IN BRITISH ENGLISH it's a CV; American-English users call it a resume, a distinction that could make a subtle difference to your application for a job with employers originally hailing from either side of the Atlantic.
In other words, call it a CV when you approach Marks & Spencers and a resume with Merrill Lynch. The point of this, as with all other aspects of job-hunting, is to give yourself every chance possible.
Both terms amount to the same thing, though: a summary of your (relevant) life experiences and professional skills.
Conciseness is important, as the corporate world will not have time for anything more than two pages. Your CV needs to list your skills, accomplishments, work experience (if you have any) and education - all aimed at piquing your future employer's interest.
If you are applying for different jobs, or to different industries (which is not unknown for A-level graduates trying to find their place in the world), each resume requires a targeted evaluation of your skills according to the job in question.
Put yourself in the shoes of the time-crunched individual who will be rummaging through the stack of CVs piling up on his or her desk. Your goal is to make your CV sufficiently impressive and worthy to elicit an invitation to an interview. Avoid absurdly fancy fonts; ensure that it has an aesthetically pleasing format and appearance. And be sure to send it in by e-mail as well as through the post. Observe the conventional wisdom of including a cover letter, but ensure that it is brief and does not repeat information.
Here is the place to deliver a succinct overview of yourself and your career objective. Also, include information about where you heard about the job opening, be it a media advertisement or a contact in the company.
