CV vs. resume differences may not be apparent to a layman, but they are well-known among recruiters and employers. Using one when you should be using the other can decrease your chances of landing your dream job or even having your application reviewed by a hiring manager.
At the same time, differences between a CV and a resume aren’t clear-cut everywhere in the world. These two documents are very distinct in the US but less so in Europe, Australia, Africa, and other countries and continents.
In this guide, CV.co professionals will share some of their expertise by listing a few CV and resume examples, exploring whether a CV is the same as a resume, and focusing on their differences and applications.
So, let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
The definition of a CV is a lengthy document that provides a detailed overview of your academic achievements, skills, and accomplishments.
Conversely, a resume is a shorter document that focuses on work experience and career-specific skills and achievements.
Resumes and CVs have different formats—the former is up to two pages long, while the latter can have 10+ pages.
The CV and resume differences vary depending on the region. In Europe, CV is the preferred term for both academic CVs and resume-style documents. Other rules may apply elsewhere in the world.
What Is a CV (Curriculum Vitae)?
A CV presents a detailed overview of your academic achievements, professional experience, skills, and accomplishments. It stands for Curriculum Vitae, meaning “a course of life” in Latin—a fitting name considering this document is very thorough and comprehensive. As a result, it is several pages long, often exceeding ten for people with extensive experience. If you're unsure how to structure one, using a CV template can help you organize your information and include all the essential sections.
Typically, a CV is used to apply for academic positions, grants, scholarships, and other roles where education is paramount. However, its exact functions depend on geographical location; for instance, European CVs usually have more versatile applications.
Aside from academic CVs, which boast the format and function explained above, Europeans use employment CVs to apply for non-academic jobs. These documents are much shorter than academic CVs, containing only the most necessary information that might interest the employer.
Structure of a CV: 9 Key Sections
A typical CV structure consists of nine key sections: contact information, professional summary, education history, work experience, skills and competencies, certifications, languages spoken, publications, and references.
Below, we will examine each of these CV sections in more detail:
#1. Contact Information
Your CV should begin with contact information, including your full name, address, phone number, and email address. You can also add a link to your LinkedIn profile or a professional website if you have one—this will allow your potential employer to learn more about you.
However, you should avoid listing irrelevant or overly personal information, like your marital status, race, date of birth, or the exact address (i.e., street and house number). Such details are not only unnecessary but could also lead to racial bias and discrimination in the selection process.
#2. Professional Summary
A professional summary isn’t as vital to include as contact information, but it can drastically improve your chances of employment. Essentially, it is a brief overview of your achievements, goals, and academic or professional experiences that draws attention and motivates the hiring manager to keep reading.
This is important because hiring managers go through dozens of CVs daily and might not read every single one carefully. Even with all the right qualifications, they may overlook you if your CV doesn’t stand out.
That is why a professional summary at the top of the CV is a perfect solution to this problem. To maximise its effectiveness, make sure it’s brief, error-free, and to the point. Don’t ramble on about your achievements and aims, as you will use a cover letter to elaborate on anything you deem necessary.
#3. Education History
The education history section should contain all your degrees and educational experiences listed in reverse chronological order. In other words, the most recent degree you’ve obtained should go first, followed by those you’ve completed earlier.
You should include the name of the educational institution and the graduation dates, too. Furthermore, if you’re applying for a highly academic position, list a few of the main courses and achievements you’ve obtained, as well as the title of your final dissertation or thesis.
Usually, including your last two educational experiences is sufficient (i.e., MA and BA degrees). You can make this section more comprehensive by adding the secondary school you attended, but this isn’t always necessary and may make your CV appear too cluttered if not done correctly.
#4. Work Experience
The work experience section should contain all your previously held job positions, once again listed in reverse chronological order. Each position should have a title, company name, dates, and several bullet points that elaborate on your responsibilities and achievements.
So, if you worked as a project manager in your last job, briefly mention the size of the team you worked with and how you contributed to its smooth operation. Don’t go into too many details, but highlight your strengths and successes in this role.
If you’ve just graduated and have no work experience to add to your CV, you can include projects and volunteering you’ve participated in during your studies. If this isn’t an option either, you may omit this section and emphasise your education history to a greater extent.
#5. Skills & Competencies
The skills section is pretty straightforward—it should contain all your competencies that could be relevant to your career path. Of course, that might be too broad a request, so we suggest you focus on your hard skills, as they are more easily measured and demonstrable.
For example, this is where you should include the software and programming languages you’re proficient in and your perceived level of proficiency. Other skills that could be added to this section are copywriting, interpreting data, video editing, quality assurance, and similar.
If you deem it necessary, you can also list some soft skills, like communication, leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability. Bear in mind that these cannot be gauged from a CV, so the employer likely won’t pay much attention to them. Instead, soft skills are tested at the interview stage of the application process.
#6. Certifications & Achievements
The certifications and achievements section should encompass your academic and professional awards and honors. Make sure to include the title of the certificate, the year when you received it, and the institution or company that has awarded it to you.
If the exact nature of the certificate isn’t clear from its title, you should add a brief description underneath to help employers understand its relevance.
However, don’t go overboard with the description or with the number of listed certificates. If you’ve received many over the years, include only the most relevant and recent ones—there’s no need to add every minor recognition you’ve ever received.
#7. Languages Spoken
The languages section is optional, but it can significantly boost your CV’s effectiveness when included. Here, you should list all the languages you speak, along with your current competency level.
This information can be useful for employers planning to expand to new markets. For instance, if the company you are applying to aims to appeal to Chinese clients or organisations, you have a greater chance of getting hired if you speak at least some level of Chinese.
#8. Publications
If you have any published work (research papers, articles, or books), you should include it in your CV. This section is particularly important when applying for academic positions, where having publications under your belt can significantly boost your standing.
Publications should be listed in the standard citation format, using either APA or MLA style. If you are one of the several authors on a specific publication, distinguish your name by underlining it or writing it in italics. Also, if you have many published works, you can divide them into subsections according to their types.
#9. References
Finally, the references section should include at least three professional references on the last page of your CV. Typically, you list your references’ names, job titles, institution names, and contact information.
Keep in mind that this section is optional, though. It’s not unusual to omit it if you have no references or prefer not to clutter your CV with such information. In the latter case, you can write that references are available upon request and provide them if the employer directly asks you to do so.
Here’s a CV example that highlights key sections and formatting best practices:
What Is a Resume?
A resume is a short document that emphasises your work history and skills, focusing exclusively on relevant aspects of your professional life. In other words, a resume should paint you as an ideal candidate for a specific job and, therefore, must be tailored to fit its requirements.
The meaning of the word resume (or résumé in French) is “summary,” so the document should briefly summarise your professional achievements and endeavors. As a result, resumes are typically only one page long, though they may go up to two if necessary.
Unlike a CV, which largely stays the same, resumes are highly customisable and should be tweaked for each new job posting. Essentially, it highlights relevant skills and experiences, meaning you can omit those that don’t add value to your application.
Structure of a Resume: 5 Essential Sections
The most frequently used structure of a resume contains five essential sections: contact information, professional summary, work experience, education, and key skills. Other resume sections can be added on top of this, but the entire document must remain concise and straightforward.
Now, let’s examine the typical resume sections in more detail:
#1. Contact Information
The first section of a resume is identical to the first section of a CV—they both begin with contact information, allowing your potential employer to reach out easily. The details should be the same, too: name, address, phone number, email, and optional links to a personal website or LinkedIn profile.
Remember not to include irrelevant or potentially damaging information, and ensure that the details you provide are professional. This refers primarily to your email address—don’t use an old one you made as a child; instead, create a new one using your full name instead.
#2. Professional Summary
A professional summary on a resume is also similar to the one included on a CV—both give an overview of your professional achievements and goals in two short sentences.
However, the professional summary on your CV typically mentions your educational background, while the one on your resume should focus on your career. Furthermore, you’ll need to tweak it for every new application to ensure that the details you focus on are relevant to the position in question.
#3. Work Experience
In a resume, the work experience section comes before the education history and tends to be briefer and customised for each new application. That doesn’t mean making up positions you’ve never worked in to present yourself as the best fit for the job. Instead, it means highlighting relevant positions and omitting those that aren’t.
Once again, the work experience section should be organised in reverse chronological order and include the job title, company name, dates, and specific achievements. These achievements are presented as bullet points, emphasising your skills and contributions.
This is the part that hiring managers pay particular attention to, so it needs to be convincing, error-free, and professional.
#4. Education
The education section should contain the essential details about your education, but it doesn’t have to be particularly in-depth. For instance, it’s normal to include relevant courses you’ve attended on a CV, but this practice isn’t quite as common for a resume.
Instead, list your degree name, university, and years attended in reverse chronological order. You may include your standout achievements, like projects and interesting papers you worked on, but this isn’t a requirement.
In addition, you don’t have to include the name of your secondary school. Employers can infer you attended one if you have a university degree, and they don’t typically care about the specifics. Only add it to the list if you don’t have a university education or are still obtaining your bachelor’s degree.
#5. Key Skills
Finally, the key skills section should give the employer an insight into what you can do and show them why you would be a perfect fit for their company. As a result, you should customise it for each application, highlighting the skills that increase your chances of getting hired.
So, if you’re applying for a software developer position, you should focus on programming languages and software you can use. Other skills, such as spoken languages, aren’t as essential, so you can leave them out of this section.
Other Optional Sections
Now that we’ve covered the key sections, let’s take a look at some of the optional sections that may enhance your application. These include:
Languages
Certifications
Hobbies & Interests
Volunteering Experience
If you decide to include some of these, list only the most relevant information and leave out anything your employer might consider unnecessary. Generally, your resume should be fluff-free and focused on your objective, presenting you as the best candidate for the job and earning you an interview invitation.
CV vs. Resume: Key Differences Explained
The key differences between CVs and resumes are their purpose, format, and the information that should be included. It’s worth noting that these don’t apply to every country, as some places use the terms resume and CV interchangeably or rarely use the former altogether.
However, here are the crucial differences between CVs and resumes in the US, where these two terms have very different meanings:
CV vs. Resume in the US
Length. Resumes are short and concise, typically taking up less than two pages. In fact, it’s recommended to keep the information on a single page, as hiring managers typically don’t have time to read long applications. On the other hand, CVs are significantly longer, sometimes taking up several pages and expanding as the applicant’s professional experience grows.
Detail. CVs go into greater detail about the educational background and work history, as opposed to resumes, which cover only the most relevant basics.
Purpose. Resumes are used for job applications, while CVs must be submitted for academic positions, scholarships, research grants, and similar functions.
Photos. CVs never include photos, no matter what country you are in. Resumes, on the other hand, can contain them, though this is prohibited or strongly discouraged in the US, UK, and Ireland due to anti-discriminatory laws in recruitment.
Tailoring. Resumes should always be tailored to a specific job application, meaning each company you apply to should receive a slightly different version. CVs remain essentially the same, though—they only change when your work experience grows.
Format. CV and resume formats are similar, but the difference is that CVs always remain the same, while resumes don’t have to. Depending on your potential employers’ requirements, you can craft a resume emphasising skills, work experience, or the combination of the two. Each format will be slightly different.
When to Use a CV vs. Resume in Europe
Unlike in the US, where a CV and resume are two distinct documents with specific purposes, Europe almost exclusively uses CVs. Or, rather, the term resume isn’t common in Europe, so CV refers to both short resume-style documents used for job applications and long documents required for academic positions.
Generally speaking, you will always hear the term CV in the UK and Ireland, even if the employers know what a resume is. The situation is similar in mainland Europe, although some international corporations may use the term resume.
Industry-Specific Guidelines
Even though CVs are preferred over resumes in Europe, there are specific guidelines on the kind of CV that should be used depending on the industry.
So, for instance, if you are applying for an academic position, you’ll be expected to submit an academic CV—a lengthy document detailing your educational background and experience. This document should include your publications, academic references, and details about courses and projects you’ve participated in.
On the other hand, non-academic industries require a resume-style document that might be known as an employment CV in Europe. Still, it’s worth looking into a specific company’s requirements before applying.
CV vs. Resume Cultural Considerations
Europe isn’t a monolith, so CV and resume practices and requirements can differ from country to country. Usually, these differences aren’t too significant, but they can impact the success of your application.
For instance, some countries forbid or discourage including a photo on the CV, while others encourage or even require it. Thus, you must inform yourself of specific practices in the country where you’re applying and learn how they may differ from what you are used to.
CV vs. Resume International Differences and Use Cases
As we have seen, the terms CV and resume can refer to different things depending on whether you are in the US or Europe. However, these differences don’t end there—other nations have their own rules about the two as well.
For instance, India, Australia, and New Zealand use these terms interchangeably to define a concise document used for job applications, while China prefers the term resume. African employers, on the other hand, take the European approach, requiring CVs but expecting a document that resembles a resume.
Canada is an interesting case—most employers in this country view CVs and resumes similarly to Americans. Quebec is an exception, though; the two terms are used interchangeably in this territory.
How to Create a CV: 5 Do’s and Don’ts
To create an effective CV, you must consider which information to include, how to organise it, and what common mistakes to avoid.
Here are a few tips on making a compelling CV:
Tips for Making a Compelling CV
Be specific. You may not be able to write long paragraphs detailing your experiences and accomplishments, but you can still include specific information. For example, when writing about your work experience, use numbers and percentages to describe your achievements at previous positions. This will be more impactful than general claims about your responsibilities.
Use action verbs. Action verbs will help you come across as someone who takes initiative at work—a trait employers generally appreciate. When describing your work achievements and duties, use words such as “devised,” “created,” “analysed”, or “led.”
Decide how to arrange sections. As we have seen, education goes before work experience in a typical CV. However, this isn’t the only option—if your industry prioritises professional background, you can place work experience first.
On the other hand, here are common mistakes you should avoid when writing your CV:
Common CV Mistakes to Avoid
Generic phrases. Words like “team player” or “multitasker” are generally overused and don’t mean much to the employer. Instead of using them, focus on concrete examples that showcase your ability to work in a team or handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Spelling mistakes. Proofread your CV or run it through a grammar checker upon completion. Bad grammar can affect your professionalism, which can be detrimental when the difference between you and other candidates is measured in nuances.
If you need help creating a job-winning CV, our easy-to-use CV builder can help you write one in just a few minutes. All you need to do is input the required information, choose the style, layout, and your preferred font, and download your document for further use.
How to Create a Resume: 5 Practices and Common Mistakes
Creating an effective resume is similar to writing a compelling CV, so most advice will apply to both. However, we will cover some distinctions and best practices worth paying attention to in this section, including the following:
Resume Writing Best Practices
Tailor your resume for each application. Your resume should match the requirements listed in the job description of the position you’re applying for. In other words, you’ll have to shift your focus with each new application to improve your chances of success.
Focus on accomplishments. When describing your previous positions in the work experience section, focus on your achievements rather than responsibilities. Employers typically know what duties a role entails, so they don’t need to be told that. Instead, they want to see how you tackled your tasks and what skills and traits you exhibited.
Double-check your contact information. If your contact information is wrong or outdated, the hiring manager won’t be able to reach you. So, check everything twice—otherwise, you might miss a big employment opportunity.
On the other hand, here are some common mistakes you should avoid when writing a resume:
Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid
Adding irrelevant information. A longer resume doesn’t always mean better—in fact, it’s best to keep it short and focused on specific experiences and skills that might benefit your potential employer. Trim out anything irrelevant, be it unnecessary social media links or references that weren’t explicitly requested.
Including salary requirements. Salary expectations should be discussed during an interview, but they have no place on your resume. A resume should focus on what you can bring to your potential employer, not on your expectations of them.
Final Thoughts
And that’s a wrap!
Now, you understand the basic CV vs. resume differences and where to use each document. This should help you choose an appropriate option when applying for a job and accurately format your CV or resume.
Knowing how to make the most of a CV or a resume brings you one step closer to landing a job. Employers appreciate candidates who do their research and show attention to detail, which are skills that can be demonstrated in your job application.
CV vs. Resume FAQ
#1. Can you use your CV as a resume?
You can use your CV as a resume in Europe—in fact, you are expected to, as the term resume is rarely used. However, if you are in the US, these two aren’t interchangeable, and you should use the resume format for all non-academic job applications.
#2. Do European employers prefer CVs or resumes?
European employers prefer CVs to resumes, but this is only a matter of terminology. Most employers still require shorter, resume-style documents instead of long, academic CVs, as they rarely have time to read pages of information about each candidate.
#3. Can I use a resume instead of a CV in Europe?
You shouldn’t use a resume instead of a CV in Europe, as CVs are generally preferred and more widespread. However, if you hope to work in an international company, these rules might not apply, so consider asking a hiring manager for specifics.
#4. Can I use the same CV for different job applications?
You can use the same CV for different job applications if they are of an academic nature and your CV is detailed and comprehensive. However, if you’re using an employment CV, you should tailor it to each application, much like what you’d do with a resume.
