Curriculum Vitae or Resume

I have wondered about the differences between a C.V. (Curriculum Vitae) and a resume.

In fact, many people use it interchangeably and when people refer to C.V. nowadays, it seems like they are talking about the same thing as a resume.

Is there any significant difference between the two? Which should you use for your job search in Singapore?

I got a template from somebody close when I was deciding to do up my C.V. a few years back. It was then that I realised that the template used involved putting up all my education details upfront while my work experience was located slightly to the back. I never questioned the logic of such a layout but used it anyway.

Whether such a format was effective still remains unknown to me. Another issue was it was pretty long (5 pages). I read elsewhere in the internet that a resume should only be 2 pages long at most.

I am not sure what format or template most people out there use. But I would like to think that a resume/CV in Singapore is as important as it is anywhere else in the world. A resume / CV could be the factor that helps you nail an interview with a potential employer. It is the first thing that a potential employer actually sees and whether you get called up for a job interview at the end of the day probably depends on how you arrange all your personal information in the most effective way in that few pieces of paper.

Another way the CV or resume helps is that it helps you develop a clear understanding of what your key selling points are to the potential employer. Should you get the interview, you will know how to effectively sell yourself according to how you have arranged the details in your resume/CV. So giving proper thought of what to include in it is probably a good use of your time if you are thinking of a career switch or looking for a job.

So the following questions are going through my head right now when I look at my C.V.:

1. Should I condense the 5 pages into 2 pages.

2. Should I put my employment history right up front instead of focusing on my academic qualifications?

3. What other skills or certification should I strive for to make my C.V. look more impressive.

Food for thought for the weekend!