What's The Difference Between A Curriculum Vitae (CV) And A Resume?

What exactly is a CV? Is it distinct from a resume? Why do some candidates submit a CV while others submit a resume? Is one of the two truly superior to the other? Is a resume simply another term for a CV, and vice versa?

You’ll learn everything you need to know about the CV vs. resume distinction in 5 minutes.

Key Difference Between Resume and CV

CV definition and sample, as well as resume definition and sample. The distinction between a CV and a resume.
When applying in the United States or Canada, when should you use a CV, and when should you use a resume?

What does a CV mean outside of North America, and what document should you use when applying internationally?

Is something unclear? See the detailed comparison of a CV vs. a resume below:

What Is A CV?

A CV (full-form Curriculum Vitae, which is Latin for “course of life”) is a detailed document that describes your entire career path. It’s usually two or three pages long, but it can be spread out over 10+ pages if necessary.

A Curriculum Vitae describes your education, professional career, publications, awards, honors, and other accomplishments. A CV is only used for academic applications in the United States and Canada: academic jobs, grants, research fellowships, and so on.

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

A complete list of CV sections is provided below.

Details To Include In A CV

Contact Information
Research Objective, Personal Profile, or Personal Statement
Education
Professional Academic Appointments
Books
Book Chapters
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Other Publications
Awards and Honors
Grants and Fellowships
Conferences
Teaching Experience
Research Experience / Lab Experience / Graduate Fieldwork
Non-Academic Activities
Languages and Skills
Memberships
References

Resume – What Does It Mean?

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

Take a look at the example below, which was created with our builder in US resume format. Isn’t there a clear distinction between a resume and a CV?

Details To Include In A Resume

Contact Information including Job Title
Resume Summary or Resume Objective
Work Experience
Education
Skills
Additional Resume Details (Awards, Courses, Resume Publications, Licenses and Certifications, Interests, etc.)

Summary

The length, layout, and purpose of these documents distinguish a CV from a resume. CVs are not limited in length, whereas resumes are typically one to two pages long. A CV describes the candidate’s entire academic career, whereas a resume summarizes skills and work experience.

When To Use A CV and A Resume

If you’re applying for a job in the United States or Canada, prepare a resume: keep it brief and tailored to the job description.

Write a Curriculum Vitae for academic positions in North America, including every detail about your academic or professional career.

When applying for jobs in Europe or New Zealand, you’ll be required to submit a “CV,” but a European CV is nearly identical to an American resume.

In Australia and South Africa, the terms “CV” and “resume” are interchangeable: both refer to a brief document, similar to the US resume.

In South Asian countries, “CV” and “resume” mean the same thing as in the United States, but when applying for jobs, you’ll often be required to submit a biodata.