A CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a document in which you describe your professional experience, education, skills and achievements. The main purpose of a CV is to demonstrate your suitability for a particular job position or field of work. A quality CV allows employers to assess your qualifications and decide whether to invite you for an interview.

In many countries, particularly in Russia, resume and CV mean the same thing. However, in Western countries there is a difference between CV and resume.

The main difference is the size. CV is a short (maximum 1-2 pages) description of the applicant and is adapted to each vacancy. CV can be 5 or more pages if a person has a long work experience, many scientific publications and professional achievements.

In a resume, the applicant indicates the skills that will be suitable for a particular job vacancy, while a CV is a chronology of the entire career path. In essence, a CV is an autobiography of professional and educational activities.

Key aspects to consider when creating a quality CV

Start with your name, address, phone number and email address. Make sure this information is up to date. You can add a personal photo.

This section should be brief and informative. In it, you can introduce yourself, describe your main professional goals and briefly mention your main skills and qualifications.

Arrange your work experience in chronological order. It should include:

• The names of the companies you worked for and their locations;
• Dates of employment (starting and ending month and year);
• Position and description of duties. Describe your accomplishments and responsibilities, using specific numbers if possible. Demonstrate how you contributed to the company.

List all levels of education, beginning with the most recent. Include name of institution, major, dates of study, and academic honors.

List your key skills as they relate to your professional endeavors. This can include programming language skills, foreign language skills, personal attributes, certifications, and other skills.

Depending on your experience and goals, you can add sections such as projects, publications, hobbies and interests, volunteer activities, and other work-related details.

The information should be easy to read. Use clear headings and bulleted lists, and emphasize the most important elements. Use consistent style and formatting. Do not complicate the text with long sentences.

After writing your CV, carefully check it for grammatical and spelling errors. This is important to create a professional impression.

Like resumes, CVs are subject to change. Remember to tailor your resume to each specific job opening, highlighting the most relevant experience and skills.

Typically a CV is one or two pages, but for more experienced candidates it is acceptable to create a longer document.

Remember that a quality CV is your brand document. It should set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate your professional value.