A resume is ideally a summary of one’s education, skills and employment when applying for a new job. A resume does not list out all details of a profile, but only some specific skills customized to the target job profile. It thus, is usually 1 or at the max 2 pages long. A resume is usually written in the third person to give it an objective and formal tone.
Structure: A good resume would start with a Brief Profile of the candidate, Summary of Qualifications, followed by Industry Expertise and then Professional Experience in reverse chronological order. Focus is on the most recent experiences (with responsibilities and accomplishments), and previous experiences are only presented as a summary. This would be followed by Education details and/or Professional Affiliations and/or Voluntary Initiatives.
Resume
- 1 or 2 pages max
- Lists important Key responsibility Areas from the last 10 years Lists only relevant and active certifications
- Customized to a target job description
- Written in a neutral or third person tone
- Most Important Information: Full Name, Contact Details, Experience in reverse-chronological order, Education details, Professional Skills & Certifications
- Not required: Date of Birth, Gender, Fathers name, Nationality, Hobbies, and Declaration.
CV – CURRICULUM VITAE
Etymology: Curriculum Vitae is a Latin word meaning “course of life”.
Your CV is more detailed than a resume, generally 2 to 3 pages, or even longer as per the requirement. A C.V. lists out every skill, all the jobs and positions held, degrees, professional affiliations the applicant has acquired, and in chronological order. A CV is used to highlight the general talent of the candidate rather than specific skills for a specific position. CVs talk about your entire career ever since you graduated. So if you have 20 years of experience, your CV will have details of the entire 20 years even if it means a 10 page document.
CV
- No limit on the pages
- Lists important KRAs from the entire tenure
- Lists all skills and certifications held (also expired)
- Customized for a larger audience and not for a specific job description Written in a first, neutral or third person tone
- Most Important Information: Full Name, Contact Details, Short Bio, Education details, Experience in chronological order, Professional Skills & Certifications, Interests, Courses, Publications, References Not required: Date of Birth, Gender, Fathers name, Nationality, Hobbies, and Declaration.
BIO-DATA:
Etymology: Bio-Data is the short form for Biographical Data and is an archaic terminology for Resume or C.V. This term is mostly used in India by people who started their careers back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
Since it is an archaic term, Bio-Datas are not used in a career oriented field anymore. Our parents used to share their Bio-Data when they would go for interviews back in the 70s. Nowadays, Bio-Data has a reference mostly in case of arranged (or love) marriages where parents ask for it from the other party. In a bio data, the focus is on personal particulars like date of birth, gender, religion, race, nationality, residence, marital status, and the like. A chronological listing of education and experience comes after that but only to show what a person has done; it is not for the purpose of a job. In some South Asian countries (e.g. Bangladesh) it may be used in the place of a resume. A Bio-Data form is also required when applying for government, or defense positions.
Bio-Data
- No limit on the pages
- Focus on Date and Time of Birth, gender, religion, race, nationality, residence, marital status
- Customized for the purpose of marriages
- Written in a first or third person tone
- Education & Experience: not mandatory
- Salary details: mandatory if using for matrimonial purposes
Resumes and CVs:
Depending on the type of job, you will need to create curriculum vitae (CV) or a resume. Both documents put your qualification in writing, but they are used for different audiences and use a different format. It’s usually thought that a CV and a resume are one and the same document. While this is true in some countries, in other countries, major differences exist between the two.
United States and Canada: The difference between a resume and a CV mainly only applies in the United States and Canada. When applying for a non-academic position, you send a resume, when applying for an academic position or a scholarship, you send a CV.
The UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Europe: In the UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, a CV and a resume mean the same thing, although there may be slight variations depending on the country. With the exception of Australia where both terms are used, a resume is only referred to as a CV in these countries. South Africa: In South Africa, there are two types of CV: a brief profile and a comprehensive CV. A brief profile is a one-page CV and is a shorter version of the comprehensive CV; this is similar to a resume or a CV as it is known in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
However, both ‘CV’ and ‘resume’ are used synonymously.
When to use a Resume: In the United States, most employers use resumes for non-academic positions, which are one or two page summaries of your experience, education, and skills. Employers rarely spend more than a few minutes reviewing a resume, and successful resumes are concise with enough white space on the page to make it easy to scan.
When to use Curriculum Vitae (CV): A CV is a longer synopsis of your educational and academic background as well as teaching and research experience, publications, awards, presentations, honors, and additional details. CVs are used when applying for academic, scientific, or research positions. International employers often use CVs as well.
CV is a comprehensive statement emphasizing:
- Professional Qualifications
- Education
- Experience
- Accomplishments
- Activities
- Special Qualifications
A CV can vary from two pages to several pages. Professionals seeking academic positions and non-academic positions in science, higher education, research, and health care typically use a CV. It is also used to seek a fellowship or grant and is expected for some positions overseas. Consult with faculty members in your field to determine what is expected and appropriate for your field.
Electronic Version of CV:
When sending electronic versions, attach a file or cut and paste the CV into the text of the email message. State your objectives and career interests in the first few lines since they may be the only items seen on a screen. Other tips:
- Use language and acronyms recognized in your field.
- Avoid using bold, italics, underlining, lines, or graphics. Use all caps for emphasis.
- Put your name at the top followed by address and each phone number on a separate line.
Many employers use websites for applicants to apply for positions. Although each form may be different, some elements may be similar. Save parts of your CV in a format that can be cut and pasted for each individual web-based form, such as saving a bulleted list of work experience.
Transforming Your CV into a Resume:
You may need both a CV and a resume for your job search. Sending the appropriate document (CV or resume) tells employers that you can distinguish the differences between the academic and non-academic environments and that you can adapt your skills to either environment. Most employers in industry prefer a resume.
When rearranging your CV to make it a resume:
- Do not exceed two pages.
- Re-evaluate your experience. Think creatively about how your academic experience can be translated into the necessary skills for a non-academic environment. Consider skills of project management, leadership, teamwork, effective communication, and meeting deadlines.
- Choose action verbs to describe your experience.
- Put your strengths first. List your professional experience or your degree first, depending on which is most important for a specific position.
- Include a well-written job objective; state the type of position and work setting you are seeking, skills or abilities you possess, and long-term goals. Be sure that your resume supports your job objective.
- Emphasize skills and accomplishments.
- List relevant presentations, publications, and papers, but not all.
- Have someone proofread it.
Academic Curriculum Vitae (CVs):
In the United States, the term “curriculum vitae” or “CV” describes a document used to apply for positions in academia and research. CVs differ from resumes in their length and the specificity of their content. CVs are typically 2-to-4 pages for a new professional, with a recommended maximum of 10 pages for a seasoned professional. They are similar in format to a resume. Outside the United States, “CV” and “resume” are often used interchangeably to describe the same document. Ask for clarification if you are not sure which type of document to submit. If you are applying abroad, consider asking for advice from alumni living in the country of your choice.
Formatting Your CV:
CV is usually organized according to categories–with specific entries listed in reverse chronological order (most recent listed first) within each category. Convey clearly the variety and depth of your academic and professional experiences.
Study the CVs of others in your profession to learn the expected format.
- Keep font size to 10, 11, or 12 points and set margins to no less than 0.5 inch on all sides of the document.
- Do not use the word “I” or other first-person pronouns.
- Be consistent with format, page numbers, punctuation, and verb tenses. (Use the past tense to describe past positions and accomplishments and the present tense for current positions and activities).
- Include 3-to-6 references towards the end of the document (after first getting permission from your references).
CV Categories: In addition to contact information and education, CVs may include any of the following categories. Choose categories based on your experiences and goals.
- Education-Related: Education, Academic Training, Specialized Coursework, Dissertation, Thesis, Areas of Knowledge, Professional Competencies, Graduate Fieldwork or Practicum, Research/Teaching Assistantships, Teaching Experience, Teaching, Advising, Research/Academic Interests, Professional Development, Postdoctoral Experience, Research Experience, Related Experience
- Leadership-Related: University Involvement, Committee/Departmental Leadership, Advisory Boards/Committees
- Public-Facing Activities: Scholarly Presentations, Conferences Attended, Conference Participation/Presentations, Selected Presentations, Lectures and Colloquia, Exhibits/Exhibitions, Performances
- Publication-Related: Research, Abstracts, Publications, Scholarly Works, Works In Progress, Professional Papers, Technical Papers, Articles/Monographs, Multimedia Materials, Arrangements/Scores
- Accolade-Related: Awards/Grants, Funded Projects, Contracts, Patents, Academic Awards, Scholarships, Fellowships
- Criteria-Related or Membership-Related: Certification, Licensure, Endorsements, Activities, Affiliations, Memberships, Honorary Societies
- International-Related: Study Abroad, Foreign Study, International Projects
- Skill-Related: Languages, Technical Skills, Laboratory Skills, Computer Skills
CV Content
- Use specific action verbs instead of general terms such as “do/did,” “completed,” “responsible for.”
- Include multiple titles and responsibilities if you had multiple roles at one organization. Omit references to personal information. Do not include a picture.
- Do not lie or exaggerate. Do not include anything that you would not want to discuss in an
- interview.
- Do not use Georgetown jargon or acronyms without explaining them (e.g., GUSA, MSB, etc.).
Last-Minute Checks
- Create a log of applications you send, including: position description, date, contact information,
- follow-up date (if appropriate), and follow-up communication notes. Have someone else review your CV, ideally someone in your field.
- Are your documents appropriately named? For example: “CrawfordCVAdjunctProfessorClassicsGeorgetown.pdf.” If you are sending a document over email, send it as a PDF unless otherwise instructed by the employer.
- Is your email subject line relevant?
- Are your documents printed on resume paper?
Resumes or CV in the United States/ Canada:
Generally speaking, Americans like their resumes (also spelled résumé) to be short, simple, and straight to the point. There is no need to include any personal information such as hobbies or interests, nor is it necessary to include a photo of your-self. This is largely due to the nation’s strict privacy laws that protect candidates from discrimination. It is also important to know that the term ‘resume’ is used more commonly than ‘CV’ in the US. As mentioned before, these terms also refer to two different things.
Length
When applying for jobs in the US, a two-page resume is sufficient. The only time you would need to submit a longer, more detailed CV is if you are applying for roles in academia. These positions tend to require more detailed background information on your skills and qualifications. So, unless you are a very experienced job-seeker applying for a specialist role, keep it to two pages. If you graduated within the past few years, then a one-page resume is perfectly acceptable.
Language
Make sure you use standard American English when creating your resume in the US. If you are not familiar with the spelling rules, such as swapping the ‘s’ for ‘z’ in words such as ‘prioritize’, and dropping the u in words like ‘color’ and ‘flavor’, then it’s a good idea to change the spell check language settings to American English on your laptop or computer.
Structure and format
The general structure of your US resume should be as follows:
Personal information: your name, address, and contact details. You can also include links to your LinkedIn or social media profiles if you feel they present you in a positive and professional way. Just make sure they are up to date.
Personal profile: a short and punchy summary of your history and skillset. This is a great way to sell
yourself and grab the attention of the prospective employer in as little space as possible.
Work experience: provide details of your work experience in reverse chronological order; i.e., your most recent position at the top. Focus on your key achievements, rather than your responsibilities, and highlight quantifiable information wherever you can. You should tailor this section to meet the requirements of the job you are applying for.
Education
List your educational achievements in reverse chronological order. Again, highlight those which apply directly to the job, for example, show that you have a degree in English if you are applying for a writing role.
Other sections
other details that you might want to include are skills. Again, try and focus on those which relate to the role you are applying for. You could also include things like volunteer experience to help convey your personality.
References
you aren’t actually required to include these in your US resume, and it is perfectly acceptable to supply them only when an employer requests them.
CVs in the United Kingdom
In terms of format and style, a UK CV is not very different from a US resume. The main distinction is that you are freer to share personal information such as your hobbies and interests, in order to convey your personality.
Length
The recommended length for a UK CV is two pages. If it does overflow on to three pages, this isn’t too much of a problem, but try to avoid having only one or two lines on the final page as this looks messy. Either edit your CV to fit two pages, or revise the content so that it fills out every page. Of course, you only want to include relevant information, so don’t add more just for the sake of making it longer. It is also common practice in the UK to write and send a cover letter with your CV when you apply for a job. The purpose of this letter is to demonstrate why you are the ideal candidate for the role, explaining how your skills and experience match those outlined in the job description.
Language
You should write your CV in British English and use the correct spelling. The easiest way to do this is to change your spell check settings. It is also important to make sure that you use the appropriate phrases. For example, in the UK an unpaid internship is referred to as ‘work experience’ and what Americans might call school is referred to as ‘university’ or ‘college’.
Structure and format
The general structure of your UK CV should be as follows:
Personal information: this should include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address at the top. Details such as your age or marital status are not required (like in some other countries) and there is no need to include a photo of yourself unless specifically requested by an employer.
Personal profile: begin your CV with a one-paragraph summary of your skills, aspirations, and career goals. This is basically an opportunity for you to show what you can offer an employer and shine above other candidates.
Education: list your educational achievements in reverse chronological order, with the most recent one first. Again, try and highlight those which apply directly to the job.
Employment history: provide information on all relevant work experience and outline your key responsibilities and achievements for each position in a small paragraph or list of bullet points that are easy to read. Make sure you include the name of the employer, their location, your job title, and the dates that you were employed.
Related interests (optional): although it is not compulsory, some people include a section on their hobbies and interests outside of work. This helps to show their personality and can often provide a good talking point in interviews. If you choose to include this on your CV, try to cover interests that relate to the position you are applying for.
1. Research the Local Expectations
Before creating your resume, it’s crucial to understand the specific expectations and norms in each country. Thesemay vary in terms of resume length, format, and content.
2. Choose the Right Resume Format
In the USA and Canada, a reverse-chronological format is common. Start with your most recent experience and work backward. In Europe and the UK, a chronological or functional format may be preferred, depending on your career stage and the industry. In Australia, both chronological and functional formats are acceptable.
3. Personal Information
Include your full name, contact information, and a professional email address. In some countries, such as India and the UAE, it’s common to include a passport-sized photo, but this is not necessary in most Western countries.
4. Professional Summary or Objective
Compose a brief professional summary or objective statement highlighting your skills and goals. Keep it concise and tailored to the position you’re applying for.
5. Work Experience
List your work experience in reverse-chronological order. Include the following details:
- Job title
- Company name
- Location
- Dates of employment (month and year)
- Key responsibilities and achievements
Quantify your achievements with specific numbers or metrics where possible. Highlight your leadership, problem-solving, and project management skills.
6. Education
List your educational qualifications, starting with your most recent degree. Include the institution’s name, location, degree earned, and graduation date.
7. Certifications and Training
Include any relevant certifications and training programs you’ve completed, especially if they are recognized in the specific country you’re targeting.
8. Skills
List your key skills, such as project management software proficiency, language proficiency, and any other relevant technical skills. Tailor this section to match the job requirements.
9. Language Skills
Mention your language proficiency, especially if you are applying in a country with a different primary language. Be honest about your language abilities, as you may be tested during the hiring process.
10. References
In some countries, like the USA and Canada, it’s common to provide references on request. In others, such as the UK and Australia, references are typically not included on the resume.
11. Tailor for Each Application
Customize your resume for each job application by emphasizing the skills and experiences most relevant to the specific role and company.
12. Proofread Carefully
Ensure your resume is free of typos, grammatical errors, and formatting inconsistencies.
13. Save in the Right Format
Save your resume as a PDF to ensure consistent formatting across different devices and operating systems.
14. Consider Cultural Differences
Be aware of cultural differences in terms of communication style and business etiquette when applying for jobs in different countries.
By following these guidelines and tailoring your project manager resume to the expectations of each country, you can increase your chances of landing the job you desire, regardless of where you are applying. Remember that the key to a successful resume is to showcase your relevant skills, experience, and achievements effectively while adhering to local preferences.
