Is a resume the same thing as a CV?

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Aug 23, 2018 - 07:35 PM

There are many different documents you need to prepare for a job application and it can be tricky to keep them all straight. You have probably heard about resumes and CVs, but what are these documents? Is a resume the same thing as a CV? They are very similar, but there are a few key differences that you need to understand.

First, resumes are common in the United States, while CVs are generally used elsewhere in the world. Be sure to know which document each employer expects before sending one off. Second, the biggest difference in the document itself is the format. The resume and CV accomplish the same thing. Both present your professional information, skills, and work experience to establish qualification for a job. The CV is longer, including a few extra sections. It also has more leniency in the content you can include, while a resume has very strict and specific formatting expectations.

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Angela Copeland

Sep 04, 2018 - 06:06 PM

A resume is not the same thing as a CV. The terms are frequently thrown around as if they mean the same thing. And, in a certain way, they are a lot alike. A resume and a CV (Curriculum Vitae) both highlight your skills and accomplishments to a future employer. Within the United States, a resume is typically used in most fields. A CV is used in fields such as science, technology, and academia. A CV is also more typically used in the U.K.

Resumes tend to be shorter than CVs, most are one or two pages in length total. A resume contains a more abbreviated version of what you’ve been working on. A CV tends to be much longer and contains much more detailed information. For example, a CV may be five pages or longer. It may include every publication, speech, or patent a person has earned. A resume also tends to have more visual formatting, whereas a CV is a bit more text-based.

If you’re deciding between the two formats, find out what’s typical in your industry. If you’re applying for jobs in multiple industries, you may want to consider having one version of your experience in a resume format, and another in a CV format.