The difference between "Application" and "Resume"

What’s the difference between a Resume and a Job Application?

It may not seem like it, but the difference between a job application and a resume is glaring. A resume is essentially just a piece of marketing material used to promote one’s self in the interest of getting an interview and finding a job. It’s just a collaboration of titles, responsibilities and ideas put onto paper, often times exaggerated or embellished with fancy titles and accomplishments all in the effort to sell ones self to a perspective employer.

The Letter of the Law

So why is a job application any better? The answer is in how the legal system views them. A job application is, under the rule of law, a piece of evidence. Sections 602, 613, 901, and 902 of the federal code simply state that “there is no better evidence than the written document.” Job applications have forms, signatures, dates, and identifiers that the applicant must fill-in, sign, date and verify. This makes it nearly impossible for an applicant to deny knowledge of any omissions, exaggerations, or misleading information within a court of law. Remember a job application is a legal “form” while a resume is considered “puffery” according to recent federal court rulings.

The Takeaway

I always tell my customers that you should never accept a resume as a job application. That’s not to say you shouldn’t consider resumes at all. You can always have your applicants attach it to the application. But in order to protect yourself and your company from problems down the road, you need to require your perspective employees to fill out the application and all accompanying forms.