Resume or CV? The Global Guide Most Job Seekers Get Wrong

You've seen job postings ask for a "CV" and others ask for a "resume." Are they the same thing? The answer depends on where you are in the world, and getting it wrong could cost you the interview.

In the United States, a resume and CV are two distinctly different documents. In Europe, "CV" is the standard term for what Americans call a resume. This guide breaks down exactly what each document is, when to use which, and what employers in different regions expect.

What Is the Difference Between a CV and Resume?

The core difference is scope. A resume is a brief, targeted summary of your most relevant qualifications for a specific job, typically 1-2 pages. A CV (curriculum vitae) is a comprehensive document covering your entire professional and academic history, with no page limit.

Think of it this way: a resume is a highlight reel. A CV is the complete filmography.

In the US, these are two separate documents used for different purposes. But in Europe, UK, and most of the world, "CV" simply means your job application document, regardless of length. This regional difference causes most of the confusion.

Where Do the Terms CV and Resume Come From?

Curriculum Vitae comes from Latin, meaning "course of life" or literally "the running of one's life." The name reflects its purpose: documenting your complete professional journey. The concept dates back centuries. Leonardo da Vinci famously wrote what's considered the first "CV" in 1482, a letter to the Duke of Milan listing his capabilities to secure a position.

Resume comes from the French word résumer, meaning "to summarize." As the name suggests, a resume summarizes only the highlights of your career relevant to the position you're applying for. The term became popular in the United States during the 20th century for short professional documents.

The etymology tells you everything: a CV documents your full life's work. A resume summarizes the relevant parts.

How Long Should a CV vs Resume Be?

Resume length:

• Entry-level (0-5 years): 1 page
• Mid-career (5-10 years): 1-2 pages
• Senior professionals (10+ years): 2 pages maximum

CV length:

• Early career academics: 2-3 pages
• Mid-career researchers: 5-7 pages
• Senior professors: 10+ pages (or more)

A professor with decades of publications, grants, and teaching experience might have a 15-page CV, and that's expected. The same person applying for a corporate consulting role would need to condense everything into a 2-page resume.

What Should a Resume Include?

A resume focuses on relevance and brevity. Include only what matters for the specific job:

• Contact information: Name, phone, email, LinkedIn URL
• Professional summary: 2-4 sentences highlighting your key qualifications (see our resume summary guide)
• Work experience: Relevant positions in reverse chronological order with quantified achievements
• Education: Degrees, institutions, graduation dates (keep brief for experienced candidates)
• Skills: Technical and soft skills that match the job requirements
• Optional sections: Certifications, volunteer work, or awards (only if relevant)

What to leave off a resume: publications lists, complete job history, personal details like age or photo (in the US), references.

What Should a CV Include?

A CV is comprehensive by design. In academic and research contexts, include:

• Contact information: Full details including institutional affiliation
• Research interests: Brief description of your academic focus
• Education: All degrees with thesis/dissertation titles, honors, relevant coursework
• Academic positions: Complete list of appointments, fellowships, postdocs
• Publications: Full bibliographic citations for all published work
• Presentations: Conference papers, invited lectures, poster sessions
• Grants and funding: All research grants received with amounts
• Teaching experience: Courses taught, curriculum development
• Awards and honors: Academic distinctions, scholarships, prizes
• Professional memberships: Academic associations, editorial boards
• References: Often included at the end with full contact details

A CV is a living document that grows with your career. Unlike a resume, you don't trim it for each application. You add to it continuously.

When Should I Use a CV vs Resume?

Use a CV for:

• Academic positions (professor, lecturer, researcher)
• Scientific research roles
• Medical positions (especially in academia)
• PhD applications and postdoctoral fellowships
• Grant and fellowship applications
• Positions outside the US (where "CV" is the standard term)

Use a resume for:

• Corporate and business positions
• Non-profit and NGO roles
• Government jobs (non-research)
• Tech industry positions
• Marketing, sales, finance, HR roles
• Most jobs in the US and Canada

How Do CV and Resume Expectations Differ by Region?

United States and Canada

Clear distinction: resume for most jobs, CV only for academic/research positions. Employers expect:

• Resume: 1-2 pages, no photo, no personal details (age, marital status)
• CV: Only for academia, with full publication lists and research history
• Focus on quantified achievements ("increased sales by 25%")
• ATS-friendly formatting with relevant keywords

Submitting a 5-page CV for a marketing position in the US signals you don't understand the norms.

Europe and United Kingdom

"CV" is the universal term, even for short documents. Expectations vary by country:

• UK: 2 pages, no photo, similar to US resume (just called "CV")
• Germany/Austria: 2-3 pages, professional photo expected, include date of birth
• France: Photo common, mention of nationality typical
• Netherlands/Belgium: 1-2 pages, photo optional depending on industry

The Europass CV format is recognized across the EU, though not required. European employers are generally more tolerant of 2-page documents than American employers.

Asia

Expectations vary significantly:

• Japan: Standardized rirekisho (履歴書) form, photo required, very structured format
• China: Photo and personal details standard, emphasis on education credentials
• India: "CV," "resume," and "biodata" used interchangeably, 2-3 pages acceptable
• Singapore/Hong Kong: Mix of Western and local expectations depending on company

In most Asian countries, a professional photo is expected. Academic credentials carry significant weight.

Why Are CV and Resume Used Interchangeably?

Because most of the world uses one term for both concepts. In the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and across Europe, "CV" means what Americans call a "resume." When a British company asks for your CV, they want a 2-page summary, not a 10-page academic document.

This creates confusion in international job markets. A European recruiter asking an American for a "CV" might receive an academic document when they wanted a brief overview. An American company asking a European candidate for a "resume" might confuse someone who's only ever called it a CV.

The solution: Look at the context. If it's a corporate job, they want the short version regardless of what they call it. If it's an academic position, they want the comprehensive version.

Quick Reference: CV vs Resume by Situation

Conclusion

The resume vs CV distinction matters most in the United States, where they're genuinely different documents. A resume is your targeted highlight reel (1-2 pages). A CV is your complete professional record (unlimited length). Use a resume for corporate jobs and a CV for academic positions.

Outside the US, "CV" usually means the short document Americans call a resume. When applying internationally, focus on the context rather than the terminology. Corporate roles want brevity, academic roles want comprehensiveness.

Key takeaways:

• In the US: resume for business, CV for academia
• In Europe/UK: "CV" is the standard term for all job applications
• Resume = targeted summary (1-2 pages)
• CV = complete history (no page limit)
• When in doubt, ask the employer what format they prefer