Firstly, what is the difference between a CV and a resume?
A resume is a short one or two page summary of skills, experience and education. Executive resume writing encapsulates skills, experience and education into a brief, concise one or two page summary. The resume reader will spend a brief time indeed reviewing qualifications and purpose.
A curriculum vitae is a longer, more detailed synopsis and includes details such as academic background as well as teaching or research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors, affiliations etc. In the US a detailed curriculum vitae is used primarily when applying for international, academic, education, scientific or research positions or when applying for fellowships or grants.
Resume Trends - Do's and Don'ts
According to Gerard le Roux, professional resume and CV writer, the following points encompass today's resume writing trends:
- Long, detailed descriptions of what the applicant does/did are out.
- Short punchy sentences are in.
- Bulleted lists are in. But short ones only.
- Achievements are in.
- Applicant's job title is in.
- Applicant's company name is in.
A CV or resume is a communication tool, the writer needs to avoid jargon and and keep to a clear and simple message. Include the following:
Position sought: Refer to the position as a "targeted position" or "objective",
Professional Summary: Job title and summary of skills,
Years of experience: What kind of experience in this role and for how many years? Keep it simple, divided into short bulleted paragraphs,
Best qualification: Include why/how qualified and selected accomplishments,
Specialized knowledge, expertise and/or skills: What unique abilities and talents does the applicant possess and what benefits have resulted from this expertise,
Education: Any diplomas/degrees.
Warning: Don't be tempted to exaggerate strong points or bend the truth in any way on a resume in an attempt to come across as a strong candidate. Recruiters will check information and will certainly check educational qualifications before offering a job. Lying on a resume can hinder the applicant's job prospect in the long term.
Professional Resume Writing Service
Hiring a CV writing or executive resume writing service is an option for those who don't have the confidence or time to tackle the resume writing process themselves. Even with expert CV advice, it takes considerable skill to condense pages of information and re-interpret it into a well crafted, two page resume.
Typically, a professional resume writing service will charge anywhere between $95 for a stand alone resume up to $400 for an executive resume for a senior manager which may include extras such as a cover letter, thank you letter, web formatting and so on. Prices may vary based on the salary earned by the applicant or what type of resume or CV is written.
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Small Business Debt Collection – What to look for when choosing a debt collection agency.
Source:
le Roux, Gerard. "How to Write a CV." wowcv.net, information retrieved on 12 October, 2009.
Fleur Hupston - Fleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer based in Botswana, Southern Africa. From this unique perspective, she writes travel ...
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