A frustrated college professor recently sought my help in transitioning from academia to the corporate world. Her applications hadn’t produced any interviews six months into her search. The problem? The resume she had been submitting was, in fact, not a resume. It was her curriculum vitae (CV). Potential employers assumed she couldn’t follow their job posting directions, and, worse, they couldn’t quickly find her relevant qualifications.
This article will clarify the distinctions between a CV and a resume and when to use each in your job search.
A resume summarizes your professional qualifications, education, and experience. It is used to apply for employment and quickly communicate your potential value to an employer.
A CV is a detailed record of your scholarly life. It lists your entire education (from your undergraduate degree forward), publications, presentations, accomplishments and awards, notable projects and research, and professional affiliations and services. This is a much longer and more exhaustive document.
Resumes showcase experiences, skills, and education related to a specific job opening. If you’re a student or a new professional, keep the length to one page. And if you’re a seasoned professional, maintain the document at two pages maximum.
A CV is much longer because the intent is to show all your scholarly accomplishments. It may or may not be tailored to a specific job and grows in length as you gain experience. There is no limit to the number of pages.
Both documents serve to secure some type of opportunity. Use a resume when applying for professional roles in business and industry or nonprofit organizations. When applying for academic and research-oriented positions, fellowships, and grants, send a CV. However academic institutions will usually request resumes for their open administrative positions. If you’re an academic interested in either type of role, craft a well-written resume and keep it updated for when an opportunity arises.
Resumes typically include the following categories of information. Order Education, Experience, and Skills sections according to the relevance of each to the job. Each category lists content in reverse chronological order, from most recent to least recent.
Group CV information using the classifications below. Aside from the Contact Information and Education, the order can be adjusted a bit for relevance. For example, if you are applying for a role at a teaching-intensive institution, place your teaching experience on the top half of the document, perhaps immediately after your Education.
Review the job posting description for skills, abilities, and qualifications desired by the employer. Then emphasize your related experience and qualifications with the most relevant appearing in the top third of the document.
Some organizations use the terms interchangeably. However, in the U.S. use a resume when applying for positions in business, industry, and nonprofits. Apply with a CV when responding to academic, scientific, and research openings or applying for fellowships and grants.
If you’re a U.S. or Canadian resident, you’ll need a CV if applying to work abroad, specifically in the U.K., Ireland, and New Zealand. According to Undercover Recruiter, in these countries, “a CV is used in all contexts and resumes aren’t used at all.” Moreover, “The CV prevails in mainland Europe and there is even a European Union CV format available for download.”
See examples of CVs from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois here:
Additional resources
ResumeTemplates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.
No. Employers want to scan your application quickly for interview potential. The Ladders eye-tracking study indicated most spend only six to 10 seconds when assessing a candidate’s interview prospects. If you use a CV, your most relevant position information may be buried on the fifth page, which they will never see. See the exceptions to this rule above, under Job Applications in the U.S and Canada.
Not on a resume. Create a separate document titled References of Your Name where you list three to five people who can speak to your performance on the job or in the classroom, along with your work habits and work ethic. Yes, on a CV. Regardless of the document, include each reference’s first and last name, title, organization, email address, phone number, and their relationship to you, such as “former supervisor” or “dissertation committee chair.”
If your interests indicate skills or mindsets related to the job at hand, yes. For example, if you are a ranked tennis player or regional pickleball champion, most readers will assume you have a competitive spirit, which will be useful in a sales role. Be selective, and if you do include them, place them in the last position on your resume.