Career advice: European Employers Prefer a Curriculum Vitae

A resume is a brief summary of a job candidate's previous employment and education. Most experts suggest they only be one or two pages long and include just relevant information for the specific job being sought. Resumes are written in the third person to appear objective and factual, using short sentences that stress skills and results. They typically don't include personal information or photos.

A CV also is a summary of educational and professional qualifications, but is generally much longer and more detailed than a resume. Some include a list of the job seeker's every job, degree, accomplishment or achievement, regardless of its relevancy to the job being sought. They're often written in the first person and also usually contain personal information such as marital status, nationality, height and weight, date of birth, hobbies and personal interests. Many job seekers also attach copies of diplomas, certificates, transcripts, passports and a recent photo.

The best advice here is to abide by the old adage: "When in Rome, do as the Romans." If the common practice in the country you seek a job is to construct a CV, then do that. As CVs are the expected method for introducing yourself to an employer in the U.K., you would be wise to use one. However, if you were job hunting in the U.S., sending a CV would be frowned upon in most instances and thought of as too cumbersome to read.

For more information on this topic, we suggest you read "The Global Resume and CV Guide" by Mary Anne Thompson (John Wiley & Sons, 2000). This book covers global resume and CV etiquette, with cultural do's and don'ts, business practices and job- hunting tips tailored to the specific requirements of over 40 countries.