Resume or CV?
A common question for graduate students is whether to use a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) during the job-search process. (Undergraduates will use a resume.) In essence, both contain a summary of your work experience and qualifications.
Generally, a graduate student will use a CV for an academic position and a resume for an industry position. Please read below for more information on when to use a resume and CV. If you still have questions, make an appointment with the Career Center to review your CV or resume style with a career consultant.
A Resume or CV Should:
- Get you more, high quality interviews
- Give employers their first impression of your professional talents
- Market your skills and abilities
- Catch an employer's attention
- Answer key questions
Differences Between a Resume and CV
Length
- A resume is a one- or two-page summary of your skills, experience and education.
- A CV is a longer, more-detailed synopsis (two or more pages).
Content
- A goal of resume writing is to be brief and concise. The resume reader will spend a short amount of time reviewing your qualifications.
- A CV includes a summary of your educational and academic backgrounds as well as teaching and research experience, publications, presentation, awards, honors, affiliations and other details. The CV is a summary of an individual's educational background and experience as related to the interests of academia. The CV displays your academic credentials and accomplishments in great detail.
Purpose
- A resume is used to summarize an individual's education and experiences related to a specific career objective in the public or private sector.
- The CV is used when applying for teaching and administrative positions in academia or for a fellowship or grant.
Resumes and CVs should be used as job-search tool to land an interview. A CV also can be used as:
- A supporting document with a grant or contract funding proposal.
- A requirement for an annual review by your employer or with an application for membership in a professional society or organization.
- A background statement for an introduction in an important convention presentation
Categories of a Resume/CV
Identifying/contact Information
- Summary
- Education
- Research experience
- Teaching experience
- Professional experience
- Skills
- Activities
- Honors, interests
- Service
- Publications
- Presentations
- Professional associations
Which categories suit you? You are not likely to use all of them. Other categories may arise that are unique to your background. The very best resumes/CVs are drafted with the particular applications in mind, and clearly targeted. As you prepare yours, think about what the organization is likely to value:
- The quality and quantity of your research (achievement and potential)
- Your previous experience
- The ways you have "added value" to your current job or department and made your presence felt
- Your education
Begin Writing Your Resume/CV with the Reader in Mind
- Provide relevant information in a format that is easily grasped by the reader.
- Ask yourself: Does each included item enhance the search committee's understanding of my candidacy in regard to the position for which I am applying?
- Is the CV well-designed, organized and attractively laid out, with appropriate use of bold and italics text?
- Are categories such as education, teaching and research clearly labeled?
- Is it easy to find sections of interest to search committee members, such as publications, postdoctoral experience and professional associations?
- Has your adviser and at least one other person reviewed and critiqued it?
- Have you avoided using acronyms?
- Has it been proofread several times to eliminate typographical errors?
- Don't oversell or undersell your qualifications.
- Be brief, be accurate, be articulate.
Uncertain About Using a CV? Ask Yourself
- Am I sending this document to other PhDs?
- Is my PhD required for this position?
- Is my scholarship relevant to this position?
If the answers are yes, you will probably use a CV, which provides more detail about your academic background than a resume.