CV vs Resume: What's the Difference?

“CV” and “resume” are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same in the US. We break down the differences between these two professional documents, explain when to use each, and provide tips for writing an academic CV and a resume for a job.

What is a CV?

A CV (curriculum vitae) is an in-depth document that highlights your academic background, work history (usually teaching experience), research experience, publications, and other professional achievements.

CVs are designed to give a complete picture of your professional journey and are commonly used for roles in academia, research, and medicine.

Here’s how to write a CV if you’re putting together an application for an academic position:

When to use a CV

Here’s a quick look at fields and jobs where you may need to use a CV:

• Medicine: Medical roles typically call for a longer CV that demonstrates all of your relevant degrees, licenses, and experience (both in residency and as a certified professional).
• Academia: An academic CV should be used to apply for positions in academia like research roles or professorships. You’ll need to showcase your publications, presentations, fellowships, and other relevant information. There is no CV length limit when applying for a job in academia.
• International jobs: A CV the standard document for international job applications. Although it will contain much of the same information as a resume, make sure you understand the UK-style CV formatting British employers are used to.
• Research roles: A research CV follows certain formatting conventions dependent on the field, and often extends across multiple pages. Use a multipage CV if your research experience is extensive and important for the position you’re applying to.

If you’re unsure what kind of document is appropriate for your job application, check what the job ad asks you to submit.

CV example for academia

This academic CV was written by G. Richard Scott, a Professor of Physical Anthropology at the University of Nevada (the contact details are made up to protect his privacy).

Dr. Scott has been part of the American university system for over 40 years, so his CV dates back to the 1970’s. It’s 24-pages long.

What is a resume?

A resume is a concise (usually one-page) document that highlights your skills, work experience, and education relevant to a specific job. It’s designed to quickly show employers why you’re a strong fit for the role by focusing on achievements and qualifications.

What’s the difference between a CV and a resume?

The main difference between a CV and a resume is that CVs are used for academic and institutional roles, while resumes are the go-to for most jobs, from service industry positions to corporate CEO roles.

A CV offers a comprehensive look at your entire career — education, research, publications, and more — making it the standard for academic and research roles. There’s no limit to how long a CV should be, and in some cases they can exceed 10 pages in length.

A resume, on the other hand, is a concise, tailored document that’s usually one page long and focuses on your most relevant skills and experience. It’s the go-to format for most corporate and private sector roles.

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Tips for making an academic CV

An academic CV focuses on your scholarly achievements and is more detailed than a standard resume. Here’s how to make yours stand out:

1. Cover all of your experience: Add sections like Education, Research Experience, Publications, Conferences, Grants, Teaching Experience, and Professional Affiliations.
2. Highlight publications and research: List articles, books, and papers in proper APA or MLA format. Include any ongoing research projects or work in progress.
3. Detail teaching experience: Specify the courses you’ve taught, your role (e.g., lecturer, teaching assistant), and any curriculum development you contributed to.
4. List awards, fellowships, and grants: Include any academic honors, funding received, or scholarships to showcase your achievements and recognition.
5. Use formal, consistent formatting: Academic CVs are longer but should still be easy to read. Keep a consistent structure and use clear headings.
6. Include references: It’s common to add a list of academic references at the end of your CV.

Tips for making a resume for a job

Here’s how to create a job-winning resume (not just in the US, but anywhere):

1. Tailor your resume to the job description: Customize your resume for each job by using keywords from the job posting and focusing on your most relevant experience.
2. Use bullet points with action verbs: Start each bullet with strong action verbs to emphasize your contributions.
3. Focus on achievements, not just duties: Quantify your achievements rather than just listing your past job responsibilities.
4. Keep your information concise yet informative: Aim for one page if possible, and no more than two pages if you have a lot of experience. Every piece of information you include should be related to the job you want — if it’s not, remove it.
5. Optimize for ATS (applicant tracking systems): Use standard headings and avoid overly complex formatting to ensure your resume gets through automated systems. You can test how well your resume gets parsed by testing out our free AI resume checker.

CV vs resume definitions from around the world

Still have questions? Here’s a quick look at what CV and resume mean depending on where you’re applying for work:

UK and Europe

In most European countries (including the UK), a CV is a one- or two-page document you use to apply for jobs. The term “resume” isn’t common, but is still understood by most hiring managers across Europe.

CVs for academic positions are also called CVs in Europe. However, you still might hear them called academic CVs because it makes the meaning clearer.

Canada

Canadian businesses use the word “resume” in the same way as Americans. Similarly, a CV is used to apply for academic roles.

Australia & New Zealand

In Australia and New Zealand, resumes and CVs are both used to apply for jobs. Resumes tend to be one page, summarizing the main highlights of your career, while CVs are around two to three pages and outline all of your professional experience.

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