Understand when to use a resume versus a curriculum vitae with clear examples and guidelines for different industries and regions.
The main differences between a resume and a CV are:
Length: 1-2 pages
Focus: Relevant skills and work experience
Use for: Business, industry, and most job applications
Common in: United States, Canada
Length: 3+ pages, often much longer
Focus: Complete academic and professional history
Use for: Academic, scientific, research, or international positions
Common in: UK, EU, and academic settings worldwide
Important Note: In the UK and many other European countries, the term "CV" is used to describe what Americans call a resume. This is different from an academic CV, which is used similarly across countries.
Key differences between these two document types
Resume
1-2 pages
CV
3-10+ pages
Resume
Concise & targeted
CV
Comprehensive
Resume
High (per job)
CV
Low to medium
Resume
For each application
CV
As achievements occur
A comprehensive breakdown of the differences between resumes and CVs
| Attribute | Resume | CV (Curriculum Vitae) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To provide a concise overview of your skills and experience relevant to a specific job | To give a comprehensive overview of your academic and professional accomplishments |
| Length | 1-2 pages | 3+ pages, sometimes much longer |
| Focus | Work experience, skills, and achievements relevant to the position | Academic background, research, publications, presentations, and professional history |
| Customization | Tailored for each job application to highlight relevant skills and experience | More static document updated with new accomplishments but not typically customized for applications |
| Content Structure | Emphasizes recent work history, key skills, and relevant achievements | Comprehensive chronological history including education, publications, research, teaching experience, grants, etc. |
| Common Sections | Contact info, summary, work experience, education, skills, certifications | Contact info, education, research experience, teaching experience, publications, presentations, grants, fellowships, professional affiliations |
| Primary Use Cases | Business, industry, non-profit, and most private sector jobs | Academic, scientific, medical, international, and research positions |
| Design & Formatting | Can utilize modern design elements, colors, and creative formatting (industry dependent) | Generally more conservative with minimal design elements focusing on content rather than presentation |
Consider maintaining both a comprehensive CV and a concise resume, even if you currently only need one. You can use your CV as a master document to track all your accomplishments, publications, and experiences, then extract the most relevant information to create targeted resumes for specific job applications.
Concise and targeted
Focuses only on information relevant to the specific job
Achievement-oriented
Emphasizes accomplishments and results rather than responsibilities
Highly customizable
Tailored for each job application to emphasize relevant qualifications
Skills-focused
Highlights specific skills and competencies relevant to the position
Contact Information
Professional Summary/Objective
Work Experience
Education
Skills
Certifications/Professional Development (optional)
Awards/Achievements (optional)
Business and corporate positions
Most private sector jobs
Technology and creative industries
Entry to mid-level positions
Job applications in the United States and Canada
Comprehensive and detailed
Documents your entire academic and professional career
Chronologically structured
Presents a complete history, often in reverse chronological order
Academic focus
Emphasizes educational background, research, and scholarly achievements
Less customization
Updated as new accomplishments occur rather than tailored for each application
Contact Information
Education (including thesis titles, advisors)
Research Experience
Teaching Experience
Publications (by category and often in citation format)
Presentations and Conferences
Grants, Fellowships, and Awards
Professional Affiliations
Service (editorial boards, committee work, etc.)
Research Skills and Techniques
Academic positions (professors, researchers)
Scientific and research roles
Medical professionals (physicians, scientists)
Grant applications
International positions (especially in Europe and parts of Asia)
Resumes typically need to pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) in business settings. CVs for academic positions are often reviewed directly by hiring committees rather than through ATS software. If you're unsure whether your document is ATS-friendly, try our free ATS checker.
How resume and CV usage varies around the world
The term 'resume' is standard in the US for most job applications. A one-page resume is preferred for early career, while two pages are acceptable for experienced professionals. CVs are only used for academic, scientific, or research positions.
In the UK, 'CV' is the standard term for what Americans call a resume. UK CVs are typically 2 pages, more concise than academic CVs but more detailed than US resumes. The content and purpose are similar to US resumes.
The term 'CV' is common across most of Europe. In many EU countries, candidates often use the standardized Europass CV format. European CVs may include personal details that would be unusual in the US, such as age, nationality, or photo.
Both terms are used in Australia, but 'resume' is becoming more common. Australian resumes/CVs tend to be 2-4 pages, longer than US resumes but shorter than academic CVs. They often include more personal information than US resumes.
Canadians use both terms, with 'resume' being slightly more common. Canadian practices are similar to US standards, with 1-2 page documents preferred for most professional roles and CVs reserved for academic positions.
For international jobs, research the conventions of the specific country and industry. Consider including more personal details for countries where that's standard, and adjust length and formality accordingly. For English-speaking countries, use their preferred terminology.
Adding to the complexity, in many countries (particularly the UK and European countries), the term "CV" is used to describe what Americans would call a "resume" – a short document for job applications. When these regions refer to an academic CV, they often specify "academic CV" to distinguish it from the shorter document used in business applications.
Always research the specific expectations of the country and organization you're applying to, as regional norms can vary significantly.
Which document type is preferred in different fields
Business and corporate sectors almost always prefer concise, targeted resumes that highlight relevant achievements and skills. Focus on quantifiable results and industry-specific expertise.
Tech companies typically prefer resumes with an emphasis on specific technical skills, programming languages, relevant projects, and achievements. A skills section is particularly important.
Academic positions require CVs that detail teaching experience, research history, publications, conferences, presentations, grants, and academic service activities.
Research positions expect comprehensive CVs with detailed descriptions of research experience, laboratory skills, publications, conference presentations, and funding history.
Medical professionals typically use CVs to document clinical experience, specializations, certifications, research, and publications. Some clinical positions may accept focused resumes.
Financial institutions generally expect concise, achievement-oriented resumes that demonstrate relevant experience, certifications, and quantifiable success metrics.
Legal positions may accept either format. Law firms typically prefer resumes, while academic legal positions or certain judicial roles might expect CVs detailing publications and teaching experience.
Creative industries prefer concise resumes, often accompanied by portfolios. Resumes should highlight relevant projects, clients, and creative achievements.
Government positions vary widely. US federal jobs often require specialized formats like the USAJOBS resume (which is more detailed than standard resumes). Research positions may require CVs.
Non-profit organizations typically prefer concise resumes highlighting relevant experience, particularly with similar organizations or causes, transferable skills, and volunteer experience.
How to transform one document type into the other when needed
Be highly selective
Choose only the most relevant experiences, publications, and achievements that relate directly to the target position.
Translate academic achievements
Convert academic accomplishments into business-relevant terms (e.g., "Led a research team of 5" becomes "Team leadership experience").
Focus on transferable skills
Highlight skills that are valuable in both academic and business contexts: analysis, communication, project management, etc.
Consolidate publications
Instead of listing every publication, summarize with a statement like "Author of 12 peer-reviewed publications on machine learning applications."
Add a strong summary
Create a compelling professional summary that frames your academic background in terms relevant to the target position.
Quantify achievements
Add metrics and numbers to make academic accomplishments more concrete (e.g., "Increased lab efficiency by 30%").
Expand all experiences
Include comprehensive details about all positions, even those you condensed or omitted on your resume.
Add academic sections
Create new sections for publications, presentations, research experience, teaching experience, grants, and academic service.
Provide complete education details
Elaborate on educational background, including thesis titles, committee members, areas of study, and relevant coursework.
List all professional affiliations
Add memberships in professional organizations, including roles and responsibilities within these groups.
Replace summary with research interests
Instead of a professional summary, include a section on research interests and academic focus areas.
Include references
Academic CVs often include references directly on the document, unlike resumes where "references available upon request" is standard.
Errors people make when deciding between resume and CV formats
Using a resume for academic positions
For academic, research, scientific, or medical faculty positions, always use a CV that details your publications, research, and teaching experience.
Using a CV for business positions
Corporate recruiters expect concise resumes and may not read multi-page CVs. Create a 1-2 page resume that highlights relevant accomplishments.
Applying US resume standards globally
Research country-specific expectations. Many regions use the term 'CV' for what Americans call a resume, and expect different content or format.
Creating a hybrid document that's neither a proper resume nor CV
Choose the appropriate format based on your industry and target position, then follow the established conventions for that document type.
Using the same document for every application regardless of field
Maintain both a resume and a CV if you're applying to positions in different sectors (e.g., industry and academia).
Including inappropriate personal information based on region
Understand regional norms. US resumes should exclude photos, age, marital status, etc., while these might be expected in some international applications.
Advice from hiring professionals on choosing and using resumes and CVs effectively
Professor of Computer Science & Former Hiring Committee Chair
"Maintain both a master CV and a resume. Your CV can track every achievement, publication, and experience, serving as a repository from which you can pull relevant content when creating targeted resumes for specific positions."
International Recruiting Director
"When applying internationally, research not just whether they prefer resumes or CVs, but also formatting expectations, appropriate personal information to include, and whether a photo is expected or discouraged."
Career Transition Coach
"If you're switching from academia to industry, create a skills-based resume that translates your academic achievements into business-relevant competencies. Focus on transferable skills like project management, data analysis, and leadership."
It's not recommended. If an employer specifically requests a resume, sending a longer CV could signal that you don't follow instructions well or don't understand industry norms. Instead, create a focused 1-2 page resume from your CV that highlights your most relevant qualifications. Many recruiters spend only seconds scanning a resume initially, so a lengthy CV could work against you in business settings.
There's significant terminology confusion across regions. In the UK, most of Europe, and many other countries, the term "CV" is commonly used to describe what Americans call a "resume" - a 1-2 page document focused on relevant skills and experience. What Americans call a "CV" (a comprehensive academic document) is often referred to as an "academic CV" in these regions to distinguish it from the shorter document used in business settings.
This varies significantly by region. In the US, personal information like age, marital status, and photos are generally avoided on both resumes and CVs to prevent potential discrimination. However, in many European, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries, this information is standard and sometimes expected. Research the specific norms of the country where you're applying. For international applications, consider creating different versions tailored to each country's expectations.
If you're moving from academia to industry, create a focused resume that translates your academic achievements into business-relevant terms. Highlight transferable skills and quantifiable results rather than publications or academic service. If moving from industry to academia, develop a comprehensive CV that elaborates on your education, any research experience, publications, and teaching experience, even if minimal. In either case, it's helpful to have both documents ready and to tailor them for specific opportunities.
Yes, it's best to maintain both a comprehensive CV and a targeted resume. You can use your CV as a master document containing your complete history and achievements. When applying for industry positions, create a focused resume by extracting and translating the most relevant information from your CV. Keep both documents updated as your career progresses. This approach allows you to respond quickly to opportunities in either sector with an appropriately formatted document.