CV, Curriculum Vitae and Resume Formats

CV, Curriculum Vitae or resume? - That is the question!

A Curriculum Vitae - Latin for "course of life", most often called CV, is used mainly in Europe.

North Americans use· CVs in international job search overseas or if they are seeking a faculty, research, clinical or scientific positions.

In a great degree the North American resumes are equivalent to European CVs.

The major difference between CV and resume is in they lengths. Usually, the standard CV is between 2 and 8 pages long where the standard resume is between 1 and 2 pages long.

A CV is similar to a resume in that it provides more details about one’s professional qualifications, experience and education. However, the term "Curriculum Vitae" most often called CV, typically carries a different meaning depending on whether one distribute the CV within the US, Canada or internationally (external to the US or Canada) or is seeking a faculty, academic, research, clinical or scientific position.

You can turn your updated resume into a CV by adding relevant detailed information and expanding the descriptions of your educational and professional experiences.

Whereas resumes are a reflection of your main accomplishments only, European CVs are detailed accounts of your education and work experience to date. Applying for a job abroad differs from country to country. Therefore, if you want your job application to be taken seriously, you must consider national differences correctly.

Generally, most information referring to resumes is applicable to CVs and vice versa. However, you should be aware that there might be subtle conventions associated with the international job application process within different countries .

There are various formats of resume, Curriculum Vitae or CV writing: functional CV, chronological CV, keyword CV, creative and targeted CV to name some.

Regardless of the CV format you choose the focus of your CV, Curriculum Vitae or resume should be to persuade the employer to invite you for an interview. Therefore these pages contain guidelines that will improve the odds of your CV, Curriculum Vitae or resume achieving the objective you want - obtaining job interviews.

As you can see from the above table the majority of countries, except the strike-through countries like Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand and the USA use CVs instead of resumes. For China, Japan and New Zealand it is a matter of semantics - the both names, a resume and a CV are being used synonymously.

Remember, whichever CV you chose, it must be targeted and scannable because:

• Maximizes the computer's ability to "read" your CV.
• Maximizes your ability to get hits.

If you have a difficulty with your CV writing, instead of staring at a blank piece of paper, use:

• automated CV builder or
• human CV writing services

We are strongly recommending that you send your CV together with a cover letter.

If you have a difficulty with your cover letter writing try use:

• "fill in the blanks" computer software or
• human cover letter writing services.

Other CV Info

Now to finalize your job search, if your cover letter and CV are ready, you may email them through international job search engines to job recruiters and headhunters worldwide.

Start preparing for job interviews and check the job interview tips do's and don'ts. Also, find out why people are not hired for available jobs.

In addition, on job search, visas, work permits, cover letters, CV / resume, job interview and dress codes pages, you will find very useful tips for many different countries.

Good luck with your CV!