Resume, CV and Curriculum Vitae Formats

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

The resume, also known as American CV, is mainly used in the USA and Canada.

In China, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa it is a matter of semantics - both names, a resume and a CV are being used synonymously.

The term "Curriculum Vitae" stands for Latin "course of life".

The Curriculum Vitae, most often called CV, typically carries a different meaning depending on whether one distributes the CV within the US and Canada or internationally (external to the US or Canada).

If you are seeking a faculty, academic, research, clinical or scientific position in the USA, Canada and internationally you should use Curriculum Vitae.

Outside the US and Canada use a CV in a job searching process.

In a great degree, the resume is equivalent of CV.

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

Whereas resume is a reflection of your main accomplishments only, CV is detailed accounts of your professional qualifications, education and work experience to date. A CV generally includes information such as personal data, hobbies and interests, and greater detail about education than would be included on the U.S. or Canadian resume.

You can turn your current CV into a resume by shortening some descriptions of your educational and professional experiences.

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. 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.

There are various formats of resume writing: functional resume, chronological resume, keyword resume and creative resume to name some.

Nevertheless, whichever resume you chose, it must be targeted and scannable because of it:

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

Regardless of the format, you choose the focus of your 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 resume achieving the objective you want - obtaining job interviews.

As you can see from the above table the majority of countries, except countries in bold use CVs instead of resumes.

Remember that your CV/resume must be targeted, scannable and generate hits. If you have difficulty with your CV writing or resume writing instead of staring at a blank piece of paper, use CV samples and CV templates, resume samples and resume templates.

Most recruiters expect to receive a cover letter together with your CV or resume. So, prepare a cover letter convincing the reader why you are the best candidate for the interview using cover letter writing tips.

Other Resume, CV or Curriculum Vitae Info

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

Start preparing for job interviews and check the job interview tips dos and don'ts. Also, find out why people are not being hired.

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 Resume, CV or Curriculum Vitae!