CV vs. Resume: What's the Difference and When to Use Each
The Great Debate: CV or Resume?
In the world of job applications, the terms 'CV' and 'resume' are often thrown around as if they are interchangeable. In many parts of the world, they are. However, in the United States and Canada, they represent two fundamentally different documents, each with a specific purpose and audience. Submitting the wrong one can be a major red flag to employers, signaling that you haven't done your research or don't understand professional norms in your target country.
Let's break down the differences in detail.
The Resume: A Concise Marketing Document
Think of a resume as a concise, tailored, one-to-two-page summary of your skills, experience, and education. Its purpose is not to tell your entire life story, but to act as a high-impact marketing document designed to get you one thing: a job interview.
Content: A summary of your skills and qualifications that are *most relevant to the specific job you are applying for. It should be packed with achievements and quantifiable results.
The Curriculum Vitae (CV): The Comprehensive Academic Record
A Curriculum Vitae, which is Latin for 'course of life,' is a long, detailed, and comprehensive document that provides a full history of your academic and professional accomplishments. Unlike a resume, a CV is static and does not change for different job applications.
Quick Comparison Chart
| Feature | Resume | Curriculum Vitae (CV) |
|----------------|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Geographic Use | Primarily USA & Canada | Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, Academia (Global) |
| Length | 1-2 pages maximum | No limit, often 2-10+ pages |
| Purpose | To get an interview for a specific job | To provide a full overview of one's academic career |
| Content | Tailored summary of relevant skills/achievements | Comprehensive list of all academic work |
| Customization| Should be customized for every application | Is a static document, new items are added over time |
The Bottom Line:
Applying for a corporate job in New York?** You need a *resume.
Applying for a postdoctoral research fellowship in Germany?** You need a *CV.
Applying for a university professorship in Canada?** You need a *CV.
Unless you are specifically applying for a role in academia or for a job outside of North America, you almost certainly need a tailored, one-to-two-page resume. Using the term 'CV' to refer to your resume in a North American corporate context can make you sound out of touch with professional norms.