Are CV and Resume the same? The short answer is no, they are not the same. Each is used to apply for different types of jobs. Also, in various countries, the format and practical uses differ.
What is the difference between a CV and a Resume?
A CV, complete with “Curriculum Vitae”, is longer and has more details than a resume.
In Europe and parts of Asia, the terms Resume and CV refer to the same document.
Granted, the resumes or CVs they use look a little different than what is standard in the US.
However, even in the US, CVs are used in academia and science; therefore, in these areas, they are a popular alternative to the standard resume.
CVs are several pages long and are used to detail all of your academic and professional backgrounds. By comparison, a resume is a shorter format document used for specific career guidance. The two forms are quite unique.
In this complete guide to CV vs Resume, find out more details about what a CV is and the difference between a resume and a curriculum vitae. Plus, get step-by-step instructions on how to make a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and customize it for your field, specialty, and country.
What’s better between a CV and a Resume?
The answer is in your goals. Your field of expertise. Also, where are you applying? Dive into this guide to learn more.
Definition of Terms: CV vs Resume
What is a resume? Resumes refer to a one or two-page file for each job application in the US. A good resume convinces a recruiter to interview you.
What is a CV? Curriculum Vitae or CV means “course of life” in Latin. Good resumes are concise, but CVs can span five or more pages and provide a detailed description of the candidate’s work history, academic achievements, honors, publications, etc.
CV meaning in Job: CVs are often called living documents because they are updated as you publish more articles, work on more jobs, attend more conferences, and master more skills. Unlike resumes, a CV is not personalized based on the job application. Instead, a separate cover letter details the most relevant job or accomplishments.
Interesting facts to understand the differences between a CV and a Resume
Below, we will tell you the main differences between these documents and which ones you should use when looking for a job.
The CV
The curriculum vitae offers all the information about a person’s career, from studies to experience, skills, personal data, etc. It is a very complete document with the information an employer needs. While a lengthy CV is not recommended, it can be two or more pages long.
If you look closely, a CV or resume means something like a career life in Latin. A document that shows the trajectory of a person throughout his life. All relevant details are included here.
The Resume
The resume is basically the same as the CV. It also offers information about the profile of each person, in short, the curriculum is less extensive. It usually doesn’t go beyond one page.
So how are they different?
The main differences between a CV and a resume are the length, what they include and what they are for. Initially, a resume is shorter, usually, a single page outlining your skills, experience, and education. Its objective is to highlight only your main virtues, and your strengths and demonstrate your suitability for a given position.
The CV, on the other hand, can be longer and more detailed. It can, and should, describe in more detail each job, and each course is taken. It is much more complete and provides much more information. Resumes are generally preferred by recruiters for positions that require advanced study, as they tend to be more understandable.
Although they are similar documents and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference between a curriculum vitae (CV) and a resume. A resume is usually a comprehensive listing of a person’s relevant background, such as their employment history for a professional resume.
A resume is usually a brief summary of a person’s education, experience, skills, and related information. The difference between a CV and a resume can also vary by location, as the terms may be used differently in some countries than others.
Use for these documents
When someone applies for a job, internship, scholarship, or academic program, they are usually asked to submit a resume or curriculum vitae. These documents describe the person’s employment history, highlight their recognition and academic achievements, and state their qualifications.
A resume or CV is often the first thing a potential employer looks at when considering a candidate. Therefore, both a resume and a CV include the most relevant and relevant information.
A resume is usually one page or not much more than one page. Some experts recommend avoiding resumes longer than one or two pages. Every time a person applies for a job, their resume must be customized to reflect the skills, experience, and other credentials that will be of specific use in that specific position.
For example, if a person applied for a job as a biology teacher and a bicycle tour guide at the same time, they would probably highlight different qualifications on each resume.
Differences between fields
Another difference between a CV and a resume is that some fields tend to use one or the other. CVs are generally needed when people apply for positions in the medical and academic sectors. Resumes are generally preferred when people are applying for positions.
The terms “curriculum vitae” and “resume” are also used in various ways around the world. For example, in the United States and the English-speaking regions of Canada, the word “resume” is predominantly used.
Even the longest documents that are most like resumes are often called resumes in these parts of the world. The term “curriculum vitae” is most often used in Ireland, England, Scotland, New Zealand, and the French-speaking regions of Canada. In India and Australia, the terms are often used interchangeably.
Suggestions for candidates
When a person applies for a job and a potential employer requests a resume or CV, it is essential that the candidate knows how the term is used. It might be helpful for him to contact the potential employer to ask about the types of information to include.
There are many books and websites that offer tips to help job seekers write resumes and CVs.
