Your resume is the first insight any recruiter needs to know if you’re a great fit for the job. It contains crucial details such as your skills, experience, interests, and every other detail that relates roughly to the job. Writing a resume is not an impossible task.
For many freelancers applying for roles or internship positions, it’s easy to confuse a CV for a resume. So, what’s the difference between a resume and a CV?
What’s the Difference Between a Resume and a CV?
The difference between a resume and a CV (Curriculum Vitae) is that a resume is niched down to showcase relevant work experience, education, and skills that are specific to a particular role.
Say you’re applying for a Video Editor position, but you’re a digital marketer – your resume should be tailored to highlight more of your Video Editing skills not your Digital Marketing skills alone.
On the other hand, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a longer and more detailed version of a resume that can include more personal information, and a complete overview of your entire career. This can include academic achievements, research experience, and publications.
CVs are used in academic and research applications, whilst resumes are used for most job applications. Resumes are usually limited to one or two pages, whilst CVs can be up to four or more pages.
So which one should you focus on more when writing a resume as a freelancer?
Unless an employer specifically asked for a CV or you’re applying for an academic/research role, a resume is usually more preferred by employers.
What are the 4 C’s of Resume Writing?
Writing an impressive resume isn’t impossible.
Whether you’re a beginner freelancer with little to no experience, or you’re writing your resume for the first time, the 4 C’s are four vital things to check for as you craft a proper resume.
The 4 C’s of resume writing involves your resume being Clean, Clear, Concise, and Concrete.
1. Clean
At first glance, your resume must be neatly formatted and arranged in the right order. It should be easy for recruiters to skim through. From your choice of font to your text placement, to your bolded headings/subheadings, it needs to look professional. Avoid flashy colors and improper visual balance.
2. Clear
Your use of language is a priority. Be sure that each word is related to the industry and can be easily understood by the HR or hiring manager. To be on a safer side, use PLAIN English.
3. Concise
A resume is not meant to be lengthy or filled with extraneous information. Keep your sentences short and concise. Use bullet points to highlight experiences, use action verbs like managing, bringing, writing, designing, implementing, etc, when describing your job roles. Focus only on the experiences and skills that position you as the perfect candidate for the job.
4. Concrete
Give the HR and hiring managers numbers to work with. Use data to quantify everything you can about your role. Instead of saying, “Improved website visibility,” try writing “Improved website visibility by 50% in 2 months.” Provide concrete numbers/data where possible.
What is the Best Resume Format?
There are many resume formats, however, we’ll look at the three main formats that are preferred by most employers.
- Chronological
- Functional
- Combination
1. Chronological
A chronological resume is written in reverse chronological order with your most recent job/positions first. This is because most employers prefer how straightforward and clearly outlined your past experiences, career progression, and shows your growth and achievements. This format is also easily readable by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
2. Functional
For a functional resume, you focus on your skills rather than work history/experience. This format is best for a fresher resume or a new freelancer in the workforce. This is also great for those re-entering the workforce after a break.
3. Combination
Just as the name suggests, this resume format combines both skills and work experience. If you’re changing careers or have a gap in employment, this can also be a good alternative.
7 Proven Steps to Write a Resume That Lands the Job
- Choose a Resume Format
- Write Your Contact Information
- Write Your Resume Summary
- Include Your Job Experience & Summary
- Highlight Relevant Skills
- Include Certifications and Education Details
- Add Other Relevant Sections – Interests/Hobbies
1. Choose a Resume Format
As explained above, there are three main types of resume format to choose from when writing a resume. Depending on your career growth and level, you can choose the one that best applies to your career stage.
Once you’ve decided which works best for you, then you can proceed to the next step.
2. Write Your Contact Information
Some basic contact information you should add at the top of your resume includes;
- First & Name
- Email address (e.g. firstname.lastname@gmail.com)
- Phone number
- Online Portfolio or Website
- LinkedIn URL
- City and State
It’s best to use a larger font for your first and last name, 20pt or larger, to make it stand out to the reader.
Remember, it is important to have consistent contact information across all your job application materials such as your resume, cover letter, and online profiles.
3. Write Your Resume Summary
Also known as a professional profile, this is a summary statement or objective statement. It is a brief overview of your qualifications and skills. Writing your resume summary at the top of your resume is another way to grab the attention of employers.
Focus on stating your unique value proposition. Highlight what makes you unique, why the employer should hire you, and what sets you apart from other candidates.
Your professional summary should be no more than 2-3 sentences, emphasizing your most impressive achievements and skills.
4. Include Your Job Experience & Summary
This section should provide a summary of your job and your experience on the job. By reading this section, employers should have an idea of what they stand to benefit from hiring you.
Using the chronological format for this section, list your most current job at the top of this section. Take your time when formatting this section, use bullet points to describe your achievements and responsibilities, use concrete data and numbers in those bullet points, and start each point with an action verb.
Use your tenses correctly. Past tense for describing previous roles, and present tense when describing current roles.
5. Highlight Relevant Skills
Your skill section tells the employer how valuable you are in regards to the position being applied for. Say you’re applying for the role of a Lead UI Designer, you might want to highlight your leadership skills using real life examples.
Instead of saying, “100% Leadership skills,” you can write, “Led a cross-functional team of 12 junior designers to successfully design a new Fintech App, resulting in a 40% increase in productivity and meeting the expected deadline.”
This way, you’re showing the employers your skills, not just telling them.
6. Include Certifications and Education Details
Beyond your basic information, resume summary, skills, and experience, most employers want to know that a prospective hire has attained some level of education.
If you’re a new freelancer without much work experience, and your education details are related to the job, you should highlight this right after your resume summary.
This is so that employers know that you have a good understanding of the job role and what is expected.
If you have any certifications from training or volunteering, you should include them in this section. Remember to include the name of the certification, the organization that awarded it, and the date you received it.
7. Add Other Relevant Sections – Interests/Hobbies
For those wondering if it’s okay to add your hobbies/interests when writing a resume, yes, it is. Adding your hobbies to your resume gives the employer an insight into who you are as an individual.
If your interests give you an opportunity to showcase skills relevant to the role, or they’re related to the company or position, or the company values personalized applications, then you should consider adding them to your resume.
Some interests and hobbies to consider are Sports, Travel, Art, Technology, Volunteer Work, Video Games, Music, Clubs and Social Activities, and Outdoor Activities.
Including your interests and hobbies shows employers you’re a well rounded freelancer.
Bonus Tip:
Proofread Your Resume
Yes, humans are not error-free in nature. However, after writing a resume, you can ensure it is completely free of any errors; grammatical mistakes, typos, and formatting errors. After completing the 7 steps listed above, take your time to read through your resume at least seven more times before submitting.
If you have a friend who’s also job hunting, send in to them to help read through for any errors. A third pair of eyes usually goes a long way in ensuring your resume is just what an employer will have ease reading through.
Check Your Font
Use a 10 – 12-point font size such as Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri for readability, and ensure consistent margins throughout your document.
Use White Space
Make use of adequate white space between sections and paragraphs when writing a resume. Stick to a simple color scheme. Avoid bright or distracting colors. A minimalistic resume works best.
Do not Exceed One Page
When writing a resume, except you’re applying for high-level positions, your resume should not exceed one page. Keep your words brief but concise.
Writing a resume that gets you noticed is all about clarity, relevance, and precision. By understanding the key differences between a resume and CV, applying the 4 C’s, and using the right format, you can position yourself as the ideal candidate for any role. Every section of your resume should clearly highlight your strengths and value.
After writing a resume, the next step is to position yourself to get seen by prespective employers. Join Hire Talent Africa today and get connected with clients actively seeking skilled professionals for exciting opportunities.
