CV vs Resume: The Key Differences to Choose Between the Two

 CV vs Resume: The Key Differences to Choose Between the Two

What is a CV? Is it any different from a resume?

 

Why do some candidates apply with a CV and others use a resume? Is any of the two actually better than the other? Is resume just another word for CV, and vice versa?

 

In 5 minutes you’ll learn everything you need to know about the CV vs. resume difference.

 

This guide will show you:

• CV (Curriculum Vitae) definition and sample, and a resume definition and sample.
• The difference between a CV and a resume compared.
• When to use a CV and when to use a resume when applying in the US or Canada.
• What CV stands for outside of North America and what document to use when applying internationally.

 

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The Difference

 

A resume is a one- to two-page document presenting key facts about your professional experience, educational background, and skills. A CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a longer document that details the whole course of your career. A resume is used for job search, a CV—for academic purposes.

CV

 

What is a CV?

 

A CV (full form Curriculum Vitae which is Latin for “course of life”) is an in-depth document which describes the whole course of your career in full detail. It’s usually two- or three-page long but can just as well be laid out over 10+ pages, if necessary. A Curriculum Vitae contains details about your education, professional career, publications, awards, honors, and other achievements. In the USA and Canada, a CV is used only for academic applications: academic jobs, grants, research fellowships, etc.

 

To see what it looks like check out the CV example below.

 

Curriculum Vitae Sample

 

Want to save time and create your CV in minutes? Use our CV maker. Just fill in the blanks and have a perfectly formatted CV ready for download. See 20+ CV templates and create your CV here.

 For more examples and guidelines on how to write an American CV, see: How to Write a US CV for Academic Applications (Examples)

 

As you can see, what goes on a CV is very detailed and comprehensive: many sections, no bullet points, just plain text (after all, CV meaning is a course of life, no wonder it’s that long!)

 

Below you’ll see a full list of sections to put on a CV.

 

What to Include in a CV:

 

1. Contact Information
2. Research Objective, Personal Profile, or Personal Statement
3. Education
4. Professional Academic Appointments
5. Books
6. Book Chapters
7. Peer-Reviewed Publications
8. Other Publications
9. Awards and Honors
10. Grants and Fellowships
11. Conferences
12. Teaching Experience
13. Research Experience / Lab Experience / Graduate Fieldwork
14. Non-Academic Activities
15. Languages and Skills
16. Memberships
17. References

 

Before we show you a full resume/CV comparison, let’s quickly define résumé.

 

Resume

 

A resume (or résumé, from French “to sum up”) is a short, concise document used for job applications in the US and Canada. The purpose of a resume is to provide recruiters with a brief overview of the candidate’s work history. A good resume should be targeted at a specific job and one to two pages long.

 

Have a look at the below example made with our builder in US resume format. The difference between a resume and a CV is clear, isn’t it?

 

American Resume Sample

 

You can use our convenient Online Resume Builder to create a perfect American Resume. Simply pick one of our resume templates here.

 

The Difference In a Nutshell

 

The difference between a CV and a resume lies in the length, layout, and purpose of these documents. CVs have no length limit; resumes are typically one to two pages long. A CV details the whole course of the candidate’s academic career; a resume summarizes skills and work experience.

 

All of the above holds true for the US and Canada.

 

But what about international applications?

 

Resume vs. CV: International Differences & When to Use Which

 

In all of Europe (the UK, Ireland, and other European countries), as well as New Zealand, the term CV is used to describe an equivalent of a US resume: a short, targeted document you use to apply for jobs. There’s no such thing as a “resume” there.

 

There are only minor, region-specific differences between a New Zealand or European CV and an American resume. To learn more about writing a job CV,