Whenever job seekers come across the list of services we provide, they are often puzzled by these two options that we have: resume writing and CV writing. Most of them don't understand any difference between the two as they seem to be absolutely the same concepts. They really do and it is easy to understand why people see them as identical application documents. First of all, the terms are often used interchangeably in many countries. Secondly, there are a lot of similarities between the two documents. Lastly, the majority of job openings mean one thing when they require a resume or CV. These things cause confusion among candidates as they are lost and don't know what kind of documents they have to submit. In this article, we are going to draw the line between a resume and CV. But again, you should always take into account the context where this term is used because it will define its meaning.
What's the Difference Then?
Curriculum Vitae, most commonly referred to as CV, is a document popular among academics. It takes much time and efforts on behalf of graduate students to get their work published. And higher-education establishments are often eager to see where an applicant has been published. But CV writing isn't just about academics. US and Canadian people need a CV when applying to work in Europe (some countries exclusively use CVs, the term "resume" is not even there at all). There is even a universal CV format provided by the European Union that could give you a better idea what kind of information you are expected to give in your main job application document.
Now if we are asked to give a short answer to the question of how this CV is different from a resume we would say one word - "resume length". But there is obviously much more to it than the number of pages... If you take time to read all of the resume writing tips available online, you will likely notice that they all have one thing in common - in order to have an effective resume, it needs to be tailored for the applying position. In other words, if you have developed a resume to apply for a sales manager position but then changed your mind to apply for an HR role, you then would need to adjust your content and maybe even structure of your document to match specific job requirements.
Opposed to a resume, CV is more static which means it doesn't need any adjustments when you apply for different positions. A Curriculum Vitae is a detailed overview of one's (mostly professional) accomplishments, especially those that are relevant to academia. You change your CV as your accomplishments expand, not when you apply for different types of jobs. The question is when to use which? Should you use a resume when applying for this job? Is it Okay to submit a CV? This kind of questions arises naturally in one's head when facing the job application process. But you don't have to worry that much - any job opening you apply to will give everything you need to know. Your job is to study the requirements very carefully and submit requested documents. But even if you are not sure, you can always ask the point of contact directly of what is required: a resume or CV? There is only one last thing we have to say - whether you are submitting a CV or resume you are to make sure it is well-written and contains no errors for which you may be disqualified from the process.
