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What is a resume? (country variants)

A resume (called a curriculum vitae or CV in the UK) is a document that sums up your education, work history, skills, and achievements. Its purpose is to present your professional profile in a way that convinces employers you’re the right fit.

Most resumes follow a chronological format, starting with your most recent role. A typical layout includes:

  • Personal details (name and contact information)
  • A short personal statement or career objective
  • Education and qualifications
  • Work experience
  • Skills
  • Optional extras such as certifications, awards, or interests

Resume for the US job market

Create my resumeUS Resume Template

In the United States, a resume is a concise document, usually one page, that highlights your most relevant skills and experience for the role you’re applying to.

Most resumes use a reverse chronological format, starting with your most recent job and working backwards. At the top, a short summary or objective statement gives employers a quick snapshot of your goals and qualifications.

The goal is to present your strongest, most relevant achievements in a clear and focused way that makes it easy for employers to see why you’re a good match.

Resume for the Canadian job market

Create my resumeCanadian Resume Template

Like in the US, a Canadian resume is tailored to the role, highlighting the skills and achievements most relevant to the job. It also follows a chronological format, starting with your most recent role.

Canadian resumes are slightly more flexible in length, typically running from one to three pages, depending on experience. A standard layout includes:

  • Personal details
  • A short career objective or summary
  • Education
  • Work experience
  • Skills
  • Optional extras such as certifications or language abilities

Resume for the Indian job market

Create my resumeIndian Resume Template
Indian Resume Template Page 2

In India, job applications typically use a curriculum vitae (CV) rather than a short resume. These documents are often more comprehensive, sometimes running several pages, and provide a detailed account of a candidate’s background and achievements.

An Indian CV usually includes:

  • Personal details (often with a passport photo)
  • A career objective or summary
  • Educational qualifications
  • Work experience
  • Skills
  • Additional sections, such as projects, publications, or references

It is also common to include a passport photo and details of personal interests or hobbies. Additionally, Indian CVs may specify that references are available upon request.

How to create a professional resume template

How To Write A Resume

Learn what makes a resume stand out and how to structure yours for maximum impact. A professional resume highlights your skills, experience, and achievements in a way that grabs recruiters’ attention and increases your chances of landing interviews.

Tip: Make sure you know the difference between a CV vs Resume so you send the right document.

  • Define your goal

    Before you start writing, be clear on the job you’re targeting. A resume should prove you’re the right fit for that role by showing your most relevant skills and achievements.

  • Choose the right format

    Select a resume format that best showcases your experience:

    • Chronological if you already have years of work experience. 
    • Skills-based if you’re changing careers or have limited experience.

  • Add your contact details

    Place your name, phone number, email, and location at the top of your resume template. Make them easy to spot, so employers can contact you quickly.

  • Write a strong summary

    Open with a short professional summary (3–4 sentences) highlighting your experience, key skills, and career goals. Tailor it to the role you’re applying for.

  • Detail your work experience

    List your work experience in reverse chronological order. Include job title, company, location, and dates, followed by bullet points that focus on results and achievements—not just duties.

  • Highlight relevant skills

    Create a skills section for both hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (like teamwork and communication). Align them with the job description.

  • Include education and certifications

    List your qualifications, institutions, and graduation dates. Add relevant coursework or honours if they strengthen your application.

  • Proofread carefully

    Check for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors. A polished resume template shows attention to detail and professionalism.

  • Tailor for every application

    Adapt your resume to each job by using keywords from the job description and emphasising the most relevant experience. This helps to ensure you have an ATS-friendly resume.

Create my resume

Example resume

Now that you’ve seen the steps, here’s how they come together in practice. This resume example shows how to structure your information, highlight achievements, and format your document so it’s clear and professional. 

Mary James

4 Covington Close
London WC24TF
987654321
mary.james@example.com

Personal statement

Customer-oriented Store Manager offering over 5+ years of experience in retail operations, sales and service team leadership and profitability strategies. Organised and adept at prioritising daily tasks and following through to achieve performance and productivity goals.

Employment history

February 2023 – Current
Aspire – London
Store Manager

  • Understood what drives overall business success and prioritised and delivered quality results.
  • Optimised store performance through continuous evaluation of existing processes and identifying improvement opportunities.
  • Solicited customer feedback to understand customer needs and constantly improve product offerings.

January 2020 – January 2023
Beauties – London
Assistant Store Manager

  • Improved store ability to meet and exceed customer expectations, through careful trend and stock monitoring.
  • Stocked and restocked inventory upon delivery receipt, maintaining accurate supply records.
  • Oversaw daily store cleaning and general store maintenance to keep high company standards.

Skills

Leadership
Time management
Problem-solving
Retail sales
Hiring and training
Employee training
Shift checklists
Customer service
Retail inventory management
Outstanding communication skills
Merchandise planning
Store management

Education

2018
London University
Bachelor of Business Administration

Additional information

  • Member of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and actively participates in industry conferences and workshops to stay updated on retail trends, best practices, and regulatory changes affecting store operations in the UK.
  • Completed Retail Management Certification (Level 5) from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), enhancing leadership and operational skills essential for effective store management.

Professional resume examples

Not sure where to start? Our ATS-friendly resume examples for U.S. jobs give you proven layouts and content ideas you can adapt to your own experience. Use them as inspiration to build a resume that stands out.

SEARCH ALL CV EXAMPLES

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    Universal resume template

    Every country and industry has its own expectations, so there’s no single resume format that works everywhere. What you can do is create a document that follows clear, professional standards and then adapt it for different regions or roles.

    Here are the key elements of a globally adaptable resume template:

    Create my ResumeUniversal Resume Template

    • Clear and easy-to-read design

      Make sure your resume is easy to read and has clear, easy-to-locate headings and bullet points. This helps recruiters to quickly scan your information.

    • Tailored content

      Customise your resume for each job you apply to by highlighting the most relevant skills and experiences. This shows employers that you’re a good fit for their specific needs.

    • Professional look

      Keep your resume polished and professional with consistent formatting. Pay attention to details like spacing and alignment to make a positive impression. Clearly display your information; don’t be afraid of using space to your advantage.

    • Contact information

      Include your name, phone number, and email address at the top of your resume. This makes it easy for recruiters to contact you.

    • Education and work experience

      List your education and work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. Provide brief descriptions of your roles and accomplishments.

    • Skills

      Highlight your key skills and achievements relevant to the job you’re applying for. Focus on quantifiable results to stand out from other candidates. Include both hard and soft skills.

    • Additional information

      Consider adding sections like certifications, languages, volunteer experience, or professional memberships if they’re relevant to the position you’re seeking.

    • Concise length

      Aim to keep your resume concise, typically no longer than two pages. This ensures that recruiters can quickly grasp your qualifications and experience.

    Create my CV

    Advantages of using our online resume builder

    • User-friendly interface

      The My Perfect CV platform is simple and intuitive, making it easy to create a professional resume quickly, even if you’re not tech-savvy.

    • Customisable templates

      Choose from a wide range of professionally designed templates tailored to different industries and roles. Each template is easy to customise so you can match your personal style.

    • Time-saving

      Forget the hassle of formatting. Just enter your details into our step-by-step form, and My Perfect CV builder will create a polished, ready-to-download resume in minutes.

    • Expert guidance

      Get built-in advice, resume tips, and pre-written content you can adapt to showcase your skills and achievements with confidence.

    • ATS resume-friendly

      Our templates are optimised to work with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), helping your resume get past automated filters and into the hands of real recruiters.

    • Proven results

      Resumes built with My Perfect CV don’t just look good—they perform better. Job seekers using our platform have a 30% higher chance of getting hired and a 42% higher recruiter response rate compared to generic resumes.

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    Frequently asked questions about resume templates

    What is the UK resume template?

    In the UK, a resume is commonly referred to as a curriculum vitae (CV). The UK CV template typically follows a reverse chronological format, listing education, work experience, skills, and additional sections such as certifications or interests. It’s important to tailor your UK CV to the specific job you’re applying for and highlight relevant qualifications and experiences.

    Is a resume the same as a CV?

    Although “resume” and “CV” are often used interchangeably, there are some differences between them based on where you are. In the US, what’s called a “resume” is similar to what’s known as a “CV” in the UK. Additionally, in academic settings, there’s a more detailed version called an “academic CV”.

    What is an ATS resume?

    ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, which is software used by employers to manage and streamline the recruitment process.

    An ATS resume is a resume that is formatted and optimised to be easily read and parsed by ATS software. To create an ATS-friendly resume, use standard fonts, avoid complex formatting, and include relevant keywords from the job description to increase your chances of passing through the ATS screening process.

    How to write a resume?

    Writing an effective resume involves several key steps:

    1. Understanding the purpose: Know that a resume is a summary of your professional background, skills, and achievements, tailored to showcase why you’re the right fit for the job.
    2. Choosing the appropriate format: Decide whether a chronological or skills-based format best suits your experience and the job you’re applying for.
    3. Organising your information: Include your contact details, a professional summary, work experience, education, skills, and additional relevant sections.
    4. Customising for each application: Tailor your resume to match the job description, highlighting the most relevant qualifications and experiences.
    5. Proofreading and editing: Review your resume carefully to ensure accuracy, clarity, and professionalism, avoiding errors in spelling, grammar, or formatting.

    How long should a resume be?

    Most resumes should be one page if you’re early in your career, or two pages if you have more experience. Keep it concise and relevant.

    Do I need a different resume for every job application?

    Yes. A generic resume won’t get the same results. Tailor each version by highlighting the most relevant skills and using keywords from the job posting.

    *The names and logos of the companies referred to above are all trademarks of their respective holders. Unless specifically stated otherwise, such references are not intended to imply any affiliation or association with myperfectCV.

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