Résumé

A résumé is a concise document that summarizes an individual's education, work experience, skills, and qualifications for employment. It is typically tailored to a specific job to demonstrate suitability and to prompt further consideration by an employer or recruiter. The term résumé is often used interchangeably with curriculum vitae (CV) in some regions, though the two differ in scope and purpose.

In the United States and Canada, a résumé is usually one to two pages and focused on relevant achievements rather than a full career history. A CV, by contrast, is a comprehensive record of academic and professional accomplishments. In Europe and parts of Asia, the term CV is often used for standard job applications and may vary in length; employers may prefer a résumé structure.

A typical résumé includes sections such as contact information, a brief professional summary or objective, education, work experience, and skills. Depending on the applicant’s background, other sections may include certifications, languages, volunteer work, projects, publications, awards, and references. The document should be tailored to the job description, with achievements quantified where possible. Design should be clean and ATS-friendly, avoiding images or complex formatting.

Resumes are usually the first step in the hiring process, used to screen candidates and prompt invitations to interviews. Best practices include using clear keywords from the job posting, starting bullets with action verbs, and keeping content concise and accurate.