In this article, we are going to clear up these doubts by explaining its origin with official definitions and practical examples. Let's go!
Resume, CV, are both correct?
According to Spanish grammatical rules, both terms, “curriculum” and “currículo,” are acceptable .
“Curriculum” is most often used in the shortened form of “ curriculum vitae , ” while “resume” is used in a broader sense to refer to a plan of study or skype database educational program.
For example, you could say, “I have updated my resume with my latest job” or “The university curriculum includes a wide range of computer science courses.”
What does the RAE say?
The RAE exclusively defines the word “curriculum” as:
“ 1. List of titles, honors, positions, work performed, biographical data, etc., that qualify a person. Literally, career [of life]. ”
Curriculum or resume
The first thing to note is that curriculum and resume are synonyms and share the same meaning in the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE).
However, the RAE exclusively defines the word “curriculum” as:
“1. List of titles, honors, positions, work performed, biographical data, etc., that qualify a person. Literally, career [of life].”
While the term “curriculum” has 3 meanings in the RAE:
“1. Curriculum.
2. A set of studies and practices designed to help students fully develop their potential.
3. Curriculum.”
This means that using a CV instead of a resume is better to avoid creating doubts about what you want to express. However, a resume is a perfectly valid term to refer to a CV.
Fundéu's position on the use of these terms
Fundéu, the Foundation for Urgent Spanish , also agrees with the RAE that both forms are correct.
Similarly, Fundéu recommends the use of “curriculum” to refer to a summary of a person’s academic and professional career and “resume” to refer to a study plan.
What is the plural of curriculum and resume?
As for the plurals of curriculum and resume, they are curriculums and resumes , respectively.
Example: “Applicants have already sent all their resumes” or “Applicants have already sent their resumes.”
Can using “resume” or “curriculum” affect your job search?
The good news is that using “resume” or “curriculum” shouldn’t affect your job search, as both words are correct and widely understood .
Recruiters are more interested in the content of your resume than how you choose to refer to it.
For example, if you're applying for a digital marketing job, employers will care more about seeing relevant experience on your resume (or CV) than whether you choose to use one word or another.
How to write a good resume or CV
To write an effective resume , you need to include certain essential sections , regardless of whether you prefer to call it a “resume” or a “CV.” They are as follows:
Contact information: Full name, email address, phone number, and, if relevant, links to professional networking profiles such as LinkedIn .
Career Objective: A brief, focused summary of your career goals and how you hope to achieve them in the position you are applying for.
Work experience: A list of your previous jobs, with dates, responsibilities and achievements.
Education: your academic qualifications, with dates and names of educational institutions.
Skills: A list of soft skills and hard skills that are relevant to the position.
Tips to make your resume or CV stand out
Here are some tips to help you stand out:
Be concise: You don't need to tell your entire work history. Focus on the experiences that are most relevant to the position.
Use keywords: Many companies use automated systems to filter resumes. Include keywords that are in the job description.
Proofread and edit: Make sure your resume is free of grammar and spelling errors. A well-written resume demonstrates professionalism.
Origin and meaning of curriculum vitae
“Curriculum vitae” is a Latin phrase. The term “curriculum” comes from the Latin verb “currere” meaning “career,” while “vitae” translates to “life.”
So, if we translate it literally, “curriculum vitae” means “ race of life .”
This term has been used to refer to a document that contains a summary of our work, educational experiences and skills .
