Understanding what is a CV vs a resume might be the most important first step to the start of the application process.
A resume is a brief document of career highlights tailored for each job application. A CV is a comprehensive record of your work, education, achievements, and projects within a specific field.
The French word “résumé” translates to “summary,” while the Latin term “curriculum vitae” means “course of life.” Knowing these differences helps you tailor your application to the right audience, boosting your chances of success.
What is a resume?
A resume is a concise, 1-3 page document listing your professional experience as it relates to the job you’re applying for. It highlights your most recent and relevant work experiences with strategic keywords. Resumes are commonly used in the U.S. and Canada for most job applications.
- Contact information: Full name, phone number, email address, and optionally, your LinkedIn profile or professional website.
- Professional summary: A brief statement highlighting your most relevant skills and experiences.
- Work experience: Job titles, companies, and dates of employment, along with bullet points summarizing key responsibilities and achievements.
- Education: Schools attended, degrees obtained, and graduation dates.
- Skills: A list of relevant skills, typically including both hard and soft skills.
- Certifications and awards: Any additional certifications, licenses, or honors that are relevant to the job.
- Volunteer experience: Optional section for relevant volunteer work that demonstrates skills and experience.
Below is a resume example for a Sales Manager position.
What is a CV?
A CV, or curriculum vitae, is a long document. It gives a deep look at your career, education, and accomplishments. CVs are typically used in academic, research, and medical fields and can be several pages long. In Europe and other parts of the world, “CV” is often used interchangeably with “resume.”
- Contact information: Same as a resume.
- Desired job title: The position you are applying for.
- Professional profile: It is a detailed summary of your career. It highlights major achievements and areas of expertise.
- Education: Detailed information on all degrees obtained, including dissertation titles and research supervisors.
- Teaching experience: Courses taught, institutions, and dates.
- Research experience: Research projects, methodologies, and outcomes.
- Publications: Full citations of academic papers, books, and other publications.
- Presentations: Conferences and seminars where you have presented your work.
- Awards and honors: Scholarships, grants, and other recognitions.
- Affiliations: Memberships in professional organizations.
- Technical skills: Relevant software, programming languages, and other technical proficiencies.
Key differences between a CV and a resume
Understanding the differences between a resume and a CV is essential for job seekers. These differences affect how you present your professional accomplishments, skills, and experience to potential employers.
CV vs resume length
Resume: Typically 1-2 pages, summarizing relevant experience and skills.
CV: Can be several pages long, providing a comprehensive overview of your academic and professional history.
CV vs resume purpose
Resume: Used for most job applications in business, government, and non-profit sectors. The best resumes are tailored for every job application, placing an emphasis on the skills and experience most relevant to a particular job description
CV: Mainly used in academia, research, and medicine. They are also used in some international contexts. A CV offers comprehensive professional coverage and broader life experience.
CV vs resume layout and format
Resume: Structured with clearly defined sections and bullet points for easy readability.
CV: More detailed than a resume. They often have sections for publications and presentations. They also have detailed descriptions of research projects.
CV vs resume level of detail
Resume: Focuses on recent and relevant experience, with concise descriptions.
CV: Includes a full history of academic and professional achievements. It often has detailed descriptions.
When to use a CV vs resume
Deciding to use a resume or a CV depends on many factors. These include the job, the industry, and the region. Here’s a guide to help you make the right choice.
U.S. and Canada: Resumes are the norm for most job applications, while CVs are used in academia and medicine.
UK and international: CVs are more commonly used, and the terms CV and resume are often used interchangeably.
Another important factor to knowing when to use which format isn’t only based on where you live. It also matters what line of work your in, or hope to be in.
Business, non-profits, and government: Use a resume.
Academia and research: Use a CV.
Medical professionals: Often need to provide CVs. This is because they need to include detailed descriptions. They describe their research and clinical experience.
How to format a resume
In addition to contact information, a traditional resume might only include work experience and education sections. Some resume templates may also include sections for a summary statement, accomplishments, skills, or volunteer work.
Here are some key tips to follow when formatting a resume:
- Clear structure: Use headings and bullet points to organize information.
- Concise language: Keep descriptions brief and focused on key achievements.
- Tailor the content: Change the resume for each job application. Emphasize the most relevant experience and skills.
There are essentially three types of resume formats. The one you end up using really just depends on the type of candidate for the role. The three types of resume templates are chronological, functional, and hybrid.
Below is another example of a resume template. It’s clear, concise, and fits on one page. Each section is clearly defined and highlighted using bullet points.
How to format a CV
Formatting a CV takes attention to detail. It also needs thorough coverage of your work history.
- Comprehensive detail: Include all relevant academic and professional achievements.
- Structured layout: Use headings to organize sections. These include education, research, publications, and presentations.
- Consistent formatting: Ensure the formatting is consistent. It should have a professional look.
A CV also goes into much greater detail, often including the following sections:
- Achievements
- Education
- Teaching positions
- Work experience and projects
- Publications
- Awards
- Research
- Degrees
- Presentations
- Grants
- Honors
- Scholarly and professional affiliations
Note that many of these CV sections are most applicable to academic careers.
CV vs resume example
Here are just a few resume examples to better show the difference. They highlight key achievements and responsibilities. These are in bulleted form because they are commonly used in resume formatting.
- “Managed a team of 10 sales associates, increasing overall sales by 20% in one year.”
- “Implemented a new inventory system, reducing stock discrepancies by 15%.”
- “Developed and executed a successful marketing campaign that boosted website traffic by 30%.”
And here are three more examples, but written for a CV. They showcase detailed academic and research accomplishments. These are not in bulleted form because bullet points are handled differently in CVs, often rarely used at all.
“Published research on environmental sustainability in the Journal of Environmental Science (2023).”
“Presented findings on climate change impacts at the International Conference on Climate Science (2022).”
“Awarded a research grant from the National Science Foundation for studies in renewable energy (2021).”
Common mistakes to avoid
Even with good intentions, job seekers often make mistakes. They make them when crafting their resumes and CVs. Knowing about these errors can help you make a better document. It will be polished and effective.
Resume mistakes
Resumes need to be precise and tailored to each job application. Avoiding these common mistakes can make your resume stand out to potential employers.
- Cluttering your resume. It can distract from your key qualifications. Cut old skills and jobs that are not relevant to the job you are applying for.
- Using a generic resume template for all job applications. This is bad because not customizing it reduces its impact. You need to highlight specific skills and experiences relevant to each position.
- Neglecting to use the right keywords from the job description can lead to your resume being filtered out. This is by applicant tracking systems.
- Focusing on job duties, not accomplishments, makes it hard for employers to see your impact.
- Leaving out quantifiable achievements hurts your resume. These include things like sales figures or project completion times. They make your resume less compelling.
CV mistakes
CVs should be detailed and well-organized, especially for academic and research positions. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for when preparing your CV.
- Failing to describe your research methods and achievements well can make your CV less compelling. This is a problem for academic committees.
- Ignoring proper formatting and structure can make your CV look unprofessional. It can also make it hard to read, reducing its effectiveness.
- Not updating your CV regularly. It should include recent accomplishments, publications, and presentations. This can make it appear outdated and less impressive.
- Leaving out sections, like teaching experience, conference presentations, or awards, can make your CV look incomplete.
- Including personal information, like marital status or a photograph. This information is often unnecessary and can hurt your professional qualifications.
Additional tips for success
Enhancing your resume or CV with additional tips can improve your chances of success.
Here are some strategies to consider.
Keywords and ATS
Using resume keywords is very important. They help you pass applicant tracking systems and reach hiring managers. Power editing tools are perfect for making sure your resume or CV fits the job description to optimize for ATS.
Proofreading and editing
Thorough proofreading and editing are vital. They ensure your document is error-free and professional. Have several people review your document. They will catch errors and provide feedback. Also, try to avoid jargon unless it’s industry-specific and relevant.
Both resumes and CVs perform better when including tailored keywords. While CVs have unlimited space to include many keywords, resumes require a bit more finesse to fit the right keywords in a small amount of space.
Get customized resume/CV optimization tips for each specific job application with Jobscan.
CV vs resume FAQs
A CV, or curriculum vitae, is a comprehensive document that outlines your full academic and professional history. It has details on your education and work experience. It also has details on your research, publications, presentations, awards, and other achievements.
Yes, students often need a CV. This is especially true if they are applying for academic positions. It is also true for research opportunities or scholarships. A CV can show their education, research, internships, and skills well.
Yes, it is generally recommended to write a cover letter to send along with your CV and resume. A cover letter allows you to introduce yourself. You can explain your interest in the position. And, you can highlight how your skills and experiences make you a good fit.
The most commonly accepted file formats for resumes and CVs are PDF and Word documents. PDF is preferred because it preserves the formatting across different devices and platforms. Always check the job posting or employer’s instructions for any specific format requirements.
The main differences between a resume and a CV include length, purpose, and content. A resume is typically 1-2 pages, concise, and tailored for specific job applications. A CV is longer, more detailed, and used primarily in academic, research, and medical fields.
Determine the type of document required based on the job description, industry, and region. In academia, research, and medicine, a CV is usually required. For most other job applications, especially in business and non-profits, a resume is appropriate. If in doubt, contact the employer for clarification.
Neither is inherently better; it depends on the context and requirements of the job. Use a resume for most job applications, especially in the business and non-profit sectors. Use a CV for academic, research, and medical positions, or when applying for jobs in regions where CVs are the norm.
Generally, it’s best to use the document specified in the job posting. In regions or industries where resumes are standard, submitting a CV might be seen as inappropriate due to its length and detailed nature.
While there may be some overlap in content, a CV and a resume are distinct documents with different formats and purposes. You should keep separate documents. Tailor each to the needs of the target audience.
A CV typically has these sections. They are: contact information, job title, professional profile, education, teaching experience, research experience, publications, presentations, awards, affiliations, and technical skills. Each section provides detailed information relevant to your academic and professional background.
