Essential Vocabulary: 140 Key Terms for Writing a Winning Resume and CV

A resume is a brief, one-to-two-page summary of your skills, experience, and education. A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a more detailed document that can be several pages long, often used in academia and international job markets. Both list your professional qualifications.

Action verbs demonstrate your skills and accomplishments powerfully. Instead of saying you were 'responsible for' a task, using an action verb like 'managed' or 'developed' shows initiative and makes your work experience more dynamic and impressive to employers.

A professional summary is a 2-3 sentence overview of your career. It should highlight your key skills, years of experience, and biggest accomplishments. Think of it as a concise pitch that introduces your qualifications at the top of your resume.

Core competencies are the specific skills and abilities that make you a strong candidate for a job. This section often uses bullet points to list your key strengths, such as 'Project Management' or 'Data Analysis,' providing a quick snapshot of your capabilities.

Describe your responsibilities by focusing on achievements, not just duties. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to frame your accomplishments with quantifiable data. This provides concrete evidence of your value and impact in previous roles.

A chronological resume, listing work experience from most to least recent, is most common. A functional resume focuses on skills rather than work history and is better for career changers or those with employment gaps. A hybrid resume combines both formats.

For a job seeker, due diligence means thoroughly researching the company before an interview. This includes understanding their mission, products, and recent news. This preparation helps you ask intelligent questions and show genuine interest in the position.