You cannot – repeat: cannot – underestimate the importance of your resume. This is your first impression. This is your chance to capture your potential employer’s attention, to pique his or her interest. This is your ticket into the job of your choice. It does not matter what job you are applying for – whether you want to work the drive-thru at Burger King or apply for an entry level position at a sales office, you have got to have a good one. Otherwise, you are not even going to get your foot in the door.

Today we are going to discuss the ins and outs of a curriculum vitae – more commonly known as a CV. Meaning, we are going to discuss what it is, especially as it compares to a resume; when it is appropriate to include one; and how, precisely, to write one.

First, let’s discuss the ways in which a curriculum vitae and a resume are different. Primarily, the difference between a CV and a resume pertain to the length, the content, and the purpose of each document. Your resume should be one of two pages long. It is just an overview of your skills, your experience, and your education. Whether you are writing a chronological resume or a different type, your main goal is to be as concise and precise as possible. You do not want your potential employer to spend too much time reading it – maybe because he or she will not. At that stage, employers likely have at least hundreds of other applicants to get through, they go quickly. As such, you need to catch their attention and pique their interest in a short span of words and space.

Before writing a chronological resume, naturally you need to know exactly what it is and when it should be used. The components of this kind of resume are basically the same as any other, but the format is difference. In this case, you begin by including a list of your work history, starting with your most recent job. The job just prior to that goes next, et cetera, and your first job last – it is reverse chronological order. A lot of employers consider these the best resumes, because it is much easier for them to see what jobs you have had, when you had them, and how long your employment lasted.