What is the Difference between Biodata Resume and CV?

When applying for a job, a critical element to be included along with the application is the candidate’s resume, CV, or biodata. Most people fail to understand the difference between biodata resume and cv, and provide the same document, irrespective of what has been demanded. This can lead to an automatic rejection, for a very silly mistake. To prevent this from happening, read along as we discuss the key differences between the three, providing clarity on what to use, and when. 

What Is A Biotata? 

A biodata is a document that is mostly concerned about an individual’s personal information. This usually includes basic information such as your education background, basic personal information such as date of birth, name, gender, nationality, marital status, etc. Along with this, it can also include family information such as information about parents and siblings, including their names, occupations, etc. You can also include information about your hobbies and interests in a biodata document. 

A biodata is usually required for personal purposes. Since its focus is more on a person’s basic personal information, it is usually used for arranged marriage proposals. However, certain regional jobs specifically in the South Asian countries, can require this as part of the job application process. 

What Is A CV? 

CV, short for curriculum vitae, is a lengthy document, which contains detailed information about the candidate’s complete academic as well as professional background. The aim of this document is to identify suitability of a candidate, particularly within the fields of academia or medical where comprehensive contributions to the academic or medical society through journals, papers, research, and more are accounted for. 

This document contains basic information about the individual’s personal information including their name and contact details. In addition to this, the document focuses on a professional summary, work experience from past employments, academic details, research projects conducted, papers published, awards received, skills that the candidate has, and teaching experience (if relevant).

What Is A Resume? 

Lastly, a resume is a document that focuses on sharing an individual’s qualifications for a particular job role. This is typically very short, comprising only 1-2 pages, and contains all key information points to establish how suitable a candidate is for a job. 

A resume focuses on a candidate’s basic personal information like their name and contact details, followed by a professional summary briefing their objectives and qualifications. This is followed by work experience details, elaborated concisely to establish suitability for a role, after which educational qualifications are described in short, followed by skills, certifications, awards, and sometimes, interests of the person.

Conclusion 

The difference between biodata resume and CV lies in their content and purpose. Biodata focuses on personal details, a resume highlights skills and work experience, while a CV provides a comprehensive overview of academic and professional achievements.

While used interchangeably, CV, resume, and biodata are three very distinct documents that should be carefully used based on the purpose for which the document is being sent.