Resume vs. CV (Curriculum Vitae): Key Document Differences

Both resumes and curriculum vitae are used in job applications, though some employers may use the words interchangeably. Despite this, there are some key distinctions between the two types of formatted documents.

We go over the main distinctions between a CV and a resume in this piece, as well as what to put in each and when to use it. This will assist you in making sure you have the appropriate document made for your job applications.

Differences between a resume and a CV

A curriculum vitae, also known as a CV, differs significantly from a resume in terms of length, content, and goal. When determining which is more appropriate to use, keep in mind the country or area of the globe you are applying from as well as your career path.

Most significantly, a resume in the United States should be a succinct and carefully curated collection of your professional experience, skills, and qualifications that are solely pertinent to the position you’re applying for. A CV, on the other hand, is more thorough and provides a detailed account of your qualifications, both academically and professionally.

1 Dimension

A resume should typically be no more than one or two pages long because it includes your skills and credentials for a particular position. A CV won’t have a maximum length because it contains more information and more thorough descriptions of coursework, study, publications, and presentations than most resumes.

2. Type of experience/job

When applying for employment in the private or public sectors often referred to as “industry positions” in contrast to academic positions resumes are used. Contrarily, CVs are typically used when applying for academic jobs or programs, grants, fellowships, and teaching or research positions. If you’re a professor or researcher at an academic institution, or if you’re presently applying to or have already completed a master’s or doctoral program, you might have a CV.

3. Place of origin

A resume and a CV are two completely different types of documents used for various purposes in the United States. Employers do not use the term “resume” at all when referring to CV-style documents in other parts of the globe, such as the UK, New Zealand, and parts of Europe. The words “CV” and “resume” are frequently used interchangeably in South Africa, Australia, and India.

4. Timekeeping and personalization

Curriculum vitae and resumes share some similarities and differences in this regard: both should be painstakingly tailored to every job application you submit. Mullins provided a firm response and pointed advice when I questioned whether a CV should be a static document that is solely based on chronology or if there are clever ways to change it to suit different applications.

“Application materials should not be stagnant, including CVs. No matter how similar the roles may seem, each has its own specific qualifications and ability requirements. Every Resume should be optimized as marketing content for a brand-new audience. Even your personal profile should be tailored to the job description, business mission, and brand. This includes your introduction, what you can do for the company, and your career goals.

Then, as you list your employment history in chronological order, change the information for each role. List the major accomplishments from most significant to least significant for each position. These key points effectively summarize the reasons you should always improve your CV. And as she hinted at in her first statement, every document under the sun—including resumes should be customized for your target audience. Whether your resume is functional or sequential, you’ll still need to make changes to the document so that it can best support your application.

What exactly is a resume?

A resume is a written summary of your professional background, competencies, and schooling. The word resume is derived from résumé, a French word that means “abstract” or “report.”

What should go on a résumé

A resume typically starts with your most recent work and ends with a professional or “summary” statement, a section devoted to your skills, and a summary of your most recent and pertinent professional accomplishments.

Additionally, you have the option of mentioning your educational background, membership in pertinent professional organizations, and volunteer work. Instead, you might list pertinent internships, apprenticeships, voluntary work, or personal projects if you have little to no professional work experience.

What exactly is a CV?

A CV, which stands for curriculum vitae (Latin for “course of life”), is a thorough document that details all of your academic and career achievements.

It typically follows a chronological structure and begins with your educational background. Although there is no set length for a CV, the majority fall between three and ten pages, though some may be even lengthier. In general, your resume will be longer the more expertise you have.

What to put on a CV

Your schooling, awards, special honors, grants or scholarships, research or academic projects, and publications will typically be included on your CV in addition to your work history. A personal profile with a summary of your pertinent skills and qualifications, academic coursework, fieldwork, dissertation descriptions, and professional recommendations are additional possible additions.

Finally

The main distinction between a curriculum vitae and a resume is how they approach stating the same thing. The CV will go on for three pages about how many big-muscle contests you won as a result of said weightlifting, while the resume will only briefly mention that you lifted a ten-pound weight for eight hours a day at your previous job. If you remember just one thing from this article, it should be this: never bring a curriculum vitae to a resume battle and the opposite is also true.