Curious About CVs vs. Resumes? Here's How They Really Differ and When to Use Each

I want to know the basic difference between a CV and a resume.

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A curriculum vitae (CV) and a resume are both documents used for job applications, but they have distinct differences in terms of length, content, and purpose.

A CV is typically longer and more detailed than a resume. It includes a comprehensive overview of your academic background, research experience, publications, awards, and other relevant information. CVs are commonly used in academic and research positions.

On the other hand, a resume is a concise summary of your work experience, skills, education, and achievements. Resumes are tailored for specific job applications and are usually limited to one or two pages. They are widely used in the business and corporate world.

In summary, while both CVs and resumes are essential tools for job seekers, the key differences lie in their length and the depth of information provided. It is important to choose the appropriate document based on the requirements of the job you are applying for.

Hi Radhikashah, below are some of the comparisons between a CV and a Resume:

CV

Definition: A CV (Curriculum Vitæ, which means course of life in Latin) is an in-depth document that can be laid out over two or more pages and contains a high level of detail about achievements, much more than just a career biography.

Length: More detailed and can stretch well beyond two pages.

Purpose: Intended to be a full record of an entire career history to make it easy to get an overview of an individual’s full working career.

Layout: Static, with any changes only in the cover letter; it has a clear chronological order listing the whole career.

Usage Around The World: Americans and Canadians would only use a CV when applying for a job abroad or if searching for an academic or research-oriented position. In the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand, a CV is used in all contexts and prevails in mainland Europe. In Germany, the CV is more commonly known as a Lebenslauf (true to the Latin origins) and is only one of many application documents that German job seekers must produce to get an interview.

Resume

Definition: A resume, or résumé, is a concise document typically not longer than one page as the intended reader will not dwell for very long.

Length: A brief summary of a targeted list of skills, achievements, and experience over one or two pages.

Purpose: The goal is to make an individual stand out from the competition.

Layout: Short with no particular format rule, it doesn’t have to cover the whole career and is highly customizable; information can be shuffled around to best suit the applicant and tailor it to the needs of the specific post.

Usage Around The World: Preferred application document in the US and Canada. In Europe, resumes aren’t used at all.

Other Usage Around The World for both CV and Resume: In Australia, India, and South Africa, the terms resume and CV are used interchangeably. A resume is used more for jobs in the private sector, and a CV is more conventional when applying for public service positions.