Resume Advice

What is the difference between a resume and curriculum vitae (CV)?

The primary differences between a resume and curriculum vitae (CV) are length, content and purpose. A resume is a summary of your skills, experience and education. While a resume is brief and concise - no more than one or two pages, a CV is a longer (at least two pages) and more detailed synopsis.

Many people use the terms “CV” and “resume” interchangeably. So the next time someone asks you for a CV do not assume s/he wants the long, expanded version. Unless you are applying for a teaching position with a university or a very high-level research position, a resume is usually all you will need.

(Source: http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/curriculumvitae/f/cvresume.htm)

Resumes should be tailored to individual jobs and mirror language used in the job description to which you are responding. It should market an applicant to an employer by including information to pique a potential employer’s interest and secure an interview.

What information should my resume include?

  • Required information:
    • Contact information: name, address (present and permanent, if applicable), phone number(s), e-mail address (present and permanent, if applicable)
    • Education (institution names, locations, degrees, and dates of graduation in reverse chronological order; special awards or honors earned)
    • Experience/Employment/Work History
      • List the companies/agencies/organizations, dates of employment, and positions held. Start with current (or most recent) position and work backward.
      • For each position include a bulleted list of accomplishments and achievements, rather than specific tasks. Some discussion of duties is appropriate but most of one's experience should be put in terms of actual accomplishments.
      • Use simple, past tense action verb phrases to summarize main activities
      • Identify transferable skills (such as analysis, communication, budget experience, leadership) and cite examples to demonstrate those skills
      • When possible, quantify and qualify data with specific details
  • Optional additional information:
    • Summary of Qualifications (a short list of key strengths and experiences)
    • Skills (related to the position/career field that you are applying for)
      • For both of the above, group similar items together, rather than presenting a laundry list, whenever possible.
    • Professional Certifications or Affiliations, relevant to your career objective o Major awards or honors, relevant to your career objective
    • Volunteer positions (community, university, departmental, etc.), if relevant to your career objective.

What information should not be included on my resume (U.S.-based application)?

  • Personal information (Social Security number, marital status, ethnicity, height, weight, etc.)
  • High School information
  • References. Have references (name, phone number, email, and business address) ready on a separate sheet whenever you go to an interview.

Additional resume tips:

  • One-page is best, although it is not uncommon for postdocs to use two pages.
  • Read the job description carefully and make sure your resume includes keywords found in the description. This should help your resume get past automatic computer filters
  • PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD. And then have someone else proofread your resume. Spelling or other typographical errors can hinder your ability to get an interview.

The Johns Hopkins University website has a comprehensive resume guide, including tips on resume composition, editing, and format. It also includes samples and a list of active verbs. http://www.jhu.edu/careers/handouts/resume.pdf