{"id":8984,"date":"2019-08-13T15:16:18","date_gmt":"2019-08-13T15:16:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monsterindia.com\/career-advice\/cv-or-resume-know-the-difference-and-when-to-use-which-8984\/"},"modified":"2024-04-29T12:09:44","modified_gmt":"2024-04-29T06:39:44","slug":"cv-or-resume-know-the-difference-and-when-to-use-which","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/cv-or-resume-know-the-difference-and-when-to-use-which\/","title":{"rendered":"CV or Resume? Know the Difference and When to use Which"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">What is a resume?<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/what-is-a-cv\/\" title=\"\">What is a CV<\/a>?<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Differences between a CV and a resume <\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">The contents of a resume <\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">The contents of a CV <\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Resume, CV and biodata \u2013 Usage around the world <\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">When should you use a CV, resume and biodata? <\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Tips to keep in mind when writing a CV, Resume or Biodata<\/strong> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">We often interchangeably use the terms \u2018resume\u2019 and \u2018CV\u2019, for they are assumed to be one and the same. But, contextually, a resume is very different from a CV or curriculum vitae. They both have different motives and are used by job seekers (mostly outside India) for their respective requirements in the job application process.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>What is a resume?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">A resume is typically a one-page document containing all your professional details and educational information in a summarised and easy-to-understand format.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Since we\u2019re already discussing resumes, you may want to look at this too:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monsterindia.com\/career-advice\/resume-formats-choose-the-one-that-s-right-for-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Resume Objective Examples<\/a>&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>What is a CV?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">A curriculum vitae or CV is a deeper and more detailed version of the resume. Its length can vary from two to three pages or longer, depending on the job role and information. A CV gives the employer an exhaustive and clear insight into your professional roles and responsibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Include these tips to enhance your CV:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monsterindia.com\/career-advice\/cv-dos-and-don-ts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CV Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts<\/a>&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Differences between a CV and a resume<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">The primary difference between a CV and a resume is in the information they carry. While both are used effectively in applying jobs, their respective differences make for different uses. Below is a point-by-point comparison of a CV and a resume:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>CV<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Resume<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Can be three or more pages long.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Is usually one to two pages long.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Does not have a specific layout.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Has customisable layout options.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Used by applicants in academic roles.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Used by applicants of any industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Focuses on career progression in detail.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Focuses on job skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>The contents of a resume <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">The primary contents of a resume include contact details, professional summary, work experience, skills and qualifications. The order and priority of these sections may change according to different resume formats. This is like a synopsis of your entire educational and professional details that the recruiter can peruse at a glance. <\/span><br><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">As a basic brief your working history and education over one to two pages, a resume consists of the following sections: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Your full name<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Contact details \u2013 Mobile and email<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Professional summary<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Skills \u2013 Can be divided into technical skills and soft skills<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Work history \u2013 Only name of employer and duration of work is enough. You may highlight important duties performed in a bulleted list<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Education \u2013 Course names along with their respective universities and schools&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Check out these useful verbs to boost your resume:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monsterindia.com\/career-advice\/power-your-resume-with-action-verbs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Power your Resume with Action Verbs<\/a>&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>The contents of a CV <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">A CV, on the other hand, is where you would go into the details of your various duties and responsibilities. Typically, a CV is created for jobs in academia and research fields, where you need to provide an extensive, comprehensive listing of everything from your education, degrees and certifications to your research experience, awards, publications, presentations, professional affiliations and memberships. <\/span><br><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">With a much more detailed set of information spread across more than two pages, a CV would typically have the following sections: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Achievements<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Education<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Positions held<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Work experience<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Publications<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Awards<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Research<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Degrees<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Presentations<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Grants<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Honours<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Scholarly and professional affiliations&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Is this your first time writing your CV? Read this:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monsterindia.com\/career-advice\/writing-your-first-professional-cv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Writing your First Professional CV<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Bonus tip: Resume, CV and biodata &#8211; Usages around the world&nbsp;<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">As we have learned so far, both \u2018resume\u2019 and \u2018CV\u2019 are different terms with different contexts, they can still be used for one another. India, Australia and South Africa use both \u2018resume\u2019 and \u2018CV\u2019 interchangeably in the job application process. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Resume:<\/strong> Offering a professional and educational summary of the applicant, it is the most common application document preferred by recruiters in the US and Canada. <br><\/span><br><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>CV:<\/strong> Displaying the applicant\u2019s entire career progression in detail, it is more common in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Germany.&nbsp;<\/span><br><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong><br>Biodata:<\/strong> A biodata is mostly used in India where the applicant\u2019s personal details are added before the professional details. This includes information about the person\u2019s date of birth, gender, religion, nationality, residence, marital status, and so on.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>When should you use a CV, resume and biodata? <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">While the CV, resume, and biodata are all used for applying to jobs, you must know when to use which application. Here is your guide:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>CV<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Resume<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Biodata<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">When applying to roles in academia such as for PhD, doctorate, teaching or lectureship roles, clinical medical roles, etcetera.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">Can be used to apply for job roles in any industry, unless the recruiter has specifically asked for a CV or biodata.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\">When applying to government jobs where your personal details are required in addition to your professional ones.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Tips to keep in mind when writing a CV, Resume or Biodata <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Use keywords from the job description<\/strong> of the advertised role. The idea is to try and match your candidature to the job as much as possible.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Follow a consistent style<\/strong>. Having consistency in your formatting adds a professional touch. It also helps you neatly lay out information.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>Make sure to proof-check everything<\/strong>. No matter how careful you are while writing, you may still find errors upon re-reading your CV, resume or biodata.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><strong>You may also like to read: <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.monsterindia.com\/career-advice\/resume-formats-choose-the-one-that-s-right-for-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Resume Formats: Choose the One That&#8217;s Right for You<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.monsterindia.com\/career-advice\/a-complete-guide-on-cv-preparation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A Complete Guide on CV preparation<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.monsterindia.com\/career-advice\/cover-letter-format-the-what-why-and-how-of-writing-one-that-gets-you-the-interview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cover Letter Format: The What, Why and How of Writing One that Gets You the Interview<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; We often interchangeably use the terms \u2018resume\u2019 and \u2018CV\u2019, for they are assumed to be one and the same. But, contextually, a resume is very different from a CV or curriculum vitae. They both have different motives and are used by job seekers (mostly outside India) for their respective requirements in the job application [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8985,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-8984","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-resume-cover-letters"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8984"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36129,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8984\/revisions\/36129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foundit.sg\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}