The Importance of a CV and a Resume
As we have stated before, you absolutely cannot underestimate the importance of writing a good CV and a resume. Especially in today’s job market, these are often the keys to getting the job that you want. Competition is high, even for entry level positions. Heck, these days, even more of us are willing to settle for jobs we may consider “low end” – but if you do not sell yourself well, then you can and will lose a stocking position or drive through job to someone with better resume writing skills than you.
It is better to submit both a CV and a resume because, frankly, sometimes you simply cannot afford not to, especially if you want to make a really good impression. Of course, in order to submit both, you first need to know the difference between a CV and a resume. Mixing them up and not understanding the difference is not going to look good to a potential employer. At best, he or she will wonder how you will fare in the position if you do not know the difference between such standard documents.
Most of us are more familiar with writing a resume. However, just because we know what it is does not necessarily mean we know how to write one correctly. There are several things you need to know about your resume, especially if you want to make a good impression. For instance, and most importantly, you need to keep it short. In fact, you should follow the K.I.S.S. philosophy: keep it simple, stupid. That is rather crass, but it is still the best piece of advice you will ever get when it comes to resumes. It definitely needs to be under two pages; one to one and a half is usually best. Your resume is not the place for long winded details. Here, you need to be concise. That is really what separates a CV and a resume.
A CV is the abbreviation for curriculum vitae. Either term works because whatever you call it, it means the same thing. This is where you can really shine. This is where you can include all the details which emphasize what you have written on your resume. Think about it this way: in terms of writing, a resume is more like a bullet list; everything needs to be short, concise, and to the point. The CV, on the other hand, is more like a full paragraph, in that you can include much more information without worrying that your potential employer is going to get disgruntled and impatient.
Job seekers everywhere absolutely have to understand the importance of a CV and a resume. When you submit them together, you are going a prospective employer a much more in depth look at your experience and skills. That serves a technical purpose. More to the point, when you submit both documents, it definitely says something about your dedication as well. A potential interviewer will see that you put a lot of time, effort, and thought into applying for the position, and that often makes the best impression of all.
