CV vs. resume

[Thego2guy]

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Hey guys!

I'm looking for a lab position this summer, and normally I send out my resume (which is a good resume as far as resumes go), but this time the PI requested my CV. To my understanding, a CV is used more frequently in the medical and academia worlds because it goes in-depth on your courses, degrees, certifications, publications, presentations, and other academic accomplishments. I also understand that it is generally much longer than a resume and more extensive in its description.

I have enough to saturate a resume, but definitely close to nothing to put on a CV. I'm finishing up my first year in undergrad, haven't published anything, haven't gone to any meetings or presentations, and I am simply trying to get my foot in the door.

Any advice on what I should do?
1) Should I just send him my resume instead of my CV (resume has prior research experience)?
2) Should I attempt to squeeze out a CV - albeit with crappy quality?

Thank you SDNers!

 

[armybound]

Resume and CV are usually synonymous at your level. I'd send him your resume.

 

[octupus]

format it to include research/science relevant classes, research lab experience, brief description of your research including techniques you are familiar with, any poster presentations or publications

 

[octupus]

just read the rest of your post. yea, at this point, just send a resume.

 

[Thego2guy]

Thank you, so do I just... attach it? Or do I say "sorry, don't have a CV. Heres a resume though! =D " A little confused about that.

 

[kami333]

Thank you, so do I just... attach it? Or do I say "sorry, don't have a CV. Heres a resume though! =D " A little confused about that.

I would just attach it and wouldn't even say anything.

There are specific instances where you need a correctly formatted CV or resume (NIH biosketch, industry position, etc), but usually PI/profs just want some info on what you've done and don't care so much about how it's formatted.

 

[octupus]

Thank you, so do I just... attach it? Or do I say "sorry, don't have a CV. Heres a resume though! =D " A little confused about that.

No need to clarify.

 

[Thego2guy]

No need to clarify.

Thanks guys. This is for a pretty high end place, so lets hope he doesn't expect a rocket scientist 😳

 

[Neuronette]

Usually a higher position would require a CV but seeing that you are only "trying to get your foot in the door," I would just go with the resume. What kind of lab are you applying for?

 

[AnthroMD]

Hey guys!

I'm looking for a lab position this summer, and normally I send out my resume (which is a good resume as far as resumes go), but this time the PI requested my CV. To my understanding, a CV is used more frequently in the medical and academia worlds because it goes in-depth on your courses, degrees, certifications, publications, presentations, and other academic accomplishments. I also understand that it is generally much longer than a resume and more extensive in its description.

I have enough to saturate a resume, but definitely close to nothing to put on a CV. I'm finishing up my first year in undergrad, haven't published anything, haven't gone to any meetings or presentations, and I am simply trying to get my foot in the door.

Any advice on what I should do?
1) Should I just send him my resume instead of my CV (resume has prior research experience)?
2) Should I attempt to squeeze out a CV - albeit with crappy quality?

Thank you SDNers!

Although I agree with the fact that a resume would probably be fine, I would personally encourage you to create a CV for this position and send both. 1) Because that's what they asked for. and 2) Chances are you will need a CV in the future, especially if you are pursuing research or academic medicine. Having a CV now will allow you to continuously update it as you accomplish more throughout your career.

 

[URHere]

To my understanding, a CV is used more frequently in the medical and academia worlds because it goes in-depth on your courses, degrees, certifications, publications, presentations, and other academic accomplishments. I also understand that it is generally much longer than a resume and more extensive in its description.

I have enough to saturate a resume, but definitely close to nothing to put on a CV. I'm finishing up my first year in undergrad, haven't published anything, haven't gone to any meetings or presentations.

CVs are relevant for people further along in their research careers. If you have no publications, papers, posters, or talks to present you really can't construct a CV at this point.

What I would suggest doing is taking your resume and focusing it. If you have any previous research experience, expand those entries to include descriptions of your past projects and techniques that you are familiar with. If you have taken any particularly detailed lab courses, you could even list them there. Remove anything absolutely irrelevant to research (e.g. waiter at Roadside Grill) unless you think this PI would find a broader picture of you useful or endearing.

When you send in the resume, just say something like, "I have attached a copy of my resume". It makes it clear that you have sent a resume without starting and weird drama about it.

Although I agree with the fact that a resume would probably be fine, I would personally encourage you to create a CV for this position and send both.

You could do this, but I think that getting 2 similar documents as attachments would be confusing and possibly even frustrating to the PI. I think that one document listing all of your qualifications is just fine.

 

[DAPI]

Send a CV. That's what the PI asked for, that's what you should send.

It should not be that difficult to format a resume into a CV. And if you have enough for a good one page resume I'm sure you can write a good 1 - 1 1/2 page CV.

If you do send him your resume instead, I agree with the others and would not draw attention to the fact that you sent him something other than he requested.

 

[octupus]

CVs are relevant for people further along in their research careers. If you have no publications, papers, posters, or talks to present you really can't construct a CV at this point.

What I would suggest doing is taking your resume and focusing it. If you have any previous research experience, expand those entries to include descriptions of your past projects and techniques that you are familiar with. If you have taken any particularly detailed lab courses, you could even list them there. Remove anything absolutely irrelevant to research (e.g. waiter at Roadside Grill) unless you think this PI would find a broader picture of you useful or endearing..

Agree with this.

Your resume is fine, because you don't have anything to put on a CV. Just cater it toward a science research front and add relevant courses/labs you've completed.

 

[Narmerguy]

I encountered this same problem when I applied to work with a few people abroad. One of the professors actually sent the resume back to me and told me he refused to read about my leadership/service work and wanted a proper CV focused towards the work I wanted to do.

What I would recommend is taking your resume, and just removing some of the sections that aren't relevant to a research PI (volunteer work, athletic experience, etc). Then, go back in and add more science-research stuff. Any significant projects you've had to do for a science class, more details on your past research, any experimental techniques you know, etc.

Some PI's may not care much, but some of them will and you want your resume/cv to be satisfactory to both. Don't sweat it too much, I was applying for a multi-year position so it's likely that PI's won't be as picky for a summer gig. If you don't have any more relevant stuff, or can't expand on your resume anymore, just send it as is.

 

[Thego2guy]

Agree with this.

Your resume is fine, because you don't have anything to put on a CV. Just cater it toward a science research front and add relevant courses/labs you've completed.

Thanks for the advice guys, but Octupus nailed it right on the head ^ I really don't have anything constructive to put on a CV without making it look completely idiotic, and half a page long. At least on the resume, I can show an extra-dimension to myself, and express some of my other qualities and capabilities (ie: social interaction, good with kids, leadership) while presenting it in a stylish and cohesive manner. For a CV I would definitely need upper bio courses, posters, presentations, actual bench science research work, publications, and I literally have none of those things. Thank you for your input though!

Usually a higher position would require a CV but seeing that you are only "trying to get your foot in the door," I would just go with the resume. What kind of lab are you applying for?

Not any one specific lab, since I emailed a pediatric neurosurgeon who is a PI of multiple labs, however wherever he would place me, it would still probably not be bench science, but clinical research - unless I get lucky and he puts me in contact with one of the PhD's in his science lab. At this point I am just extremely frustrated from being ignored and rejected (I got 3 rejections.. and the other 8 people that I emailed, I simply never got a reply from). I am an extremely capable person, and I know more than the average amount of info for someone in my shoes (ie: I have a deep understanding of physiology, general pathology, clincal neurology [cognitive function disorders, ocular pathology, seizures, syncope, cerebrovacsular disorders, etc..], pharm, etc..) so I feel like I wouldn't be a ridiculous burden on the lab members when it comes to training and understanding. I keep trying to accentuate my aptitude for learning, but I guess no one really wants a freshman undergrad in their world-class cancer curing research lab. "Fortunately" for me, all I have here in NYC, are those.

Sorry for the rant. *sigh*
Btw, I DID email him my resume + I wrote about his published work and what I know about it, and how it interests me (it genuinely does)... its been 4 days, still have yet to hear a response from him. 😕