Most of people get confused between resume and curriculum vitae (CV); we also hear words such as portfolio and bio-data. All four terms describe presentation of particulars of an individual.

A resume is a synopsis of the most relevant professional experiences you have for the particular job for which you are applying. It is snapshot and hence not more than one or two pages in length. Resume word is originated from the French word “resumer” which means a summary of an individual’s educational background, relevant work experience, history and achievements. A resume is mainly used when seeking a new job and is sent to the employer in order to introduce an individual, depending on the detailing he/she gets a chance to meet the recruiter or the employer. A resume is ideally sent when applying for middle and senior level positions, when experience and related skills are more important than educational details.

A curriculum vitae, normally called a CV or curricula vitae, is derived from a Latin word which means “course of life.” A CV contains a detailed narrative of an individual’s work experience in details listing the achievements, educational background, skill set, languages known, awards won etc. A CV is a more elaborate description than a resume. CVs are accepted internationally and are used to apply for executive, academic, managerial, medical and many other senior posts jobs.  In my opinion, a CV is a marketing tool which can be used by an individual to endorse himself.

The primary differences between a resume and a curriculum vitae are length, while both are used in job applications. A resume is brief summary and a CV is a detailed document.

Portfolio originates from the Italian word “portafoglio” meaning to carry and ‘foglio’ meaning leaf or paper. Portfolio is an album of work samples shown to prospective employers, usually in creative fields such as photography, art and graphic design. It so happens that work pieces comprised of art and design cannot be explained theoretically. As a result, presenting pictures, designs and samples is the best way to tell a recruiter about your work. Hence, unlike a resume or a CV, a portfolio may contain pictures, documents, and onsite media details, screen shots of a website, and notes or letters of praise from distinguished clients.

Portfolio is a typically a large, thin, flat case for loose sheets of paper such as drawings or maps; it is a variety set of photographs of a model or actor intended to be shown to a potential employer; it can also be a range of investments held by a person or organization; it describes a range of products or services offered by an organization which called ‘product portfolio’ in marketing; it also describes the position and duties of a Minister or Secretary of State. Painters, graphic artists, journalists, advertisers, authors, poets and other creative types of work profiles  can use career portfolios successfully while job-hunting,

Let us try understanding the term of portfolio with the help of an example. Let’s say there are two candidate shortlisted for a post, who possess the same strengths and experience for a job profile. Candidate number 1 sends his resume to the employer, theoretically stating his skills, achievements, past experiences, and a list of renowned people for references who praise his work. Meanwhile, candidate number 2 sends pictures and samples of his new art work along with letters of appreciation from clients and a collection of tweets admiring his work. Who do you think will get the job? Obviously candidate number 2, because in his case, the recruiter can see the exact work, along with certificates of people who have accepted his work in the market.

The term bio-data, which is rarely used these days, stands for biographical data, is commonly used in the medical field. A bio-data, is usually was used only in hospitals on a prescription pad hung on a patient’s bed side. It mentions the patient’s name, age, sex, weight, disease, medicines given pulse rate, blood pressure, diet given and other relevant details. This form is now used in a few countries, particularly in government institutions, or when applying for grants. Emphasizing an individual’s particulars such as date of birth, religion, sex, race, nationality, address, and marital status. This form is different from a resume and a CV, which focuses more on an individual’s qualifications. Typically in a bio-data factors such as educational qualifications and past job experience take a back seat.

Rarely do we see resumes and CVs tailored to fit a job. Sure, many of the background and academic details tend to remain the same but in a good CV/resumes the tone and accent changes. Rarely people pay attention to what they write in their resume. While you remain the same person, but your description, narrative changes with a new perspective depending on the job you are applying for. It is therefore advisable to constantly re-examine and refine your resume and CV because it speaks volumes about you in absentia. Remember your presentation skill and technique for language matter a lot. Your resume or CV should express your natural self-confidence; keep refining what you say and how you say it in the most concise way. Your CV especially evolves your perceptions on different dimensions in a practical manner. Keep your resume handy with you. Because it is a running list of everything you have accomplished so far. And, you never know a bright opportunity might come your way any time. Keep your CV short and sweet. Put only what is relevant. You don’t need to include everything. Remember, you are advertising yourself for a job, not giving them your life story.

A well written cover letter is essential to be sent with your CV/resume/portfolio or bio-data. Your cover letter should be used to expand on your past achievements, and explain why you think you are the ideal candidate for the role. Use the covering letter to clearly outline your objectives, underlining particular projects or interests that you think will make you stand out. Get straight to the point, employers appreciate an honest approach and keep your document current and up-to-date.

In our society we are tremendously obsessed with academic qualifications; as a result, we check qualifications of the bride and groom before finalizing matrimony, before giving membership in a club, an association, a forum, in a sports club, while applying for a job, qualifications are checked. A person’s aptitude, ability and skill are judged by his/her academic qualifications. Any bio-data résumé or curriculum vitae are deplorable without the inclusion of education qualifications. Therefore it is an impromptu rule of both the corporate world and the social world that a man’s academic qualification is a key to his entry to a coveted position in society.

Education does help add finesse to life; it helps developing moral, civic values. It prepares us with good manners, proper behavior, hygienic living. Aacademic education gives people an encompassing experience of life, with lots of opportunities to meet people from different walks of life and to consider the importance in life of values and culture. These are necessary for a person’s growth. Educated citizens help in building a civilized nation. It uplifts our morals and ethics by exposing us to the great thinkers of the past. It makes us aware of our rights and liberties, and helps establish a liberal democracy with active citizens and an active media.

But when we spend twelve years of our life in schooling, and several more years of our precious life in college on graduation and often post graduation, and then one fine day it strikes us that our degrees are not required for success; why because Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Dhirubhai Ambani and many other rich people were schools dropouts and they built great fortunes!! Unfortunately the materialistic world has changed the concept of success.

We are also a fixated society about grades in qualifications. We have a wrong notion that grades alone can help getting success in life. If success and opportunities were measured by grades then the corporate world and potential marriage partners would not ask for bio-data, where other credentials are also mentioned. Nor would they interview the candidates in order to find out what they are like as people. Education helps us modify our people skills, our thinking, our character and our inventiveness. It prepares us for life life’s success. IT helps in honing our physical characteristics, personality, and a willingness to work hard. Grades are really irrelevant.

We have somewhere misinterpreted grades/marks in education. We attach so much importance to marks that it has become a rat-race where every student chases grades and therefore the entire perception of success and affluence has changed. Rather than studying to reach one’s full potential, children simply mug up for examinations. Further, they get frustrated when they don’t get jobs. More time is spent in job hunting than in education. Many people find themselves in the wrong profession and lacking job satisfaction. The business atmosphere is highly politicized, favoritism plays key role, and we see wrong people in big positions. In short, our idea of education has got mistaken, our idea of prosperity is mistaken, and our definition of success is changed. With so many years of education finally we misread that if anyone is able to save his/her job then he/she is successful!

If we look at some very successful people in the world, who are doctors, engineers, researchers and IT, professionals, many of them are employed by people like Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Ambani who have built empires devoid of formal educational qualifications.

Does education corrupt minds? I think yes, because by going to schools and college students do rote learning and taking multiple examinations. It forces people to learn and think like millions of other graduates. This spoils chances of some brilliant minds which can come up with the truly mould-breaking insights and “disruptive” ideas on which successful innovations and new business models are built. Our education is not outcome based; today’s students cannot implement and apply what they have learned, they are not capable of putting their knowledge into practice in an increasingly complex and challenging environment. The emphasis, therefore, should be on practical, sensible, workable learning — rather than simply accumulating information which becomes outmoded in shorter span.

And what about those fake degrees sold by thriving illegal rackets in the market? So many dubious agents are selling degrees and people are buying them. Nexus between state universities, education intermediaries and private/public educational institutions are flouting norms, often jeopardizing the careers of students by conferring on them a degree, which may not be legitimate. And, if such students get trapped, he/she loses job, reputation and chances of making a decent living thereafter.

Another question is raised against academic qualification – that is whether it can stop us from becoming a civilization of drunkards, rapists, war-mongers, immoral money launders, criminals, and villains. If you look at countries where the largest numbers of people have higher academic qualifications, they are the ones most affected by social breakdown. Can we call America a successful nation for its wars on Iraq and Afghanistan? Can we call it superior by any chance? Can we call Russia a mighty nation for creating the Crimean crisis? Can we call some fluent Indian and Pakistani politicians wise for not solving the Kashmir issue? Are the “educated” politicians of India and Pakistan solving problems of the innocent Kasmiris?  India and Pakistan have fought at least three wars over Kashmir, but still the problem is not resolved.  Does education teach us to delay and drag important decisions?

Academic qualifications may not be enough on their own to ensure success, but they indicate that their possessor has got courage, daring, moral values to speak out against any kind of injustice. I think it’s high time we bring in changes in our education system. Today’s academic qualifications have no real relevance to the jobs graduates are employed to do. A few decades ago employers in areas such as banking, engineering, management and government service recruited people straight from school at the age of 15 or 16, trained them on the job and promoted them to higher levels of responsibility according to their ability. And, those people contributed to the growth of businesses and society.  Today none of these jobs has changed very much, but all of them require applicants with university degrees. Why has this changed? One reason is that the upper and middle classes are trying to protect their own jobs – demanding new recruits have expensive academic qualifications.

Our nation needs an education system that excites and stimulates children, providing them with the learning they need and be worthy of to accomplish their potential.  This means we need a curriculum of practical and vocational learning alongside theoretical study. This need for change has become more and more critical.  Let’s except a simple fact that the world has changed whereas our education system has not changed. The gap is very big. Indeed, it is largely based on a system developed over a century ago. Our assessment standards need change, our pedagogies need change, and we need to educate teachers first. Let’s not make our schools and colleges mere factories churning out graduates – where children are placed on a learning conveyor belt, then sorted, packaged and labeled with degrees.

And finally please understand this – academic qualifications are futile if they are not helping you to lead a happy and peaceful life.