In order to get the job you want, you need to present your potential employer with the kind of CV that he or she wants to see.  It is give and take, fifty fifty – pick your cliche, in other words, they all apply.  You absolutely cannot hope to get ahead in a really good, well paying position if you a., do not include your curriculum vitae at all, or b. include a badly written, sloppy, disorganized one.  It is simply a fact that you will get a much better response if you write a very well organized curriculum vitae – specifically one which is chock full of information that is relevant to and supportive of your professional goals and objectives.  And, of course, the information needs to show that you are the best possible person for the job as well.

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.