CV vs Resume: What's the Difference?

If you’re researching how to put together a job application, you’ve probably seen the words “CV” and “resume” used in place of each other.

So what’s the difference between a CV and a resume? It’s actually pretty simple:

In most cases, a resume and a CV are just different words for the same thing. Both words refer to the document you provide to employers outlining your work history and skills. The difference is that Americans use the word “resume,” while people in most other countries use the word “CV.”

However, when used in the United States, a “CV” also refers to an academic CV – a lengthy document used to apply for positions in academia. Below, we explain more about the differences between an academic CV and a resume:

A closer look at CVs

So what’s a CV in the American context?

A CV (or curriculum vitae) is a document that provides an overview of your full academic career and professional history, including your publications, conferences, teaching experience, educational history, dissertations, and more.

An academic CV is used specifically to apply for grad school, PhD programs, or positions in academia.

Additionally, there’s no limit to how long a CV should be, and in some cases they can stretch more than 10 pages in length.

What to include on a CV

Here’s what to include on your CV if you’re putting together an application for an academic position:

CV Example

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.

A closer look at resumes

A resume is a one- or two-page summary of your work experience, key skills, and job-related qualifications.

Resumes are used to apply for any job that’s not associated with academia. From your first job out of high school to your last, you’ll need to know how to make a strong resume if you want employers to take you seriously.

The biggest difference between a resume and a CV is that a resume emphasizes work experience and job skills over education, and is not comprehensive. In other words, when writing a resume you should only focus on your most relevant experience and omit details that you don’t think employers will care about.

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What to include on a resume

Here’s a list of sections to include when you’re writing a resume:

• Contact information
• Resume summary
• Work experience
• Education
• Skills
• Other relevant resume sections (certifications, awards, projects, volunteer work, language skills, etc.)

Resume Example

This waiter/waitress resume sample shows how a standard resume should look:

Resume examples for different industries

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CV vs Resume (international differences)

Still have questions? Here’s a breakdown of what CV and resume mean depending on where you’re located: