How to Add Extracurricular Activities and Academic Projects to Your Resume
The paradox of applying to jobs as a new college graduate is that you may have little relevant work experience...
Graduates and job seekers are familiar with the words ‘resume’ and ‘CV’, which may be used interchangeably during a job search. A resume is however shorter, at about 1-2 pages, and emphasizes only relevant skills, experiences, and work contributions. It also helps you stand out from other applicants and get you an interview invite. However, a resume and CV usually contain different information and serve specific purposes. So what are the main differences between a resume and a CV?
The most significant difference between a resume and a CV is what they contain. The resume consists of the skills, qualifications, and experience captured succinctly as required for a job role. A CV contains a full history of your academic credentials, including educational qualifications, publications, presentations, and professional affiliations. With all this information, a CV can run into several pages. A resume is however shorter, at about 1-2 pages, and emphasises only relevant skills, experiences, and work contributions.
A resume and a CV are usually designed for different purposes. A resume is tailored for job roles and can be sent to recruiters and hiring managers in various industries, as long as the relevant skills and educational requirements are captured in the resume. CVs are usually directed to hiring committees, academic institutions, and research organizations and are used in applications for academic roles such as postdoctoral positions, teaching and research jobs, as well as for fellowships, grants, and graduate admissions such as Masters and PhD programs.
CVs and Resumes also differ in formatting and how they are structured. A CV includes sections such as education, research experience, publications, fellowships, awards, and professional affiliations while a resume follows a standard structure of sections including contact information, personal objectives, work or volunteer experience, skills, education, and professional certifications.
It’s important to note that in most countries outside North America, especially in Europe, the word “CV” is used to describe the document used for job applications so when a job asks for a CV, bear in mind that this simply means a resume.
A modern resume should contain the following:
While both CVs and resumes serve the purpose of showcasing an individual's qualifications and experiences, they do differ in length, content, purpose, audience, and formatting. When these differences are understood, it becomes easier to design effective resumes or CVs that are tailored to the specific requirements of academic or professional opportunities. So whether you're applying for a research position or grant in academia or a corporate job in the business sector, knowing when to use a CV or a resume can make the difference in landing that first interview.
Explore these additional articles for more insights.