A résumé is a one- to two-page document summarizing your career objectives, professional experiences and achievements, and educational background. The heading of the résumé should contain your name, address, and contact information.
The body of the résumé should be broken into the following sections: career objective, profile/summary, professional experience, achievements, education, and references. Your career objective should be brief—no more than two sentences—and give potential employers an idea of how you wish to move forward in your professional life.
A concise profile or summary should explain who you are and how your skills and experience apply to the job you want. The summary, as well as other parts of your résumé, should not contain personal details such as ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, or living situation—only information relevant to your career. This section should be a few well-written sentences that clearly show what you bring to the role. Use it to attract an employer’s attention, but stay professional.
Your work experience should include one to five jobs, starting with your most recent and listing previous positions in reverse chronological order. Your education should include college, graduate, and post-graduate work, as well as any courses or professional certifications relevant to your career development. Achievements, volunteer positions, publications, and interests should only be listed if they apply to your professional work. References should be included only if requested; avoid adding the generic line “references available upon request,” as it is understood.
A curriculum vitae (CV) is a more detailed collection of documents that describe your education and professional history, focusing heavily on achievements. CVs are most often used when applying for positions in academia, research, or graduate/post-graduate programs, and they often require a discussion of professional philosophies.
Unlike a résumé, which is typically one or two pages, a CV has no length limit and usually runs four to five pages or more, depending on experience and accomplishments. While it contains similar information to a résumé, it places much greater emphasis on education and scholarly achievements.
A CV may include scholarships, research projects, publications, grants, community and volunteer work, teaching philosophy, study abroad experience, and language proficiency. You will begin with a career objective or summary that highlights your goals and commitment. If applying for a teaching position, include a brief outline of your teaching philosophy.
Next, list achievements, with education first. This may include your thesis or dissertation, relevant coursework, publications (completed or in progress), certifications, and research projects. Your professional experience should follow, focusing on work that supports your academic or career objectives.
This concludes your CV.
Final Note:
If you are unsure whether to use a résumé or a CV, research the expectations in your industry. Choose the format most commonly accepted for the type of position you are pursuing.