Difference among CV, Resume and Bio - Data? - Resume tips

What is the difference among CV, Resume and Bio - data?

There is a minor difference among Curriculum Vitae, Resume and Bio-data but it matters a lot. If you wrongly replace them, it will directly hurt your job opportunity. Often these words CV, resume and Bio-data are interchangeably used. These differences are in terms of Content, Length and Purpose. One must be aware of these differences to avoid any negative impression on the interviewer.

Resume:  Resume is a professional document which gives a summary of educational background, work history and skill set of an applicant for a potential employer. Focus is given more on skill-set. A good Resume should be written to the point and precisely. It should be one to two pages long. Resume is often recommended for mid level and senior level jobs where skill-set is given more importance than the detailed academic qualifications.

So, If you are professional and has a skill set, then you should use "Resume".

Curriculum Vitae:  Curriculum Vitae means ‘course of one’s life’. It provides detailed account of applicant’s academic and professional qualifications. CV is basically longer and detailed version of resume. A cover letter is must for Curriculum Vitae. As a CV gives a detailed description, it is recommended for fresher, for people planning for a career change and even for people applying for academic and research positions.

Bio-data: Bio-data corresponds to Biographical Data which describes complete life experience. It includes:

• Religion
• Sex
• Race
• Nationality
• Permanent and Temporary Residence
• Marital status
• Hobbies, etc.  

There is also description of academic and work experience related details. Bio-data is generally preferred for government jobs where detailed information account is required.

Post your comments below on this topic, if you know more points other than discussed above.