What is a Curriculum Vitae (CV)? Definition, Meaning & Purpose
What is a Curriculum Vitae (CV)? Definition, Meaning & Use
To land that dream job, you must submit the right recruitment documents. So, if the employer requires a CV rather than a resume, you’d better make sure you know what a CV is.
There are three recruitment documents every job seeker should be familiar with:
A resume, a cover letter, and a CV.
While the first two are rather well known to most, the last one tends to be confusing. All the more so as it refers to something different in various countries. Not to worry. We’ll show you exactly what a CV is.
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The “CV” abbreviation stands for curriculum vitae which means “course of life” in Latin. In the US and Canada, a CV refers to a recruitment document detailing your academic and employment history, along with your skills and achievements.
In contrast to resumes, CVs can be very extensive and include detailed lists of your academic awards, grants, scholarships, publications, research projects, or coursework.
This is why a CV is a standard document when you’re pursuing a career in academia. Not so much so when seeking employment in a non-academic role.
A typical CV form can consist of such sections as:
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2. What is a CV in Europe and Elsewhere?
The definition of a CV differs depending on geography.
As we’ve already established, in the US and Canada a CV means a recruitment document you’d normally use when applying for academic positions as well as grants, fellowships or scholarships.
The situation looks different in Europe and New Zealand, though. In these regions, a curriculum vitae, or CV, refers to a document that’s very much like an American resume. In other words:
In Europe and New Zealand, a CV is a document that briefly outlines your work experience, skills, education, and professional achievements, and you use it to apply for regular positions.
So even though in these countries the word “resume” isn’t used at all, a United Kingdom curriculum vitae will be very much like an American resume, both in terms of its function and form.
In other anglophone countries such as South Africa and Australia, both terms CV and resume are used interchangeably to refer to a document similar to a US resume.
3. What Is the Difference Between a CV and Resume?
Now, let’s go back to the US and have a look at how to distinguish a CV from a resume, and how not to confuse either with a cover letter:
Resume
CV
Cover Letter
Length
Usually 1-2 pages
No limits
1 page, 4 paragraphs, up to 350 words
Focus
Experience and skills
Education and academic achievements
Motivation behind applying for the post
Use
Standard, non-academic positions
Academic positions, grants, fellowships, research programs, etc.
Complementary to a resume
Purpose
Shows relevant experience that proves you fit the role
Offers a detailed account of your academic career
Introduces you to the recruiter, offers the whys and wherefores of your application
Form
Bullet points arranged in sections
Paragraphs grouped in sections
Coherent and cohesive paragraphs, a letter format
As you can see, the CV and resume aren’t the same, and they also differ from a cover letter. However, the table above only highlights the most prominent aspects of the three recruitment documents.
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Key Points
Here’s all you need to know about what a CV is:
In the US and Canada, the term CV refers to a recruitment document that details your career with a strong focus on education. It’s used for applying for academic positions.
In Europe and New Zealand, a CV is synonymous with a US resume. It refers to a brief document summarizing your relevant professional experience and skills.
In Australia and South Africa, both terms resume and CV are part of the vocabulary and each refers to a document resembling an American resume.
An American CV differs from a resume in many aspects: length, focus, or purpose to name but a few.
Do you have any other questions about what a CV is? Would you like to share your opinion on the subject? We’re always happy to hear from you. Give us a shout out in the comments below!
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Experienced in the education management industry, Maciej shares his knowledge for every step of your job hunt, from landing an internship to moving to an executive position.
Maciej has helped job candidates at all stages of their career paths, from interns to directors to C-suite members, to thrive in their job. His mission is to help you find the right opportunity and create a job application that gets you the career you deserve.
Maciej holds a Master’s degree in English with a specialization in communication and education management.