Should You Send a Resume or a CV?

A curriculum vitae and resume seem like similar concepts, and the two terms are often used to refer to the same thing. However, there are a few key differences between the two types of documents. When you're applying for a position, it's important to know when to write a resume or go with a CV.

Length

The key difference between a curriculum vitae and a resume is the length of the document. Hiring managers typically read one-page resumes and discard the rest. A CV is the exact opposite — HR expects this to be longer, meatier and more comprehensive. A CV details every step of your educational background starting with college, including any awards and certifications you earned, any papers presented at conference, and your work experience in relevant jobs. Whereas a resume highlights your relevant experience for the position at hand, a CV serves as a complete biography of your professional life.

Addition and Subtraction

Write a resume for jobs that do not require a lot of education or experience. A resume acts as a brief marketing tool for you to tailor to each position in your job search. You may pick and choose what experiences and skills to include in a resume based on the company to which you apply. However, your curriculum vitae changes less often as you add a job, degree, certification or pertinent skill. You always keep adding to a CV during your career, and it does not necessarily need to change based on the job or company.

Positions

A curriculum vitae works for professional positions in which you need advanced degrees and a lot of targeted experience. Doctors, lawyers, CEOs, university professors and engineers often require postdoctoral research, several years of schooling beyond a bachelor's degree, loads of experience and professional certifications to prove they can get the job done. Positions in fields such as medicine, law and engineering, as well as roles that involve leading a large business or teaching courses, all require mastery of complex concepts and skills. A CV shows precisely how someone achieved expertise in a chosen field.

Formatting

Resumes often start with experience and skills. Your curriculum vitae focuses more on education. Both documents tell a story, but in different ways. You may choose to compose a CV in chronological order under headings for Education, Certifications and Positions Held. You might want to format a resume based on bullet points for your hard skills, past achievements and any outstanding accomplishments. Both a resume and a CV should show relevant, provable facts that an employer can verify with the proper research.

Unsure

If you're unsure as to which type of document to submit, you can always ask. Some firms and recruiters simply want more information based on the complexity of the job, while others want to get a quick snapshot of your career first before digging for more details. If HR requires a CV, the job often requires more vetting, and therefore more time, to consider all of the candidates.

A curriculum vitae and resume have the same purpose — to pique HR's interest in hiring you. Decide which one you need before submitting, so you know how to proceed with your job search. Most jobs require a resume, while CVs are usually reserved for academic positions.

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