CV, Resume or Portfolio: Which of These Should You Send to Recruiter in 2023?

It might be difficult to apply for a job for the first time and during this process, you might have run across the words CV, Resume, and Portfolio when conducting your study. Knowing the difference between them is essential if you want to position yourself as a strong prospect while sending in your application.?

What distinguishes the three and why is it relevant when looking for jobs?

The greatest mistake is when applicants provide whatever they have available at the moment without understanding which document is necessary. They risk being rejected if they don't send the right paperwork.

But first, let us start by explaining each of these terms before stating their differences.?

What is a Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A CV, or curriculum vitae which in Latin means “Course of Life”, is a written statement of your professional background, academic background, talents, and accomplishments, including any scholarships or prizes you may have received.?

It also contains information about a person's hobbies, extracurricular activities, and field of interest. It does not change based on the job; it is the same for all jobs. It has to be organised in a methodical way so that an appropriate career sketch can be created.

It is typically two or three pages long, but depending on your job experience, it might even be spread out over ten.

CV formats are classified into three types:

1. Chronological CV – This is the most typical structure for a curriculum vitae where you list your employment history beginning with the most recent position. If you have past job experience and want to emphasise your talents and project expertise, use a chronological CV. Sometimes referred to as a traditional CV, a chronological CV is?one of the most common types of CV used by recent graduates. Presented in reverse chronological order it displays your most recent experience and achievements first.
2. Functional CV – This structure, sometimes referred to as a skill-based CV, emphasises your talents and job history rather than your employment history in chronological order. A functional CV may be beneficial if you have never had a job, have gaps in your employment history, or wish to change careers, even if it is less popular than a chronological CV. A functional CV, also called a skills-based CV, is?a document that highlights the skills you've learned during your career over your work experience. In contrast to a functional resume, a functional CV provides more comprehensive details about your skills, qualifications and skill-based accomplishments.
3. Combination CV – This approach combines a functional CV with a chronological CV. You may showcase your abilities and give a chronological job history on a combined CV. A combination CV offers two primary advantages:?It allows you to catch a potential employer's attention by stating your most relevant qualifications, plus it pleases hiring managers by providing a quick employment timeline.

What is a Resume?

The word "resume" is a French word that means "summary," or a summary of a person's professional life. It is a succinct and concise statement of the credentials, prior work experiences, accomplishments, abilities, and skills that a person possesses in relation to the relevant position.?

It comes in the form of a paper and is necessary when applying for employment in business, government, and industry.

Because a resume might lead to an interview, it should be designed in such a way that it makes an impact on the possible employer. It also assists the recruiter in selecting the best prospect for an interview.

Resume formats are classified into different parts:

1. Chronological resume – This resume style presents your employment history in decreasing chronological order, beginning with your most recent position, much like a chronological CV. That is, the top of your resume lists your most recent job first. Your previous role is directly below that, and so on. Many hiring managers regard a chronological resume to be the standard format. The goal of a chronological resume is?to show career progression. For example, each change in job would ideally show increasing responsibilities. An employer is more likely to hire someone who has a proven history of successfully taking on additional challenges.
2. Functional Resume – In this approach, experience and abilities are prioritised over work history. If you're switching fields or have a limited amount of job experience, a functional resume structure is excellent. The purpose of a functional resume is to draw attention to transferable abilities rather than focusing on a chronological overview of your work history. Because of it's properties, it's sometimes called a skills-based resume. A functional resume format is particularly useful for people who: Have gaps in their work history.Are reentering the workforce.Have frequently changed jobs.Are looking to transition into new careers. Don't exactly fit the mold of what recruiters are looking for in the positions they want.
3. Combined Resume – A combined resume combines chronological and functional forms, just as the combined CV. The abilities and experience sections of this resume style are highlighted before the descending chronological list of your previous jobs.The combination resume format is a good choice?if you are a junior or mid-level candidate with important, relevant skills that match the job description. For example, this resume format may be beneficial once you have a few years of work experience after college.
4. Targeted resume – A targeted resume is a unique document that highlights your skills and expertise in relation to a particular job position. Since a focused resume is written just for one prospective employer at a time, extra preparation is usually needed. A targeted resume?focuses on a specific job opening. It's written to highlight the skills and experiences relevant to a particular position. When sending targeted resumes, the resume will be edited or rewritten for each job to which the candidate applies.

What is a Portfolio

A portfolio is a record that details all aspects of professional growth, including experience and skill gains associated with each assignment, client, and project. In addition, multimedia assets or practical demonstrations may be included.?

In essence, a portfolio is a compilation of previous works used to demonstrate one's talents and expertise.

Instead of reading about your skills, hiring managers can see instances of your work in action, which helps them determine if you'd be a good match for the organisation and the role.

The majority of candidates now generate digital portfolios instead of the traditional print-only version. Using a digital portfolio has many advantages, one of which is being able to share it with numerous people. A digital portfolio can be updated much more quickly and easily than a printed one, both in terms of adding new content and changing the layout.?

Theoretically, this is unconstrained in length and is mostly used for creative and art-based jobs.

Differences Between a CV, Resume and Portfolio

1. A CV is mostly used for academic Jobs, while a Resume is used for most Jobs and a Portfolio is used for creative and art-based jobs.?
2. A CV is a detailed document that outlines every aspect of a person's professional history, while a Resume is a summary of a person's professional history that includes all the information needed to land a job and a Portfolio is used to impress employers during an interview and land the job by demonstrating that you are an expert with all applicable skills and abilities.
3. A CV cannot be altered; it stays static; however, a Resume and a Portfolio may be customised in accordance with the job description.
4. A CV includes references, while a Resume and a Portfolio do not require references unless requested by the employer.
5. A CV is substantially lengthier than most Resumes since it provides more information and more thorough explanations of education, research, publications, or presentations. A Resume is generally quick and succinct, however, a Portfolio is more extensive and includes numerous pages since it comprises relevant videos, web pages, images, and graphs to demonstrate a person's talents and abilities.
6. A CV highlights a candidate's complete professional work history and experiences, whereas a Resume concentrates on the candidate's strongest and most pertinent skills and experiences, and a Portfolio concentrates on examples of your best work in a way that effectively demonstrates your professional skills and abilities.

Conclusion

In summary, a portfolio shows off a person's talents and abilities via examples of their work, whilst a CV gives a thorough review of a person's professional and academic past. A resume concentrates on relevant experiences and skills for a particular position.

We trust that reading this article has provided you with a wealth of knowledge about the distinctions among these three essential documents and when to use each one, as well as a thorough understanding of their uses. If you found this post useful, please let us know in the comments section.?

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