A curriculum vitae is formatted similarly to a resume. Even though a CV is a more in-depth document, formatting works the same: Use a professional font like Times New Roman and Arial Make sure the margins are at 1” across the document Ensure the spacing between lines is at 1 or 1.15 Use the correct text for the subheadings (Objective statement or professional summary, core qualifications, educational history, work history, awards, etc.) Use bullet points to write your short phrases Make sure page breaks aren’t awkward It’s also important to research the standards of your industry and see what hiring managers prefer. An academic CV might look different from a legal or entertainment CV in terms of what information you need to present.

CV vs. Resume: What’s the Difference and when to use them?

Choosing between a CV and a resume is key to making the right impression in your job application. We’ve outlined the essential differences to help you determine which one suits your needs best.

By Maria Feb 17, 2025 4 minutes read

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When applying for a job, you might come across two commonly used documents: the CV (Curriculum Vitae) and the resume. While they serve a similar purpose—presenting your qualifications to an employer—they are not the same. Understanding their differences is crucial to ensure you submit the right document for your job application.

Continue reading! In this article you will see:

What is a CV?
What is a resume?
What are the differences in purpose and use

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Resources for Your Next Career Move

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What’s the Difference Between a CV and a Resume?

Curriculum Vitae and a resume differ primarily in length, content, purpose, and customization. A CV is a comprehensive document detailing an individual’s academic background, research, and professional achievements, often used in academia and research. A resume is a concise, tailored summary of skills, experience, and qualifications designed for job applications in various industries.

1. Length of Resume vs CV

CV: Typically 2+ pages, offering a detailed and comprehensive history of education, work experience, and achievements.
Resume: Usually 1-2 pages, providing a concise summary of relevant skills and experience.

2. Content of Resume vs CV

CV: Includes detailed work experience, education, research, publications, certifications, awards, and affiliations. Often required in academic or research-heavy careers.
Resume: Focuses on relevant experience, skills, and achievements in a brief, easy-to-read format customized for specific job applications.

3. Purpose of Resume vs CV

CV: Used for academic, research, medical, and scientific positions. Also required for international job applications outside the U.S. and Canada.
Resume: The standard format for corporate, business, marketing, and tech jobs, where hiring managers prefer a quick, to-the-point overview of qualifications.

4. Customization of Resume vs CV

CV: Remains mostly the same for different applications, with occasional updates.
Resume: Tailored for each job application, emphasizing the most relevant skills and experiences.

When to Use a CV vs. a Resume

Use a CV if:

You are applying for a role in academia, research, medicine, or scientific fields.
The job listing explicitly requests a CV.
You are applying for jobs outside the U.S. or Canada, where CVs are more common.
You need to showcase an extensive history of publications, research, or certifications.

Use a resume if:

You are applying for a job in business, marketing, technology, or other private sectors.
The employer specifically requests a resume.
You need a short and impactful document that highlights your key skills quickly.
You are submitting an application in the U.S. or Canada, where resumes are preferred.

CV Example vs Resume Example

Use the CV sample below as a foundation for your curriculum vitae. You can find more inspiration in our CV examples library, or jump straight into our CV Maker to edit your CV template.

Academic CV Example

Use this template

Teacher Resume Example

Follow the sample resume below to make a professional resume that impresses hiring managers. We also have hundreds of additional job-specific resume examples you can use as a foundation, and dozens of resume templates you can easily edit in our free Resume Builder.

Use this template

Regional Differences in CVs and Resumes

The terms CV and resume are often used interchangeably, but their meaning and usage vary depending on the region. While some countries strictly differentiate between the two, others treat them as synonymous. Below is a breakdown of how CVs and resumes are used across different parts of the world.

United States & Canada – Resumes are standard, while CVs are primarily used in academia and research.
United Kingdom & Europe – The term CV is commonly used, but it functions more like a resume.
Australia & New Zealand – CV and resume are often interchangeable, with resumes being slightly shorter.
Asia, Africa, and the Middle East – CVs are typically required for most job applications and may include personal details.

What to Include in a CV vs. a Resume

A CV is a comprehensive document that provides a full history of your academic and professional background. It typically includes:

Full name and contact information
Professional summary or objective
Detailed work experience (including job roles, responsibilities, and achievements)
Education history (degrees, institutions, and dates)
Certifications, licenses, and training
Publications, research, and conference presentations (if applicable)
Awards and recognitions
Professional memberships and affiliations
Skills and competencies
Languages spoken
References (optional, but often included)

A resume is a concise document tailored to a specific job application. It generally includes:

Full name and contact information
Professional resume summary or objective
Relevant work experience (brief descriptions of job roles, responsibilities, and key achievements)
Education history (limited to the highest degrees relevant to the job)
Resume Key skills and competencies (specific to the job you’re applying for)
Certifications (if relevant)
Additional sections (e.g., volunteer experience, projects, or extracurricular activities, if relevant to the role)
References on resume (usually omitted or listed as “available upon request”)

Key tips for writing resumes and CVs

1. Use Relevant Keywords

Many employers receive hundreds of applications, so they use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes and CVs based on specific keywords. Carefully review the job description and incorporate relevant industry-specific terms to increase your chances of passing the ATS scan.

2. Stay Focused and Relevant

A CV emphasizes academic achievements, while a resume highlights skills and work experience. Keep your content concise and relevant to your career goals, avoiding unnecessary details that don’t add value.

3. Leverage Strong Action Verbs

Replace passive phrases like “Was responsible for” or “Worked on” with powerful action verbs such as managed, created, developed, or led. These dynamic words strengthen your statements and make your contributions stand out.

4. Tailor Your Resume or CV

A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. Customize your document for each job application by aligning your skills, experience, and achievements with the specific requirements of the role. Employers want to see how you meet their needs.

5. Proofread Before Submitting

Even minor typos can hurt your credibility. Carefully review your document for errors, or better yet, use our Resume Builder and CV Maker, which includes a built-in spell-checking tool to ensure your resume or CV is polished and professional.

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FAQ: CV vs resume

Is a CV the same as a resume?

While a CV may seem to have the same purpose as a resume, it is actually slightly different.

The purpose of a resume is to showcase your most relevant strengths and get you a new job, while the purpose of a CV is to provide a comprehensive overview of your academic and employment history. This document is designed to give hiring managers the whole picture rather than just the information that pertains most directly to the job application.

Internationally the terms “CV” and “resume” may be used interchangeably. The format for most nonacademic jobs outside of the states is a two-page document that also offers more personal details than the average resume, e.g., a photo, hobbies, interests, languages or sports. But regardless of the country, your resume should focus on the skills required for a specific company or position.

Do employers prefer a CV or resume?

The answer to this question will depend heavily on the industry. Generally speaking, in the U.S., most prospective employers will expect to receive a resume and a cover letter as part of a job application. Resumes are a summary of your top skills and experience, and are typically no longer than a page (though it’s OK for professionals with extensive work history to have a two-page resume).

A CV, or curriculum vitae, is more common in specialized fields like academia, law, the federal government, military and sciences.

To determine whether you should write a CV or resume, read the job description and research what the common standard is in your industry.

Do I need to provide a cover letter with a CV?

Yes, ideally, you should write a cover letter to accompany your curriculum vitae when applying for a job. This document should be no more than one page in length and be split into three to five paragraphs.

The cover letter you provide with your CV can be used to draw a reader’s attention to a particularly relevant project or break down your most significant career goal, as your CV may be long but is only giving a sample of your professional experience.

To make things easier, consider using the ResumeHelp Cover Letter Builder and our cover letter templates.

What is similar between a CV and a resume?

CVs and resumes may be different types of documents but they do share the same goal of presenting your best attributes to an employer.

Just like a resume, a CV requires research of the job you’re applying for, knowledge of the skills the employer is seeking, and highlighting your most relevant experiences. Depending on your role, there may be certain formatting rules or required sections to include, depending on the job you’re applying for. For example, medical, sociological and psychological CVs require APA formatting instead of MLA, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with both the requirements for the position and industry examples.

How do I write a CV with no experience?

Now that you’ve seen how a CV is structured and what industries may be requiring a curriculum vitae, you might be wondering how to start writing a CV. Below we’ve broken down the basic steps to write a great CV even if you don’t have any direct industry experience:

Begin by making a list of your most relevant professional achievements and then break those down by what skills you used to achieve that goal and their level of importance.
Then pick the right CV format for your industry.
Use your professional email and most recent contact information.
Start with a personal profile and your title.
List your relevant experience (this could include academic and extracurricular activities) and key achievements.
Pay special attention to your academic, publications and education sections.
Have relevant skills and keywords present that fit the job opening.

Remember to include a list of bullet points that give an overview of specific responsibilities and duties you typically completed and emphasize impressive achievements to showcase your past success.

Listing your accomplishments beforehand can help produce CV sessions that are still relevant to the job and showcase your significant qualifications even without direct work experience.

Sections like awards received, conferences you attended or any scholarships and grants you have can add credibility to your CV, which hiring managers will appreciate.

Can a resume be two pages?

Yes, a resume can be two pages long but only if you’re a career professional with more than 10 years of work history. Otherwise, your resume shouldn’t be longer than a page.

When it comes to senior-level positions, hiring managers and recruiters will expect candidates to submit two-page resumes that include career highlights. Job seekers with less experience should focus on packing their information into a single page, focusing on important skills, and making sure there isn’t a lot of white space.

Choosing the right resume format will help you make sure that your information is correctly highlighted. For example, the chronological resume format is ideal for two-page resumes, whereas the combination or functional resume format works best for job seekers who need a one-page resume.

To see the different formats in action, check out our resume examples and see our resume formats guide.

What is a CV format?

A curriculum vitae is formatted similarly to a resume. Even though a CV is a more in-depth document, formatting works the same:

Use a professional font like Times New Roman and Arial
Make sure the margins are at 1” across the document
Ensure the spacing between lines is at 1 or 1.15
Use the correct text for the subheadings (Objective statement or professional summary, core qualifications, educational history, work history, awards, etc.)
Use bullet points to write your short phrases
Make sure page breaks aren’t awkward

It’s also important to research the standards of your industry and see what hiring managers prefer. An academic CV might look different from a legal or entertainment CV in terms of what information you need to present.

WRITTEN BY Maria

Maria is a Puerto Rico-based Content Writer with ample background in digital marketing and copywriting. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a B.A. in English and enjoys making information accessible to others.