CV Writing Tips fromThe
CV Centre, the UK's leading CV consultancy.
Although a CV serves the same purpose as a resume, there are quite a
number of differences between the two. In general, if you are applying
for employment in the USA, the resume format is preferred, whereas the
CV is the document of choice in the UK. Indeed, the CV is also the preferred
format in many overseas destinations, so the majority of job hunters seeking
employment internationally tend to have both a CV and a resume prepared.
One of the main differences between a CV and a resume is the length of
each document - with the former tending to be longer and much more comprehensive,
whilst the resume is brief and concise. Ideally, a CV should not exceed
two pages, although it is accepted that certain people require a longer
CV when they have had a particularly extensive career history, etc.. On
the other hand, a resume preferably only amounts to one single page.
CVs and Detail
As a CV is a more detailed document than a resume, all the information
should be presented in reverse chronological order so that the most recent,
and often most relevant, information is presented first. Most CVs begin
with a professional profile summarising an individual's key skills and
personal traits. Where possible, and if space allows, a section outlining
your objectives can be included and should ideally highlight the specific
title of the job you wish to apply for.
Skills & Qualifications
The next section in the CV should normally cover your education and qualifications,
although this section can be moved to further down the CV if the information
contained here is not particularly important. The education section generally
summarises lower level qualifications whilst elaborating further on higher
qualifications, e.g. graduate and post-graduate. Where appropriate, I.T.
proficiency and any languages spoken should follow this section with any
major achievements being included therafter.
Career Summary / Work Experience
The career summary or work experience section is invariably the most
detailed part of the CV, with each role undertaken being listed along
with a description of key duties, responsibilities and achievements. Ideally,
your most recent positions should carry more detailed job descriptions,
and it is often the case that positions held ten or more years ago will
have just one or two bullet points of information or, indeed, no description
at all. This ensures that the most relevant information is given priority
in the CV.
Other information for inclusion in CVs
The CV should finish with a summary of personal details and a list of
any hobbies or interests. If the CV is to be used for overseas applications,
it is also important to highlight your Visa status.
Curriculum Vitae
When a 'Curriculum Vitae' is specifically requested for an application
in the US market, rather than a resume, it is generally expected to be
a much more comprehensive document, even than the typical UK format. It
is not unusual for such documents to be as long as 10 or even 20 pages
and they are generally requested for academic or scientific based roles.
Resumes
As mentioned above, the resume is a far more concise document than a
CV and the professional profile and objective sections that were important
on the CV are often omitted completely. The education section tends to
be the same as that of the CV but the rest of the document is very different.
A resume focuses more on specific skills and capabilities, rather than
the full details of job roles undertaken. As a result, the career summary
is generally a simple list of job titles with key skills, achievements
and capabilities included in a separate section.
It is important to keep the resume as concise as possible and certainly
to keep it within the ideal one page format. There is no room for unnecessary
detail - interests and hobbies don't need to be included - and every effort
should be made to target specific roles or markets.
Professional Preparation
At the end of the day, this is definitely the most sensible option; there
really is no substitute for taking advantage of in-depth professional
experience. Please visit The
CV Centre's site to find out how our professional
writing services can help you.
A CV is often all a prospective employer has to judge you on, so creating
the right first impression is absolutely vital. Whatever job you've set
your sights on, with our market-leading position in this field we are
confident that our assistance will maximise your chances of winning it.
