I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your resume.” Patrick
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My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful! George
If you are here just for a quick summary, here's the CV vs resume difference:
In CVs (curriculum vitae), you list your professional and educational backgrounds in a longer and more detailed manner. It's typically used when applying for academic or research positions. Meanwhile, a resume summarizes your professional and educational experience for the purpose of applying for a job.
Typically, a resume is one to two pages long and highlights your relevant skills and work experiences for a particular job or role. If you're still unsure what's the difference between a CV and a resume, see the full overview below.
What is a CV?
Here's the definition of a CV: CV is short for curriculum vitae, a Latin phrase that means “the course of [your] life”.
In the United States and Canada, the word CV refers to a long, in-depth document that provides a full picture of a person’s professional and academic achievements. You need to write a CV when applying for grad school, looking for a senior academic position, applying for a scholarship, and so on.
What to Put in a CV:
Contact information
Research objective or personal statement
Education
Professional academic appointments
Books
Peer-reviewed publications
Awards and honors
Grants and fellowships
Conferences
Teaching experience
Research experience / Lab experience
Non-academic activities
Other publications
Languages and skills
Memberships
References
There’s no page limit for CVs. Researchers who are just starting out usually have CVs that are 2–3 pages long, while senior academics can easily boast 10-page-long CVs. If you're interested in how to tackle writing a CV, check out the linked guide.
CV Example
Here’s an example of a CV that you can use. To give it that professional look, use one of our CV templates or head straight to the CV builder.
Ella B. Hall
CURRICULUM VITAE
2022/01/25
Ella B. Hall
Lecturer on Applied Linguistics
The State University of New York, Albany, NY
295 Johnson Rd., Corona, NY 11368
551-251-4884
ella.hall@eeemail.com
linkedin.com/in/ellahall.ph.d
EDUCATION
2021 Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
The Department of Modern Languages
Thesis Title: “A Mixed Methods Analysis of Corpus Data from Reddit Discussions of the COVID-19 Pandemic”
Thesis Supervisor: Kenneth M. Hildebrand
2016 M.A. in Applied Linguistics, Graduated Summa Magna Cum Laude
The City University of New York, NYC, NY
The Department of Modern Languages
Thesis Title: “Using Corpus Methods to Investigate Classroom Interaction”
Thesis Supervisor: James Nutini
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
Lecturer on Applied Linguistics
The State University of New York, Albany, NY
Department of Modern Languages
2021–Present
Developed 2 undergraduate courses and supervised 3 M. A. theses.
PUBLICATIONS
Books
The Language of the Pandemic. New York: Hill and Wang, 2022.
Book Chapters
"Sociolinguistic approaches to Reddit discussions" In New Challenges of 21st Century Linguistics, edited by Stephen Regan. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, and London: Macmillan Press Ltd., 2022.
"EFL student discourse: a corpus-driven perspective" In Inside the Classroom, edited by Michael Tomaszewski. London and New York: Faber & Faber, 2020.
Selected Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
“Conundrum: A Story About Reading,” New England Review 38, no. 1 (2015): 212–230, Project MUSE.
“A Pig That Was in the Icebox,” Verso Magazine 8, no. 4 (2013): 91–109.
AWARDS AND HONORS
2018, PROSE Award for Single Volume Reference in the Humanities and Social Sciences, Honourable Mention
2020, Fulbright / The City University of New York Award in Humanities
CONFERENCES
2022, The Limits of an Institution, International Conference, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain; Paper title: "The Limits of Sociolinguistics."
In North American usage, a resume is a short, usually one-page document you write when applying for most jobs. It’s closely tailored to a specific job opening and presents a selection of your most relevant achievements and best skills.
A perfect resume length is typically one page, unlike the academic CVs that become longer as your academic career progresses. Although, very experienced professionals can opt for two pages.
Make sure to align your resume closely with the job ad you’re responding to. Find out how to target your resume with absolute precision so that it fits the specific job opening like a glove.
American Resume Example
Here’s a typical resume sample for the American job market:
Steven S. Somerville
Line Cook
Los Angeles, CA 90017
416-992-3060
steven.somerville@eeeemail.com
linkedin.com/in/steve.sommerville.2947
Summary
Creative line cook with 3 years of experience. Helped create the new seasonal menu at Tornellais, which was voted LA’s best dining experience. Eager to please Pusigno’s customers with exquisite meals and contribute to its excellent reputation.
Work Experience
Line Cook
Tornellais, Los Angeles, CA
March 2018–March 2022
Assisted the chef in creating a seasonal menu that was voted LA’s best dining experience by the LA Taste magazine
Contributed to the restaurant’s 4.7-star rating on Tripadvisor
Strictly adhered to all food safety rules and procedures
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CV vs. Resume in a Nutshell
A CV is a detailed account of your academic and professional career. It includes everything you’ve ever done, from the very first student conference to your latest academic book. CVs can get very long as your career progresses.
A resume only provides information that’s relevant to a specific job opening. Speaking at a conference on historical phonetics is unlikely to be considered a professional accomplishment outside the academic world. A one-page resume is enough for almost everyone, from a rookie candidate to a seasoned pro.
Resume vs. CV in Other Regions
The difference between a CV and a resume is pretty clear in American usage. Though if you’re applying for an international job, you’re probably wondering why they want to see your CV rather than your resume.
In Australia and South Africa, the words CV and resume are synonymous and used interchangeably.
But, in the UK, Ireland, other European countries, and New Zealand, a CV is equivalent to an American resume. It’s a short document used to apply for regular, non-academic jobs.
Expert Hint: Depending on where you want to work, you’ll have to write a resume, a CV, or… a biodata. This is a document that’s popular in South Asia. It’s similar to a resume, but it includes a lot of personal information: date of birth, gender, religion, race, ethnicity, nationality, marital status, and current salary.
So does it mean you write a European CV just like an American resume, then?
Yes and no. While a European CV is very similar to an American resume, some country-specific differences exist.
For instance, British CVs are usually written in the first person, “I boosted sales by 30%...”
In the US and Canada, it’s more common to write, “Boosted sales by 30%...”
Another thing is the use of photographs on CVs. In some countries, such as Germany, Poland, or Portugal, employers might still expect your headshot on a CV. But in the UK or the US, a picture on a resume or CV will actually hamper your chances of landing the job.
Last but not least: Europeans typically use the A4 paper format, whereas Americans and Canadians traditionally prefer Letter-size documents. The difference between the two formats isn’t dramatic, but it can still mess with your resume (or CV) layout.
Whatever you’re writing, our resume & CV builder can do it all.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Key Points
Here are the most important items to remember regarding the CV vs. resume difference:
In North America, a CV is a longer, more detailed document used for applying for academic posts. A resume is brief and targeted document you submit it for non-academic jobs.
In the UK, Ireland, the rest of Europe, and New Zealand, a CV is basically the same as the American resume: a short outline of your work history and skills. The term “resume” is not used.
In South Africa and Australia, both CV and resume are used synonymously. There’s no difference between them.
In India and other South Asian countries, another document is commonly used to apply for jobs: a biodata. It contains more personal details such as race, religion, family origins, and ethnicity.
Is the difference between a resume and a CV still unclear? Unsure which one to pick? Drop me a line in the comments, and I’ll do my best to straighten out your queries!
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Written byOlga Ber
Olga is a career expert with a background in teaching. At ResumeLab, she writes actionable guides to help job-seekers highlight their unique strengths and unlock their career potential.