Curriculum Vitae, Resume, Cover Letter
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While ‘CV’ and 'resume’ are terms that are often used interchangeably, there are differences to keep in mind.
A CV (Curriculum Vitæ, Latin for ‘course of life’) is a compilation of your work history and is usually only updated as your career grows. It can be more than two pages long and is usually very descriptive. For example, you would usually include your academic accomplishments (like dissertations, fellowships and grants) and any other educational experiences. As this format can be quite dense, it is also preferable to include a cover letter which draws highlights from your CV.
A resume is a brief summary of your CV and it is recommend to keep it to two pages in length, three pages max. It is intended to catch the eye of a prospective employer by bringing your skills and experiences to the forefront in a concise format. For example, you can include links to your portfolio, LinkedIn and have a summary of your experience, education, skills or other relevant attributes.
A cover letter or resume should be tailored to the position you’re applying for by focusing on what you’ll bring to the job through past experiences and showing the interest you have in the company and/or job.
At Lookahead we highly recommend having a resume available. If you’re a developer who’s looking for a change and need some help with brushing up your resume, feel free to get in touch.
