CV vs Resume: A foolproof guide to knowing when to use which

Contrary to the common misconception that "CV" (curriculum vitae) and "resume" are two interchangeable terms for the same thing, in reality they are two documents with different content structures and applications. Have you ever wondered why some companies ask for CVs and others resumes? Well, wonder no more.

We've compiled a foolproof guide that highlights the differences of CV vs Resume so you'll know when to use which in the future. 

What's the difference between CV and resume?

CV

A Latin term which means "the story of your life", Curriculum Vitae or CV as it's more commonly known, is a document providing a detailed overview of an individual's experience, qualifications and accomplishments, particularly those most relevant to academia. It can also contain personal information such as marital status, nationality, date of birth and even a photograph.

A CV is written as a template with no changes unless there are new qualifications or accomplishments to be added to the list. It is usually at least 2 pages long but can extend well beyond that, as it is meant to be a detailed document.

Resume

A resume on the other hand, is a short summary of an individual's skills, qualifications and education. It is highly customised to the specific job application and usually limited to a single page due to the concise nature of its contents.

Which one should I use?

The CV is used primarily in the UK, Ireland, Europe, and New Zealand. In these countries, resumes aren't used at all.

The default job application document used in the United States and Canada is the resume.

In Australia, India, South Africa and most Asian countries, both are used, though resume is more common for jobs in the private sector while CV is preferred for public service positions.

In a nutshell, the key differences between a CV and resume can be distilled into three simple aspects:

• Length: A resume is a concise, single page document while the CV is a detailed account of one's entire career history.
• Purpose: A resume is meant to function as a quick and targeted advertisement of who the individual is and why he or she is the best person for the job, while a CV is meant to provide an in-depth, chronological overview of one's career life.
• Layout: While a CV only changes as your accomplishments grow, a resume is highly customized to each job. The latter is written specifically to suit the requirements of the job advertisement.

And there you have it, the fundamental differences between a CV and resume. Not so perplexing, is it?

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