Resume Definition Resume Definition 1

Resume (noun) — a written document that lists your education, work experience, skills and achievements, submitted to employers when applying for jobs to show your qualifications and background.

Part of speech:
Noun (countable)
Phonetic transcription (IPA):
/ˈrez.juː.meɪ/
CEFR level:
A2
Word frequency:

How to Pronounce “Resume”?

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Tips for “resume” pronunciation: 

Say REZ-oo-mei with three syllables. Don’t confuse it with “resume” re-ZOOM, which is a verb and means “to continue.”

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How to Use “Resume” in a Sentence?

Broaden your understanding of the definition of a “resume” with the aid of actual cases where individuals searching for jobs and professionals discuss this topic in the course of their career and application processes.

I updated my resume with my latest internship experience before applying to new jobs.
The company asked me to submit my resume and cover letter by Friday afternoon.
His resume was impressive, showing five years of relevant work experience in marketing.
She spent hours perfecting her resume to make sure it had no spelling mistakes.
Most employers only spend 10-15 seconds reading each resume they receive.

What Are Synonyms for the Word “Resume”?

Knowing these alternative terms and synonyms for “resume” will help you understand job postings and communicate effectively in different professional contexts worldwide.

Related nouns: application profile portfolio credentials

Synonyms (contextual): CV curriculum vitae

Common collocations: submit a resume professional resume

“Resume” Word Formation and Description in Context

Get a good control over the collocations that are frequently used by recruiters and job seekers in their conversations regarding employment applications and hiring processes.

With adjectives: strong resume impressive resume updated resume well-written resume

With verbs: write a resume send a resume review a resume look at a resume

With nouns (noun + noun): resume format resume template resume section resume builder

Idioms and Phrases with “Resume”

Learn the meaning of “resume” with career-focused expressions that will help you navigate professional conversations about work, applications and building your career path.

  • Update a resume — this means to add new information, such as recent work experience, skills, or achievements, so it reflects your current professional status.

    After finishing the course, she decided to update her resume to include her new qualifications.
  • Resume gap — refers to a period of time when a person was not employed or did not list professional activity on their resume.

    He explained the resume gap by talking about the time he spent studying and gaining new skills.
Resume Idioma Resume Idioma 1
  • Resume screening — a process in which employers or recruiters review resumes to decide which candidates should move forward in the hiring process.

    During resume screening, only applicants who met the key requirements were selected for interviews.

Test Your Knowledge of “Resume” Meaning

Check the knowledge on resume-related terminology and professional phraseology in the following exercises.

Type 1: True/false statements:
Choose the correct answer:
1
A resume is a document that shows your work experience and skills to potential employers.
2
“Update a resume” means literally standing in a doorway.
3
CV and resume mean basically the same thing in professional contexts.
Type 2: Right word order:
Put these chaotic words in order:
1
my
updated
I
resume
yesterday
2
company
The
resume
wants
my
3
strong
She
a
resume
has
very
Type 3: Choose the correct option
Select the one closest in meaning:
1
John wants to apply for a new job, so he needs to update his resume. What does it mean to update a resume?
2
Maria had a two-year break in her work history. What is it?
3
The HR team is doing resume screening to find suitable candidates. What is this process about?

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“Resume” Word in Other Languages

Learn how to spell “resume” and listen to it in other languages to expand your linguistic horizons.

Language Word for “Resume”
Flag Spanish Spanish   Currículum
Flag French French   CV
Flag German German   Lebenslauf

Did You Know It? Fun Facts About “Resume”

The word “resume” has fascinating origins and surprising statistics that reveal how dramatically job hunting has changed over the decades.

  • The first known resume was written by Leonardo da Vinci.

    In the year 1482, Leonardo da Vinci wrote what is widely regarded as the first-ever resume while seeking the position of a military engineer at the court of the Duke of Milan. The document, covering one page, enumerated all his qualifications and talents.
  • The “resume” word comes from French.

    This term is derived from French, where it literally means “summary.” It came to the English language at the beginning of the last century to denote a short synopsis of a person’s professional life.
  • Applicant Tracking Systems scan most resumes first.

    Around 75% of the resumes are not seen by humans at all because the first step in the process is made by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). To be able to go through these automated systems, resumes are supposed to have important keywords from the job description.

Famous Quotes Featuring “Resume”

Discover the insights that successful professionals and career experts have shared on the topics of “resumes”, applications, and the development of professional reputations.

“You are not your resume, you are your work.”

— Seth Godin

Explanation: Godin claims that the real worth of people is not determined by their titles, academic degrees, or resume bullet points. The real impact is determined by the quality, originality and significance of your work, not by the impressiveness of your credentials.

“Social change isn’t something you should do just to help pad a resume. Follow your passion.”

— Nancy Lublin

Explanation: Acts taken solely to enhance one’s reputation are not genuine. The real transformation takes place when the motives behind actions are love and faith, rather than career perks.

“I get criticized for taking roles in films like Ghost Rider 2, but if you look at my résumé, dude, I’ve mixed it up as much as I can.”

Idris Elba

Explanation: He claims that a mixed CV indicates flexibility and openness to performing different roles, even the ones that are risky or not very popular. The citation emphasizes the notion that growth usually comes from taking more paths than just the safest one.