What is the difference between a CV and a resume?
The difference is largely regional. In the United States
and Canada, a resume is usually a concise job-application
document, while the term CV is more commonly used for
academic, medical and research careers.
In the United Kingdom, Ireland, India, Australia, the Gulf
and many European markets, CV is the everyday term for the
document used to apply for a job.
Practical rule:
use the terminology expected in the country and company
where you are applying.
How to make your CV ATS-friendly
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can extract information
such as your name, employers, dates, education and skills
before a recruiter reads the document.
- Use familiar headings such as Experience, Education and Skills.
- Keep important contact information as normal text.
- Avoid putting essential information inside graphics.
- Prefer a simpler layout when applying through a large careers portal.
- Use job-relevant skills and terminology from the vacancy description.
For ATS-heavy applications, start with one of the
ATS-oriented templates in the builder above.
How to build your CV
-
Choose a template.
Pick a simpler layout for traditional employers or a
more visual design for creative roles.
-
Add your contact details.
Include your name, professional title, email and phone.
-
Write a focused summary.
Explain your role, strongest relevant value and what
you are targeting next.
-
Add relevant skills.
Prioritize the skills mentioned in the job description.
-
Add experience and education.
Put the most recent information first.
-
Review and share.
Check the final preview before publishing or exporting.
Should you put a photo on your CV?
There is no single global rule. A professional photo is
common in some European, Asian, Gulf and Latin American
markets, while it is often discouraged in countries such
as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Match the expectations of the country, industry and
employer you are targeting rather than assuming one rule
applies everywhere.