CV vs Resume: What's the Difference?
Which document should you send? The answer depends on the country and the job. Here is a simple guide.
Short answer: outside the USA and Canada, "CV" and "resume" mean the same thing: a 1–2 page summary of your experience. In the USA and Canada, a resume is that short document, while a CV is a long, detailed academic record used for research, teaching and medical jobs.
The differences at a glance
| Resume (US/Canada) | CV (US/Canada academic) | CV (UK, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 1–2 pages | 2–10+ pages | 1–2 pages (longer for academia) |
| Purpose | Most job applications | Academic, research, medical, grants | Most job applications |
| Focus | Relevant achievements | Complete academic record | Relevant experience and achievements |
| Tailored per job? | Yes | Mostly static | Yes |
| Photo | No | No | Depends on country |
| Paper size | US Letter | US Letter | A4 |
Which one should you use? (By country)
- USA & Canada: send a resume for almost every job. Use a CV only for academic, scientific or medical positions, or when explicitly asked.
- United Kingdom & Ireland: "CV" is the standard term; two pages maximum.
- India, Pakistan, Bangladesh: both words are used interchangeably; keep it to 1–2 pages.
- UAE, Saudi Arabia & the Gulf: "CV" is most common; 2 pages with a photo is typical. See CV with photo.
- Europe: "CV" is standard; some countries expect a photo, others don't.
- Australia & New Zealand: "resume" and "CV" are both used; 2–3 pages is acceptable.
- South Africa & Nigeria: "CV" is standard; 2–3 pages is common.
What goes into each
A resume (or a standard CV) includes
- Contact details and a short summary
- Work experience with achievement-based bullet points
- Education
- Skills, certifications and languages
An academic CV adds
- Research interests and thesis details
- Publications, conference presentations and posters
- Teaching experience
- Grants, fellowships and awards
- Professional memberships and referees
Writing an academic CV? Use our multi-page Academic template.
Use the Academic templateHow to turn a CV into a US resume
- Remove the photo, date of birth, nationality and marital status.
- Cut to one page (two if you have 10+ years of experience).
- Switch the paper size to US Letter in the editor.
- Rewrite duties as measurable achievements.
- Use American spelling (e.g. "organized", "analyzed") if applying in the USA.
Next step: follow our guide on how to write a CV, or jump straight into a free resume template.