If you are thinking about applying for jobs outside academia, but aren’t sure where to begin, you’re not alone. In today’s economic climate and with the ever-changing career landscape, an increasing number of graduate students and postdocs are electing to look for careers outside the ivory tower. The key is to find work to which you are both interested and suited.

In order to get ready, let’s look at the differences between resumes and CVs to help you think about your transition and how to apply for your new job.

Resumes and CVs are not interchangeable. Not only are their structure, content, length, and styles completely different, but to be more specific, a resume is much more concise. It’s basically a oneto-two page document. A CV is static and doesn’t change for the various positions you are applying for, whereas a resume is intended to make an individual stand out and does change for various positions.

Your resume should convey how your past experiences relate to where you are going. This is another key difference between a CV and a resume. A CV, as mentioned above, does not change for the different applications you are writing; it is intended to focus on where you have been, a list of your past experiences. A resume is different in this sense; it should also convey where you are going.

It should be a selection of your past experiences that are best suited for the job to which you are applying.

Next, let’s look at the parts of the resume itself.

There are certain parts of your resume that will resemble your CV, such as your name and contact information, but other parts of your resume will be different, such as the objective statement. This is a one sentence statement focused on what you are looking for in a job. This statement should change based on the job and type of position you are applying for, but fundamentally it is used to show that you are well-suited for the position.

Next is your qualifications and skills summary and it should focus on past positions that best prepare you for (or best align with) the job you are applying for. Omit any statements that aren’t important for the position’s goals, and focus your statements to make them relevant to the position. Don’t forget to emphasize your matching skills to what the employer wants in an ideal candidate!

Following your listed qualifications is your employment history. This is another section that should be tailored to the job for which you are applying. Review the job description and focus on your job experience and achievements that relate to the opening (but of course this should be an honest account!). Put any key qualifications at the top of your description and make them stand out.

Lastly, don’t forget to customize your resume to each job for the best results. Good luck!