Do I Need a CV or a Resume?

So you made it through the final research paper and finished your thesis project, but now you're faced with the dreaded task of actually finding a job so you can use that shiny new degree. Hopefully, you've already spent some time researching the industry and know what types of jobs are available.

If not, do that first. Investigate the options that are available to you with your level of education and experience. Then, draft your basic cover letter. Though you will need to revise this and tailor it to each job that you apply for, getting a basic idea of what you need to say in your cover letter down will help when you get ready to start doing the real things. Basic information that should be included in your cover letter includes how you heard about the job and why the job is a good fit for you. Skip most of the things that are in your resume or CV, but hitting on a highlight or two isn't a bad idea.

After that it's time to polish the resume or CV and get down to sending out applications. So how do you decide which one to send?

Resumes

Generally, in the United States, most employers prefer a resume to a curriculum vitae, or CV. The most obvious exception is when you are applying for a job in education. Then, a CV is considered preferable.

A resume is an orderly accounting of your skills, education and experience in a manner designed to attract the attention of the human resources manager scanning fifty or more of the things. How your resume is designed depends on a great many factors including how much experience you have and whether you are seeking a job in your current field.

Traditionally, resumes simply listed things chronologically, beginning with your most recent experience first. However, for someone changing careers or just out of college, this may not be the best idea. Skill-based resume design highlights the things you can do even if you don't specifically have a job title that goes with experience.

What does that mean? Well, if you spent the last six years as a file clerk in the U.S. Army, your rank and job title might not reflect what you actually did. With a skill-based resume, you tell your potential employer what you can do. These are often good if you haven't held a job with the same title as the one you are applying for.

As a recent college graduate, you might want to highlight your education and downplay your lack of experience. Just remember, volunteer work and unpaid internships can be included as experience. Whatever you do, never exaggerate your credentials. Make them sound impressive, but always be honest. You might not keep that new job if you don't.

Curriculum Vitae

A CV is a much more inclusive look at your academic history and often includes details of your personal life that you would not include in a traditional resume. They are generally required when seeking a job outside the United States or in an academic setting.

In addition to more completely addressing you academic accomplishments, a CV will list seminars and workshops you've attended, languages you speak and any publications you have. While a resume is generally only a single page in length, a CV is often several pages.

Choosing which to submit is generally a matter of reviewing the job posting, but when in doubt, in the United States, a resume is generally preferred.