The main difference between a resume and a curriculum vitae (CV) is their relative sizes and amount of detail. A resume is generally briefer, a summary of skills and experience. In the United States, the resume is the more common form, with the CV used mainly in professional and academic work.

The two are naturally quite similar in content and structure. The resume, if briefer, does contain much of the information in a CV.

The resume structure:

• Personal information

• Skills

• Qualifications

• Employment history

• References

This is the basic version of the standard resume. For many jobs this "sawn off" CV is a very appropriate level of information. The lack of extra detail doesn’t matter in some jobs, and a simple resume is sufficient. (A resume may or may not mention objectives, like a CV.)

Like a CV, a resume should be specially written to make a good fit to jobs for which you apply.

Make sure your resume has enough information on it. Being a smaller document, it has to be effective in a smaller space.

Personal information

This is usually just a name and address with email and phone contacts. Make sure you keep these up to date.

Skills

This is one of the critically important sections of your resume.

The skills list is one of the primary checks for interviewers. If the job advertisement is based on keywords, the skills are always primary keywords.

The skills list is a primary check on your suitability for a position.

All jobs have essential skills criteria, and your resume must address all of them.

Your skills list is an asset in several ways:

• You can literally match your skills with job advertisements

• You can tailor your skills list on your resume to match jobs

• You can actually look for jobs based on your skills list

• The skills list always includes related skills. If you’re in retail, for example, as well as sales, you can include cash register, customer service, stocktaking, etc. You’ll find yourself with at least a few extra skills which will match job criteria.

Qualifications

Qualifications are listed, (most recent first) with dates and degrees, diplomas, etc, showing years of study, college, high school, or other accreditations.

It’s useful to highlight relevant qualifications. If you have studied a relevant subject, that can be worked into your description of your qualifications. So if you’re applying for a job with a small business, you can include a subject like Small Business Studies, bookkeeping, etc.

Always consider the nature of the skills required, in relation to your educational qualifications.

Employment history

Employment history is done somewhat differently to a CV. The information provided includes things like your duties. An office job can include "Duties: Office administration, bookkeeping, customer service, data entry…"

The advantage of this method of presentation is that it defines your actual experience in detail, and shows your skills in practice.

List your two most recent employers, (most recent first) with contacts, dates of employment, and the position title. Less is better, in terms of use of space, and if employers need to know your prior history, or if it’s relevant to the job, you can supply that information elsewhere, in skills and qualifications.

References:

List your referees, with current contact details. At least one of your referees should be able to supply work references.

Note: In some cases a letter of reference is acceptable, but you will need to check before presenting it to an employer that it is.