Resume vs CV: What's the Difference?

Great question! They're similar but not quite the same.

Resume

What it is: A concise summary of your professional background

Length: 1-2 pages (usually 1)

Purpose: Get you an interview for a specific job

Tone: Tailored to the job posting

What to include:

• Contact info
• Professional summary
• Relevant experience
• Education
• Skills
• Optional: projects, achievements

When to use it: Job applications in the US, Canada, and most countries

CV (Curriculum Vitae)

What it is: A comprehensive overview of your entire career

Length: 2-3+ pages (can be longer)

Purpose: Showcase your complete academic and professional history

Tone: Formal and comprehensive

What to include:

• Everything in a resume, plus:
• All publications and research
• All presentations and conferences
• Complete teaching history
• Grants and funding
• Professional memberships

When to use it: Academic positions, research roles, international applications (especially Europe)

Quick Comparison

Aspect	Resume	CV
Length	1-2 pages	2-3+ pages
Purpose	Get an interview	Showcase expertise
Tailored	Yes	Usually not
Includes everything	No	Yes
Used in	US, Canada, most countries	Academia, Europe, research

For shipresume Users

We focus on resumes, but the principles apply to CVs too. If you need a CV, use our resume builder as a starting point and expand it with your additional academic and research work.

Pro Tips

💡 Know your audience - Check the job posting to see what they want

💡 When in doubt, ask - If the job posting doesn't specify, ask the recruiter

💡 Tailor your resume - Even if you're using a resume, customize it for each job

💡 Keep both ready - Have both a resume and CV prepared

Regional Differences

United States

• Use resume
• 1 page is standard
• Tailored to each job

Canada

• Use resume
• 1-2 pages
• Similar to US

Europe

• Use CV
• 2-3+ pages
• More comprehensive

Australia

• Use resume
• 1-2 pages
• Similar to US

UK

• Use CV
• 2-3 pages
• More comprehensive than US resume

Next Steps

• Learn about resume basics
• Create your resume
• Get AI feedback
• Check our FAQs