week 7 discussion 2

The terms CV (for curriculum vitae) and rsum are sometimes used interchangeably. However, they are different. In this discussion topic, you will analyze the differences between a CV and rsum and apply some design principles to a sample CV.

This discussion topic can inform your first draft of writing assignment #4, the rsum/cover letter/PARC summary.

Please take the following steps before responding to the questions in this discussion topic:

• Watch the one-minute video titled Resume Vs. CV. The video is posted in Learning Resources for week 7.
• Read through the brief article from Beth A. Brooks, Resume, CV, or Both? The article is posted in Learning Resources for week 7.
• Download the sample CV from Lucas Williams. The CV is posted in Learning Resources for week 7.

Please respond to the following tasks:

1. In your own words, write one or two sentences explaining what a rsum is and what a CV is.
2. Give some advice to Lucas Williams, who needs to convert his CV to a rsum. Here in task #2 of this discussion topic, you will give Lucas advice on the content of his CV as he converts it to a rsum. The following description provides some context to Lucas’s situation.

Lucas is an academic. The reason he has developed a CV is that he needs to use a CV for any jobs he will apply for at a university or at a college. These institutions typically ask for a CV from job candidates.

In academia, he has years of experience teaching management courses and education courses. He also has experience directing an instructional technology center at a college. He has not always worked in academia, however. He also has some years of experience in private industry as a management consultant.

Lucas is planning to apply for a position as a technical writer for a small private tech startup company. He has been told by individuals who work in the company that the hiring manager for the position wants a one-page rsum. His three-page CV wont get him past the first round of reviews with the company.

He needs to convert his three-page CV to a one-page rsum.

What advice would you give Lucas on the content of his CV as he considers reducing it to a one-page rsum?

In this discussion topic, you are not required to create a resume for Lucas. However, give him four pieces of advice on the content of his CV that will help him reduce his three-page CV to a one-page rsum.

Please be specific as you give advice to Lucas. Consider the fact that there is some information on his CV that he might want to eliminate. Also note that he is applying for a technical writer position, so there is some information he might want to emphasize more in the rsum in comparison to how it is emphasized in the CV. Moreover, perhaps there is some experience in his CV that he should expand on as he applies for this technical writer position.

1. Using this same scenario, give Lucas some advice on three of the four PARC principles (proximity, alignment, repetition, and contrast) for his CV as he considers converting it to a rsum.

Lucass CV is quite plain. Nothing really stands out very much in the CV. Moreover, some areas might be improved with a better attention to proximity and alignment. Perhaps even repetition could be enhanced.

Your answer should include advice to Lucas on how to better apply three of the four principles of proximity, alignment, repetition, and contrast.