CV vs Resume | Differences & Examples
The terms resume and CV are sometimes used interchangeably but are technically not the same.
A resume is used for most job applications. It highlights your relevant work experience, skills, and education and typically spans 1–2 pages. A CV is a longer, more detailed document commonly used when applying for academic and research positions.
In some regions—like Europe—the term CV is used to refer to what in American English is called a resume.
CV vs resume
The word resume comes from the French verb résumer, meaning “to summarize.” The purpose of a resume is to provide a brief summary of your qualifications tailored to a specific job application.
CV stands for “curriculum vitae,” Latin for “course of life.” A CV is a much more detailed summary of a person’s career, including experience, education, qualifications, publications, and more.
Choosing between the terms resume and CV can be confusing, as their usage differs around the world.
| Where | Resume or CV |
|---|---|
| United States, Canada, Australia, India, and South Africa | Resume is the shorter summary used for most job applications. CV is the longer document used for academic, research, medical, and some professional roles. |
| Europe, Ireland, UK, and New Zealand | CV is used to refer to the shorter summary commonly used for most job applications (similar to what Americans call a resume). |
Differences between CV and resume
While CV and resume are both used to apply for jobs, they differ significantly in terms of structure, content, and purpose. Here are 10 differences between a CV and resume to help clarify the distinction.
| CV | Resume | |
| Goal | Provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of your career, including most experiences and qualifications. | Provides a concise, tailored summary of your qualifications relevant to a specific job. |
| Focus | Your entire career history, including education, research, publications, patents, and other milestones | Skills and experience most relevant to the job you’re applying for |
| When to use | For academic, research, medical, and some professional roles | For most job applications, especially in non-academic fields like business, marketing, and IT |
| Length | A CV should be as long as needed. There is no specific recommended limit, and length varies based on years of experience and sections included. | Resume length is usually 1–2 pages, depending on experience. |
| Format | CV format is fixed, with various sections organized in a specific order. | Resume format is flexible and can be chronological, functional, or a combination, depending on what you want to highlight. |
| Content | Contact info, personal profile or research objective, education, professional appointments, publications, grants, awards, conferences, and more | Contact info, professional summary, work experience, skills, education, and some optional sections as needed |
| Work experience | Detailed, including roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments in each position | Condensed, highlighting key responsibilities and achievements relevant to the job |
| Skills or credentials | Emphasizes degrees, research, and certifications | Emphasizes relevant skills |
| Customization | Remains mostly the same and is updated over time | Gets tailored to each job application |
| References | You should usually include references on a CV. | Typically you don’t include references on a resume. |
How to write a CV
Writing a good CV will increase your chances of getting an interview, so it’s important to know what to include and how to structure your CV.
CV sections
A CV typically includes more sections than a resume and gets updated and added to over time, as your career progresses. This means that as your career progresses, your CV gets longer.
This is the structure of a curriculum vitae used in academic, research, medical, and some professional fields. If you’re preparing a CV in Europe or another country where they prefer that term to resume, check the section below about how to write a resume.
| What | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Contact Information | Name, phone number, email, LinkedIn, and any relevant website or portfolio links (city and state are optional) |
| Personal Profile or Research Objective | Brief summary of career focus, research interests, and professional goals |
| Education | All degrees earned, institutions attended, years of study, and any honors or distinctions (include thesis or dissertation titles if relevant) |
| Work Experience | Detailed summary of past jobs, including title, employer, dates, responsibilities, and accomplishments |
| Teaching Experience | Courses taught, institutions, dates, and details about curriculum development, student engagement, or teaching methodology |
| Research Experience | Research projects, labs, or independent studies, including role, institution, and key findings |
| Publications | Your published work (cite any published works in APA, MLA, or the employer’s preferred format) |
| Conferences and Presentations | Speaking engagements, presentations, or participation in academic or professional conferences (including title, event, and date) |
| Honors and Awards | Recognitions you’ve received from professional or academic organizations |
| Grants and Fellowships | Any funding received for research or academic projects, including grantor, purpose, and—if relevant—the amount |
| Volunteer Work and Outreach | Relevant volunteer work or outreach programs you’ve participated in |
| Affiliations and Memberships | Memberships and positions held in professional organizations |
| Skills | Your skills, often with a focus on technical and research abilities |
| Languages | Languages you know and your level in each (e.g., “native” or “full working proficiency”) |
| Hobbies and Interests | Optional section highlighting relevant personal interests, particularly those that demonstrate transferable skills or cultural fit for the position |
| References | List of professional or academic references (full name, contact information, and short note about relationship) |
When doing this, use numerals to help your achievements stand out.
For example, “secured $750K in grant funding” makes more of an impact than “secured funding.”
CV example
Below is a fictitious example CV for an environmental scientist.
Dr. Eleanor Hayes
Philadelphia, PA | (215) 222-5555 | eleanorhayes@email.com | linkedin.com/in/eleahayes
Personal Profile
Environmental scientist specializing in climate change mitigation and sustainable development. Over 12 years of experience in ecological research, policy analysis, and conservation projects. Passionate about advancing sustainability through interdisciplinary collaboration and data-driven solutions.
Education
PhD in Environmental Science
Verdant University | Portland, OR | June 2017
Advisor: Dr. Jamie Seeger
Dissertation: “Climate-Resilient Ecosystems: Predicting Biodiversity Shifts in Response to Global Temperature Change”
MSc in Ecology and Conservation
Hawthorne Institute of Science | Davis, CA | June 2012
Advisor: Dr. Aracely Martinez
BSc in Biology
Westwood College of Natural Sciences | Wilmington, DE | May 2010
Research Experience
Senior Research Scientist
Green Future Institute | Philadelphia, PA | 2017 – Present
- Lead a research team in developing sustainable land management strategies, securing $750K in grant funding.
- Publish 20+ peer-reviewed articles on biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation.
- Design ecological models predicting species migration patterns due to climate change.
Doctoral Researcher
Verdant University Department of Biodiversity | Portland, OR | 2013 – 2017
- Collaborated with international institutions on biodiversity protection frameworks.
- Developed a predictive model for urban green space expansion and its impact on air quality.
- Assisted in securing $500K in research funding for climate adaptation studies.
- Completed research exchange year (2015 – 2016) at the International Climate Center in Berlin, Germany.
Teaching Experience
Teaching Assistant
Verdant University Department of Biodiversity | Portland, OR | 2015 – 2017
- Led demonstrations of laboratory techniques with undergraduate classes of 30 students.
- Evaluated laboratory reports and provided critical feedback.
- Held weekly office hours to answer student questions and provide extra support.
Publications
- Hayes, E. (2023). Urban Reforestation and Its Role in Carbon Sequestration. Journal of Environmental Science 25:123-125.
- Hayes, E., & Martin, L. (2021). Coastal Ecosystem Decline: An Urgent Call for Action. Global Ecology Review.
- Hayes, E. (2019). Biodiversity and Urban Development: Can They Coexist? Sustainable Futures Journal.
Presentations & Conferences
Hayes, E. Reforestation Methods for Resiliency. Keynote speaker at the International Climate Change Summit. May 5, 2023. Bern, Switzerland.
Hayes, E. Sustainable Urbanization Strategies. Green Cities Forum. March 23, 2021. Seattle, WA.
Honors & Awards
- Best Research Paper Award, International Society for Environmental Science, 2023
- Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award, Verdant University, 2017
- Outstanding Research Exchange Contribution, International Climate Center, 2016
Grants & Fellowships
- Sustainable Innovation Grant Recipient, 2020
- Verdant Research Exchange Fellowship, 2015
Volunteer Work
Volunteer Teacher and Educational ConsultantGreen Schools Initiative | Philadelphia, PA | 2020 – Present
- Deliver lessons about environmental topics to elementary school students throughout Philadelphia.
- Collaborate with board to design curriculum.
Volunteer Director
Verdant University Student Farm | 2016 – 2017
- Coordinated management and schedule of the student farm and oversaw other volunteers.
Professional Affiliations
- Member, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Board Member, National Environmental Research Institute
- Fellow, Global Sustainability Network
Skills
Data analysis (R, Python, GIS) | Statistical analysis (SPSS, MATLAB) | Environmental impact assessment | Scientific writing | Grant proposal development | Policy analysis and advocacy | Remote sensing and satellite data analysis | Climate modeling and simulation
Languages
- English, native proficiency
- German, full working proficiency
- French, limited working proficiency
References
Dr. Petra Rollins
Director, Green Future Institute
1 Independence Way
Philadelphia, PA 19019
(215) 654-7890
petra@greenfuture.org
Dr. Rollins is my manager at the Green Future Institute.
Dr. Jamie Seeger
Head, Department of Biodiversity
Verdant University
123 Forest Way
Portland, OR 97035
(503) 111-2233
jseeger@verdant.edu
Dr. Seeger was my dissertation advisor while I completed my PhD.
Dr. Aracely Martinez
Professor, Department of Ecology
Hawthorne Institute of Science
45 Stanton Street
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 999-8877
aracelym@hawthorne.edu
Dr. Martinez was my advisor while completing my Master’s degree.
How to write a resume
Knowing how to make a resume that is concise and relevant will help yours get noticed by recruiters. Here are a few general tips for writing a good resume:
- Stay concise. Everything you include should be relevant to the target job.
- Keep it simple. Choose a simple design, and avoid including images or graphics.
- Choose a professional font. Use a clean font (e.g., Arial or Calibri) and a font size between 10 and 12 points.
- Use dynamic language. Use action verbs to make your resume more persuasive.
- Use keywords from the posting. Many companies use AI-powered applicant tracking systems to do an initial screening. Incorporating keywords from the job posting will improve your chances of passing this.
- Keep it error-free. Use QuillBot’s Grammar Checker to find any spelling or grammar mistakes.
Resume sections
A resume should almost always include the following sections.
| What | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Contact Information | Name, phone number, email, LinkedIn, and relevant website or portfolio links (city and state are optional) |
| Professional Summary | Brief statement about your most relevant skills, experience, and career goals |
| Work Experience | Summary for each past job relevant to the application (title, company, dates, and 3–7 bullet points detailing your main achievements) |
| Skills | Relevant hard skills (e.g., “Excel”) and soft skills (e.g., “adaptability”) |
| Education | Higher education (with degree, institution, and years attended) |
You can arrange these sections in different orders to create a chronological resume, functional resume, or combination resume.
There are also optional resume sections you can add if they’re relevant to your application:
- Licenses and Certifications
- Volunteer Work
- Training or Courses
- Publications
- Awards and Honors
For example, an entry-level candidate may want to focus on relevant volunteer experience if they haven’t held prior jobs in the target industry.
Resume example
Below is a resume example for a made-up park ranger. It can give you an idea of how a chronological resume should look.
James R. Calloway Denver, CO | (555) 123-4567 | james.calloway@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jamescalloway Professional Summary Work Experience Park Ranger Education Skills Certifications
Dedicated Park Ranger with 6+ years of experience in conservation, visitor education, and emergency response. Skilled in wildlife protection, trail maintenance, and public outreach. Passionate about preserving natural resources and enhancing visitor experiences.
Senior Park Ranger
Rocky Ridge National Park | Estes Park, CO | June 2020 – Present
Redwood Falls State Park | Redwood, CA | May 2017 – May 2020
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
Rocky State University | Boulder, CO | Graduated 2017
Wildlife management | Public education | GIS mapping | Emergency response | Trail maintenance | Conflict resolution | GPS devices | Satellite phones | Drones | AEDs
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) | CPR & First Aid | Wildland Firefighter Training (S-130/S-190)
Frequently asked questions about resume vs CV
- What’s the meaning of curriculum vitae?
-
“Curriculum vitae” means “course of one’s life” in Latin.
A curriculum vitae—also known as a CV—is a detailed summary of a person’s academic and professional history. It’s different from a resume, which is a shorter summary tailored to a specific job application.
When writing a CV or resume, make sure it’s free of spelling and grammar errors with QuillBot’s Grammar Checker.
- What does a CV look like?
-
A CV is a structured document that provides a detailed overview of your academic and professional background. It looks like a resume, but with more sections, like research, publications, and references.
Resume format is more flexible and the average resume length is 1–2 pages. CVs are often 3–5 pages and have a fixed structure.
Regardless of if you’re writing a CV or resume, make sure it’s error-free with QuillBot’s Grammar Checker.
- What is a resume for a job?
-
A resume for a job is a one- or two-page formal document that you create for job applications. It provides hiring teams, managers, and recruiters with your contact information, work history, skills, education, and other professional details.
A job resume has headings and bulleted lists that readers can quickly scan to learn about your qualifications.
For some jobs, you may need to use a CV instead of a resume.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker extension for job applications? It can help you automatically find and fix errors because after all, what is a resume without impeccable grammar?
- Should a resume be one page?
-
A resume can be one page when you’re in the beginning or early stages of your career. A resume can also be up to two pages when you have a lot of experience (e.g., 5 or more years) or when the role requires a wide range of projects, achievements, and/or skills.
If the job posting is asking for a lot of specific information, you may need to send a CV instead. One of the main differences between a CV and resume is the length.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Paraphraser for your career writing materials? It can help you achieve a concise resume length.
