Difference Between CV and Resume is a common misunderstanding among freshers. We have designed this class to give them a clear understanding of the difference between a CV and a Resume. This class will be very helpful for students especially freshers to prepare their CV and resume. This class is part of our Communicative English subject and part of the finishing school curriculum. This is also part of the English subject of polytechnic disciplines, the course code is 65712.
Difference Between CV and Resume
Curriculum Vitae (CV) is Latin for “course of life.” In contrast, a resume is French for “summary.” Both CVs & Resumes:
- Are tailored for the specific job/company you are applying to
- Should represent you as the best-qualified candidate
- Are used to get you an interview
- Do not usually include personal interests
If you are applying for both academic as well as industry (private or public sector) positions, you will need to prepare both a resume and a CV.

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, 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, a 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 the 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 the name of the advisor and dissertation title or summary (see examples). Also used for merit/tenure review and sabbatical leave
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