From
Résumé To CV
The
terms résumé and a CV, or
Curriculum Vitae, are used interchangeably.
For the record, a résumé is
a convincing introduction and summary of
your skills and experience with respect
to a specific field, industry or job
opening. Conversely, a CV is an in-depth
record of your academic
performance, credentials as well as
your accomplishments to date.
CV
As a general rule, students
and professionals should have a "master
document" of sorts that serves as their
résumé. This is the one document
that you update throughout your development.
Résumé
This being said, every
time that you seek to inquire about an opening
or an opportunity, you should take your
CV and modify, summarize and emphasize the
key elements to turn it into a convincing
résumé.
Key Points: CV
Or Résumé
There are two main problems
with students CVs or résumés.
No, it is not a lack of job experience.
First,
students tend to state traits without giving
examples. Do not say that you have interpersonal
skills… give examples! If you served
as a tutor
and gave classes, chances are that you have
great presentation skills. If you served
as a bartender
or barmaid, you have interpersonal skills.
If you worked as a customer service
representative, then you know how to
please clients. If you were a football
player, you can excel in a team
environment
Second,
if you do have experience, do not simply
mention the position you held. Instead,
explain what you did that made you stand
out. Did you help a process go faster? Did
you save money? When you did the deed, you
may not have thought it was related to business,
but many obvious tasks we execute are related.
If you ordered inventory at a store, realized
you were wasting products and improved procurement,
then you implemented a Just-In-Time
(JIT) system. Always make yourself look
better than you are.
Cover Letter
A
cover letter is often the difference between
your résumé getting a second
read and having it tossed in the recycling
bin. The goal is to help you land
the interview.
|
