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Whenever you are reading a job posting, you have undoubtedly noticed some recruiters ask for a resume while others ask for a CV. Sometimes they write to send a resume/CV. In reality, both resume and CV are used in job applications, but sometimes some recruiters may accept either. But interestingly, many job seekers (even some recruiters also) commonly think that a resume and CV are the same. So they can be used interchangeably. This is a common mistake they make. They are not the same. You must have knowledge about the clear difference between these. Otherwise, there is a possibility of not getting the job even if you are an eligible person.

Both a resume and a CV are documents used to search for jobs. But still, they are used with a specific goal. No doubt, both are used to represent you in front of the recruiters. So you must create it in the best possible way to market yourself and capture attention quickly.

Now, quickly read this article to know what a resume and CV are. are When and where to use them? What is the difference between them?

Let’s start!

What is a resume?

The word ‘resume’ is French word that means ‘summary.’

A resume is a brief and formal document where job aspirants need to summarize their career history or qualifications, skills, and experiences. They need to mention their professional career listwise. It is widely used for applying for specific jobs by highlighting the contribution they have made in their previous work as well as the need to showcase how they have applied their skills in the position to bring a difference.

It is generally submitted with a cover letter where you have to mention your intention for applying for the job.

What to include on a resume

Full name
Job title or position you are applying for
Contact details
Resume objective or summary
Work experience
Education
Skills
Awards or achievements
Relevant certificates

What is a CV?

The expression “CV” is an acronym for the Latin word “Curriculum Vitae,” which means “the course of your life” in English.

A CV is an elaborated document of your whole academic as well as professional career. It is a comprehensive description you have done and achieved. It includes a person’s career history, experience, skills, knowledge, competencies, projects, accomplishments, awards, honors, etc. A person also needs to add areas of interest, hobbies, and extracurricular activities. It usually consists of 2 to 3 pages, but you can add more pages depending on the amount of your academic and professional history. In US and Canada, CV is specifically used for academics.

What to include on a CV

Full name
Contact details
Professional title
Research objectives
Education
Teaching or lecturing experience
Books and Publications
Work experience
Skills
Fellowships
Grants
Postdoctoral positions
Certificates
References
Teaching/Research positions
Certificates
Languages
Conferences and courses
Membership with any organization

CV vs. Resume: Key differences

CV is a detailed and elaborated document consisting of a person’s past qualifications, skills, experiences, competencies, achievements, etc. In comparison, a resume is a short and brief highlight of a person’s qualifications, skills, and experiences relevant to the specific job. It should be create with such an impressive way that your resume will be pickup as the most suitable candidate for an interview.

Curriculum Vitae is a Latin word which means course of life. In contrast, a resume is a French word that means summary.

The length of a CV is 2 to 10 pages or more, whereas a resume is mostly one page and rarely two pages. The length of a resume is always shorter than a CV.

A CV is specially oriented toward academic details, whereas a resume is emphasized non-academic details.

CV is appropriate when applying for academic positions, advanced research, fellowship, etc. Whereas a resume is used when applying for job positions, internships, or in any way related to the job. Though both a CV and a resume are used to apply for jobs in India, if you are a fresher or have less experience, then it is good to make a resume to apply for the job. On the other hand, if you have experience of at least 3 to 4 years and more, you can use your CV to apply for the job vacancy.

According to a job position, you do not need to modify your CV, but you have to modify your resume according to every job position.

Conclusion

A CV and a resume are clearly two different types of documents. A resume is an on-page summary, but CV is a comprehensive overview. You can make your resume colorful to look attractive, but it is better not to make the CV colorful. In India, both a CV and a resume are interchangeably used to apply for a job. So it is better to submit a resume if asked for a resume. Likewise, if recruiters asked for a CV then submit them a CV.

Now I hope you have understand the basic difference between the CV and resume, along with when and where to apply it.

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Every year, millions of employees apply for job vacancies in various companies. Most of them are got selected through an interview stage. During an interview, the interviewer asks various questions to determine whether the candidate is fit for their company and culture. However, there are many companies that ask unnecessary questions which are related to your personal life. They ask unfair questions to discriminate against potential employers and find reasons to reject them. So if you want to get selected, you need to avoid or skip such unfair questions. Many companies even take benefit from a candidate by asking unfair questions. For instance, the company may persuade a candidate to work for a low salary.

Let’s discuss those questions that you must deny or avoid to get selected.

Questions to avoid in the job interview

How old are you?

Many companies notify job vacancies by mentioning minimum and maximum age limits. So a candidate must read well to know the age limit before applying for the post. A hiring manager sometimes asks this question to discriminate against age. Age discrimination mostly affects people who are 45 years or older. In other instances, younger people are sometimes offered a much lower salary than they actually deserve. The recruiter said to them that after working there, they would slowly gain experience, and their salary will also increase. So if possible, try to avoid this question.

Are you married?

This question is sometimes asked to know whether the candidate has family commitments because that may prevent her/him from working long hours. This question is often asked of female candidates as they care for their families. Moreover, the company thinks that married employees might take more leave to care for children or apply for maternity leave which will hamper their work. So they do not prefer to hire them.

But if the candidate is single, the employer may think to hire them because they can work for a longer time and will also take less leave because they do not have family commitments. Moreover, they can persuade them to work for a lower salary. So don’t give the answer to such a question.

What religion do you practice?

As practicing a religion is your personal matter, your religion does not matter in a professional place. So a company should never need to ask this question to a candidate. But if they ask, that means they may think of discrimination. Either the employer may be biased against a certain religion or they reluctant to give holiday on their particular occasion. So ignore this as much as possible.

Are you planning to marry or start a family?

This question is generally asked of a female candidate. By asking this question, the employer wants to know whether the candidate is planning to take a long leave. So that they can decide whether to hire the candidate because if they take maternity leave, then the company has to hire a temporary worker to cover the leave period. Moreover, the employer also fears that such an employee may demand a high salary in the future to take care of the family.

What salary do you currently earn?

This type of question is usually asked of such a candidate who is working in any post. By asking this question, the employer can determine whether they must pay the full value of the job. So either try to skip this question cleverly or try to know the company’s salary range for the particular post. Then answer according to that. But many people think that if they say a higher salary, then they may get more salary. But that does not always happen, so you must know the salary range.

Do you drink alcohol?

Usually, this type is not asked by the recruiter directly. They may ask this question as an extension of conversation surrounding any office party or celebration. They may also ask how you want to enjoy your life. If the employer asks this question, do not give the answer or ignore it. This is an irrelevant question, so do not down your personality or image by answering such a question.

Points to remember

While addressing interview questions, you must properly present your work skills and experiences. Try to mention your work with some anecdotes in detail, which will help you show your capability and stand out to the interviewer.

Do not share any information about your private life, such as your family or likes or dislikes, unless the information is relevant to the job position.

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CV vs. Resume: Which You Should Give To Recruiter?