A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a lengthy document that details every stage of your professional development while also containing a wide range of personal details. Making a winning CV is an art, and you must learn how to make a good CV hence every time you achieve something new academically or professionally, you should update your resume. i.e. anytime you start a new job, publish a new article, receive a new certification, etc.
Difference between a CV and a Resume
Length: The main difference between a CV and a resume is the length of each one; a CV is lengthy, while a resume is shorter. A resume can usually only take 1 or 2 pages. Moreover, a CV can be anywhere from 2 to even 10 pages long, yet there is no set length for them.
Application: A resume is mostly used for academic applications to universities and other educational institutions, but a CV is also used for applications for jobs and internships.
Format: A CV should constitute a detailed description of as many relevant past jobs and achievements as you have. A CV has a fixed format that is widely acknowledged worldwide. For example, applications for entry-level positions often require a person to present their CV and provide the necessary information about their personality in a job interview, whereas it is reasonable to adapt the resume’s layout according to the requirements.
| Resume | Curriculum Vitae |
| · Full name | · Full name |
| · Your job title, or the name of the position you’re applying for | · Contact Information |
| · Contact information | · Professional title, resume summary or resume objectives |
| · Resume summary or objective | · Research interests |
| · Work experience | · Education |
| · Education | · Publications (both academic papers and books) |
| · Relevant skills | · Teaching or lecturing experience |
| · Languages and proficiency | · Work experience |
| · Relevant certifications and interests (if any) | · Conferences and courses |
| · Skills | |
| · Certificates | |
| · Languages | |
| · Grants of fellowships | |
| · References |
How to make a good CV
Header
The header occupies the top position of the page. It includes:
- Name
- Phone Number
- Address
Personal Summary
This section sums up your best qualifications and explains your ideal career path. What are your intentions regarding your particular career? While writing it, be sure to specifically mention your field. For instance, instead of writing about pursuing a career for experience, write, “pursuing a career in content writing (Field).”
Education
It deals with your academic history. The chronological order is reversed, placing your most recent degree at the top. Do mention you are pursuing a degree as well.
Work Experience
Mention all your experiences, including internships, part-time jobs, different research, etc. Put in the title, date, and location of the earlier jobs and describe them in bullet points.
Skills
Add this section to explain the abilities, e.g., languages like English or French, software (Microsoft, Excel, etc.), speaking, and writing.
Additional Section
In this section, you can mention all your achievements in detail, including your publications, certificates, lectures, etc.
DOs and DON’Ts in a Curriculum Vitae
- To make it easier on the eyes, maintain consistency with the colors, font size, and headings. Try to prefer Roboto, Overpass, Ubuntu, etc. Avoid ink-free or MS Gothic.
- Ensure that there is adequate space between the text and in the margins to make the entire composition easy to read.
- Choose the appropriate font size to keep the details clear, e.g., 14-16pt for section titles, and 11-12pt for standard text.
- A manager spends only seconds on the CV. If you provide a clear, organized document, you’ll persuade hiring managers to give your CV more attention. On the other hand, a poorly structured CV will cause your disqualification during the initial examination.
- Once you’re done writing, save your CV as a PDF to ensure the layout is preserved. But be sure to read the job description carefully. A PDF CV won’t be accepted by all employers. If so, provide your CV in Word format.
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