It's a valid question with a bit of a complicated answer. In some parts of the world, such as the UK and Ireland, "CV" refers to the same document we Americans call a resume. You may be familiar with job sites and company career centers that ask you to submit a "Resume/CV" when you apply for a job, which furthers the idea that the terms are interchangeable. But here in the U.S. (and Canada), the formats and content of a CV and resume are vastly different. So if you've been boggled by the difference, here's a clear-cut comparison between the two to relieve any confusion:
| |
CV |
Resume |
| Meaning of Name |
Latin for curriculum vitae, which means "course of life". |
AKA resume, which is French for "summary". |
| Length |
Two-page minimum; up to 20 or 30 pages if academic, medical, or scientific. |
One to two pages maximum (in most cases). |
| Content |
Serves as a historical overview of the applicant, rather than just a work history.
Includes entire academic and professional history (relevant or not) plus any personal or extracurricular activities.
Only one version needed to apply for any position.
|
Brief summaries of relevant work experience, skills, and achievements.
Additional focus on volunteerism or college course work, if applicable.
Targeted specifically for each position being applied for (could result in several versions).
|
| Where It's Used |
Primary application for employment in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Also used in the U.S. and Canada for fellowships, grants, academic, medical, or scientific positions.
|
Primarily used in the U.S. for most professional occupations. |
|
There you have it. Any questions? Ask below!
We also have a branch of our business in London www.successfulcv.co.uk
But my reason for commenting is simply to put the record straight on where the terminology is used. It is not a big deal but it may as well be correct, because it is a useful tool for clients who want to know the difference.
We run a global business with clients from every continent using our services..... so I am reasonably qualified to advise that:
CV is used by academics from around the world, it has an intellectual cache. It is also used generally in the UK. And in the UK a 2 pager is the desired document length in business applications, and even academic circles are becoming convinced that "less is more".
Australia, Africa, India and Asia use the the word resume, as does the US and France. Two pages is the ideal length for non government applications, but never more than 3!
New Zealand uses both depending on who you are talking too.
I hope this clarifies the situation.