Developing a Resume and/or Curriculum Vitae

When applying for positions either before or after graduation, you will be expected to provide a summary of your past experience. In business, this summary details a person’s work experience, is limited to a page or two usually, and is called a resume. It is the custom to provide a potential employer with a resume accompanying your job application. A resume provides an overview of your work experience.

An alternative to the resume is a Curriculum Vitae (CV), which literally translates to “academic life.” Individuals who are pursuing academic careers or applying to graduate or professional programs often develop C.V.’s rather than resumes. As an undergraduate, your work experience in the career field you are pursuing is typically limited to summer jobs or one semester internships but your academic background in your career field is extensive and includes coursework, independent projects, honor society membership, and club activities. Due to this reality, many students develop a hybrid between a true business-oriented resume and a CV. This hybrid document could be sent to both potential employers and graduate/professional schools.

Although there is no one single format that all resumes or C.V.s must fit, there are easily identified components of each. In order to provide you with some good models, the Biology Department has secured the permission of 3 students to use their documents in this handbook. The personal information (names, addresses, and phone numbers) has been changed but the remainder of the documents is unaltered. The example of a CV was donated by a current senior in the department, the resume was donated by an Environmental Studies graduate, and the hybrid CV/resume was provided by a student at the end of his sophomore year at Elon.

Click on the links below to view the examples.

Sample Curriculum Vitae
Sample Resume
Sample Combination Curriculum Vitae/Resume