So, you have found a casual job advertisement that you intend to apply for. The job advertisement request that you email a CV or resume to the company. You are unsure and confused what the difference between a CV and a resume is. The job advertisement deadline is fast approaching. You have not started on any of the documents that need to be emailed to the company. This article will inform you of the main differences between a CV and a resume.
What is a CV?
A curriculum vitae (CV) refers to a detailed document which aims to highlight your professional and academic history. Typically, CV’s can be three pages in length. CV’s include name, contact information, education, employment history and skills developed. Further, the type of information that CV’s consist of means that a CV does not need to be tailored for different positions. Such, the documents will change as your accomplishments grow. To put simply, a curriculum vitae is a stroll through your various achievements. You will need to be aware that a CV will list education, achievements and employment history in reverse chronological order. For example, you were employed as a barista in 2014 and in 2018 you were employed as a sales team leader. In this instance, your sales team leader experience would be first in the employment history.
What is a Resume?
On the other hand, a resume is often a short and straightforward document that is created for the purpose of applying to a specific job. You should aim to keep your resume at one page in length. Generally, a resume will only include employment history that is relevant to the role that you are applying for. This means that a resume will change according to the job that you wish to apply for. In other words, a resume must be tailored. For further information on resume writing, The Queensland Government website can be of use.
What’s the Difference between a CV and a Resume?
Now that you have been equipped with knowledge on the individual aspects of a CV and a resume. You must now understand what the differences is between each of them in order to determine when to use which document. In Australia, the terms CV and resume are used interchangeably. However, if you are seeking to apply for an overseas role you will need to be wary of its differences. Lawpath recommends that you use the Lawyer Marketplace to hire the perfect lawyer for your employment needs to ensure that you use the correct documents for each role you wish to apply for. Alternatively, you should consult an employment lawyer if you are unsure of which documents is to be used for your intended position.
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But the main differences between a CV and a resume is the length, layout and purpose of the documents. As a curriculum vitae can be three pages or more in length, it is considered to be more inclusive of your overall achievements. This will mean that each achievement or qualification does not have to be specific to the job that you are applying for. In contrast, a resume must be written specifically for the job that you want. A resume is also usually shorter than a curriculum vitae. Additionally, a resume will typically have a couple of bullets which lists the skills and responsibilities that were developed in the previous role.
Final Thoughts
In essence, a CV is not tailored to the position that you are applying for, but a resume is. Further, a CV is longer in length and a resume should only be one page. Many of these minor differences can be overlooked if you are not wary of its unique purpose.
