difference between application letter and biodata

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The Difference Between Resume, CV, & Biodata

• 1. Contact information
• 2. Your objectives
• 3. Education
• 5. Work experience
• Traditional CV: This CV format can best suit you if you have experience and skills which are near related to your job application and want to highlight career progression.
• Skill-based CV: you should use this CV format if you are changing careers and want to show employers how transferable skills learned in other jobs would be essential to the role.
• 2. Research objectives
• 4. Hobbies and interests
• 5. Awards and achievements
• 7. Grants and fellowships
• 8. Conferences
• 9. Non-collegiate activities
• 10. Research experience/ Lab experience
• 11. Memberships
• 12. References
• 13. Well-read languages
• 14. Other field experiences

Professional Biodata

• 1. Name, address, Country / State
• 2. Sex, marital status, DOB
• 3. Religion, height, caste requirement
• 4. Educational history
• 5. Homeland history
• 6. Job past & status
• 7. Earnings
• 8. Competency lists
• 9. Goods & Hobbies
• 10. Wishes for partners
• 11. Vision & Expectations

COMPARISON CHART

Things to keep in mind when applying for the job.

• Is the candidate going to have the professional and interpersonal characteristics to match together with another group member?
• Will this candidate hold the special characteristics required to succeed?
• Do they have the potential to improve and expand their knowledge and skills?

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Biodata Resume Format [Guide & Examples]

Hunting for a job can be a bit of a jungle. Just picture all the different ways of describing the same role in a company like Account Manager. An Account Manager is easily also a Client Relations Manager, a Sales Manager, an Account Supervisor, a Business Development Manager, and a Customer Success Manager. The same holds true for the documents we need for a job search. There is the classic resume , a CV , cover letters , and now also a biodata. 

However, a biodata is not for everyone. In the following you will learn everything about questions such as: 

What is a biodata? 

Who uses a biodata , biodata vs. resume - what are the differences , what should i include in a biodata .

• Biodata example 

A biodata, short for biographical data, can be several types of documents. Here are four biodata definitions: 

• An alternative word for a resume or CV  in South Asia
• A supplement to a classic resume
• A document used for marriage purposes
• A form used to collect personal data for use in research and certain institutions

The biodata formats we’ll be focusing on here are number one and two; an alternative word for a resume and/or a supplement to a classic resume . 

So, a biodata is just another word for a resume or CV. However, in a biodata you will typically put a lot more emphasis on information that you wouldn’t normally add in a classic resume . For one thing you would never add information about your religion or skin color in your standard American resume or in a European CV. However, this is quite standard information in a biodata. More on this later in the article. 

First let’s take a look at who uses a biodata. 

A biodata is mostly, if not exclusively, used in South Asia. More specifically in India and Bangladesh. Here, there is a tradition for using a biodata instead of a resume . 

The term bio-data is mostly used when people apply for government jobs, or for research grants where one has to submit descriptive essays. Biodatas are not common in the international markets where personal information like age, gender, and religion are considered too sensitive to be submitted by candidates for job positions.

But that’s actually not all it’s used for. A biodata is also often used as a form of marriage resume. However, we will not be going into detail with that particular use of biodata in this article. Our focus will be on the use of a biodata in relation to a job search. 

Now, as I mentioned earlier, you’ll probably notice that there are several documents when it comes to a job search process. There’s the resume, the CV, the cover letter , and now also the biodata. But what exactly are the differences between them? 

We’ve already covered the differences between the American resume and the European CV here . So in order to make things easier for now we’ll equate the resume and the CV here. Meaning CV is to be understood as equivalent to the American resume. 

Okay, now that we’ve got that settled, let’s look at some of the differences between a biodata and a resume. 

Let’s take a look at what to include in your biodata for job search. There is some standard information but also a lot of other information you can include if necessary. 

1. Add a profile (or summary)

First of all, you should add a profile text for your biodata. Or maybe you’re more familiar with the terms summary or objective. The three terms are more or less the same and will appear at the very top of your biodata document. 

Make sure you highlight your strong personal traits (also known as interpersonal skills ) while you at the same time show the recruiter how the company will benefit from hiring you. Blend in your work history as well. 

Whenever possible, highlight your achievements by using numbers to quantify your results. 

Profile biodata example

Software Engineer with 8+ years in the IT industry. Highly skilled in developing and testing mobile apps. Identified and fixed up to 92% of software bugs affecting apps’ stability. Eager to leverage coding skills to improve the quality of life of average users, and help company XYZ grow rapidly.

2. Personal information

The next part of your biodata should include your personal information. There are some mandatory pieces of information that you should always include but also a lot of extra information you can add depending on the specifications in the job ad. 

See the list below for inspiration. 

• Current position
• Phone number
• Email address
• Contact details
• Place of residence
• Postal address
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Marital status
• Parents’ names
• Character traits

Notice: If you’re applying for a job in a western country a lot of the above information will be considered either too sensitive or even inappropriate to add to a resume. Specifically this applies to numbers 7 through 20. 

3. Education

In the next section of your biodata is your education. Here you should add all relevant information such as school, years of attendance, and any relevant activities, achievements, or course work. Make sure you add the information in a chronological order.

Education biodata example

2005—2013

Mumbai Public School 

Activities:

Member, Math Club Class V-VII 

2013—2017

1. K. Bagrodia Public School, Rohini

High School Diploma

Member, Math Club, Class IX-XII

Member, IT Club, Class IX-XII

2017—2019

Bachelor of Computer Science

University of Mumbai

Specialization: Designing, implementing, and maintaining system software

4. Work history

This last part of your biodata is almost self explanatory. Here you add your work history - your professional experience and skills . But don’t just name a list of all the companies you’ve worked for your entire life. There’s much more to this part than that. 

First, you should try to note down the keywords from the job ad. If the description looks anything like this: 

Role and responsibilities: 

• Design, develop and maintain applications for various devices.
• Write well-designed, testable code.
• Modifying existing code to add new features

Then it will be safe to say that the company is looking for someone with experience within app design , development , maintenance , coding , testing , analysis , and modification . 

Your time to shine. Use the words from above to write your previous work experience into your biodata. Show the employer that you’re able to fill the role by tailoring it to match their needs exactly. 

Work history biodata example

June 2019—present

Freelance Software Engineer

• Designed and developed a grocery shopping app for iOS that uses voice commands to add individual items. The app slashed average consumer’s grocery shopping time time by up to 95% while increasing basket end value with 45%
• Modified and upgraded the code of a work out app that allowed it to display members’ signups in real-time
• Stress tested an Android taxi-hailing app for a startup company

Key takeaways

Nowadays, a biodata format is primarily used as an alternative resume format (or CV format if you prefer). It’s most common in certain South Asian countries and should follow this build-up: 

• Profile / objective / summary
• Personal information
• Work history 

If you’re ready to start building your own job search documents, click the button below here and check out our resume templates. 

Go to Resume Templates

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Résumé v/s Cover Letter v/s Bio Data

Have you ever wondered what’s the difference between a Résumé, Cover Letter and Bio Data? While all three are part of the application processes for both colleges and jobs, the difference lies in their purpose based on which each has varied lengths and formats. This post will cover the basic difference in both purpose and format to help you in your career.

Cover Letter

A Cover Letter is meant to provide a brief introduction of the applicant and is typically sent accompanying a Résumé or CV. While the CV is in bulleted points and short statements, the Cover Letter is in a storytelling format making it a lot more personal. Think of what you would say to a recruiter before handing him your Résumé and that’s what this letter is. In modern times what was traditionally a Cover Letter is now a Job Application Email.

Résumé or Curriculum Vitae

Résumés or CVs are commonly used while job hunting and are meant to highlight your professional background. These are typically pursued after your Cover Letter. Your career objective, educational background and percentages, past designations and job roles, achievements and job references are some of the things highlighted in this document.

While we’ve categorized Résumé or Curriculum Vitae as the same, research will show you a blurred difference between the two. In UK and the Commonwealth nations a Résumé is elaborated while a CV is a summarized version of the latter. However in US, Canada and Australia a CV is elaborated while a Résumé is in a concise format. This contradiction has led to both terms being used interchangeably. All you need to remember is that while drafting either, limit yourself to two sides of A4 paper.

While a CV/Résumé is focused on your professional background, a Biographical Data contains personal details pertaining to age, gender, marital status, height and so on. The need for a Bio Data will depend upon the job you seek e.g. many countries have age limits to become a ship captain.

Nevertheless remember that in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh a Bio Data is the same as a CV/Résumé. So if you’re asked for both a CV/Résumé and Bio Data then go ahead and draft both, but if you’re asked for only your Bio Data then draft and send a CV/Résumé instead.

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10 Differences Between cv and resume and biodata

Cv vs resume vs biodata: understanding the differences.

Whether you are applying for a job or seeking admission to a university, having a well-crafted document that highlights your qualifications and experiences is crucial. However, terms like CV, resume, and biodata are often used interchangeably, causing confusion among individuals. In this article, we will dive deep into the differences between CV, resume, and biodata, their uses, and provide examples to help you understand which document is best suited for your needs.

What is a CV?

A CV, short for Curriculum Vitae, is a comprehensive document that provides an in-depth overview of an individual’s education, research, academic achievements, work experience, and skills. Typically, a CV is longer than both resumes and biodata, ranging from two to three pages or more.

Examples of CV:

1. Academic CV – This CV is commonly used by individuals in the academic field and highlights their research activities, publications, presentations, teaching experience, and grants received.

2. Medical CV – Medical professionals utilize this CV format to showcase their clinical experience, medical education, research publications, and specializations.

3. International CV – This CV is used by individuals who are applying for jobs or studying abroad, as it includes information on language proficiency, overseas experience, and cross-cultural skills.

Uses of CV:

• Applying for academic positions or research positions
• Seeking admission to graduate school or doctoral programs
• Applying for fellowships or grants
• Applying for international job opportunities

What is a Resume?

A resume is a concise and targeted document that provides a brief summary of an individual’s skills, work experience, education, and achievements. Resumes are typically tailored to match the specific requirements of a job and are often limited to one or two pages.

Examples of Resume:

1. Chronological Resume – This resume format focuses on the work experience, listing the most recent position first, followed by previous roles in reverse-chronological order.

2. Functional Resume – A functional resume highlights an individual’s skills and abilities rather than their work history, making it useful for career changers or individuals with gaps in their employment history.

3. Combination Resume – This format combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes, emphasizing both skills and relevant work experience.

Uses of Resume:

• Applying for job openings
• Participating in career fairs or job interviews
• Submitting applications for internships or entry-level positions

Differences Between CV, Resume, and Biodata

Conclusion:.

In summary, a CV, resume, and biodata each serve their unique purposes. A CV is an extensive document primarily used in academic and research-related fields, while a resume is a concise document targeted for job applications. Biodata, on the other hand, serves more personal or social purposes. Understanding these differences allows you to choose the most appropriate document to portray your qualifications and experiences effectively.

People Also Ask:

1. What is the main difference between a CV and a resume?

A CV provides a comprehensive overview of an individual’s academic and professional background, while a resume focuses on relevant work experience and skills.

2. Which document is suitable for a job application?

A resume is the most suitable document for a job application as it presents a concise summary of your qualifications and experiences, tailored to match the specific job requirements.

3. Why is biodata common in South Asian countries?

In South Asian cultures, biodata is commonly used for marriage proposals as it provides detailed information about an individual’s personal and family background.

4. Can a CV be used for job applications?

While a CV can be used for job applications, it is more commonly used in academic or research-related fields where a detailed overview of an individual’s education and achievements is necessary.

5. Can a resume be longer than two pages?

A resume is generally recommended to be limited to one or two pages to ensure it remains concise and easy to read for potential employers.

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What is a Difference Between CV, Resume & Bio-Data

Millions of Indians apply for jobs every day. And millions anxiously await that interview call which often never comes.

Understandably, there’re several reasons why your application is unsuccessful. However, a major reason could be that you’ve sent the wrong document along with your application letter .

What’s this document? It could be your CV, Resume or Bio-Data.

Most Indians remain blissfully unaware about the vast difference between a CV, Resume & Bio-Data. Consequently, they send the wrong document. And the result: their applications land in the nearest trashcan or meet the document shredder.

Why CV, Resume & Bio-Data Matters?

You might wonder why would an employer throw away your application despite your qualifications and skills matching the job perfectly?

Because employers specifically ask for a cv, Resume or Bio-Data depending upon their Human Resources policies, nature of job and information they want from an applicant such as yourself.

Furthermore, sending the wrong document directly implies that you’re unaware about the difference between a CV, Resume and Bio-Data. This reflects very poorly when you’re applying for that dream job in that wonderful organisation.

Therefore, I’ll explain the difference between a CV, Resume & Bio-Data.

Difference Between a CV, Resume & Bio-Data

When you’re applying for a job, check the type of document that an employer is requesting. This will be clear from their advertisement in newspapers, notices and online.

By sending the right document, you’re actually helping the employer to assess your capabilities for the job. This could result in a call for interview.

Therefore, here’re the main differences.

1. Bio-Data

The term ‘Bio-Data’ is a short form of Biographical Data.

A Bio-Data is useful only while applying for jobs at small companies in India. And sometimes, for government grants or temporary positions, school admissions and other similar purposes.

Here’s something important: Bio-Data is used only in India. It’s a vestige of the colonial era and a rather archaic form of providing information about yourself.

Never use a Bio-Data while applying for jobs at large corporations, Multinational Companies (MNCs), jobs outside India and specialized positions.

What’s a Bio-Data? Here we go.

>>First Part of Bio-Data

A typical Bio-Data starts with your full name. It is written in the reverse order. Meaning, your surname or family name comes at the beginning. This is followed by your first and middle name.

The next element on a Bio-Data is your residential or present address and contact details such as phone number and email ID.

Furthermore, you will also have to include a permanent address if it’s different from the present or residential address.

>>Second Part of Bio-Data

The next feature of your Bio-Data is your gender. You’ve to specify whether you’re female or male. Due to amendments in Indian laws, it’s also possible for transgender people to state so openly.

Next on your Bio-Data comes your date of birth. This is written in the typical DD-MM-YYYY format. Meaning, there’re no shortcuts.

Other elements that form part of a Bio-Data are your religion and details about your caste or tribe. This section is optional since religion, caste and tribe matter only while applying for government grants and positions.

You can mention these if you’re looking for jobs at an organization that specifically deals with any particular section of the Indian society.

>>Third Part of Bio-Data

Upon providing these details, you move on to your academic qualifications. These are written in detail and in chronological order.

You start by mentioning the schools you attended with the duration and final qualifications such as Secondary School Certificate of Higher Secondary Certificate.

And finally you mention the college or university from where you got a graduation degree. Remember to include your scores in every major exam such as SSC, HSC and degree.

You’ve to clearly mention the month and year during which you were studying at any particular educational institute. And you can also mention the location of the school and college such as the village, city or town.

>>Fourth Part of Bio-Data

The fourth and most important part of a Bio-Data deals with your work experience. This is also written in a chronological order. Start by mentioning your first job, write about every job you held with details of employer, date of joining and leaving service and positions held.

Your current or last employer features at the end of the fourth part of your Bio-Data. However, you needn’t disclose the name of your current or last employer.

>>More Details on Bio-Data

After completing the fourth part, you can add other sections on your Bio-Data. They include your language skills along with proficiency levels. You can list all the languages you can read, write and speak and indicate your level of fluency too.

Some jobseekers also include details about extracurricular activities and mention awards they’ve won over the years.

Always remember to self-attest your Bio-Data by adding a line declaring the given information to be true and verifiable to the best of your knowledge. You’ll sign at the bottom of a Bio-Data.

Understandably, you won’t be able to sign a Bio-Data that’s sent by email. That’s acceptable as long as you’ll add the sentence stating the information you’re giving is true to the best of your knowledge and type your full name.

The second type of document that employers ask from jobseekers is the Resume. Actually, the term Resume traces its origin from the French language.

The term Resume stands for brief introduction about yourself. That includes concise yet accurate information about your educational qualifications and skills that’re relevant for a job.

A Resume is written in the chronological order and as a third person. Meaning, you’ll be introducing yourself as you would introduce another person.

Resume is useful for fresh graduates, those hopping jobs for the first time as well as graduates from Arts, Commerce and Science streams that don’t have specialized skills.

How to write an excellent Resume? Here’re the tips.

1. First Part of Resume

The first part of a Resume begins by introducing yourself beginning with your name. You can also include your approximate age and place where you reside currently but not your contact details or address.

A good Resume usually begins like this: “ABC introduces herself/ himself as a 00-year old PQR professional with 000 years of experience in the PQR industry.”

This gives a clear indication to the prospective employer about your skills and experience to gauge your eligibility for the job.

2. Second Part of Resume

The second part of your Resume deals with academic or educational qualifications. These are written in third party and chronological order.

Meaning, you’ll start by saying which school you began education, years of attendance and year in which you pass the SSC or HSC exams. There’s no need to include your marks or other details here.

Next comes your graduation or professional degree. Mention the college or university and the duration of study, ending with the degree you got.

An excellent resume should list education in not more than three paragraphs of two to three sentences each.

For example: “ABC began studying at LMN School from DDMMYY and successfully completed SSC/ HSC in DDMMYY.”

“Later, ABC enrolled for RST degree at DEF college/ university in DDMMYY. He/ She graduated in MMYY with UVW in MMYY.”

3. Third Part of Resume

The third part of an excellent Resume deals with your work experience . This is also written in third party, chronological order.

“Upon graduation, ABC began working as ZZZZ at OOOO company as HHHH. Work responsibilities included ABCDEF.”

“Later, ABC worked as JJJJ at KKKK company as RRRR. Work responsibilities included UUUU.”

Here, it’s important to emphasize on your designations and responsibilities very briefly.

4. Fourth Part of Resume

Usually, the fourth part of a Resume isn’t that important. However, you can leverage your membership of any professional clubs, organizations, guilds by mentioning them in a couple of sentences. Example: “ABC is a member of GGG organization since MMYY.”

Providing this information isn’t really necessary. However, a sentence or two does tend to impress the person that reads your curriculum vitae and improves chances of getting that call for interview .

5. Self-Attestation of Resume

Like every document, self- attesting a resume by adding a sentence stating the information is correct to the best of your knowledge will prove helpful.

Remember, a good Resume is not more than two A-4 size pages. Never include your picture on a Resume unless an employer is asking for one.

3. Curriculum Vitae

The Curriculum Vitae is the single most important document that can open doors to that wonderful job and help you build that dream career. Because employers usually ask for CV only when they’re looking for a specific and specialized skill.

Therefore, the focus of a curriculum vitae is usually on your work skills and lesser on your educational qualifications. An employer wants to know what skills you possess that would be useful to their business.

CVs are especially important when you’re looking for higher designations at any major organization, including foreign jobs.

Since a curriculum vitae focuses more on skills and experience, it is written in a sharp, precise and reverse chronological order.

Your name goes on left hand top corner of the curriculum vitae.

1. First Part of CV

The first part of a CV starts with your work experience only. You’ve to list your work experience and skills starting from your current or last employer.

It isn’t necessary to disclose your current employer if you’re already working elsewhere. The interviewer will anyways ask you the question during an interview .

After you mention your current or last employer, go backwards and write your complete history of employment.

Remember, details about your first job come last.

While writing your curriculum vitae, the main focus should be on your skills and designations as well as achievements such as successful projects at work.

2. Second Part of CV

The second part of CV consists of your educational qualifications. These too are written in the reverse chronological order. Meaning, you’ll write about the university or college degree you hold at the beginning.

Here it’s not important to mention your scores on a curriculum vitae. However, there’s no harm in doing that, if you have very high and outstanding scores.

After your last degree, go on to list your junior college and school from where you did your HSC and SSC or their equivalent.

If you’ve changed schools or colleges, mention them very briefly and state reasons for the switchover.

3. Third Part of CV

There’re no third parts of a CV. However, you can create one if you’re the member of any professional club, organization or guild.

That adds credibility to your work experience and qualifications. But don’t mention sports clubs, alumni associations and political affiliations.

Remember, a CV is strictly for assessing your skills for the job while your education and other elements take a backseat.

4. Self-Attestation of CV

As usual, it’s excellent etiquette to self-attest your curriculum vitae by stating the information is true to the best of your knowledge.

This speaks about your confidence and imparts a goodwill among employers. However, it’s extremely important to be truthful about every single detail you mention on your Bio-Data, Resume and curriculum vitae.

What About Career Objective?

There’s one more thing a lot of people include on their CV, Resume and Bio-Data. And that’s Career Objective. Actually a Career Objective is a brief and personal vision and mission statement.

A Career Objective outlines your career goals and how you wish to achieve them. It’s written to create an excellent impression upon the person that reads your application.

Currently, there’s a huge debate over the use of Career Objective on CV, Resume and Bio-Data. That’s because a large number of HR officials believe a Career Objectives are written vaguely and hence, useless.

Whether or not to include a Career Objective is purely your choice. But if you do write a Career Objective, make it a professional one that conveys what you’re looking for rather than one to impress an interviewer or HR official.

References on CV, Resume, Bio-Data

Yet another common practice in India is to include references on a job application. Again, this is an outdated practice. HR officials and employers are well aware that references and reference letters are easily available.

We live in an era where companies have easy access to Employee Background Screening or Pre-Employment Checks and similar facilities. Such checks invariably expose any loopholes and false claims made on a curriculum vitae, Resume and Bio-Data.

Therefore, I would recommend submitting references only if an employer or organization explicitly requests for them.

And if you have to provide references, ensure they’re from someone related to your profession rather than some vague entity, celebrity or political figure.

Mentioning Salary or Expected Pay

Sometimes, an employer may ask jobseekers to specifically state how much remuneration they expect from the company.  This is a rather tricky question to answer.

Because quoting a smaller pay to grab the job might prove you’re available for cheap and there’s no takers for your skills and qualifications.

Asking for exorbitantly higher pay can attract an employer. However, you’ll require adequate skills to prove that your work would justify the remuneration .

Therefore, the best way to quote a salary or expected Cost-To-Company (CTC) would be by reading reviews on excellent job portals. Remember, your remuneration in terms of salary and perks is far too different from CTC.

If in doubt about how much pay to seek, refer to excellent websites such as Payscale, Indeed, Glassdoor and LinkedIn. Here you’ll get an approximate estimate of how much your skills are worth.

Closing Thoughts

Before concluding, I’ll alert you that a curriculum vitae, Resume or Bio-Data is your first contact with a prospective employer. It will create an impression on the person that reads it .

Therefore, never rush to create these documents. Instead, write them carefully and weigh your words before penning them.

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Difference between CV, Resume and Biodata

Confused difference between CV, Resume, and Biodata ? Even I was, let me explain to you in detail so that you never get confused again.

Curriculum Vitae

CV or Curriculum Vitae essentially means “Course of Life”. Therefore, a CV should be a micro summarization of your own life experiences in a stretch of a few pages. CV is used to describe one’s life activities in a few pages to let the employer know the employee better. It is akin to a Biography which will be used by one only for job purposes. Hence, any experience which is pertinent to one’s job must be typed in one’s CV.

CV is written in a general fashion that caters to the needs of every company at one go. Hence, it is not customized for each and every company. The next pertinent issue is by whom is CV generally prepared and what it is used for.

1) A CV is most commonly used by college pass outs that are looking forward to entering the field of work soon. It can also be suitable for someone who has been out of the industry or occupational field for quite a considerable length of time. Though it is more or less like a Biography that tells the recruiter about your life experiences still there are certain things that you should refrain from putting up in your CV.

Your CV must be consistent with the current trends of the industry or field you belong to. It must be short and simple and must only contain your life experiences relevant to your job. Otherwise, your recruiter would be confused about what you actually want from that particular job.

2) Although there is no restriction on the length of your CV, it should not be less than 1 page. A CV is generally 3-6 pages long and it informs the recruiter about your life’s timeline in a nutshell. Your CV must be too fancy or too dull. It should be written to the point.

3) CV is deliberately made simple for the recruiter to understand and process every experience carefully. CV, however, can be customized according to one’s own self to make it look more attractive and elegant. It must be engaging so that the reader reads it to the end.

4) Your CV should mention your career objectives very clearly and must be customized according to the job you are applying for. Your career objectives might be different from the job you are applying for but you must, through your CV, explain it clearly that the job you are applying for is conducive to your long-term career goals.

It should be clear from your CV that you are interested and serious about the post you are applying for. You can explain to your employer that your current job will help you achieve your end goal.

5) Your talents and skill set must be mentioned next in your CV. The talents and skills which you possess which are relevant to the corporate sector must be mentioned in your CV. Mention your feats and achievements in detail.

6) You can mention your experiences chronologically or they can be categorized according to different types. You need to mention all your experience in detail without using elaborate and tough words. You must furnish all your information to the recruiter in a bulleted list which will help your recruiter to make an informed decision.

7) Your CV must be accompanied by a cover letter that presents your CV on a single page. This will enable your recruiter to pick your CV faster than the people who have not typed out a cover letter.

A resume is a French word that evidently means summary in English. As the name suggests a Resume summarizes all your deeds and skills in a small number of pages. A resume serves the purpose for those people who have experience in the field already but are searching for new options in the same industry where skills matter the most rather than academic achievements.

A Resume is very different from the other two formats. A resume is very rich in content and it puts to use the essential skills and experiences that are penned down in the Resume to facilitate the recruiter to know the candidate better.

Difference between a CV and a Resume in Points

a) Unlike a CV a Resume consists of information in a very precise and condensed manner. You must be an experienced candidate if you prepare a Resume. It is not for freshers at all.

A resume contains the choicest set of skills and experiences that are relevant to the particular job you are applying for. You need to mention all your talents and showcase them in a manner that is crisp and to the point.

b) A CV generally describes your whole life’s experiences whereas a Resume showcases the things which will impress only your employer or recruiter. It should be unique and must be designed in such a way that no Resume should be an exact copy of each other. It should contain only experiences and skills pertinent to your job.

c) Unlike a CV, a Resume goes up to one page and a maximum of up to 3 pages. No recruiter will read a Resume that is extremely verbose and lengthy. It should have precise and accurate information about your set of skills and experiences.

d) Unlike a CV, a Resume format can be varied whereas in a CV the format is more or less fixed and stable. The main thing to be kept in mind while making a Resume is that the Resume should be accurate, reliable, and attractive in all respects so that your recruiter gets a crystal clear impression of your relevant skills and experiences.

e) You should make your resume eye-catching and elegant at the same time. It should be elegant enough for the recruiter to skim through your information within no time. The layout of the resume decides whether you will be selected for the interview or not.

f) Unlike a CV, you can write your experiences and skills in the resume in reverse chronological order to make sure to display which skills are important to you at the present. The skills can also be written in functional order where the candidate explains how his or her skills will help the employer in fulfilling their job requirements.

g) People sometimes prefer a Functional Resume with a chronological order in mind. A resume should reflect your effort and achievements in your field nevertheless. It should show the fact that how your skills will be helpful for the company.

h) The only thing which makes a Resume quite different from other formats is its practicality in use. Numerous candidates apply for a single job at a go. Therefore, it is not possible to skim through big CVs. A resume comes in handy in this aspect. It helps recruiters to shortlist suitable candidates easily.

i) Due to the advent of technology it has become quite easy to choose the right candidates among millions of aspirants using certain keywords and SEO-friendly resumes. The SEO-optimized resume stands out from the rest of the applicants which helps the recruiter to spot the best candidate sooner.

Biodata is short for Biological Data. It is an old and archaic version of the Resume and Curriculum Vitae. It is a short commentary about life and its events. It was used earlier for job purposes but now it is only restricted to certain fields. It speaks a lot about the personal details of the person concerned.

Biodata is generally used presently in Government institutions and in marriage purposes as well. It specifically focuses on providing personal details to people who want to know the details.

Difference between Biodata and the other formats (CV and Resume)

a) Biodata commonly consists of a person’s personal details like name, age, caste, creed, academic details, gender, and other information which is sensitive in nature and must not be disclosed easily. After penning down all your personal details only then you can proceed on to show off your academic experiences and other relevant skills which are pertinent to the field you are applying for.

You should also share your life experiences as well in chronological order of the events. Due to the personal nature of the data provided, you can only use biodata in institutions where you absolutely need it like when you apply for a driving license or bank account, etc. Your data mentioned in your CV or Resume are not that person in nature so they are mostly used for job purposes.

b) One must be extremely careful while disclosing one’s data in a biodata. You must make sure that your information is somehow protected and secure to avoid any kind of fraudulent activity.

c) Unlike a CV or a Resume, this format cannot be customized by an individual but by an institution. This makes it simple and easier to collect the data in a methodological and systematic manner. You can keep track or record your data on computers in an electronic format as well. A well-written biodata will contain ample information about one’s skills and talents which a CV or a Resume often fails to provide.

d) A Biodata generally consists of 1 to 3 pages depending upon the density of information provided in it and also on what type of information is needed by the institution.

e) One of the drawbacks of Biodata is that it is an outdated format and therefore, a lot of companies refuse to accept it as a means of criteria for candidate selection. This is due to the fact that firstly, it does not allow the candidate space for describing his job abilities and skills at length.

Secondly, many states have made it absolutely mandatory to avoid putting up sensitive information like your PAN card number or other sensitive details in your job application to protect your privacy. One should only provide essential information which is relevant to the particular job.

The main points of difference between a CV, Resume and Bio-data

All three formats seem very similar in nature but there are some essential points of difference among the three formats.

a) A CV is the longer of the two formats and is used mainly to narrate one’s life events. It is generally used by Freshers who are just starting off in the job-hunting process. It is generally lengthy consisting of 3 to 6 pages. It is ideal for a CV to be accompanied by a cover letter to boost up your chances of bagging a great job.

CV is not tailor-made for a single company but it is more general in format. It provides an overall idea about the person rather than the skills and experiences he or she possesses.

b) Resume essentially means summary and is the shorter of the two aforementioned formats. It does not extend beyond a single page. It is used by experienced candidates who are looking for better job opportunities or a career change. A recruiter skims through the Resume to know the skills and experiences of the person concerned better. Therefore, a Resume must be crisp, concise, and simple.

c) Biodata is an outdated version of the other two formats. Biodata stands for Biographical Data. It contains the personal information of employees like name, sex, age, gender, caste, etc. Its usage is limited to marriage meetings and Government institutions. It is generally not accepted by corporate companies nowadays.

These are the differences in the three formats used to apply for a job in the market. Now that we have given you all the information about the three formats now you can choose your desired format and start applying for a job according to your need. Hope so this article cleared all your doubts and worries. If you still have some queries we have got you covered in the next FAQ section. So, stay tuned!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does Bio-data include?

Ans – . Biodata is essentially known as Biological Data. It consists of largely the immensely personal information of employees like their own name, sex, age, gender, caste, and other information pertaining to one person. Its usage is limited to marriage meetings and Government institutions.

2. What is the difference between CV and Profile?

Ans – A CV is  tailored and sent directly to an individual business , whereas your online profile has the potential to attract and engage a much wider audience. It can attract multiple companies at a go. A profile is generally created to attract consumers of a particular service or product. It can be made on various platforms to attract recruiters as well such as LinkedIn, Upwork, etc.

A profile should be precise and well-written so that it provides general attraction to the public. It should engage the public and recruiters to come to you to provide a job that suits your need. A CV is presented by an individual to a single recruiter at a time for that specific job role. A profile is much more necessary than a CV to earn more followers and gain more valuable connections.

3. Which is better – a CV or a Resume?

Ans – A CV is used to enumerate one’s life events and is generally longer than a Resume. It is basically of utmost importance to Freshers who are newly starting off in the job market and also to people who want to start off their career on a different path. A CV consists of 3 to 6 pages. A CV is ideally accompanied by a cover letter to kick start the chances for a fresher to grab a job opportunity as early as possible.

 A CV is not customized for a single company but it is written in a general form. On the other hand, a Resume is shorter than a CV and basically means a summary. It is short and does not exceed one page. It is essentially used by candidates who already have experience in the job market and are looking out for a career boost or change.

A person who recruits a candidate goes through the resume and decides whether the candidate is fit for that particular post. Hence, a Resume must be extremely short, simple, and concise. Both of the formats can be used by a job-seeker with a bit of understanding.

4. What is meant by Biodata?

Ans. – Biodata essentially means Biological data. It is an obsolete format used in the olden days for jobs. Now, it is used in marriage meetings and to generate Government documents. It includes the personal information of individuals like age, name, sex, caste, etc.

5. Can I use a Resume instead of a CV?

Ans. – In general, you would use a CV and a Resume in the following situations:

A CV is basically required when applying for international, academic, scientific, or research positions whereas a resume is a preferred format to apply for most jobs in the U.S. and Canada. You can use a Resume for skilled jobs whereas you can use a CV for more detailed jobs like Research and allied purposes. A CV is a more general format of job application rather than a Resume.

6. How do I turn my Resume into a CV?

Ans. – Common components of each CV and Resume

Resumes and CVs are both usually sorted out by category.

Common categories for a resume include:

• Work experience
• Volunteer experience

Common CV categories include:

• Honors and awards
• Publications
• Presentations
• Certifications and licenses
• Associations

 To convert a Resume into a CV you need to follow the following steps:

• Copy the heading of the CV
• Include educational Qualifications
• List work experiences
• Add honors, awards, and recognition which you have achieved
• Include research papers published
• List presentations that you have already presented
• Provide Detail about grants which you have received
• Provide any licenses and certifications which you have done
• List associations and connections
• Copy volunteer work that you have already done
• Provide references, include a list of professional references

7. Which is bigger – a CV or a Resume?

Ans – Curriculum Vitae (CV) outlines the academic qualifications, research, and other relevant details about a person, to represent him in front of recruiters. A CV is generally 3 to 6 pages long and much more detailed.

A  Resume  is a precise document, which underlines a person’s qualifications for a specific job. It consists of at the most 1 to 2 pages and is extremely precise and well written according to the needs of the employers. When it comes to length, a CV is much larger than a resume and is often preferred by academic recruiters or jobs. A resume is preferred more by corporate sector recruiters.

8. Can I submit a Resume instead of a CV?

Ans. – The answer to this question with all due respect is a big ‘NO’. A CV is the longer of the two formats and is used mainly to narrate one’s life events for academic purposes. It is generally used by beginners who are just starting off in the job-hunting process. It is generally lengthy consisting of 3 to 6 pages. It is ideal for a CV to be accompanied by a cover letter to boost up your chances of bagging a great job.

CV is not tailor-made for a single company but it is more general in format whereas a Resume essentially means summary and is the shorter of the two aforementioned formats. It does not extend beyond a single page. It is used by experienced candidates who are looking for better job opportunities or a career change.

A recruiter skims through the Resume to know the skills and experiences of the person concerned better. Therefore, a Resume must be crisp, concise, and simple. Both formats are good and must be used by a candidate with discretion. It is a must for the candidate to make a well-informed choice as to when to use a CV and when to use a Resume.

Hope so your doubts were cleared up by this article. See you guys in the next one. Till then keep fighting and all the very best for your future endeavors!

[ Also Checkout: 7 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Picking Up A Career ]

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