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If you are looking for a job, you
may have noticed that some employers request a CV instead of a resume. Many
jobseekers assume that a CV and a resume are different terms for the same
thing, but this is not necessarily true.
CVs and resumes are similar, true, but the differences are important. If
you submit a resume instead of a CV, you will risk appearing inexperienced
and naďve – definitely not qualities that will scream, “Hire me!” to
prospective employers.
What is a CV?
“CV” is an abbreviation for “Curriculum Vitae,” which roughly translates to
“This is my life.” In other words, your curriculum vitae or CV is meant to
draw a picture of your life for prospective employers. A CV is more than
just a listing of past employers: It is a resource that describes everything
you have done in life pertaining to your career.
The main
difference in the content of a CV as opposed to a resume is that the CV is
usually expected to include more detail, and therefore be a little longer.
In general, a CV is expected to be one or two pages for a professional just
entering the workforce, two to four pages for a professional with some
experience, and as many as seven pages for an experienced professional. No
matter how experienced you are, however, your CV should not exceed ten
pages.
When is a CV Usually Required?
You will probably have noticed that some job ads request a curriculum vitae,
while others simply ask for a resume. Usually, academic positions are the
ones that require CVs. You should expect to be asked to provide a CV anytime
you are applying for a(n):
• Teaching position
• Professorship
• Science position
• Research position
• International job
• Fellowship
• Grant
What Should a CV Include?
Your CV should always start with your personal information and end with your
references, if you have any. However, the order of the sections in between
is entirely up to you. Remember, your curriculum vitae is meant to represent
your life as a whole, so it is probably best to list your strongest sections
before your weaker ones. For example, if you are a recent graduate or only
have a few years of experience yet, or if your academic record is quite
impressive, you can list the education section first.
In addition, every CV you send out should be tailored for the specific
position you are applying for. This means that you should only list
experience that is related to the position. You can also change the order of
the sections in your resume, so that experience that is more closely related
to the job is listed earlier in your CV.
Personal Information
Like a resume, your CV should start with your name and contact information.
Also like a resume, you do not need a subject heading for this section.
Some jobseekers and employers feel that since a curriculum vitae is supposed
to be a representation of your life as a whole, this section should include
personal details, such as your date and place of birth, your marriage
status, and the number of kids you have. However, others feel this is
unprofessional, not to mention damaging to your chances of getting the job.
Whether you decide to put these personal details in your CV is up to you,
but you should definitely never do so if you feel it could prejudice the
employer against you.
Statement of Purpose
If you include a statement of purpose, also known as a personal mission
statement, in your CV, it should immediately follow your personal
information. This section should only be a sentence or two long, and should
do two things: state where you are in your career, and what you are looking
for in your next job. (Note: Because you are tailoring your CV to the
specific job, your goals in your personal mission statement should match the
position you are applying for.)
Summary of Qualifications
Just like in a resume, your summary of qualifications should provide an
employer with a bulleted list of your most important qualifications. This
section should include a handful of bullet points at most, but each one
should quantify your achievements with numbers, as this will make a bigger
impression on a potential employer.
Education
Like a resume, a CV features an education section that lists your degrees in
reverse chronological order. Each listing should include the school, city
and state where it is located, your degree and focus of study, and the date
you graduated. Most professionals in academic fields have impressive
educations, which is why this section often comes next in a curriculum
vitae. However, if you feel another section is stronger or more relevant to
the position you are applying for, you can rearrange your CV accordingly.
Awards
Although some resumes include sections for awards and honors, these sections
are short and may be lumped in with achievements. In the academic world,
however, experienced professionals often have a long list of awards to their
name. For this reason, a CV can be laid out with a separate awards section.
Grants
If you have applied for and received important grants, these can be
considered “bragging rights” as well. However, not all academic
professionals have done so, making this section optional.
Employment History
Another section the resume and the CV have in common is the employment
section. As in a resume, your employment history should be listed in reverse
chronological order.
Publications
Most jobseekers who use resumes would never have use for a publications
section, but many researchers, professors, and scientists have published
their work in academic publications. This section provides an opportunity to
list all of the publishing credits you have achieved.
Research
Many academic professionals have dedicated some part of their education
and/or career to research. The format of the curriculum vitae allows these
professionals the option of giving these efforts special attention.
Professional Memberships
Another notable difference between a CV and a resume is the need for a
“Professional Memberships” section. Most non-academic professionals do not
belong to any professional organizations. Academic professionals, on the
other hand, often belong to several. Because professional memberships are
regarded highly in traditional academia, this section can be used to include
them in the curriculum vitae.
Volunteer Work
Having donated your work for the good of the community is an advantage and
should always be included on your CV. Volunteer work can also be used to
demonstrate experience and skills, even if you have not acquired them
through paid work. In addition, you may want to include any relevant
experience you have gained while pursuing your hobbies or personal
interests.
References
Just like in any other industry, ads for academic positions may ask for
references. This should always be the last section in your CV, and should
include three to five professional references. Your references should be
able to speak knowledgably and positively about your work, so if possible
you should choose colleagues who have known you for at least several years.
Writing a Superb CV
As you can see, one of the main benefits of a CV is its flexibility. If you
have never
written a curriculum vitae before, you may find the many optional
sections to be rather overwhelming. However, it is important to remember
that a CV is designed to allow you to represent yourself to your best
advantage. Your CV should be always written and organized in a way that you
feel best reflects your unique personality and your qualifications for the
specific job.
About
the Author: Jason Kay
writes for career related websites like JobGoRound, which provides job
search information and advice as well as
reviews of CV writing services and
resume distribution services.
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