Curriculum Vitae Vs Resume: Which One Should You Use in Kenya?

Know More About Curriculum Vitaes and Resume 

When was the last time you paid close attention to what a Curriculum Vitae is all about? The fact that you are at a point of making job applications means you understand what a Curriculum Vitae, or CV as is commonly known, is. The Curriculum Vitae gives a summary of your educational qualifications and experience, which is later used by recruiters and employers to make a hiring decision. So why are you still calling the CV a resume?

In an earlier article published last year, we tried to explain the basic difference between a Curriculum Vitae and a Resume. But this remains a confusing aspect to many, or rather, a key distinction that most candidates are not willing to pay attention to. In this regard, what follows below is an explanation of what a Curriculum Vitae is, what a Resume is, the difference between the two and most importantly, which one to use.

What is a Curriculum Vitae and what is a Resume?

Before you even shorten it to CV, a Curriculum Vitae in definition means “Courses of Life” while a Resume simply means “Summary”. From this meaning, you can already tell there is a clear difference between the two. Where a Curriculum Vitae explains your educational qualifications and life experiences in detail to sell who you are as an individual, a Resume is a summary of who you are in respect to a particular profession or position.

With Curriculum Vitae, you get to include any information that you think is relevant to the position you are applying for. The information can be as detailed as you want it to be and can stretch to two pages or more if you have extensive experience. A resume on the other hand, will only include very relevant information, with a key focus on your previous work experience. The details in your resume should be limited to one single page, but in some cases can go up to 2 pages – which is considered very long.

So, what exactly is the difference between a Curriculum Vitae and Resume?

A Curriculum Vitae differs from a Resume in three main areas; the length, purpose and layout. When it comes to length, a CV is recommended to be 2 pages long (A4 page) while a Resume should be one page long. The CV can extend to more than 2 pages but should not be too long, and the Resume should not in any way exceed 2 pages. So, however much experience you have, a Resume has its limits. Point to note though, employers are also limiting CVs to only 2 pages.

Under Purpose, a CV is the document showcasing your education, experience, any qualifications and added courses you have taken in your life and is not necessarily specific to a particular job. On the other hand, a resume takes focus on a particular role and should be customized to suit particular jobs.

When it comes to Layout as the other key difference, the Curriculum Vitae should be organized in a chronological order while a resume can take any form.

Should you use a Curriculum Vitae or Resume?

When applying to a job in Kenya, then this should be easy for you as employers are usually looking forward to a Curriculum Vitae and not a resume. The Resume is usually common when applying to positions affiliated with the US and this is why you should pay attention to this existing difference. Not to worry though as each advertised position will always have instructions on how to apply and what document to use in your application.

If you have been referring to your Curriculum Vitae as your Resume, take note of these key differences and learn that the two cannot be used in place of another. Knowing so can help you avoid making simple mistakes that can be easily avoided. And if you are struggling drafting your Curriculum Vitae, here is an article to guide you through each step.

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