Resume vs. CV – What’s the Difference and Which Do You Need?

There are a few key differences between a resume and a CV.

The main difference is all there in the name – curriculum vitae roughly translates to ‘the course of one’s life’ – as such, it should detail your academic credentials and your professional career for your prospective employer. Whereas resume is a French word meaning ‘summary’ – as the name suggests it should present a concise picture of your relevant experience, qualifications, and skills for a specific position.

(Note of caution here – the terms resume and CV can vary in meaning between countries.)

In a nutshell here is the long (CV) and short of it (resume):

The Purpose of a Resume Vs. a CV

CV: Your CV is your chance to show off your extensive achievements – it is a detailed document that is a complete record of your education and career history.

Resume: It is all about making an immediate impact on the reader – it is a concise portrayal of your qualifications, skills, and achievements.

CV and Resume Length

CV: Your CV is a more comprehensive document – as a consequence, it may well be two to twenty pages or more – depending on your professional experience. You don’t want to drown the prospective employer in pages of information on yourself – but for an executive, a CV is usually five to ten pages long.

Resume: Resumes are typically short and sweet, ideally a one page summary of your education, skills and employment with some specific skills customized to the target job.

CV Layout Vs. Resume Layout

CV: The details in your CV will mostly be unchanging – changes only need to be made in order to keep it up to date with your latest publications, awards, and experiences – think of it like a running commentary of your life. It doesn’t always need to be tailored for different positions (the specifics for the job position can be in the cover letter along with the CV). It is laid out chronologically covering your entire career in contrast to your resume which is not necessarily chronological.

Resume: A resume should be tailored to each and every position you are applying to. It might contain a summary statement (a showcase of who you are in 100 words or less), a work history followed by special skills and if pertinent, an awards and honors section as well. Your CV would then go beyond these sections and list in more detail achievements such as publications, licenses or certifications.

When to Use a Resume Vs. Curriculum Vitae

Generally, it will state on the application whether you need a CV or not. More often than not in the US a job application will require only your resume. And should you plan on applying for work abroad, a CV is more likely to be required.

If it is not clear on the application, ask your point of contact for the position directly. Be sure to read the application instructions carefully, as they may be very specific about the kind of information they want you to include in your CV or resume and how it should be formatted.

Although equated more often than not with academics – a CV is also used by lawyers, physicians, and senior executives – as a CV is more impressive, lengthy and detailed. If your application asks for a CV that may indicate the expectation of considerable life experience and accomplishments.

If you don’t already have a CV, it is a good idea to start one – it will make the job of modifying your resume easier and if you do need to present a CV it is there ready to use. Keep your CV updated and when it comes to that job application you will have all the information you need in one place!