The Difference between CV and Resume

A lot of us believe that resume and curriculum vitae are the same thing. Despite certain similarities, those two are different. This blog tries to draw a comparison between CV and resume. Keep reading to learn more.

CV vs Resume: An Overview

A curriculum vitae (CV) does not have a particular length limit. However, the resume is generally one or two pages long. A resume includes details about an individual’s work experience and skills which are relevant to the job opening, while a CV covers all the details of your career to date. CVs are generally used for academic purposes while resumes are used while applying for jobs.

Region-specific Comparison of CV and Resume

In Europe and New Zealand, the term CV is equivalent to that of a resume writing service in the US. It refers to a short, targeted document that a person uses to apply for jobs. In those regions, there is no such thing as a resume. However, there’s a small region-specific difference between the European CV and an American resume.

In Australia and South Africa, CV and resume are used as synonyms for one another. Both the terms refer to a brief, one-to-two page document there.

In the South Asian regions, the job seekers use a different type of document – a biodata. This document contains more personal, biographical data, including the date of birth, race, gender, marital status, ethnicity, current salary, etc. It is very common in countries like India and Bangladesh.

If an employer in South Asia asks for a “resume” or a “CV” specifically, it is recommended to follow the American rules for the respective document instead of sending biodata.

The Major Differences between CV and Resume

If you are still confused about, which is what, take a look at these key differences between CV and resume:

· The resume is generally used while applying for a job, and it is short in length.

· The CV is generally used for academic purposes, and it includes all the relevant details related to your academic or professional career.

· In Australia, "CV and "Resume: are synonymous. Both refer to a short document, quite similar to an American resume.

Hopefully, these pieces of information were helpful. You can look up the internet and find various samples of CVs and resumes. By studying those, you can understand the difference between those two documents.