cv vs resume

• Search Search Please fill out this field.
• Career Planning
• Finding a Job

The Difference Between a Resume and a Curriculum Vitae

• CV vs. Resume: What's the Difference?

What Is a Curriculum Vitae?

• What to Include in Your CV

Review a Sample CV

What is a resume, review a sample resume, cv and resume writing tips, how to write a successful resume, how to write a successful cv, u.s vs. international cvs, resume and cv examples.

Adrian Mange / The Balance

While both a  resume  and a  curriculum vitae (CV) are used in job applications, they are not always interchangeable. The primary differences are length, what is included, and what each is used for. For example, CVs generally run longer than a resume and are more often used to highlight academic and research credentials.

CV vs. Resume: What's the Difference?

Most resumes in the United States are competency-based ; they are personal marketing documents intended to showcase the candidate’s skills, notable achievements, and work experience to the greatest advantage.

U.S. curriculum vitae, submitted for jobs in academia, scientific research, and medical fields, are credential-based , providing a comprehensive (and often lengthy) listing of one’s education, certifications, research experience, and professional affiliations and memberships.

Like a resume, a curriculum vitae (CV) provides a summary of your experience and skills. However, CVs are typically longer than resumes because they include more information related to one’s academic and research background. For entry-level candidates, CVs can be at least two or three pages long, and CVs for mid-level candidates who have amassed numerous publications tend to run much longer.

CVs include extensive information about your academic background, including teaching experience, degrees, research, awards, publications, presentations, and other achievements.

A curriculum vitae summary is a one-to-two-page condensed version of a full curriculum vitae. A CV summary is a way to quickly and concisely convey one’s skills and qualifications. Sometimes large organizations will initially ask for a one-page CV summary when they expect a large pool of applicants.

What to Include in Your Curriculum Vitae

Your curriculum vitae should include your name, contact information, education, skills, and experience.

In addition to the basics, a CV includes research and teaching experience, publications, grants and fellowships, professional associations and licenses, awards, and other information relevant to the position you are applying for.

Start by making a list of all your background information, and then organize it into categories.

Here is an example of a curriculum vitae. Download the CV template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), review more samples , or continue reading for more information.

A resume provides a summary of your education , work history, credentials, and other accomplishments and skills. There are also optional sections, including a  resume objective  and a  career summary statement .

Resumes are the most common document requested of applicants in job applications.

A resume should be as concise as possible. Typically, a resume is  one page long , although sometimes it can be as long as two or three pages.

Resumes often include bulleted lists to keep information concise.

There are a few different types of resumes, including  chronological ,  functional , and  combination formats. Select a format that best fits the type of job you are applying for.

Here is an example of a resume. Download the resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), review more samples , or read below for more information.

Whether you are writing a CV or a resume, there are a few helpful rules you should follow. It's important to show the hiring manager how you are qualified for the job, what you have to offer the organization, and why you'd be a terrific candidate to interview.

Match your resume or CV to the position.  This is most important when writing a resume, but it applies to a CV too. Make sure that you highlight your education, work experience, and skills as they relate to the particular industry or job.

In a CV, for example, if you are applying for a job in education, you might want to put your teaching experience at the top. In a resume, you might include only the work experience that relates directly to the job you’re applying for. You can also include  keywords  from the job description in your resume or CV. This will show the employer that you are an ideal fit for the position. The better you can demonstrate your match to the position, the stronger your chances of job search success.

Use a template.  You may want to use a template to structure your  resume  or  CV . This will give your document a clear organization, which will help the employer quickly see your qualifications and experience.

Proofread and edit.  No matter whether you use a CV or resume, you need to thoroughly  edit your document . Make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. If you can, ask someone to proofread it for you. It can be hard to catch your own mistakes.

Make sure your format is uniform. For example, if you use bullet points in one job description, use bullet points in all your job descriptions.

• Choose the right format for your needs. Your industry, experience, and desired role will inform your choice of resume format—e.g., chronological, functional, or combination. See sample resumes organized by occupation and industry  here . 
• Write for both robots and humans. Your resume needs to get past the  applicant tracking system  and grab the attention of the human being on the other end. These  resume writing tips  will help you craft a document that appeals to both software and the company's human resources department.
• Know what to include and how to format the information. These  sample CVs  provide a helpful guide;  this piece  offers tips for writing your very first CV.
• Choose an appropriate format. Make sure you choose a  curriculum vitae format that is appropriate for the position you are applying for. If you are applying for a fellowship, for example, you won't need to include the personal information that may be included in an international CV.

While CVs in the U.S. are used primarily when applying for  academic , education, scientific, medical, or research positions or fellowships and grants, candidates for international jobs may be asked to submit CVs for almost any type of job they apply for.

For example, in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, employers may expect to receive a curriculum vitae (often with an attached photograph) rather than a resume. However, international CVs are structured and formatted more like a resume than they are an academic U.S. curriculum vitae.

The Main Difference Between U.S. Resumes and International CVs

The primary difference between a U.S. resume and an international CV is that employers in other countries, unfettered by U.S. employment discrimination laws, require more personal information than one would provide on a resume in the United States.

These details vary by country but can include one’s date of birth, nationality, marital status, and number of children. Here’s  how to structure your international curriculum vitae.

Review resume and curriculum vitae examples and get downloadable templates for a variety of occupations and types of employment:

• Curriculum Vitae Samples and Templates
• Resume Examples and Templates

CareerOneStop. " Why You Need a Great Resume ."

Challenger Gray & Christmas. " Writing the Modern Resume: Dispelling the Myths ."

CareerOneStop. " Types of Resumes ."

VisualCV. " What to Include in a CV - an International Guide ."

University of Montevallo. " International Resume ."

Protect your data

This site uses cookies and related technologies for site operation, and analytics as described in our Privacy Policy . You may choose to consent to our use of these technologies, reject non-essential technologies, or further manage your preferences.

• Resume and Cover Letter
• Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae:...

Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae: Key Differences Explained by an Expert

13 min read · Updated on January 25, 2024

CV or not CV? That is the question

An important question indeed. But if you're wondering “what is the difference between a CV and a resume,” well the answer is both simpler than you might guess and more complicated than you might imagine.

On the one hand, it's easily explained by the fact that Shakespeare would write a CV if he needed a new job, but Hemingway would write a resume.

On the other, more complicated, hand, the term CV or Curriculum Vitae sometimes has a completely different, broader meaning. This is why Albert Einstein's curriculum vitae would be much longer than the CV of his contemporaries in other professions.

So, the question becomes, what type of CV are we talking about? 

Let's demystify the differences between a CV and a resume by looking not only at what these terms mean but what they mean in different circumstances .

So, what is the difference?

Curriculum vitae (cv) meaning.

“Curriculum vitae” is Latin for “the course of your life.” Most often, it refers to a brief, point-form document summarizing a job applicant's qualifications from three standpoints: work experience, education, and skills.

Resume meaning

Resume has a decidedly French connection, which is why it is sometimes spelled with one or two accents: resumé or résumé. And it's pronounced the same way as the French word it comes from: résumer , meaning “to summarize.” 

The noun “resume” also describes the short document that summarizes a job candidate's employment history, education, and skills - just like a cv.

That's right - CV and resume usually mean the same thing.

What resumes and CVs have in common

For most job seekers, there is no difference between a CV and a resume . They are the same type of job search document, universally used for the same purpose - applying for a job in virtually all organizations and industries. Except for the document's name, they look identical and contain the same information, structured the same way. 

CVs and resumes are equally brief - often a single page and never more than two pages. And both should be submitted with a cover letter that seeks to form a direct personal connection with the employer, geared to their specific hiring needs. The focus is on how job candidates can meet those needs and why they want to work for this organization.

Differences between a CV and resume

When discussing the document described above - the short career summary, calling it a CV or resume comes down to geography. 

Resume is by far the most familiar term for job seekers and employers in the United States and Canada. But in the UK, and most other countries where hiring organizations communicate in English, the same professional synopsis is called a CV .

Note, though, that this regional distinction should be regarded through a broad lens. Exceptions may be found in many global locales where either “CV” or “resume” would be acceptable. The point of our generalization here is to uncomplicate the prevailing misconception about CVs and resumes being completely different animals.

What else can CV mean?

Now we come to the twist on “curriculum vitae” (CV), and how it is sometimes defined. Within academic and scientific fields, it can refer to a much longer, more detailed version of the “ordinary” resume. 

This exception to the rule applies in the United States and Canada, as well as other English-speaking regions. But it's exclusive to a relatively small segment of professionals, which might help explain the common CV vs. resume confusion that confronts so many job seekers. 

In academia, this expanded CV document is used for both job applicants and those seeking research grants and fellowships. In higher learning institutes, long-form CVs are par-for-the-course for professorship candidates, graduate school applicants, and research specialists. In the latter instance, the private sector typically expects the same. 

When used in scholarly circles, the term “CV” or “curriculum vitae” is just assumed to reference this type of expanded career description. Alternative terms such as “long-form CV” or “academic CV” are useful to distinguish it from the “normal” CV equivalent of a resume.

We'll use that same distinction here, as we take a closer look at the characteristics of the ordinary CV vs. the academic CV.

How to write a resume or “normal” CV

Before writing a single word of your resume or normal CV, you need a laser-focused understanding of what the employer wants from the candidate who gets hired. Your normal CV must convey that you have what it takes. Study the posted job description carefully and do additional research online to learn as much as you can about the hiring organization.

This analysis will equip you to customize your job application for each specific hiring situation. If you do this correctly, no two versions of your CV will ever be completely identical.

What virtually all normal CVs have in common, regardless of occupation, is the basic framework for organizing all the information you deem relevant to include. “Relevant” is the operative word, because you will likely have to be selective about the information that you choose to add to your CV. Brevity demands it.

Here's a structure that outlines the distinct sections that a resume, or normal CV, should include.

Contact information : Identifying information* includes your name, email, and phone number. You can also add your city, state, and zip code - as well as a professional website, social media, or portfolio, if they're relevant.

Resume headline : This one-line headline should include the job title you're seeking, as well as descriptive terms that can help to distinguish you from other candidates. For example, instead of writing just the job title, IT Manager, you might want to write “Results-Driven IT Manager with 10 Years of Network Administrator Experience.”

• Summary (sometimes called a Profile or Personal Statement): A synopsis of your most persuasive qualifications geared to the employer's needs, emphasizing what makes you an excellent fit.
• Skills. A combination of both  hard skills  (job-specific abilities) and soft skills (innate traits and interpersonal strengths) should be included in this section. Make sure that your list includes the specific skill terms you find in the job posting.

Employment history : This should include your job title, the company name, and dates of employment. Add bullet point highlights of your most relevant work experience , framed as accomplishments with beneficial outcomes, ideally in quantifiable terms. In the most used chronological format, these are listed under each job in reverse order, beginning with your most recent job followed by previous jobs going back ten or fifteen years.

Education : Your postsecondary education is listed in reverse chronological order, starting with the highest degree or diploma, and working back to lower levels of educational achievement. Any relevant certifications, special training, or professional development activities can be listed too.

* International note : Hiring discrimination laws in some countries, including Canada and the US, make it inadvisable to include personal information like age, gender, race, or marital status in a resume. Photos are discouraged for the same reason. But in other countries, the same personal information and photos are commonplace.

Related Post : How to Make a Resume: Beginner's Writing Guide with Examples

How to write an academic (long-form) CV

Long-form CVs are integral to applications for faculty teaching and administrative positions, graduate school admissions, postdoctoral roles and research posts, as well as grants and fellowships. 

Academic CVs take as much space as needed to provide a comprehensive list of someone's educational credentials and scholastic achievements. In addition to degrees earned - bachelor's, master's, and PhDs - this list might also include Teaching Assistant or Lecturer positions, grants, fellowships, published works, conference attendance and presentations, professional or academic society memberships, and awards or special honors.

All of this is in addition to what an ordinary CV includes: employment history, contact information, and a summary paragraph. References, language skills, and other relevant abilities might be provided too.

Academic CVs are less likely to be tailored to the specific job you're seeking in the same way an ordinary CV would target a position and employer. Nor is there any restriction on length, which is perhaps the most obvious difference between an academic CV and a normal CV or resume. In fact, some long-form CVs can be ten pages or more.

To write a true curriculum vitae, or CV, include the following sections:

Your contact information

A professional profile

Your work history - this should be as comprehensive as possible and can go back as far as needed to show your career trajectory

Education - again, make sure that this is comprehensive to highlight your qualifications

Relevant professional skills

Those are considered the foundational sections in any CV and share much in common with a more traditional resume. Once you've completed those sections, you can also include additional optional sections, depending on the job you're seeking and the information you want to highlight. Some examples of these additional CV sections include:

Your published works

Notable awards and honors

Grants, relevant scholarships, or fellowships

Teaching experience

Foreign language proficiencies

License and certifications

Notable speaking engagements

Memberships in any professional associations

Research experience and achievements

Volunteer work

Personal interests - if they're relevant to the position

Your professional references

Again, these optional sections are not required for every position you may seek. You'll need to adjust your CV sections to ensure that they're in alignment with employer expectations within your chosen industry. Lawyers may want to focus more on their case experience, written briefs, and legal research. Medical professionals may want to highlight clinical experience, published research, clinical case trials, and similar points of interest.

Finally, make sure that you format your CV in a way that makes it easier for employers to read and identify the specific information that interests them. In other words, don't just create a long block of text that they need to wade through to find relevant details. Instead, use plenty of bullet points throughout each section to better organize the information.

Ordinary CV vs. Academic CV: What are the differences?

Key differences between an ordinary CV and an academic CV are summarized below:

Resume vs CV: frequently asked questions

If things are still unclear after reading this overview of resumes, standard CVs, and academic CVs, these answers to frequently asked questions may help to offer even greater clarity. 

1.     Do all employers require a CV or resume?

Consider a short-form CV or resume to be the default expectation for pretty much any job application. The exception might be an employer who only requires an application form to be completed. You could be asked for both!

2.     Do recent graduates need a resume or CV?

Fresher job applicants should be prepared to submit a resume (or ordinary CV), no matter how lean their work experience. Usually, a new graduate's education section takes precedence, with emphasis on work-related areas of study and academic achievements. 

Transferable skills from previous jobs - even part-time - as well as internships and volunteer activities, also have a vital place on a recent graduate's resume. As with any job application, be sure to tailor it to what the employer is looking for.

3.     Can I use a resume instead of a CV?

It shouldn't matter, as long as you're talking about a resume substitute for the normal, short-form CV. As we've discussed, either of these virtually interchangeable job application documents is appropriate in most instances.

4.     CV vs. resume: what do I call it?

Either term can be used for your one-page summary of achievements, education, and skills. What you call it usually depends on where you live or where you are applying to work. Again, “resume” is the familiar term in the US and Canada, while “curriculum vitae” or “CV” is common almost everywhere else. That's not to say there are no exceptions, or that either term would necessarily be misunderstood in the “wrong” country and disqualify your application. 

It's best to take your cue from the hiring organization: is it asking for a CV or a resume? 

5.     CV vs. resume: Which is better?

Once you understand that “CV” and “resume” are usually different words for the same thing, as emphasized above, this often-asked question becomes irrelevant. There is no better or worse option. Which term is preferable should be consistent with where you live or seek to work.

As for whether a normal short-form CV or a long-form academic CV is better, it comes down to what's required or expected in certain specialized fields of academia. Unless your career goals are in that realm, the need for a long-form curriculum vitae is highly unlikely.

6.  What if I'm not sure which kind of CV to submit?

As described previously, the long-form curriculum vitae, fully listing someone's scholastic achievements, has relatively narrower applications in academic, scientific, and medical institutions around the world. These candidates are seeking teaching or research posts, grants, or fellowships. Outside of these circumstances, an ordinary CV or resume is usually all you need.

There can be gray areas that make you uncertain about which type of CV to submit, for example different areas of teaching or research in the private sector. In these instances, if the application instructions aren't clear, don't be afraid to ask. For, as Shakespeare wrote, “advantage is a better soldier than rashness.”

Using the right resume or CV can maximize your chance of getting noticed

While the resume vs CV debate may seem confusing at first, once you begin to examine the differences in format, content, and use, you'll quickly figure out which one you need for your career journey. That should help to ensure that you're delivering the right document to any prospective employer and earning the interviews and job offers you need for career success .

Looking to land your dream job? The first thing you need to do is get your resume up to speed. Check out our expert free  resume review services and set yourself apart from the crowd. We match professionals with the perfect writer for their needs.

This article was originally written by Debbie Bride and has been updated by Ken Chase. 

Recommended reading: 

How to Write an Academic CV

How to Check if My Resume is ATS Friendly

Ask Amanda: How Do I Convert a Resume to a CV Format?

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

Career Advice Newsletter

Our experts gather the best career & resume tips weekly. Delivered weekly, always free.

Thanks! Career advice is on its way.

Share this article:

Let's stay in touch.

Subscribe today to get job tips and career advice that will come in handy.

Your information is secure. Please read our privacy policy for more information.

CV vs Resume - 5+ Key Differences in 2024 [w/ Examples]

You’ve probably heard of the Curriculum Vitae (CV) more than once. In some cases, it’s used as a synonym for the resume. In others, it seems like it’s something completely different.

So, which is it? What’s a CV , anyway? Is it any different than a resume? If so, how?

• What is a Curriculum Vitae (CV)? [+ real-life example]
• What is a resume? [+ real-life example]
• What are the differences between a CV and a resume?
• How’s a CV different in the US and the EU?

What is a CV? [+ Real-Life Example]

The term CV is an abbreviation of the Latin word Curriculum Vitae , which is literally translated to “the course of your life”. 

A CV is a very in-depth document that describes your career journey step-by-step, including all sorts of personal information. You can look at the CV as a comprehensive description of everything you have ever done, all the achievements you are proud of, and all the publications that bear your name.

You need to update your CV every time you accomplish something new academically or professionally. Meaning, whenever you get a new job, publish something new, obtain a new certificate, and so on.

There is no rule of thumb on how long a CV should be - depending on the amount of experience, it can range from 2 to 8 pages.

• Contact information
• Professional title, resume summary , or resume objective
• Research interests
• Publications (both academic papers and books)
• Teaching or lecturing experience
• Work experience
• Conferences and courses
• Certificates
• Grants of fellowships

Real-Life CV Example

Want to see how a CV looks like in practice? Check out a real-life sample below.

Elizabeth Smith is a marketing professional with a specialization in online marketing. She’s applying to become a professor at a university.

In Elizabeth’s CV, you can see a summarized snapshot of her life: everything she has studied, all the conferences she has been to, the skills she obtained, and a list of her publications.

Since she’s applying for a job in a university, Elizabeth mentions her academic achievements and interests first, and professional experiences later.

Want to create an awesome CV, but don’t want to spend hours playing around with the formatting & layout? We’ve got you covered! Use one of the 8 Novorésumé CV templates .

What is a Resume? [+ Real-Life Example]

A resume is a short, straight-to-the-point, document created for the purpose of applying to a specific job. 

Unlike the CV, you should try to keep a resume as short as possible . In 99% of the cases, you’d want to keep your resume to 1-page max . If you have 15+ years of experience, or really believe that the extra information you can mention can add value to your application, you can make it 2 pages tops.

In a resume, you only mention the aspects of your work experience and skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. A good resume highlights specific contributions you have made in your previous work and showcases how your different skills can be useful for the position you are applying to. 

The resume is usually accompanied by the submission of a cover letter which states your intent for applying to the job. The cover letter builds upon the skills and experience you have touched upon in your resume, explaining how they’re going to help you excel at the job you’re applying for. 

• Your job title , or the name of the position you’re applying for
• Resume summary or objective
• Relevant skills
• Languages and proficiency
• Relevant certifications and interests (if any)

Want to learn more about what you can mention in each of these sections? Check out our guide on what to put on a resume .

Real-Life Resume Example

To get a better idea of what a resume looks like, check out the example below. 

In this case, Elizabeth Smith is applying for a job as a marketing specialist, not a professor.

Unlike Elizabeth’s CV, her resume is significantly shorter and more to-the-point. She only mentions relevant work experiences, skills, certifications, and education. After all, the hiring manager cares about her skills as a marketer, not her academic achievements.

The ordering of information is also a bit different. In Jane’s CV, she mentions her academic experiences first and then moves on to work. Here, it’s the other way around, with minimal emphasis on Jane’s academic successes.

Want to get started with your resume, but don’t know how? Check out the Novorésumé guide on How to Make a Resume . We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about making a resume, one step at a time.

CV vs. Resume - What’s the Difference

Now that you have a clear idea about what’s a CV and what’s a resume, here’s a complete list of the differences between the curriculum vitae (CV) and resume:

• Length - The first and most notable difference between a CV and a Resume is how long each one of them is. A resume is kept short and brief (usually 1 page), whereas the CV is more comprehensive (it can go up to 2-3 pages depending on your experience).
• Function - The CV is mainly used for academical purposes, such as applying for a research program, a Ph.D., or joining the staff of a university. The resume, on the other hand, is written for a regular job in a company.
• Type of information you include - The CV is an academic diary where you include all your academic qualifications, achievements, and certifications. It is universal in nature as it can be updated as you go. Whereas, a resume has to be created (or at least customized) for each job you’re applying for, and has a bigger focus on your professional achievements, rather than academic.

To give you a better idea of how a CV and a resume differ, here are the two other examples side-by-side:

CV vs. Resume - The Difference Between U.S. & EU

By now you should have a clear idea about the differences between the CV and the Resume. Here’s where it gets a tiny bit trickier: these differences generally only apply in the United States . 

In all of Europe, the word CV is essentially just a synonym for the resume. So, if you’re applying for a position in the EU, and the job asks for a CV, you should know that it actually means a resume.

Now, let’s sum up everything we learned in this post:

• A resume is a one page summary of your work experience and background relevant to the job you are applying to.
• A CV is a longer academic diary that includes all your experience, certificates, and publications.
• The differences are: (1) A resume is one page (max. two) whereas the CV can be longer, (2) A resume is used for job hunting in all industries, the CV is used for jobs and admissions in Academia, (3) The resume is tailored to the specific job you are applying to, whereas the CV is a comprehensive overview.
• In the EU, both terms mean the same thing.

Now that you know the difference between a CV and a resume, it’s up to you to decide which one fits your purposes and job hunting process best.

It’s tough out there as it is! Here at Novorésumé, we are committed to making that process simple and fun for you. 

In less than 5 minutes, you can create a professional, modern-looking CV or Resume . All you need to do is go through our slick template gallery and choose the format that suits you best.

Choose among 16+ templates for building a resume or a CV for any industry or job position. You can even select a template for the cover letter that goes with your CV or resume.

Suggested Reading:

• No Experience Resume - Ultimate Guide + Infographic
• +150 Skills to Put on Your Resume
• Best Resume Formats
• How to Write a Professional CV

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

Curricula Vitae (CVs) versus Resumes

What this handout is about.

This handout explains what a curriculum vitae (CV) is, how it differs from a resume, and how you can decide which one to use. It also includes a list of campus resources, helpful online tips, and recommended reference books. (Please note that this handout covers American usage of the terms “CV” and “resume.” The word “resume” may also be spelled “resumé” or “résumé.”)

Before you start

To decide whether to submit a CV or a resume, you will need to determine which of them most appropriately fits the criteria provided by the employer, grant agency, or scholarship or internship committee who will be reading your application. Often, the application instructions for a particular position will state whether a CV or resume is requested. If you are unsure, it is worth your time to contact the agency and ask which would be most appropriate for the position.

What is the difference between a resume and a CV? What do they typically include?

Let’s start with a quick overview of resumes, since they are more familiar to most American writers than CVs. A typical resume is a general and concise introduction of your experiences and skills as they relate to a particular career or position that you are aiming to acquire. As such, a resume may have to be altered for each position that you are applying for so as to emphasize those skills and experiences most relevant to the work. Resumes are usually no more than one page in length. They are often accompanied by cover letters , which provide a permanent written record of the transmittal of the resume (what is being sent, to whom it is being sent, and who sent it).

A typical resume will include the following information:

• Name and Contact Information: your residential address might be most appropriate, especially if you do not want your current employer to know that you are looking for another job!
• Education: a listing of your degrees or certifications and educational institutions or programs.
• Work Experience: names of the companies or organizations that you have worked for, the location of each company, the dates worked, your job title, and duties performed.

In contrast, a CV is a fairly detailed overview of your life’s accomplishments, especially those most relevant to the realm of academia. As such, these documents have their greatest utility in the pursuit of a job in academia or research. Because academic researchers are often working on and completing many projects and teaching responsibilities simultaneously, it is wise to think of a CV as a living document that will need to be updated frequently. A typical CV for someone in the beginning stages of their graduate school career might only be two or three pages in length, while the number of pages of a more seasoned researcher’s CV may run into the double digits. In both CVs and resumes, information within sections is usually organized chronologically.

A typical CV will include the following information:

• Name and Contact Information: contact information for your current institution or place of employment may work best, unless you do not want your colleagues to know that you are job-hunting.
• Areas of Interest: a listing of your varied academic interests.
• Education: a list of your degrees earned or in progress, institutions, and years of graduation. You may also include the titles of your dissertation or thesis here.
• Grants, Honors and Awards: a list of grants received, honors bestowed upon you for your work, and awards you may have received for teaching or service.
• Publications and Presentations: a list of your published articles and books, as well presentations given at conferences. If there are many of both, you might consider having one section for publications and another for presentations.
• Employment and Experience: this section may include separate lists of teaching experiences, laboratory experiences, field experiences, volunteer work, leadership, or other relevant experiences.
• Scholarly or Professional Memberships: a listing of the professional organizations of which you are a member. If you have held an office or position in a particular organization, you can either say so here or leave this information for the experience section.
• References: a list of persons who write letters of recommendations for you, which includes their contact information.

Additional considerations

Use common sense when formatting.

There are no universal guidelines for how to format or organize a resume or CV. However, some commonsense guidelines may apply. If you are concerned that your resume or CV might appear too busy or misaligned, click on Print Preview in your word processing program and evaluate the consistency of your use of space in the document.

Fonts and font sizes: go with the flow

It is a good idea to stick to commonly used fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial when creating a resume or CV. Fonts such as Bauhaus or Old English Text might have their place in other writing projects, but these might distract the reader and pull their attention away from the content you want them to read. Perhaps with the exception of your name, the use of a uniform font size throughout the document will also keep the reader focused on your accomplishments.

Seek and evaluate examples

Many professors and professionals have posted their CVs and resumes to online faculty web pages, bulletin boards, and employee profile pages on corporate websites. These documents, often posted as Adobe PDF files, are useful templates for designing your own CV or resume. It is best to search for a CV or resume of an individual who shares your field, discipline, or interests, as it will provide you with a model that most closely approximates what your final document might look like.

Campus resources at UNC

University career services (careers.unc.edu).

At University Career Services, located on the second floor of Hanes Hall, you will find a friendly staff and a thorough assortment of resources for creating and sharpening your CV or resume. Individual appointments are also available. In addition, Career Services offers some online resources to help with your CV or resume.

UNC General Alumni Association (alumni.unc.edu)

Do you expect to graduate in the foreseeable future? In addition to making an appointment with University Career Services before throwing your cap in the air, a visit to the Career Services branch of the UNC General Alumni Association in the George Watts Hill Alumni Center might turn into a wise career move. After graduation, members of the GAA are eligible to receive resume tips and samples, as well as to take advantage of their resume posting service.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Jackson, Acy, and Kathleen Geckeis. 2003. How to Prepare Your Curriculum Vitae , 3rd ed. Columbus, OH: McGraw-Hill.

Rosenburg, Arthur. 2007. Resume Handbook: How to Write Outstanding Resumes and Cover Letters for Every Situation , 5th ed. Cincinnati, OH: Adams Media.

Thompson, Mary Anne. 2000. The Global Resume and CV Guide . Ridgewood, NJ: Wiley.

Vick, Julia Miller, Jennifer Furlong, Rosanne Lurie, and Mary Morris Heiberger. 2016. The Academic Job Search Handbook , 4th ed. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Make a Gift

Internship and Career Center

Resume vs. curriculum vitae: what's the difference, informational videos.

Watch this and other videos on our informational videos page. Check back often for new uploaded content.

Curriculum Vitae (CV) is Latin for "course of life." In contrast, resume is French for "summary." Both CVs & Resumes:

• Are tailored for the specific job/company you are applying to
• Should represent you as the best qualified candidate
• Are used to get you an interview
• Do not usually include personal interests

If you are applying for both academic as well as industry (private or public sector) positions, you will need to prepare both a resume and a CV.

Curriculum Vitae vs. Resume: Format and Content

The CV presents a full history of your academic credentials, so the length of the document is variable. In contrast, a resume presents a concise picture of your skills and qualifications for a specific position, so length tends to be shorter and dictated by years of experience (generally 1-2 pages).

CVs are used by individuals seeking fellowships, grants, postdoctoral positions, and teaching/research positions in postsecondary institutions or high-level research positions in industry. Graduate school applications typically request a CV, but in general are looking for a resume that includes any publications and descriptions of research projects.

In many European countries, CV is used to describe all job application documents, including a resume. In the United States and Canada, CV and resume are sometimes used interchangeably. If you are not sure which kind of document to submit, it is best to ask for clarification.

• Emphasize skills
• Used when applying for a position in industry, non-profit, and public sector
• Is no longer than 2 pages, with an additional page for publications and/or poster presentations if highly relevant to the job
• After 1 year of industry experience, lead with work experience and place education section at the or near the end, depending upon qualifications
• Emphasizes academic accomplishments
• used when applying for positions in academia, fellowships and grants
• Length depends upon experience and includes a complete list of publications, posters, and presentations
• Always begins with education and can include name of advisor and dissertation title or summary (see examples). Also used for merit/tenure review and sabbatical leave

• CV vs. Resume: What's the Difference?

A key component of every jobseeker's portfolio is a curriculum vitae, most commonly known as a CV. While a resume may be the go-to "calling card" for many candidates to send out to recruiters and hiring managers during a job search, the reality is that certain employers, fields or locations may prefer or require a CV to present your professional background. Read on to learn more about CVs, including the following:

What Is a CV?

What is a resume.

• CV Formatting and Tips.
• Resume Format and Tips.
• Sample Resume.

But what is a CV, exactly? A CV provides extensive information and details about your professional background – in particular, about your credentials. These credentials should always include your education, degrees earned, professional training and industry-specific certifications. Depending on your line of work, job level and years of experience, your CV might additionally include sections about your publications, honors and awards, grants and fellowships, professional memberships and associations, speaking engagements and conference presentations, research projects, licenses and patents, teaching experience, volunteer work and other business affiliations. CVs also include basic information such as your contact information, skills and job experience.

Like a CV, a resume is a marketing document meant to communicate information about your professional experience to hiring managers and recruiters. But compared to a CV, a resume is generally shorter at one to two pages on average, while a CV can be quite lengthy due to it including more details on publications, awards and other achievements. Most resumes highlight a job candidate’s work experience, role and responsibilities, professional skills and educational background, sometimes with shorter mentions of honors and memberships, but without the full details on the latter that a CV will contain.

Trackable Raw Html : core careers article sidebar - The Step-by-Step Guide to Career Success

CV vs. Resume

When you're considering whether you need a CV or a resume, you must have a clear idea of the differences between these two documents, as well as when it's most appropriate to use each one. David Wiacek , a New York-based executive resume writer and founder of Career Fixer, notes that the more detailed approach of a curriculum vitae reflects the word's meaning: course of life. He notes that CVs in many countries often include very detailed information about the candidate, even sometimes including birth date, marital status and photos.

"Whereas a resume is a synopsis or targeted snapshot of your professional life that is tailored to a particular job, a CV tends to be a more comprehensive document that captures everything and the kitchen sink: not just work experience and education, but all of a candidate's credentials, licenses, public speaking engagements, exhibits and installations (for artists), publications and so on," Wiacek says.

With that in mind, one key distinction is that while a CV focuses on your professional credentials, a resume hones in on your skills or competencies . Another difference is that the bulk of a resume generally consists of a sequential list of your job experience – starting with your current or most recent position – with shorter sections on your competencies and education.

A CV, on the other hand, contains a greater variety of subsections detailing various types of certifications, publications, awards, affiliations and training. A CV is also usually longer than a resume, and routinely stretches for three to five pages, while a resume is often expected to be limited to one page for junior-level candidates and two pages for senior-level candidates.

If you're unsure whether to submit a CV or a resume, be sure to look closely at the job listing or ask your recruiter. Some employers and industries will specify that candidates should submit a CV instead of a resume or vice versa. Certain research-based fields, such as health care or teaching, may prefer or require CVs, not resumes. Resumes, according to Wiacek, are typically used to apply to for industry roles outside of academia (think: for-profit, corporate, nonprofit or even government jobs).

Wiacek advised candidates to always refer to the instructions when applying online. "If the instructions do not specify which type of document is required, chances are they expect a simple resume," he explains. "But do your research – don't leave a great job prospect up to mere chance."

See the different components of a sample CV below, along with some advice about how to best leverage each section of the CV format.

CV Format and CV Tips

While no two CVs are identical, most curriculum vitae include the following 10 sections:

Contact Information:  Employers first and foremost need to know how to find information about you and be able to reach you. Always include your first and last name, phone number and email address. Consider including your mailing address and website or LinkedIn URL.

Education: Starting with your most recent educational programs, include schools attended, degrees obtained, and other professional training. Graduation dates are not required and it may be better to omit them if you graduated more than a decade ago to avoid potential age bias on the part of the hiring team.

Professional Experience:  For each position you've held, starting with your current or most recent position. List the following basics, which mirror a resume:

• Company name. 
• Your job title. 
• Dates of employment. 
• Responsibilities.

In a CV, you can add more detail about your job responsibilities than you include in a resume – especially when it comes to describing the measurable impact your actions made on the company or business. Think in terms of quantitative ways to show how you improved a department, function or process, whether by a percentage or dollar amount. And while a resume primarily focuses on hard skills, you have more leeway to add details about your soft skills in a CV as well.

Research Interests:  If your profession incorporates a research function, such as teaching or science, list all applicable areas of your research focus.

Field Work Experience:  If your profession requires field work, such as biology or sociology, list all field work completed by project name, location and date.

Publications/Presentations:  Unlike in a resume, it’s very common in a CV to include a full or partial list of your key publications if you’ve published books, articles or studies in your field. List article/book titles, journal/publication names and dates of publication. Likewise, if you do any public speaking in your industry, be sure to note your speaking engagements by date, location and title of the presentation.

Grants/Fellowships:  Your CV should include a full list of any grants or fellowships you’ve received, including the name and the date received.

Honors/Awards:  List the names of honors or awards and date received.

Professional Memberships/Associations:  As part of providing a complete picture of your industry involvement, list the names of the organizations and dates of memberships for all professional memberships and associations that you’re currently participating in, or that you previously joined.

Other Professional Affiliations:  As above, list the organization name and dates of membership for any other professional affiliations.

See below for a curriculum vitae template from Matthew Warzel, president of resume and CV writing firm MJW Careers , that you can use to frame and develop your own CV with your specific professional details:

Sally Smith

666-444-5555

[email protected]

• Ph.D. in Psychology, Iowa University, 2019

Dissertation: “The Experience of Manufacturing in America”

Honors: Graduation with distinction | President’s List | 3.8 GPA

• M.S. in Criminal Justice, Arizona University, 2013

Thesis: “Providing Counseling to Inner City Youth”

• B.A. in Management, New York University, 2002

Professional Experience 

VERIFY, San Francisco, CA | 2018 to Present

Director of Employee Experience

• Held leadership position within a nonprofit setting whose mission is to provide opportunities for members to develop positive emotions.
• Develop the strategic direction for the program and facilitate programs related to authenticity and purpose. 

FINANCIAL LIFE, New York, NY | 2018 to Present

Talent Manager

• Coordinate and develop projects with employees to ensure effectiveness of training, intervention, and documentation initiatives.
• Manage the logistics of projects by way of meetings, cross-communications and formal presentations to exchange information.

Research Interests

To further explore the connections between psychological theories and concepts with human behavior, interpreting the rich interdependencies which exist between instructional design, applications of teaching methodologies and student learning.

Strong interest in developing empirically supported research to translate data into practical implications for ethical and effective psychological practices and programs while introducing illuminating perspectives on emerging phenomena.

Field Experience

FAMILY SERVICES – Brown University, New York, NY | 2016 to 2018

Care Educator (2017-2018)

• In partnership with Brown University, disseminated program model and philosophy which taught a holistic approach when supporting direct care staff, children and adolescents toward achievement of measurable improvements.
• Engaged students to achieve active participation and richer classroom feedback loops. 

Trainer/Educator (2016-2018)

• Developed and taught courses including: Multicultural Competence, Inclusion, and Humility, Administration, Use, and Interpretation of Psychological Assessment Tools.
• Helped individual students meet learning objectives, including how to apply classroom topics to unique scenarios. 

Publications & Presentations

• Smith, S. (2018, October). Creating a culture of committed millennials. Advanced Research Institute Business Journal, Insight , 22-23.
• Smith, S. (March, October). The experience of meaning in work for millennials. CareOne. Dissertation. 

Grants & Fellowships

Contributions led to the successful procurement of the following grants:

• Wilma Endowment Grant, General Child & Family Focus, 2018
• Darell Foundation Grant, General Child & Family Focus, 2016-2018

FELLOWSHIPS

• Research Fellowship, Advanced Research Institute, 2016-2018

Honors & Awards

• “PROS to KNOW” Award – Supply and Demand Chain Executive Magazine
• Outstanding Corporate Citizen Honoree – WWEX Global Logistics & Bear Ventures
• “40 UNDER 40” Leadership Award – The Triangle Business Journal (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill)

Professional Memberships/Associations

• Member: American Marketing Association (AMA)
• Member: Chi Sigma International Honor Society
• Activity Clubs: United Way

Resume Format and Resume Tips

Resumes will also have some variation in how the information is presented, but resumes generally include the following seven sections:

Contact Information: Always include your full name at the top of your resume, along with contact information for employers to reach you, including your mailing address, phone number (home and cell phone if applicable), and email address.

Objective: While not mandatory, job seekers often include a career objective near the top of their resume, underneath the contact information. This should be a short description (1-2 sentences) of your core professional skill set and the type of position you are seeking.

Professional Experience: This section accounts for the main body of most resumes. It's a list of each position you’ve held, noting the organization’s name and location, the job title you held or currently hold, the dates you served in the role and your job duties and key accomplishments.

Education: Always include information about any professional degrees, including the name of the educational institution and type of degree. It’s not essential to include your date of graduation, since it’s possible that older or younger applicants might experience bias in hiring from some managers.

Professional Memberships: While not mandatory, if you have relevant professional memberships or participate in industry associations, you can list these at the bottom of your resume.

Honors and Awards: Another optional resume section is honors and awards, where you can make a short note of any professional honors you’ve received, along with the organization that bestowed the award and the date of receipt.

Volunteer and Other Experience: Newer job seekers (and others) may want to include volunteer experience along with paid experience in their resume, to present a more well-rounded picture of your skills and background. If you have other experience that can help prospective employers understand your expertise (for example, new college graduates who worked on a student newspaper), you can add that here as well.

Sample Resume

See below for a resume template, adapted from materials from Warzel, that you can use to frame and develop your own resume with your specific professional details:

Career Objective

My objective is to further explore the connections between psychological theories and concepts with human behavior. I seek a position that focuses on developing empirically supported research to translate data into practical implications for ethical psychological practices and programs.

Professional Experience

• Developed the strategic direction for the program and facilitate programs related to authenticity and purpose.
• Coordinate and develop projects with employees to ensure effectiveness of training, intervention and documentation initiatives.

FAMILY SERVICES, Brown University, New York, NY | 2016 to 2018

• Engaged students to achieve active participation and richer classroom feedback loops.
• Helped individual students meet learning objectives, including how to apply classroom topics to unique scenarios.

Volunteer Experience

• Goodwill volunteer, 2019 to Present
• United Way volunteer, 2016 to Present

Copyright 2023 U.S. News & World Report

Government agencies communicate via .gov.sg websites (e.g. go.gov.sg/open). Trusted websites Trusted websites

Look for a lock ( ) or https:// as an added precaution. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

5 minute read

What Is the Difference Between a CV and a Resume?

Submitting a stellar curriculum vitae and resume can propel one through the job application process. we discuss the differences between the two formal application documents for jobseekers looking to impress recruiters..

Finding yourself questioning the difference between a curriculum vitae (CV) and a resume? Part and parcel of most job application processes include the submission of your current resume and/or a CV.

Complementary to each other, these formal documents are decision-makers in the competitive job market.

The benefits of a well-worded resume and CV are notable. Apart from standing out from a pool of job candidates, these application materials must be optimised for applicant tracking systems . Such tools help hirers automatically narrow down the most relevant resumes and CVs to streamline the vetting process.

Thereafter, hiring managers spend an average of six seconds on a resume or curriculum vitae before deciding on a jobseekers’ eligibility, according to New York-based recruitment agency Ladders.

To make those few seconds count, you have to convince hiring managers that you possess the right skillset required to excel in their organisation.

Despite the simplicity of their objectives, many spend days, even months, working on these application documents, perfecting their draft for a dream job.

Before understanding what goes into writing a stellar resume and updating your CV , understanding the differences between the two is important.

CV vs Resume

CV and resumes share the common purpose of marketing jobseekers as desirable employees who will meet and exceed the expectations of potential employers.

However, these application documents are not interchangeable, as major differences exist between them. Understanding the key differences between a CV and a resume can help you structure and draft them.

The primary differences between CVs and resumes are:

• Information included, such as your educational history, career biography and professional qualifications

Get professional support in getting your CV or resume right for your job applications. Register to speak to our career coaches now!

What is a Curriculum Vitae?

Commonly referred to as a CV, the curriculum vitae is a detailed overview of your academic and professional life. Ever-expanding, a well-polished CV is constantly updated as you amass experiences and accomplishments.

As with the plethora of CV samples available online, their length may differ depending on the experiences accrued.

How to write a CV?

On average, recruiters receive 250 CVs for a job position . With trained eyes, hiring managers quickly scour through them for specific information – thus, yours should be clear and concise.

Typically credential-based, the comprehensive, multi-page document should include information on your educational accomplishments, professional achievements and work performed in chronological order.

The best CV samples contain relevant and up-to-date information such as:

1. Personal information and contact details

Remember to include your full name, nationality, telephone number and email address. You may leave out your residential address for privacy reasons unless required.

76% of CVs with an unprofessional email address get overlooked, so make sure to include your contact details in your job applications. Avoid including redundant information such as religious beliefs and salary history.

2. Education certifications and other qualifications

Begin listing your education details, starting with your latest qualification, and state the institution and duration of your attendance with the month and year (i.e. Jan 2019 – Mar 2021).

3. Career history

A common misconception among jobseekers is that only paid stints make the cut as valid job experiences. This cannot be further from the truth. Internships, job shadowing, part-time jobs and other forms of employment opportunities can be listed.

This guide shows how fresh graduates or entry-level candidates can secure a job even without work experience .

When it comes to describing your work experience, follow these basic rules:

• Arrange in chronological order, with the most current employment at the top and the time you worked in each company. Use the duration format applied in the education section.
• Explain each job experience in bulleted lists for an easier read while providing detailed descriptions of your role.
• Include both your responsibilities and accomplishments. Be sure to illustrate your experience in a way that highlights your skillsets, especially your soft skills like communication, people management and leadership.

4. Skillset

From language capabilities to IT literacy , showcase hard critical skills that demonstrate your depth of knowledge to your future interviewer. You may have a section to list them alongside your proficiency levels.

When it comes to your soft skills, it is best to describe them through examples within your career history. For example, instead of listing “multi-tasking” or “collaboration” as key skills, talk about the projects you worked on and your role in making those projects a success.

5. Other relevant experience, training and references

Scholarships, awards, memberships, relevant coursework and other miscellaneous qualifications can be fully recorded.

Get more resume or career tips like this from our Telegram community! Click to join and level up your job-hunting game.

What is a resume?

It is said that first impressions count — this is exceptionally so for resumes. In many cases, it is the first application document a recruiter evaluates, and a good one should convince them to read your curriculum vitae for additional information.

Think of a resume as an elevator pitch that will get you a profitable career. Short and concise, the document is a personalised representation of yourself for a specific role — though an extension of you, it should be tailored for the recipient.

Consider the resume as a concise overview of your CV.

How to write a resume?

A well-crafted resume should contain the same information as your CV, but be crafted strategically. Aimed at demonstrating competence, you have to actively pick out relevant information that showcases your strengths and abilities in the best light.

Compared to the static CV, your resume should be adapted and tailored to every position you apply for. The best way to accomplish this is to study the job requirements closely.

Consider these when drafting your resume:

1. Template

Unlike a CV that is written in chronological order, there are four resume templates that jobseekers can follow. These include:

• Chronological resume format
• Functional resume format
• Combination resume format
• Targeted resume format

Similar to the CV, each job description should be accompanied by bulleted lists of your professional experience, made relevant to the role you’re applying for.

Depending on your preferred resume format, you can then find relevant sample resume examples as references when writing your own. Here are a few resume writing tips to guide you.

A standard resume succinctly states career objectives, what you have to offer, and other relevant information. Keep your resumes to a one or two-page document as long resumes may hurt your job prospects .

3. Customisation

You should find ways to align your resume to the job description . The targeted resume template will perfectly complement this pivotal factor.

A targeted resume is customised to the job position and industry. This gives jobseekers the flexibility to highlight relevant qualifications and experiences that demonstrate they are the best fit for the job.

4. Digital Formats

A soft copy, for example, a PDF document of your resume, is typically the go-to when sending your job applications via the internet. Alternatively, consider other ways to create an online resume , such as through a resume website.

A resume builder app can also help you put together a job-winning document.

A complete list of primary differences: CV vs resume

We outline the distinct difference between a CV and a resume below based on the relevant sections, emphasis and the length of each document:

Show your personality

Ultimately, despite the myriad of CV and resume tips and samples available online, it is crucial to add personality and indicate that you are in it for the long haul.

You also want to ensure that your CV and resume are free of grammar errors. This proofreading checklist offers an in-depth guide on what content errors to look out for.

Make your achievements as concrete as possible so that they remain tangible to the hiring managers. Working on our professional story through your CV and resume will take you far.

Update your current resume and CV with our career resources today and enhance your job search!

Related topics:

Customise Your Resume for Targeted Jobs by Using the Right Keywords

2 minute read

HR Reveals: How to Make Your Resume Stand Out to Employers

Quick share

Enjoyed reading this? View other related articles below:

Tips for new entrants joining the workforce

First Time Looking for Jobs? Read This Beginner’s Guide

Honesty in Interviews: Here’s Why it Matters

3 minute read

Feedback: Why You Should Ask for It

4 minute read

Advice for managing your mid-career development

3 Things Not to Say When Negotiating Salary for a Mid-Career Switch

Worried About Reaching Your Career Goals? Here Are Some Tips for Singapore’s Broad Middle Workers (PODCAST)

4 Positive Work Habits for Your Mental Well-being

Insights for mature workers to stay relevant

Career Confessions: What Retirement? He Chose to Embark on a Career Switch in His 60s!

14 minute read

Jobs to Consider in the Second Half of Your Career for Mature Workers, and the Skills You’ll Need

Knowledge Sharing: How and Why Guiding Younger Colleagues Benefits Your Career

Home / What Is the Difference Between a CV and a Resume?

Find more jobs like these at MyCareersFuture Job Portal

An initiative by Workforce Singapore

Whether you are a fresh graduate searching for a new entry-level job or a seasoned veteran considering a career switch, Workipedia by MyCareersFuture is the one-stop website for all your job application needs.