Differentiating cvs and resumes

Difference Between CV and Resume

Curriculum Vitae (CV) outlines the academic qualifications, researches,
and other relevant details about a person, to represent him in front of
employers. A Resume is to the point document, which underlines a
person’s qualification for a specific job. When it comes to length, a CV is
much larger than a reume.
Whenever a person applies for a job, he/she has to make a
document which introduces him/her. Which one is suitable a CV or a
Resume? It is going to be very difficult to choose one of them if you do
not know about their differences. It often happens, many times when
candidates without knowing which document is required, they send
whatever they have at that time, which is the biggest mistake, and they
can even be disqualified for not sending the desired document..

Resume
CV
Comparison Chart
BASIS FOR CURRICULUM VITAE (CV) RESUME
COMPARISON
Meaning A document containing information A Resume is a document
related to individual’s past having details of an
qualification, experience, skills, individual’s education,
competencies and achievements is work experience,
known as a CV or Curriculum Vitae. competencies and
previous job
achievements.
Type of Comprehensive Concise
Document
Etymology Curriculum Vitae is a Latin A French expression which
 expression which means course of means summary.
life.
Length 2 to 20 or more pages 1 to 2 pages
References Included Not Included
Oriented Academic qualification Non-academic
towards qualification
When to use Applying for an academic position, Applying for the job, and
advanced research, fellowship, etc. intership or taking part in
the job fair, etc.
Modification No, it is same for all jobs Yes, it can be modified
according to job.
Stresses on Expertise, i.e. what skills makes you Contribution, i.e. how your
an expert in a particular field. work made a difference,
where you have worked.
Education At the top of the CV Mentioned after
experience.

Definition of CV
CV is an acronym used for the word Curriculum Vitae, which is a Latin
word, that means ‘course of life’ i.e. an individual’s course of life.
Curriculum Vitae is a written document which contains details about a
person’s past education, experience, knowledge, skill, competencies,
accomplishments, projects, awards, and honours, etc.

The CV is a biography of an individual’s academic background and

professional experiences. It also includes details about a person’s area of
interest, hobbies and extracurricular activities. It is not modified
according to the job; it remains same for all jobs. It should be
systematically arranged so that a proper sketch about an individual’s
career can be drawn.

Definition of Resume
A resume is a short and brief description about, what a person possess in
context to the respective job like qualifications, previous job experiences,
and achievements, competencies and skills. It is in the form of a
document which is required at the time of applying for business,
government and industry jobs. It is a snapshot of an
individual’s professional profile.
The term Resume is a French expression which means ‘summary’ i.e.
summary of a person’s work life. It only outlines the job applicant’s
relevant qualifications and experience which is required for the specific
job. It should be prepared in such a manner that will make an impression
on the potential employer because a resume can open the doors of an
interview. It also helps the recruiter to pick the most suitable candidate
for an interview. The job seeker should present the latest details first in
the resume.

Key Differences Between CV and Resume

The points given below are substantial, so far as the difference between
CV and Resume is concerned:
1. A CV is a descriptive document which lists out all the details about a person’s career. A
Resume is a snapshot of a person’s working life, presenting all the details which are required
for a job.
2. A CV is comprehensive while a Resume is concise.
3. The word CV is an abbreviation for Curriculum Vitae, which is a Latin word. The word
Resume is a French term.
4. The length of a resume is shorter as compared to CV.
5. CV gives emphasis on academic details whereas a Resume is focused on non-academic
details along with highlighting key skills and competencies, matching with the job.
6. CV cannot be customised; it remains static, but a Resume is dynamic, and it changes
according to the job.
7. A CV includes references. In contrast to Resume, which do not include references.
8. CV is suitable when applying for academic positions, fellowship, advanced research, etc. On
the other hand, Resume is accurate when applying for the job, internships or taking part in
the job fair.
9. Curriculum Vitae (CV) focuses on expertise, i.e. what makes you an expert in the field, you
have chosen to study. On the contrary, resume concentrates on contribution, how your work
made a difference where you have worked.
10. Education is mentioned at the top of the CV. Unlike resume, in which education is indicated
after experience.

Curriculum Vitae vs. Resume: Format and Content

The CV presents a full history of your academic credentials, so the length
of the document is variable. In contrast, a resume presents a concise
picture of your skills and qualifications for a specific position, so length
tends to be shorter and dictated by years of experience (generally 1-2
pages).
CVs are used by individuals seeking fellowships, grants, postdoctoral
positions, and teaching/research positions in postsecondary institutions
or high-level research positions in industry. Graduate school applications
typically request a CV, but in general are looking for a resume that
includes any publications and descriptions of research projects.

In many European countries, CV is used to describe all job application

documents, including a resume. In the United States and Canada, CV and
resume are sometimes used interchangeably. If you are not sure which
kind of document to submit, it is best to ask for clarification.

Resume
 Emphasize skills
 Used when applying for a position in industry, non-profit, and public sector
 Is no longer than 2 pages, with an additional page for publications and/or poster presentations if
highly relevant to the job
 After 1 year of industry experience, lead with work experience and place education section at the or
near the end, depending upon qualifications
CV
 Emphasizes academic accomplishments
 used when applying for positions in academia, fellowships and grants
 Length depends upon experience and includes a complete list of publications, posters, and
presentations
 Always begins with education and can include name of advisor and dissertation title or summary (see
examples). Also used for merit/tenure review and sabbatical leave