The Short Answer
In most of the world, "CV" (curriculum vitae) and "resume" are used interchangeably to mean a document summarising your professional experience for a job application. But in certain countries — particularly the United States and Canada — they refer to two distinct documents with different purposes, lengths, and formats.
Knowing the difference matters because sending the wrong format can make you look out of touch with professional norms in that market.
What Is a Resume?
In North America, a resume is a short, targeted summary of your professional experience, typically one to two pages. It is tailored to a specific job application — you customise it for each role, emphasising the skills and experience most relevant to that position. It is concise, achievement-focused, and does not aim to be comprehensive.
Resumes are used almost universally in the private sector in the US and Canada for job applications.
What Is a CV?
In North America, a CV (curriculum vitae, Latin for "course of life") is a comprehensive document that details your entire academic and professional history. It is used almost exclusively in academic, medical, research, and some government contexts. A CV includes:
- Full publication list
- Conference presentations and speaking engagements
- Research experience and grants
- Teaching experience
- Awards and honours
- Professional memberships
An academic CV has no standard page limit — it can be many pages long and grows throughout a career. Sending an academic CV when applying for a corporate job in the US would be unusual.
Outside North America: The UK, Europe, and Beyond
In the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and most other countries, "CV" simply means the document you send when applying for a job — essentially what Americans call a resume. It's typically one to two pages, achievement-focused, and tailored to the role. "Resume" is rarely used in these markets.
When applying for a job in Spain, the UK, Australia, or similar markets, "CV" is the correct term regardless of length or content.
Which Should You Use?
The answer depends entirely on where you're applying and what the job is:
- Applying for a corporate, commercial, or private-sector job anywhere: Use a concise, tailored document (call it a resume in the US/Canada; a CV everywhere else). One to two pages maximum.
- Applying for an academic, research, medical, or senior government role in the US or Canada: Use a full academic CV.
- Applying for any job in the UK, Europe, Australia, or Hirrd: Call it a CV — content is the same as a US resume.
When in doubt, follow the terminology used in the job posting. If the employer says "send your CV," send a CV. If they say "send your resume," send a resume. The format should be appropriate for the context regardless of what it's called.
Key Differences at a Glance
- US/Canada Resume: 1–2 pages, concise, tailored to the job, no photo, no personal details like date of birth.
- US/Canada Academic CV: Unlimited length, comprehensive, lists all publications and academic activities.
- UK/EU/Australian CV: 1–2 pages, similar to a US resume in most respects. No photo typically required (though some countries like Germany historically included one — this is changing).