CV vs Resume Whats the Difference

CV vs Resume Whats the Difference CV vs Resume What is the Difference?November 7, 2019 By Samuel Johns Reviewed by fruchtfleisch Slack, CPRWCVs and resumes are similar, so which one should you use? Lets walk through the differences between CVs and resumes and find out which one is best for your job application.Build My Resume NowEver wonder why some job seekers use a CV while others use a resume?The answer depends on whether youre applying for a job in academia (i.e., at a college) or not. If youre submitting an application to become a professor, lecturer, or research assistant, youll need to submit a CV (or academic CV).For the vast majority of other jobs, you should use a resume. TipNeed a professional looking resume? No problem. There are thousands of free resume templates available online.The Difference between a CV and a ResumeCV, resume are they the same thing? In many ways, CVs and resumes are functionally the same. For instance, they both summarize your work experience a nd education, whether for hiring managers or a faculty hiring committee.But there are several key differences. Lets run through themA CV is an in-depth look at your lifes accomplishments, while a resume is a short summary of your most relevant achievementsA CV is used to apply for academic roles, while a resume is used to apply for all other jobsA CV grows over your lifetime as you add new information, while a resume should remain around one page longNow that understand the main differences between a CV and a resume, lets look at each document in more detail.Whats a CV?CV stands for curriculum vitae, which means course of your life in Latin.A good translation, considering CVs go into so much detail about your life and background. In fact, they often go on for multiple pages.If youre writing an academic CV, you need to listevery publication youve written or contributed toall the conferences youve attendedprevious academic positions youve held (and non-academic work experience)honors/ awardsacademic qualifications (including GPA, major/minor, etc.)grants youve receivedprofessional affiliations youve held (e.g., membership of the IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)Its no wonder that a CV can run on for several pages.CV SampleThis academic CV sample was written by a Professor of Anthropology who has been in the American university system for over 40 years. Note his prolific publication record (and dont feel bad if your CV falls a bit short in terms of publications and achievements).GRS Curriculum VitaWhats a Resume?A resume is a one-page summary of your work experience, key skills, and job-related qualifications. TipLearn how to write a resume to create an effective application that maximizes your chances of landing an interview.A resume is more straightforward than a CV. Its used to apply for all jobs outside of academia.The voreingestellt resume length is one page long. Your resume may run up to two pages if you have decades of experience or numerous skills to advertise, but for 98% of candidates, a single page is best.Additionally, the focus of a standard resume is your work experience, with less attention paid to academic accomplishments. TipDescribe your work responsibilities using action verbs to make your resume as engaging as possible.Resumes also include a skills section, which lists the skills youve attained in previous roles. You should include plenty of resume skills to showcase your abilities but make sure theyre relevant to the job.And unlike a CV, a resumes education section is much shorter. You only need to state your college, program name, and GPA.Resume SampleThis waiter/waitress resume sample shows how a typical resume should lookWhen to Use a Curriculum Vitae vs a ResumeIf youre seeking a teaching or research position at a college, use a CV.The hiring committee will need to know as much about your educational background as possible before making a decision, and the best way to communicate this inform ation is with a CV.For any other positions (within a college or elsewhere), your education is less important, so you should use a resume. TipFor certain posts within the US government, you may be asked to submit a federal resume.Resume CV Definitions from Around the WorldOutside of the US, the word resume is generally swapped out for CV. This had led to some degree of zwischenstaatlich confusion, which were happy to clear up in this section.UK and EuropeIn most European countries, including the UK and Ireland, CV denotes the short, one-page document you write for a job application. Resume is a rare term, but will still be understood by most hiring managers.CVs for academic positions are also called CVs in Europe, but you might hear them called academic CVs since it makes the meaning clearer.CanadaCanadian businesses tend to use resume in the same way as American companies, likely due to Canadas proximity to the US. A CV, similarly, is used to apply for academic posts.AustraliaIn A ustralia, resumes and CVs are both used to apply for jobs. Resumes tend to be one page, summarizing the main highlights of your career, while CVs are around two to three pages and outline all of your work experience.New ZealandThe phrasing in New Zealand is similar to that in Australia. A resume is usually one page, and a CV is two to three pages long. Both are used to apply for jobs.You might need to create both, since employers will either ask for one or the other.An academic CV will be much longer, as in the US.TakeawaysTo sum up, in the US, a resume is a short, one-page document you use to apply for a job. A CV is a specialized, multiple-page chronology of your professional and educational background, used primarily by academics.Professors and lecturers who submit a CV outside of the US should call their document an academic CV to make it clear what it is.While we dont offer academic CV material, we do have professional resume templates you can use to apply for a job in the US o r abroad.And if that sounds like too much work, you can create an excellent resume (or CV as its called abroad) in roughly 5 minutes by using our free resume builder.