What is the Difference Between a Resume and a CV?

When you're applying for a job, one of the hardest things to get your head around is the difference between a resume and a curriculum vitae. Some job applications say one, some say the other. So what exactly is the difference between the two, and how can you determine which one to use?

In essence, the main difference between a resume and a curriculum vitae is the length of each document. A resume, for example, is generally much shorter than a CV and provides an overview of all your skills and experience for a particular job. If an employer asks for a resume, it means that person is looking for a brief overview of your talents. Employers will spend much less time looking through a resume, which is why it is important to get a full picture of yourself into such a short document. If there is too much to look through, the employer will often disregard the resume.

However, a CV is much longer and gives a full overview of all your experience and skills. In the United States, CVs are usually asked for by employers when applying for positions in academia or science, where the level of experience is usually much more important. In a CV, you can include lots of details about yourself due to the length of the document. Some personal hobbies or your qualifications in other areas are some things that can be included as well as all your subsequent and relevant experience.

The other main difference between the two documents is the way in which they are laid out. A resume, for example, has no strict format and can detail your experience and personal skills in a number of different ways. However, employers that ask for a CV will almost certainly want you to detail all your professional and academic experience in chronological order, to give a full picture of how qualified you are for a role.

In Europe, CVs are often always requested by employers, but rather confusingly, employers do not expect CVs to be particularly long. Particularly in the United Kingdom, most employers expect a CV to be no more than two letter-size pages, which will detail your personal life as well as your level of experience and skills when applying for a job.

Essentially, the two main differences between a resume and a CV are the formatting and the length of the two documents. Be sure to remember that if employers want a resume, they want a brief overview of you as a candidate. However, if a CV is the preferred document that is asked for, then be sure to include as much experience as you can to sell yourself prior to any interview.

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