When navigating the professional world, you'll often hear the terms resume and CV used interchangeably, but they are, in fact, two distinct documents with different purposes. Knowing which one to use is crucial for making a strong impression and applying to the right opportunities.
Resume vs CV: What Is The Difference And When Should You Use Each
Here's a clear breakdown of the key differences between a CV and a resume, and when you should use each one.
What Is A Resume?
- A resume is a concise summary of your skills, experience, and accomplishments. Its primary purpose is to quickly market you for a specific job. It is typically one page long, or a maximum of two pages for more senior roles. It's designed to be scanned by a hiring manager who spends only a few seconds on each application.
- The content is highly tailored to the specific job you're applying for. You should select and highlight only the most relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that match the job description.
- It's a snapshot of your career, emphasising recent and relevant professional experience. It's a strategic document focused on your value to the employer for that particular position.
- A resume is standard for applying for jobs in the private sector, corporate roles, and most industries in the U.S. and Canada. It's the most common document requested for job applications.
What Is CV (Curriculum Vitae)?
- A CV is a detailed and comprehensive document that provides a complete history of your academic and professional life. It is typically two or more pages long and has no strict page limit. It is meant to be exhaustive, growing longer as your career progresses.
- The content is all-encompassing. It includes everything a resume does, plus sections like academic and research publications, conference presentations, awards and honours.
- It's a detailed record of your career, emphasising academic achievements, research, and publications. It's an informational document focused on your scholarly and intellectual contributions.
- A CV is primarily used for academic, scientific, research, and medical positions. It is also common for applications for fellowships, grants, and international positions.
| Resume | CV |
| Used when applying for a position in the industry, non-profit, and public sectors | Used when applying for positions in academics, fellowships and grants |
| Emphasises skills | Emphasises academic accomplishments |
| Chronological, functional or combination format | Open Format |
| No longer than 2 pages, with an additional page for publications or presentations if highly relevant to the job | Length depends upon experience and includes a complete list of publications and presentations |
| Limited resume sections | Sections depend on job requirements |
Image credits: Freepik
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