CV stands for the Curriculum Vitae; it’s a Latin phrase which means ‘the story of life’. It is a document that consists of background history of the job seeker like career history, academic qualifications, training, skills, and knowledge and also explains his future prospects. It is also known as Resume. The main purpose of CV is purely to convince a prospective employer of a candidate’s employability and to arrange an interview or a meeting; it is primarily a gateway to an interview. You often heard an expression that “First impressions are lasting ones." So, your CV is the first meeting between you and a prospective employer. It is totally up to you that how you want this meeting remembered? Unorganized or structured. Employers do not have the much time to interview every applicant who is interested in the job. So for this process, they use an elimination system and shortlisted the candidates by choosing the selected CVs. That is why your CV is like a personal advertisement, it should convince the employer that you are an outstanding candidate for the respected job and that you will contribute to the company.
Components of CV or Resume
Your CV should be about a page long and make sure it is no longer than two pages. Always remember the golden rule: you are what your CV tells people who you are! So pay attention and be honest while preparing your CV. There are various details which you should add in your CV like:
- Personal Details: Your personal detail like your full name (as on your ID), date of birth, age, gender, permanent address, current address, contact details. There are some optional details are also which you can enter in your CV like your interests, hobbies, marital status, about spouse’s profession etc.
- Educational Details: In academic details, you write up your educational background, what you have done in studies. About your high school study, graduation, post-graduation or about any other professional studies which you have done along with the year of completing the respected studies.
- Areas of Expertise: Write about your career background. What jobs you have done in your past with the full details of the company and the employer. Mention your previous salary, work description, designation, and total experience.
- Skills: Do mention your skills in your CV. Skills like computer knowledge, teamwork, management etc. So that employer must know about your abilities.
- References: Prepare a list of names, titles, addresses, and telephone/fax numbers who may be contacted by the employer for a reference as the employer will directly ask you about the references. Ask people if they are willing to serve as references before you give their names to the employer.
Try to keep your CV interesting to read and informative. Not too long, but not too short either. And not forget to do a spell check. Finally, get someone to read it over, preferably a professional or teacher, who can also check the grammar and give you some feedback if required. Keep your CV updated; modify it accordingly by adding any new skills or qualifications that you have gained.
Types of CV or Resume
There are some types of resume listed below:
- Chronological Resume: It starts by listing your work history, with the most recent positions listed first. Your works or jobs are listed in reverse chronological order with your current job, or most recent job, on first. Employers mostly prefer this kind of CVs.
- Functional Resume: A functional CV focuses on your skills and experience. It is used most often by people who are changing careers or who have gaps in their employment history.
- Combination Resume: This kind of CV lists your skills and experience first and after that, your employment history will be mentioned. With this, you can highlight your relevant skills required for the job for which you are applying.
- Targeted Resume: A targeted resume is the resume that is customized so that it specifically highlights experience and skills you that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
- Mini Resume: A Mini CV consists of a brief summary of your career highlights qualification. It can be shared upon request from a prospective employer who may want an overview of your accomplishments, rather than a full-length resume.
- Non-Traditional Resume: A Non-Traditional resume is a web-based version of your CV which includes photos, graphics, images, graphs and other visuals.
Importance of CV or Resume
Resume or CV plays a crucial role in our career life. As we know it is our first direct meeting with the employer so that is why it is important. Following are some of the important benefits of the CV:
- Describes Your Personality: CV makes a virtual image of your personality in the recruiter’s mind. On the basis of the resume, recruiters create an image of the applicants before meeting them or communicate with them. So, your CV matters a lot. So this is your first and last chance to capture your potential employer’s attention.
- Get Short-listed: If your CV is impressive and you mention the all important facts about yourself in your resume and arrange it in a well-mannered way then there are high chances of yours to get short-listed for the interview, a number of candidates applied for the same job and employer have to shortlisted the deserving candidates from the list. A CV should be so much impressive that the reader should right away call you for the interview to know more about you and to test your skills. So, it completely depends on your resume that you will get shortlisted or not.
- Confidence: Your resume often is a reflection of your self-confidence. Sending in a letter-perfect resume will give you more confidence than trying to get by on your own uncertain efforts. So, your resume should express your enthusiasm and confidence.
- Prepares You for the Interview: Most employers will use your CV as a guideline when they interview you. They will ask you to explain in detail many of the statements you have made in your resume. They will question you about the previous work which you have mentioned on your CV.
- Sense of Security: An updated CV gives you a sense of security. It’s a good idea to always have an updated resume on hand. You never know when you will want to seek a better job or just a change. Also, in case you unexpectedly lose your job, it is wise to have your resume updated and ready.
- Organizes You: Preparing a CV force you to assess your skills. This, in turn, will help you evaluate the many employment options open to you. It will also help you plan an effective job search campaign.
- Serve as a Reminder: By leaving your resume in the hands of the recruiter can serve as a reminder that you are an excellent candidate, either for the position you are applying for or for another upcoming position. A well-crafted resume will enhance your ability to create profitability for the company, which will keep you on the short list for a position.
- Transition: CV writing is important for making the transition from your school life to the career field. Your ability to transfer learning to actual demonstrations of your skills and knowledge in a work environment should be part of your description of your capabilities and qualifications in a CV.
- Opportunities: Your CV will highlight your most significant achievements and experiences during your career and, in doing so; it may help you develop a thematic approach to your application. By reading through your CV, you may gain insight into what makes you so special and unique from other applicants. This will provide you with the new job opportunities.
This is how a CV or resume plays a key role in providing you with the new job opportunities. An effective resume is a must for getting placed in a new organization. So you should better pay attention while making your CV.
