CV vs Resume: Key Differences and When to Use Each

In North America (US and Canada), 'resume' is the standard term for the 1-2 page document used for most job applications. 'CV' (Curriculum Vitae, Latin for 'course of life') is used specifically for academic, research, medical, and scientific positions, and tends to be much longer.

In most of Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and many other English-speaking countries, 'CV' and 'resume' are used interchangeably and refer to the same document — typically 1-3 pages used for general job applications.

In academic and research contexts worldwide, a 'CV' always means the comprehensive academic document that includes publications, presentations, grants, teaching history, and other scholarly activities — and can run many pages long.

A resume is a targeted, concise document (1-2 pages) designed to match your experience to a specific job opening. It includes:

Contact information, professional summary or objective, work experience (reverse chronological), education, skills and certifications, and optionally: projects, volunteer work, or languages.

The key principle of a resume is selectivity — you include only what's most relevant to the job you're applying for. You tailor your resume for each application, emphasizing different skills and experiences depending on the role.

Resumes do not include: age, date of birth, marital status, religion, nationality (in most cases), photos (in the US, UK, Canada), high school education if you have a degree, or outdated experience from 15+ years ago (unless highly relevant).

An academic CV is a comprehensive record of all your professional and scholarly activities. Length is not a concern — a senior professor's CV might be 20-40 pages long. It includes:

Education (all degrees with thesis titles and advisors), academic positions held, publications (peer-reviewed articles, books, book chapters, working papers), conference presentations, research grants and fellowships, teaching experience, advising (students supervised), professional service (committees, editorial boards, peer review), awards and honors, media coverage, and professional memberships.

Academic CVs are living documents — updated continuously as you publish, present, and take on new roles. They are not tailored for individual applications; they are comprehensive records. The hiring committee selects what matters to them.

United States and Canada: Use a resume for all non-academic positions. Use an academic CV only for university faculty, post-doctoral, and research scientist positions. Never include a photo, age, or marital status.

United Kingdom: 'CV' is the standard term but refers to what Americans call a resume — 1-2 pages, no photo required. Never include age, nationality, or religion.

Germany and Austria: The 'Lebenslauf' (CV) traditionally includes a professional photo, date of birth, nationality, and marital status. This is legally acceptable and culturally expected there.

France: The CV ('curriculum vitae') typically includes a photo and personal details. Cover letters ('lettre de motivation') are extremely important and often required.

Middle East: CVs often include a photo and personal details. Two-three pages is standard. Cover letters are less commonly required but appreciated.

If the job posting asks for a 'resume', send a 1-2 page resume. If it asks for a 'CV', check the context: is it an academic/research position? Send an academic CV. Is it a corporate or non-profit position in the UK/Europe? Send your standard 1-2 page document (which they're calling a CV).

If in doubt, 1-2 pages is almost always the safer choice for corporate roles. Academic hiring committees will explicitly tell you they want a full CV and often have minimum page requirements.

For international applications, research the norms of the country you're applying to. A German application might require a photo and date of birth; an American application for the same type of role would not include these.