In the US and Canada, a resume (also spelled as résumé) and a Curriculum Vitae (CV) are two entirely different documents. A resume provides a concise overview of your skills and experiences, tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. It’s typically 1–2 pages long. A CV is a more detailed record of your entire academic and professional career, often used when applying for academic jobs, fellowships, or grants.
Why the confusion, then?
It’s mostly because of international nomenclature differences.
In most countries outside of North America, the term “CV” refers to a short, targeted document used by job seekers when applying for new roles.
People applying for academic positions in non-American academia use a document very similar to the American Curriculum Vitae, it’s just that they’d call it an “academic CV.”
The bottom line is really simple —
- If you’re submitting an academic application, write a CV that describes the whole course of your academic career in detail.
- If you’re applying for a non-academic position, use a concise, tailored document outlining your work experience and skills. In the US, you’ll call it a resume. Elsewhere, you’ll most likely call it a CV.
Still confused? This article will explore the differences between a CV and a resume so that you never have to worry about applying with the wrong document.
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What Is a Resume?
A resume is your primary tool when applying for jobs across most industries in North America. It’s a succinct document specifically designed to showcase your qualifications and professional experience, tailored to the role you are targeting. The main goal is to capture the employer’s interest quickly, leading them to consider you as a strong candidate for an interview.
Sample resume
Resume definition
A resume is a focused compilation of your educational background, work experience, and relevant skills. It’s formatted concisely to provide a swift snapshot of your professional persona.
Length and format
A resume is typically no longer than two pages. The format should be easy to read, with clear headings and bullet points to help with quick scanning. On a resume, prioritize the most relevant information and put it where it’s likely to be seen first. Make sure your resume formatting is consistent throughout the document.
Key sections on a resume
- Header with contact information
- Summary or objective
- Work experience
- Education
- Skills
- Additional sections (e.g., projects and extracurricular activities)
Header with Contact Information
At the top of your resume, include your name, location (city and country), phone number, email address, and, optionally, a LinkedIn profile or personal website.
Learn more here: How to Create a Good Resume Header
Summary or Objective
This brief section is your elevator pitch. In two to three sentences, highlight your key qualifications and career goals, aligning them with the specifics of the job to which you are applying.
To see some good real-life examples of resume summaries or objectives, check out:
Work Experience
This section forms the backbone of your resume. List previous roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Each entry should include your job title, the company’s name, location, and the dates of your employment.
Under each role, write bullet points that describe your responsibilities and accomplishments. Quantify results with numbers whenever possible.
More details in this guide: How to Describe Your Work Experience on a Resume
Education
Mention your highest degree first, followed by lower qualifications. Include the name of each institution, its location, and your graduation year. If you recently graduated or are a student, you may place this section above your work experience.
For more information, see: How to List Education on a Resume
Skills
Tailor this section to the job description, listing skills that showcase your competency for the position. Include a mix of hard and soft skills relevant to the role.
Not sure what skills to list? Get tips here: How to Put Skills on a Resume (+Examples)
Additional sections
Depending on your industry and the specific job, you might include extra sections for certifications, awards, professional affiliations, or volunteer experiences. These can provide further evidence of your qualifications and dedication.
This guide explains what to include in your resume and what to leave out: What to Put on a Resume in 2024
What Is a CV (Curriculum Vitae)?
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is more than just a career biography. It’s a comprehensive document detailing your complete academic and professional history. This is typically used when applying for positions in academia, research, or other situations where a detailed overview of your professional and academic past is required.
Sample CV (for academia)
Martina Bloomberg, PhD
Brooklyn, NY 11201 | +1 (555) 123-4567 | m.bloomsberg@litmail.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/martinabloomberg
OBJECTIVE
An accomplished scholar in English and Comparative Literature with over 12 years of teaching, research, and publishing experience. Seeking a senior faculty position to leverage extensive background in interdisciplinary literary studies, with a focus on postcolonial narratives and gender theory.
EDUCATION
PhD in English and Comparative Literature
Columbia University, New York, NY
Dissertation: “Echoes of Empire: Postcolonialism in Modern British Literature”
Advisor: Dr. Samuel Richardson
Graduated: 2015
Master of Arts in Comparative Literature
University of California, Berkeley, CA
Thesis: “Voices of Dissent: Feminist Rhetoric in 20th Century French and American Literature”
Graduated: 2009
Bachelor of Arts in English
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Graduated: 2007
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature
New York University, New York, NY
2019–Present
Courses taught: Advanced Studies in Comparative Literature, Modernism in European Literature, and Postcolonial Narratives.
Supervised 10+ PhD candidates, with several successfully obtaining tenure-track positions.
Assistant Professor of English
Boston University, Boston, MA
2015–2019
Developed a new curriculum for Comparative Literature, focusing on cross-cultural influences in 20th-century literature.
Published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and served on the editorial board of Literary Horizons.
PUBLICATIONS
Between Lines: The Hidden Dialogues in Victorian Literature
Book, published by University Press of Florida, 2022
“Revisiting the Subaltern: Power and Narration in South Asian Literature”
Book, published by Institute of Asian and African Studies, 2020
“Crossing Borders, Blending Voices: Hybridity in Transatlantic Literary Discourse”
Comparative Literature Today, 2019
“Gender Constructs and Textual Disruptions in French Feminist Literature”
French Literary Review, 2018
JOURNAL ARTICLES
“Migratory Narratives and the Politics of Identity in Diaspora Spaces”
Journal of Postcolonial Writing, 2021
“Echoes and Allegories: Decoding Mythology in Contemporary Irish Literature”
Irish Literary Review, 2020
“Queer Timelines: Revisiting History through LGBTQ+ Narratives in European Classics”
Gender and Literature Journal, 2019
“The City as Text: Urban Spaces and Narrative Identity in Late 20th Century American Novel”
American Literary History Journal, 2017
BOOK CHAPTERS
“Framing the Unspoken: Silence and Voice in the Novels of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie”
In Contemporary African Literature and Cultural Diversity, edited by Susan Thomas, Oxford University Press, 2022
“War and Peace: Contrasting Representations of Conflict and Reconciliation in Israeli and Palestinian Literature”
In Middle Eastern Narratives of Peace and War, edited by Mohammad Al-Najjar, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2021
“Rewriting the Renaissance: The Role of Women Writers in Early Modern English Literature”
In Studies in English Renaissance Literature, edited by Dr. John Cartwright, Routledge, 2019
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
“Narrative as a Colonial Weapon: Deconstructing Imperial Rhetoric”
Modern Language Association Annual Convention, 2023, Chicago, IL
“Hybrid Identities: Co-creating a Transnational Literary Canon”
International Conference on Narrative, 2021, Lisbon, Portugal
Lead panelist on “Literary Boundaries and the Subaltern Voice”
American Comparative Literature Association Annual Meeting, 2019, Georgetown University
AWARDS & GRANTS
Excellence in Literary Research Award, New York University, 2022
NEH Grant for “Narratives of Empire and Resistance” research project, 2020
Fulbright Scholar, University of Paris, 2011–2012
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Modern Language Association
American Comparative Literature Association
Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States
CV Definition
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is an in-depth document that offers a full account of your educational and professional life. It includes a comprehensive listing of your academic background, teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors, affiliations, and other details relevant to your educational achievements.
Length, scope, and format
Unlike a resume, a CV has no page limit. It simply has to be long enough to include all pertinent information. The length will vary depending on your experience and the specific requirements of the positions you are applying for. It’s not uncommon for senior candidates to have CVs that span over 10 pages.
Key sections on a CV
- Personal details
- Education
- Teaching experience
- Research experience
- Publications and presentations
- Grants and fellowships
- Professional affiliations and licenses
- Awards and honors
- Conferences and courses attended
Personal Details
Typically found at the top, this includes your name, contact details, and sometimes a professional or personal profile website.
Education
List your educational background, starting from your most recent degree to the oldest. Include the name of each institution, location, the degrees obtained, and the dates of graduation.
Teaching Experience
Add any teaching experience, including the institutions where you have taught, the courses you handled, and any notable feedback or accomplishments.
Research Experience
Provide details about your research projects, your role in each, and the outcomes. Highlight any significant findings that have contributed to your field.
Publications and Presentations
List any books, articles, journal entries, and other publications you have authored or co-authored. Similarly, mention relevant presentations at conferences, workshops, or panels.
Grants and Fellowships
Include information about any grants or fellowships you have been awarded. These signify recognition and endorsement of your research initiatives.
Professional Affiliations and Licenses
Bring up any professional organizations that you are a member of and any professional licenses you hold. These affiliations can support your professional credibility.
Awards and Honors
Highlight any recognitions or awards you have received over the course of your academic or professional career.
Conferences and Courses Attended
Detail significant conferences you have participated in or special courses you’ve taken which add value to your professional development.
Resume vs. CV: Key Differences
Resumes and CVs serve different purposes and come in varying lengths.
Resumes are brief, typically one or two pages, and streamlined for most job applications, showcasing key skills and experiences. CVs, intended for academic or research roles, are more detailed and may extend over several pages to comprehensively outline one’s full academic and professional history.
Length and detail
- Resumes are concise, typically limited to one or two pages, aiming to highlight recent and relevant experiences.
- CVs are more in-depth and can span several pages as they describe your entire professional and academic background.
Purpose
- Resumes are used for job applications across most industries. Resumes provide a condensed snapshot of your skills, experience, and potential contributions.
- CVs are used when applying for academic, scientific, or research roles. They offer a detailed view of your academic pursuits, including your research projects, teaching experiences, and publications.
Tailoring each document
- Every resume must match the company’s requirements of the job. So, write a separate resume for every opportunity you apply for.
- CVs are more “static” than resumes. You just continuously expand your CV as your career progresses. Minor customization might be required when applying for a very specific fellowship or a grant, but it will mostly boil down to rearranging the order of some sections to highlight what’s most relevant. Unless otherwise requested, don’t remove any details of your academic record from a CV.
Non-US Perspectives on CVs
When stepping outside the North American job market, you’ll notice significant differences in how the terms “resume” and “CV” are used. In many parts of the world, the distinctions between these two documents blur, with “CV” often being synonymous with what Americans consider a resume.
“CV” and “resume” as synonyms
In South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa, a CV is the standard document requested by employers for all sorts of positions, not just those in academia. Unlike the extensive academic CV used in the US and Canada, these CVs are very similar to American resumes, though there are often slight differences in format and content expectations.
Key regional examples and differences
Europe
In countries like the UK, Ireland, and other European nations, a CV is typically about two pages long and focuses on professional experiences, education, and skills. In 2012, the EU introduced a standardized CV format called Europass. The idea was to facilitate easier comparison of qualifications across different countries in the EU. However, the format isn’t too popular (as of April 2024, around 2% of the EU workforce have a Europass profile) and, frankly, isn’t too visually appealing.
Asia
Variations exist across different countries in Asia. For instance, in Japan, apart from including education and work experience, CVs often require personal information such as date of birth and nationality, which would not typically be included in American documents. In South Korea, CVs are similar to American resumes but usually even more concise, using keywords and phrases rather than full sentences. Some South Korean companies require candidates to include a photo on their CV.
In South Asia, mostly India and Bangladesh, another document called a “biodata” is required to apply for some jobs. Biodata, except sections that mirror an American resume, includes information about the candidate’s marital status, religion, ethnicity, parent’s name, and more. A variation of a biodata format is also sometimes used for matrimonial purposes.
Australia and New Zealand
Similar to British CVs, Australian and New Zealand CVs can extend up to two pages and typically require detailed sections about skills and accomplishments that align closely with job descriptions.
Africa
In South Africa, the terms “CV” and “resume” are perfect synonyms and can be used interchangeably. In other African countries, “CV” is usually the term used for all professional job applications. There are slight differences across countries, influenced by local practices and remnants of colonial ties, which generally align African CVs more closely with European norms.
CVs in some African countries may include sections not commonly found in US resumes or European CVs, such as date of birth, nationality, income, and sometimes marital status.
Adapting to international standards
When applying for jobs internationally, always research and adhere to the specific resume or CV format expected in that country. When in doubt, it’s perfectly fine to reach out to the company you’re planning to apply to and clarify the formal requirements of the job application documents you need to submit.
Summary
Here’s what you need to know about the differences between a CV and a resume:
- In the US and Canada, a resume is a concise document tailored to specific job applications, while a Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a detailed overview of one’s entire academic and professional career, often used in academia.
- A resume is typically no longer than two pages. It focuses on recent and relevant experiences and skills, with clear formatting for easy scanning.
- Key sections of a resume include contact information, a summary or objective, work experience, education, and skills. Other sections you could add include certifications, awards, and more.
- A CV contains extensive details about one’s academic background, research and teaching experiences, publications, and more, with no set page limit and richer in content.
- Unlike resumes which are highly customized for each job application, CVs are more static, expanding as one’s career progresses, with minor adjustments for specific applications.
- To apply for academic positions or grants, use a detailed CV. For non-academic jobs in North America, prepare a targeted resume.
- Internationally, the term “CV” often refers to a document similar to the American resume, albeit sometimes varying slightly in format and content.
As always, thanks a ton for reading. If you have any questions about resumes, CVs, or job applications in general, I’ll gladly help. Just drop me a DM on LinkedIn. In the meantime, see what others asked about below.
FAQ
What if the job ad says, “to apply, submit a resume/CV”?
If a job ad states, “to apply, submit a resume/CV,” it most likely means the employer is asking for a short, targeted document. If it’s a job in North America, they could have just added the term “CV” in case some non-local applicants aren’t familiar with the term “resume.” Conversely, if it’s a non-US and non-Canadian job, the employer probably added the term “resume” so that North American candidates know that their resume will work fine.
Do I need to create an academic CV for college applications?
For college applications, typically, you do not need an academic CV unless specifically requested. Instead, focus on the application forms provided by the institution, which usually include sections for detailing your academic achievements and extracurricular activities. Only prepare an academic CV if it’s explicitly required by the college.
I’m applying for a non-academic job at an academic institution. Do I submit a CV or a resume?
When applying for a non-academic job at an academic institution, submit a resume. Your resume should be concise and tailored to highlight relevant skills and experiences that meet the job requirements. An academic CV is generally unnecessary unless the position specifically calls for detailed academic qualifications.
What’s the maximum length of a CV?
The maximum length of a CV is not strictly defined, but it should be comprehensive enough to cover all pertinent professional and academic achievements. While CVs can often extend beyond 10 pages, especially for those with long academic careers, ensure every piece of information adds value and pertains to your objectives.
Should I include my personal statement on a CV?
No, unless specifically asked for in the application requirements. Normally, a personal statement is a separate document that you submit as a separate file.
How to turn an academic CV into a resume if I want to transition out of academia?
Tweak the document to focus on skills and experiences relevant to the industry role you’re targeting. Reduce the detail on academic achievements, condense publication and conference lists, and emphasize transferable skills and specific accomplishments that align with the non-academic job market.
