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Definition of resume

 (Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

intransitive verb

Definition of résumé  (Entry 2 of 2)

• proceed (with)
• encapsulation
• recapitulation
• run-through
• summarization

Examples of resume in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'resume.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French resumer , from Latin resumere , from re- + sumere to take up, take — more at consume

French résumé , from past participle of résumer to resume, summarize, from Middle French resumer

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Cite this entry.

“Resume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resume. Accessed 8 Jun. 2024.

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What Is a Resume?

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What is the definition of the word resume?

What are the two styles of resumes, why is chronological the most popular resume style, when to use a functional resume style, resume vs. cv.

Having a strong resume is an important part of making yourself a marketable candidate. To have the best resume you can, it’s important to understand what a resume is and why it’s important, starting with a clear resume definition. This article explains the key aspects of a resume document including the two most common styles and how to format a resume.

A resume is a term primarily used in America and Canada to refer to a document, that is typically one to two pages, and highlights a candidate’s education, experience and skills. The word resume stems from the French word ‘résumé’ which simply means a summary. However, in France and other parts of Europe, that word doesn’t represent a document where your skills and experience are showcased. Instead, in that part of the world, applicants turn in a curriculum vitae, or a CV, to apply for a job.

There are two primary styles of resumes that are commonly used when submitting your application for a new job:

Chronological resume

A chronological resume highlights your experience in terms of career growth. To do this, it focuses on your most recent career endeavors and education and works backward from your current situation to display up to ten years of education and experience. 

Chronological resumes are very common and may represent what you typically think of when you think of the word resume. They offer an in-depth look at your professional history with an emphasis on experience. Ideally, your chronological resume shows that you’ve grown throughout your career, taking on increasingly more responsibilities, in a way that is easily readable for employees.

A typical chronological resume contains these parts:

• Name and contact information. The name and contact information of the applicant is displayed here, including first name, last name, phone number, address and email.
• Resume summary or objective. A snapshot of skills and experience that either summarized the content of your resume, highlighting the most important qualities of it, or states your current career goals or objectives.
• Professional experience.  This should be the most robust part of a chronological resume and can include up to ten years of experience, starting with the most recent at the top of the section.
• Educational experienc e.  Use this area to highlight your education and certificates.
• Skills. A quick, clean list of skills at the bottom of your resume can help employers determine if you’re the best fit for the position.

Functional resume

If you don’t have the work experience yet to support an entire chronological resume format, you may choose to highlight your skills and education using a functional resume. A functional resume is similar to a chronological resume in that it contains the same sections, but they are in a different order. The order of your functional resume will be designed to position you in the best light. 

For example, if you have a master’s degree and certification in a specific subject, but not a lot of job experience, you might organize a functional resume to showcase your education. They can also be organized to feature specific skills. In a functional resume, the chronology of experience is less important than featuring the right sections.

A functional resume has these sections:

• Contact information. Include your contact information at the top, like your first name, last name, address, phone number and email address.
• Summary statement. A well-defined summary statement can include things like education and skills that make you most qualified for the position.
• Skill groups. In a functional resume, you can emphasize skills over experience by grouping skills into major categories, like communication, decision-making and more. Then breaking those sections down into bullet points. For example, a communication section might highlight written and verbal communication, empathy, cultural sensitivity and more.
• Professional experience.  A professional experience section is still required, but it might be briefer than your skills section.
• Education.  List all relevant educational pursuits.

Chronological resumes are popular for a number of reasons. For one, they offer a time-tested way to submit yourself for a position. Chronological resumes have been a professional standard in job searches used in the U.S. and Canada for almost 100 years.

In addition to their long history of being effective at obtaining a job, chronological resumes are designed to show growth and development from one job to the next. This makes them a popular choice for candidates who want to make the best impression on employers by showing promotions and other changes in positions that result in increased responsibility.

For candidates who don’t have the ability to show positive growth and change, the functional resume format may be necessary. 

Here are some things to consider when deciding to use a functional resume format:

• You are re-entering the workforce after a long time away
• There are other employment gaps in your history 
• Your job has changed often over the course of your career
• You want to enter a new field
• You don’t meet the experience requirements for the job you are applying for

Depending on your circumstances, you could also consider using a combination of the two resume styles to suit your needs.

Here are some differences between a CV, or curriculum vitae, and a resume:

• Resumes have cover letters, CVs do not. Instead, CVs have a two-page summary of skills and experience called a CV summary that summarizes the contents of a CV that could be much longer.
• CVs include different sections.  While CVs include the obvious things you would find on a resume or application like job experience and education, they also include additional sections for things like research interests, publications, awards and accolades and more.
• There are regional use-cases for each.  CVs are likely to be used in Europe and parts of Canada, as well as other parts of the world. In the United States and Canada, it’s common for professionals to submit a resume, and as such, employers may expect you to use a chronological or functional resume format with a cover letter, versus a CV and CV summary.

A CV is similar to a resume in that it is a summary of experience and skills. Typically, CVs are used in Europe, while resumes are more common in the United States and Canada. Because CVs are generally expected to be longer than resumes, a CV format may be used for American candidates who have things like numerous publications, extensive work experience or additional accolades that make their resume run longer.

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What Is a Resume?

Understanding a resume, the resume heading, resume trouble spots, changing times for resumes, what you should not put on a resume, the bottom line.

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Resume Definition: Meaning, Purpose, and What Should Not Be on Yours

Katrina Ávila Munichiello is an experienced editor, writer, fact-checker, and proofreader with more than fourteen years of experience working with print and online publications.

Investopedia / Jiaqi Zhou

A resume is a formal document that a job applicant creates to itemize their qualifications for a position. A resume is usually accompanied by a customized cover letter in which the applicant expresses an interest in a specific job or company and draws attention to the most relevant specifics on the resume.

American job coaches insist that a resume should be only one or two pages in length. British job applicants traditionally are expected to produce a somewhat more detailed document, called a CV (curriculum vitae).

Key Takeaways

• Nowadays, resumes are typically sent by email or as part of an online application.
• The traditional one- to two-page limit for a resume stands, but nothing prevents you from attaching a brief video introduction or other illustration if it is relevant and enhances your presentation.
• It's smart to rewrite your resume to tailor it to a specific job you're seeking.

A resume is almost always required for applicants to office jobs. They are the first step taken by corporate recruiters and hiring managers to identify candidates who might be invited to interview for a position.

Successful resumes highlight specific accomplishments applicants have achieved in former positions, such as cutting costs, transcending sales goals, increasing profits, and building out teams. 

There are many formats for resumes, with many variations for particular professions such as investment banking and the fashion trade.

Whatever the format, most resumes include a brief summary of skills and experience, followed by a bullet list of previous jobs in reverse chronological order and a list of degrees earned. A final section might be added to highlight specific skills, such as fluency in a foreign language, knowledge of computer languages, professionally useful hobbies, professional affiliations, and any honors achieved.

Brevity, a clean layout, and succinct language all are prized. People who have to sort through hundreds of resumes have short attention spans.

The heading on the resume should include not only your name, email address, and mobile phone number but also your address on LinkedIn or another professional community and the address of your website or blog if you have one.

Be aware that any hiring manager will, as a matter of course, enter your name in the Google search field. Do a search on your own and see if you can optimize your own results or at least decently bury any youthful faux pas.

Recruiters examine job histories for significant employment gaps or a pattern of job-hopping. Be prepared to explain either, whether in a cover letter or during an interview. An applicant with a history of short-lived jobs might consider omitting a few of the oldest ones, especially if they aren't relevant to the current job opening.

For example, if you spent years working behind a counter in food service, then went back to school to earn physical therapy credentials, forget some of those early jobs in food service. Flesh out the sections that report your skills , training, and experience in the field that's now your specialty. You can mention those other jobs in the interview while explaining what a reliable professional you are.

The past can be particularly dangerous for applicants to new technology companies seeking to assemble cutting-edge teams. Legacy skills may imply obsolescence. The most powerful resumes underline how an applicant can thrive in the job that's open right now.

It goes without saying that resumes these days are delivered as email attachments or uploaded for an online application, not printed out and mailed.

Although the two-page maximum still stands, many applicants use the web to its full potential when it comes to attachments. Video introductions, charts, graphs, and other illustrations can make you stand out, so long as they're relevant and slickly made.

There is so much talk about what should be in your resume, but there are also some things that ought to be kept off the page. First, and most importantly, are your age, marital status, and the number of children you may have. While a potential employer might be able to deduce this information via a web search, it isn't relevant for a job application.

In addition, do not list your current salary, religion, political beliefs, or any personal details (like your hobbies), unless that information is required for the job in question.

What Are Common Resume Mistakes?

Common resume mistakes include typos, vague details without a lack of specifics, either being too long in detail or too short, grammatical errors, poor verb usage, adding impertinent information, and not including enough information on skills.

Should I Create More Than One Resume?

This depends on whether you are applying for different types of jobs. For example, if you are applying for an office manager job, you should tailor your resume to outline your leadership and organizational skills. But you might also be interested in applying for a retail position, so creating a second resume that instead highlights any retail experience that you have will put you in a better position to get that job.

What If I Do Not Have Any Work Experience?

You can still create a strong resume even if you do not have any professional work experience. Your resume can include any volunteer work you have done and the responsibilities you had during this time. If you are still in school, you can also list any academic organizations you are a part of and any offices and responsibilities you're holding.

Your resume is what gets you the job interview. It's the first step in getting hired. So you want to spend plenty of time making sure it's professional, represents who you are, is void of mistakes, does not contain superfluous information, and highlights why you would be the best candidate for the job.

Your resume should be recent and contain only the most important information; remove anything else. If you've been working for two decades, employers aren't interested in your high school GPA or any internships you had during college. Keep it concise, interesting, and impressive, and you'll be sure to get a response from companies.

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Resume vs. Résumé: A Brief Account Of Their Differences

We all have those words that we’ve heard over and over but don’t have the chance to write out all that often. Which can lead to a little bit of confusion when you actually need said word—like handing in your job application with “ resume ” in big letters on top instead of résumé. Or worse, talking about your résumé and pronouncing it resume the entire time: “As you can see on my re-zoom …”

While mixing up resume and résumé will surely lead to some funny looks, there’s a reason the two words get confused: a shared origin and differences between formal and informal writing.

If you’re looking to bolster your résumé, review some of the key action verbs we recommend when writing your résumé.

What does resume mean?

Resume is a verb that means to continue or “to take up or go on with again after interruption.” You can resume watching your favorite TV show after dinner, for example, or you could say that the football game resumed after the storm passed.

The noun form of resume is resumption , which is “the act or fact of taking up or going on with again.” The resumption of activities in nicer weather, for instance.

Resume was first recorded in 1375–1425. It comes from the Latin resūmere. The Latin word can be broken down into re- , a prefix meaning “again, back,” and sūmere, which means “to take.”

The definition is pretty straightforward, but it can get a little more complicated very fast. Resume is also a spelling variant of résumé when the accent marks are dropped (more on that later). You can thank how the English language adopts some French words for that curveball.

What is a résumé ?

A résumé (with the accent marks) is “a brief written account of personal, educational, and professional qualifications and experience, as that prepared by an applicant for a job.” It’s pronounced [  rez – oo -mey ] as opposed to how resume is pronounced [ ri- zoom ].

One could submit their résumé when applying for a graduate school program, for example, or do some extra volunteer work to add to their résumé. Our article on how to write a résumé has the tips and tricks you need, just be sure to use our Grammar Coach™ to make sure you don’t mix up resume and résumé before sending it in.

The word résumé was first recorded in 1795–1805 and originally meant a summary . The English résumé comes directly from the past participle of the French verb resumer, which means to “ sum up .” In French, résumé literally translates to something that has been summed up. The English meaning isn’t all that different when you consider a résumé is just a summary of a person’s education and work experience.

Why is résumé spelled that way?

Sometimes when the English language adopts a word from another language, the accent marks stick. Consider the word café , or déjà vu . The accent marks tell French speakers how to pronounce a vowel. That mark over the E in résumé is called an acute accent and signals that it should be pronounced like “ey.” Accent marks also distinguish two different words that are otherwise homographs.

Do you have the savoir-faire to know when to use a French loanword? Learn about savoir-faire and other French words that made their way into English.

That latter reason is one example of why the accent marks remain in English. A reader would have to rely entirely on context if résumé lacked the accent marks, and relying on context can easily lead to a misreading of the situation.

That said, sometimes the markings are left out in common usage, especially for words that were borrowed from French long ago—they had time to settle in, drop the marks, and assimilate. That’s why, in informal writing, résumé may be spelled resume. Think of it like how some places describe themselves as a café while others use cafe.

As with anything else in communication, it’s important to know your audience. Résumés are typically used when applying for a job or school. Both of those tend toward more formal, so using résumé with the acute accents is a safe bet.

What is a résumé vs. curriculum vitae ?

You may also be asked for a curriculum vitae (or CV for short) instead of a résumé. Using curriculum vitae is more common in British English and in other varieties of English across the world, but it’s not entirely uncommon in American English.

Like a résumé, a curriculum vitae is a summary of work experience and other background information that might be relevant to someone reading a job or school application. A CV is more likely to be asked for in academia than at your average, run-of-the-mill job in the United States. It also typically refers to a much more detailed summary—describing published papers and awards under a job or education heading rather than only listing a title and short description of duties, for instance. The fact that a CV is so comprehensive makes sense, as curriculum vitae  means “course of life” in Latin.

Now, if you landed here while working on your résumé or curriculum vitae to double check that you were using the right accent marks, you can resume with confidence now.

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Meaning of resume – Learner’s Dictionary

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(Definition of resume from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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• résumé (noun)
• resume (verb)
• If you would like to be considered for the job, please submit your résumé .
• His musical résumé includes performances at Carnegie Hall, a stint with the New York Philharmonic, and two Grammys.
• a brief résumé of the news

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Definition of resume verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• resume (something) to resume talks/negotiations
• She resumed her career after an interval of six years.
• The noise resumed, louder than before.
• There is no sign of the peace talks resuming.
• resume doing something He got back in the car and resumed driving.

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

• He resumed his seat opposite her.

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re•sume

Ré•su•mé, or re•su•me or re•su•mé.

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