 2011

Emerging Writer Award, E.O.L, 2007

Memberships

New England Poetry Society

New England Press Contributor

Authorly Insights Organization

Skills

Writing: technical, persuasive, literary, historical, poetry, research

Microsoft Office and Google Suites

CV Tips

Tailor your CV for the opportunity. While most people know that a resume should certainly be overhauled and reworked for each and every application, there’s a common misconception that your CV always stays the same. In order to strengthen your application, make sure to tailor your CV for what the hiring manager is looking for.

Read the job description carefully and try to incorporate any words or phrases that are emphasized as essential.

Consider applicant tracking systems. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are computer programs that parse through resumes for relevant information and give each candidate a score based on the keywords, experience levels, and other factors in your application documents.

Many CVs don’t make it to a human reader because the program weeds them out. In order to avoid that, you should follow the same advice as making your resume ATS-friendly.

Also, don’t put your contact information in the header of your document — some ATS can’t read headers or footers.

Keep things chronological. Just like in a resume, your experiences should be listed in chronological order. For each section, begin with the most recent experience and work your way back to the older experiences. That way, you’re leading with fresh and impressive facts about yourself.

Contextualize your accomplishments. It’s much better to provide examples of your proudest achievements rather than simply listing your job duties. Hiring managers and recruiters know, more or less, what’s involved with whatever job title you had.

Your job is to show them how you leveraged your winning skill set to achieve great results.

International CVs

So far, we’ve been treating all CVs the same way, but that’s not exactly the case. In English-speaking countries around the world (Ireland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, etc.) and most countries in Europe, a CV is basically the equivalent of an American resume.

If you’re applying for a job in one of those countries and they ask for a CV, you’re probably safe to send over your regular American resume with a few modifications. Of course, if you’re applying for an academic and/or scientific role in one of these countries, then the more formal CV we describe above is still your best bet.

Wherever you’re applying, try to find examples of CVs for that specific country. There might be slightly different cultural expectations depending on the country (e.g., headshot photo, birth date, etc.).

No matter where you’re applying for jobs, the rules of job-seeking basically remain the same:

Provide accurate and professional contact information at the top of every page.

Highlight your most relevant, impressive, and recent accomplishments in the place where they’re most likey to be seen (near the top of the first page).

List basic education experience for most applications, or more detailed education experience for first-time jobs out of college and/or scientific/academic jobs

Ensure that your skill set is obvious throughout the document, as well as in a dedicated skills section.

These details make a big difference in hiring managers understanding and appreciating the scope of your job and past contributions.

Include a Cover Letter With Your CV

Many people will tell you that you don’t need to send a cover letter. They’re right — about half the time. The trouble is, you don’t know if the hiring manager for this specific job is part of the 50% of hiring managers who don’t use them in their decision-making process.

And the hiring managers do prefer to see a cover letter say that it makes a big impact on how they screen candidates. Plus, you don’t need to stress about writing a cover letter for a job. In the process of tailoring your CV, you’ve already done the mental legwork of figuring out what the company wants from a candidate.

While your CV answers the “who, where, what, when” questions about you, a cover letter fills in the “how” and “why.” It’s your chance to describe why you’re passionate about the field and how you approach your job.

A cover letter only needs to be about a half-page long (about 250-400 words) with three or four paragraphs:

Introduce yourself, indicate your years of experience in the field (if it’s equal or greater to the requirements in the job description), and grab the reader’s attention with your most significant professional accomplishment.

Get into slightly more detail about why you’re interested in the field and what attracted you to this company/position in particular. Use your company research to show that your values and/or goals are aligned.

Thank the reader for their time and consideration. Finish with a call to action that indicates you’re enthusiastic to speak more in person and looking forward to hearing back.

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