Resume vs. CV: What’s the Difference and When to Use Each
Table Of Contents
What Is a Resume?
A key feature of resumes is their brevity and focus. When comparing a professional CV vs resume format, you’ll notice that a CV is more extensive while a resume is generally limited to one or two pages. Keeping it to this length ensures that you’re selective about the information you include, keeping the focus on the details that are most relevant and impactful to your potential employer. Ensuring that each resume is tailored to the specific target job helps you make it past applicant tracking systems (ATS) and capture the attention of the hiring manager.
What Is a CV (Curriculum Vitae)?
"Curriculum Vitae" means “course of life” in Latin. Given that, you can probably guess that a CV is much more comprehensive than a resume. Rather than focusing on just the skills and experience that are most relevant to your desired job, it lists your entire academic and professional history.
When it comes to the CV vs resume format, the sections included will be very similar, but on the CV the information will be much more detailed.
Key Differences Between a Resume and CV
Let’s delve deeper into some of the differences we see when comparing a CV vs resume.
Focus and Purpose
Both a resume and CV are documents designed to help you demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers, but there are nuances in their focus and purpose. A resume provides a concise snapshot of the qualifications, skills, and experience that align with a specific job. It is very much a marketing tool that “sells you” as the best fit for a position.
In contrast, a CV presents a comprehensive and detailed history of your academic and professional credentials, covering your entire career trajectory and all significant achievements—even if they aren’t directly related to your current target position.
Length
As mentioned earlier, because they are meant to highlight just the most relevant, high-level information, resumes are typically limited to one or two pages. This shorter format enables hiring managers, who often have to review hundreds of applications, to quickly skim and find the information they’re looking for.
On the other hand, CVs—which include your full history of academic, professional, and other relevant experience—can be several pages long. They may be anywhere from two to 10 pages, depending on the length and breadth of your experience.
Information Included
While both documents contain the same types of information, your CV will contain more—and more detailed—data than your resume.
A resume focuses on the specific work experience, professional achievements, and skills that are directly relevant to the job you are applying for. It should feature action-oriented accomplishments, not lists of responsibilities. As you tailor it for each job, you should omit any skills or accomplishments that don’t apply to that role.
In contrast, your CV will contain details on all of your experience, skills, and knowledge. You might think of it as a “personal history.” Information you would include on a CV that wouldn’t typically be on a resume are research experience, grants or scholarships, speaking engagements, notable projects (professional or academic), and teaching experience.When to Use a Resume vs. When to Use a CV
Whether a resume or a CV is the right choice depends on a few different factors, including the type of job you’re applying for, the industry you’re in, and the geographic location of your potential employer. Let’s take a look at some of these criteria in more detail.
Job Type and Industry
For a majority of positions—including those in business, marketing, engineering, and technology—a concise summary of your relevant experience and skills is what employers are looking for. Therefore, the one- or two-page, tightly focused resume is the best option.
On the other hand, employers in the academic, scientific, or research fields are interested in a more complete view of your background. So, if you’re applying for a position at a university, medical facility, research institution, or are seeking fellowships and grants, the “personal history” provided in a CV is the way to go.
Geographic Considerations
There is a caveat to the statement that a resume is the default for most positions, and it has to do with geographic location. While the resume format is standard for most jobs in the United States, that is not the case in all job markets. For example, in the UK, many European countries, and parts of Asia, the more comprehensive CV is preferred. Additionally, the term “CV” is often used interchangeably with “resume” in other countries, so be sure to do some research and understand what an employer is looking for when you’re looking at positions outside the United States.
Employer Specifications
Whether you’re applying for jobs in the U.S. or abroad, it’s always a good idea to check the job description for specific requirements on the type of document the employer is looking for. If the instructions request a CV and you send a resume, you’re showing that you aren’t paying attention and you already have a mark against you!
Examples of a Resume and CV
Resume Example
CV Example
Here is a very truncated example of a CV for a medical professional.
What About Cover Letters?
Key Components of a Cover Letter
Customization and Personalization
Addressing Employment Gaps and Unique Qualifications
Communication Style and Cultural Fit
Conclusion
Frequently Asked Questions
A job posting in the U.S. is asking for a CV. Do they mean a long academic CV or do they just mean resume?
In the U.S., when private‑sector postings say “CV,” they are most likely looking for a standard 1-2 page resume. Full‑length academic CVs are usually only needed for jobs at universities, research hospitals, or certain government or medical roles. If the employer isn’t an academic institution and the posting otherwise sounds like a resume would cover the requirements, send a resume unless they specifically ask for an academic CV.
What is the easiest way to convert my resume into a CV for an international or academic application?
- Add full lists of all publications, presentations, patents, grants, fellowships, awards, and professional memberships.
- Create or expand sections for teaching, research, clinical work, and service with dates, institutions, and advisors. Sometimes, brief descriptions are required.
- Include complete education details, including any thesis/dissertation titles, committees, or honors.
- Keep a master CV from which you can create shorter, role‑specific versions as needed.
Should I include a photo of myself on my resume or CV?
In the U.S., the norm is not to have a photo on resumes or CVs for non‑creative roles to reduce bias risk and issues with applicant tracking systems (ATS). There are some regions of the world (EU parts, MENA, Asia) or fields (modeling, acting, certain media roles) that may expect a photo, so be sure to follow local norms and instructions in the posting. If in doubt, prepare both photo‑free and photo versions and use whichever fits the market.
Is there such a thing as a CV that is "too long"?
Academic CVs are often pretty long since they include so much information, but be mindful to keep the length purposeful. For research/teaching roles, complete records that exceed 10 or more pages are generally normal as long as the information is relevant. For industry CVs outside the U.S. or hybrid CVs, front-load for recency and impact, keeping the most relevant sections and trimming less important parts.
Can I just create one document and title it "Resume/CV" to send for all job applications?
A one‑size‑fits‑all “Resume/CV” is not recommended since many ATS and recruiters filter by expectations.
If the posting asks for a resume or doesn’t specify an academic CV, send a resume. If it asks specifically for an academic CV, you’ll know to use a true CV.
About the Authors
Katherine Metres Akbar is the founder and president of YES Career Coaching & Resume Writing Services, one of Washington metro’s two top-rated career success companies. She and her team have helped over 5,000 people and organizations perfect their resumes, master networking, get interviews, receive offers for dream jobs, resettle employees through outplacement, and optimize their teams. Katherine is the world’s only Interview AikidoTM coach, a Certified Talent Optimization Consultant, Certified Professional Career Coach, and a Certified Professional Interview Coach. An award-winning writer, she previously served as a U.S. diplomat and executive director of a civil rights non-profit. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University.
Michael Akbar is the co-owner and vice president of YES Career Coaching & Resume Writing Services. He is a Certified Professional Career Coach, Certified Federal Career Coach, Certified Business Advisor, and Certified Talent Optimization Consultant helping leaders build their dream teams. Michael leverages his business development background to help coachees get their dream job, often on the hidden job market. Michael has spent 15 years as an entrepreneur coaching business owners to break through their barriers to success. After talking his way into two jobs in order to get a work visa, Michael was inspired to create Interview AikidoTM to help people get jobs, even when they are underqualified. He holds a Bachelor of Science from McGill University and a Master of Science from the City University of London.
The home team is completed by Farah Akbar, a joyful, stubborn, and—some say—adorable terrier/pitbull mix the Akbars adopted from the shelter after a traumatic early life.