CV vs resume: what's the difference and which one to send

What a resume is

A resume is a targeted document. You write it for a specific job, cut anything that does not support your application, and keep it to one page if you have under ten years of experience or two pages if you have more. The goal is to show a hiring manager, in thirty seconds or less, that you meet the requirements of that particular role.

A resume typically includes a summary or objective, work experience in reverse chronological order, skills, and education. Certifications, volunteer work, and side projects appear only if they are relevant. Personal details such as a photo, date of birth, or marital status are not included in the US, Canada, or Australia, and are generally discouraged in the UK.

• Length: one to two pages
• Tailored to each job posting
• No photo or personal details in most English-speaking countries
• Focuses on impact: metrics, outcomes, responsibilities

What a CV is

CV stands for curriculum vitae, Latin for 'course of life'. It is a full record of your academic and professional history. There is no page limit. A researcher with twenty years of publications, conference presentations, grants, and teaching experience might have a CV that runs fifteen pages or more.

A CV includes everything a resume does, plus sections that are rarely seen on a resume: publications, research projects, conference presentations, teaching experience, awards, professional memberships, and sometimes a list of references. The document grows over time and is rarely cut down for a specific application.

• Length: no limit, often five or more pages for senior academics
• Comprehensive, not tailored
• Common in academia, medicine, and research
• May include a photo in some European countries

How usage differs by country

This is where most people get confused. The same word means different things depending on where the employer is based.

In the United States and Canada, 'resume' is the standard document for almost every private-sector job. When an American employer says 'send us your CV', they almost always mean a resume. The word CV is used loosely and does not signal that they want a multi-page academic document unless the job is in higher education, medicine, or research.

In the United Kingdom, 'CV' is the everyday word for what Americans call a resume. A UK CV is two pages, tailored to the job, and structured much like a US resume. If a UK employer asks for a resume, they mean the same thing. The words are interchangeable there.

In Australia, both words are used and both mean the same short, tailored document. Most Australian job postings say 'resume' but some say 'CV', and employers expect the same two-page document either way.

In continental Europe, the situation varies. Many countries use the Europass CV format, which includes a photo and personal details. In Germany, a detailed CV with a photo and cover letter is standard. In France, a one-page CV with a photo is common. If you are applying to a European employer, check the country-specific norms before you send anything.

When to send a true CV

Outside of Europe, a true multi-page CV is expected in a narrow set of situations. If you are applying for a faculty position at a university, a research role at a government agency or think tank, a medical residency or fellowship, or a grant-funded scientific position, the employer wants a CV, not a resume.

In these cases, leaving out your publications or conference presentations would hurt your application. The hiring committee needs the full picture to assess your scholarly output and research trajectory.

If you are unsure, look at the job posting carefully. Words like 'research statement', 'list of publications', or 'teaching philosophy' are signals that a CV is expected. A posting that asks for 'relevant experience' and lists a skills section is almost certainly asking for a resume.

1. University faculty and lecturer roles
2. Medical residencies, fellowships, and clinical research positions
3. Government or NGO research positions
4. Grant applications and scientific funding bodies
5. Postdoctoral positions

How to format each document

For a resume, use a clean single-column or two-column layout, a readable font at 10 to 12 points, and consistent spacing. Put your most recent job first. Use bullet points under each role to describe what you did and what resulted from it. Quantify where you can: 'reduced onboarding time by three weeks' is stronger than 'improved onboarding'.

For a CV, structure matters more than brevity. Start with education if you are early in your career or if your degree is the most relevant credential. List publications in a recognised citation format such as APA or Chicago. Group conference presentations separately from journal articles. Keep the formatting consistent throughout, because reviewers will scroll through many pages.

• Resume: reverse chronological work history, bullet points, one to two pages
• CV: sections for publications, grants, teaching, memberships, no page limit
• Both: clear contact details, no spelling errors, saved as PDF unless the employer specifies otherwise

Tailoring your resume for each application

A resume that is not tailored is one of the most common reasons applications are rejected before a human reads them. Applicant tracking systems score your resume against the job description, and a generic document will score poorly even if you are qualified.

Read the job posting and mirror the language it uses. If the posting says 'stakeholder management', use that phrase rather than 'client relations'. Move the most relevant experience to the top of each role's bullet list. Adjust your summary to reflect the specific title and industry.

Break-In Bad's resume enhancement feature can help here. Omar reads your existing resume, asks you up to 20 questions about your experience, and rewrites each line to match what you actually did while keeping your original content intact. She then produces a tailored resume and cover letter for each job you apply to, drawing only from facts you have confirmed.