CV vs Resume: What's The Difference?

If you're in the midst of your job search, you've likely encountered both terms—CV and resume—and wondered if you're using the right one. While these terms are often used interchangeably, there are important distinctions that can impact your job applications, especially when applying internationally or in academia.

In this guide, you'll learn the key differences between CVs and resumes, when to use each one, and how to ensure you're submitting the right document for every job application. 

Whether you're applying for roles in the U.S. or abroad, understanding these nuances can help you present your qualifications more effectively and increase your chances of landing interviews.

Ready to craft application materials that get noticed? Let's start by breaking down exactly what sets CVs and resumes apart.

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What is a CV?

A CV or Curriculum Vitae, which means "course of life" in Latin, is a detailed document that provides a comprehensive overview of your academic and professional journey. 

Unlike a resume, a CV captures your entire career history—including research projects, publications, presentations, teaching experience, and academic achievements—making it particularly suited for academic, research, or international jobs where a complete picture of your professional background is valuable.

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What is the purpose of a CV?

The primary purpose of a CV is to present your complete academic and professional qualifications, allowing hiring committees to evaluate your scholarly contributions and research capabilities in depth.

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Difference between a CV and a resume

The fundamental difference between a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and resume lies in their length, depth, and purpose. A resume is a concise, strategic document that highlights your most relevant skills and achievements for a specific role, while a CV provides a comprehensive overview of your entire academic and professional journey. Let's break down what sets them apart.

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Length

A resume is typically one to two pages long, focusing on your most recent and relevant experience. For most professionals, even those with extensive careers, this length constraint ensures the content remains focused and impactful. A CV, on the other hand, can run several pages—growing longer as you advance in your academic or research career.

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Depth

While a resume provides a high-level summary of your career highlights and key accomplishments, a CV delves much deeper into your background. CVs include detailed information about your academic credentials, research projects, publications, presentations, grants, fellowships, teaching experience, and professional affiliations—providing a thorough picture of your scholarly contributions and expertise.

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Purpose

A resume's primary purpose is to quickly demonstrate your qualifications for a specific role, emphasizing the skills and experiences most relevant to that position. In contrast, a CV serves as a complete record of your academic and professional achievements, typically used when applying for academic positions, research roles, grants, or fellowships where a comprehensive understanding of your educational background is crucial.

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CV vs resume format

When comparing the CV vs resume format, you'll notice distinct differences in both structure and content. While both documents showcase your professional background, they follow different organizational approaches to present your qualifications effectively.

As a base, a CV should include most of the same sections that you would expect from a resume, however a CV is more in-depth, and may include additional sections depending on your professional background, and the role you're applying for.

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Parts of a resume:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary (2-3 sentences)
• Work Experience (focused on relevant roles)
• Skills (tailored to the job)
• Education
• Optional sections like certifications, projects or volunteer work

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Parts of a CV:

• Contact Information
• Personal Statement
• Work Experience
• Skills
• Education

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Optional sections to include in a CV:

• Research Interests/Objectives
• Academic Background
• Research Experience
• Teaching Experience
• Publications
• Presentations and Conferences
• Grants, Fellowships, and Awards
• Professional Associations
• Certifications and Licenses
• Technical Skills
• Languages
• References

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When to use a CV vs resume

Understanding when to use each document is crucial for your job search success. While the terms can sometimes be used interchangeably, especially internationally, knowing which format to use can significantly impact your application's effectiveness.

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When to use a CV

You should write a CV when applying for academic positions, research roles, fellowships, or grants—particularly in the United States. This format allows you to showcase your complete academic journey, including detailed research work, publications, and scholarly achievements that demonstrate your expertise in your field.

A CV is the standard when applying for jobs internationally. In Europe, "CV" is the common term for all application documents you would submit when applying for a job.

Pro Tip: Need to create a CV? Check out our library of 2024 CV examples for inspiration.

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When to use a resume

Choose a resume for most professional positions in the U.S. corporate world, from entry-level to executive roles. A resume is ideal when applying through applicant tracking systems (ATS) or when the job posting specifically requests a brief overview of your relevant experience. For roles in business, industry, nonprofit, and government sectors, a concise, targeted resume will typically be more effective than a lengthy CV.

In the United States, resumes are the standard for most professional roles across industries, while CVs are primarily used in academia, research positions, or when specifically requested by the employer. Internationally, these distinctions can blur—in many European countries, for instance, the term "CV" is commonly used to describe what Americans would call a resume. 

In situations when you aren't sure if the employer actually wants a resume or a CV, you have a couple of different options to do your due diligence and determine your next step. 

You could:

• Reach out to the recruiter or hiring manager to ask for clarity on the application process
• Search for an existing employee (or several) on LinkedIn to ask a few questions about the application process and what they submitted

If you can't get any firm answers about what type of document you should submit, turn in a concise and highly-tailored resume and use your message or cover letter to explain that you're more than happy to turn in a more detailed CV if requested. 

Pro Tip: ‍Need help customizing your resume or CV? Teal's AI Resume Builder makes it easy to customize the design, write your achievements, and more – so you can create a tailored resume or curriculum vitae that highlights your accomplishments effectively. 

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CV vs resume examples

Want to see what a CV and resume look like, side-by-side? Here's an example to show you the difference in format and structure.

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Choose the right format to land your next role

Whether you need a CV or resume ultimately depends on your industry, location, and the specific role you're pursuing. While academic and research positions typically expect the comprehensive detail of a CV, most corporate roles prefer the focused narrative of a targeted resume.

The key to success isn't just choosing the right format—it's understanding how to leverage that format to tell your professional story effectively. Focus on presenting your qualifications in a way that resonates with your audience, whether that's through a detailed CV highlighting your scholarly achievements or a concise resume showcasing your most relevant experience. 

Ready to craft a document that gets noticed? Teal's AI Resume Builder can help you create a polished, professional CV or resume that’s tailored to your target role.