What’s the Difference Between a CV and a resume?

Despite some similarities, there are certain differences between a CV and a resume.

It's not always easy to tell which of these two elements of your professional background to include in your portfolio. The resume, or curriculum vitae (CV), is the most important component of your resume. While a resume might be the go-to 'calling card' for many job candidates during a search, the reality is that a CV may be more appropriate for certain companies, fields, or locations.

 

CV? What's it all about?

When companies request a CV, they're looking for more extensive details regarding your professional history, particularly your qualifications. Education, degrees, professional training and industry-specific certifications should always be included in the CV. It depends on your age, job, and years of experience whether your CV has sections about publications, honors and, awards, grants and, fellowships, professional memberships and associations, public speaking engagements and conference presentations, conference presentations, teaching experience, volunteering, and other affiliations as well. 

On CVs, you can also include basic information like your name and contact information, skills, and job experience.

What Is the Difference Between a CV and a Resume?

 

If you are considering your approach to writing a CV vs. resume, then you need to be clear on the differences between these two pieces of paper, and when each should be used. Founder of Career Fixer and New York-based resume writer David Wiacek says curriculum vitae are more detailed because that's how they reflect a person's life path: The course they take in life. Various countries sometimes include dates of birth, marital status, and photos in their CVs, and he points out that such details may seem excessive to many.

 

While a resume provides a synopsis of your experience that is targeted toward a specific position, a CV, in contrast, is a more comprehensive document that encapsulates everything but the kitchen sink: Not just their education and work experience, but the whole candidate package, including qualifications, licenses, exhibits and installations, publications, exhibitions and, so on," Wiacek said.

 

The main difference between a CV and a resume is that whereas a CV focuses on your academic credentials, a resume focuses on your skills. Another difference is that most of a resume consists of your job experience in sequential order – typically starting with your most recent position – with shorter sections addressing your education, credentials, and skills. CVs include more sections that detail general qualifications, publications, awards, affiliations, and training. A CV is often longer, usually stretching three to five pages than a resume. For junior-level candidates, a resume is typically only one page, and for senior-level candidates, two pages are considered adequate.

 

Look closely at the job advertisement or request advice from your recruiter if you're uncertain whether to submit a CV or resume. Some employers and industries require a CV instead of a resume, or vice versa. Several research-led fields, including health care or teaching, prefer or require resumes rather than CVs. According to Wiacek, CVs are typically used by those seeking positions in the private and public sectors in jobs outside of academia.

 

Wiacek advised candidates to always refer to the instructions before applying online. "If the requirements don't specify a simple resume, then chances are they expect that" he said. "But you should always do your research so you don't fall victim to chance."

Check out the different components of a sample resume and a sample CV below.

 

Example CV

Information regarding your contact: First name, last name, phone number, e-mail address, mailing address, URL, website, and LinkedIn profile. 

Education: 

• Schools attended. 
• Graduation dates. 
• Degrees obtained. 
• Other professional training 

 

Research Interests: List your areas of research focus.

 

Professional experience: For every position, ranging from your most recent one to the oldest, list the following: 

• Company name. 
• Your job title.
• Dates of employment. 
• Responsibilities. 

Experience with Field Work: List each project's name, location, and date.

 

Publications: Please list the article or book title, journal or publication name, and date of publication.

Grants/Fellowships: List the name of the grant or fellowship you received along with the date it was received.

Honors/Awards: List the name of honor or award, as well as the date of the award.

Memberships / Associations: List the name of the organization and the dates of membership.

Additional Professional Affiliations: List the names of the organizations and the dates of membership.

 

Examples of Resumes

Details of your contact: your name, titles, and contact info (phone, e-mail, postal address, website, or LinkedIn URL).

What kind of positions do you intend to apply for, and what specialized skills do you offer? When can you start?

Your work experience: Please list your position titles starting from your current or most recent position.

•  Company name.
• Your job title. 
• Dates of employment. 
• Responsibilities.

 

Education:

• Schools attended. 
• Graduation dates. 
• Degrees obtained. 
• Other professional training.

 

Members/affiliates, Volunteering: A list of the groups you belong to, the dates you volunteered, and the organizations for which you have served as a member.