Technically, Is a CV Different From a Résumé?

A simple and straight to the point answer is an emphatic YES! It may sound so strange to some people that I am saying this, but it is actually true. There is more than quite a thin line between Curriculum Vitae (popularly called a CV) and a Resume. Let’s find out how. Read on...

What is a Curriculum Vitae?

According to a well-placed online authority in the area of concept definitions, Wikipedia states, and I quote "A curriculum vitae (CV) provides an overview of a person's experience and other qualifications." According to another online source, "if a job advertisement asks for a CV, that’s a hint that the employer expects a great deal of life experience and accomplishments, including education, original research, presentations you’ve given and papers or books you’ve had published." 

But in a much more specific flow of content, a CV is an expansive and holistic breakdown of who you are and what you have achieved ever since you were born until date. It is common in academic or development positions like teaching, lecturing instructing, writing and researching, but may also be suited to other jobs in government agencies and programs.

CV Description

Imagine a Curriculum Vitae as a memoir, often consuming up to ten solid pages conditional on your experiences and achievements. It is typical for academic loci in higher edification such as college and university teaching positions. Research-exhaustive positions may also expect candidates to submit a CV. It’s not just for careers, however; if you are applying for an internship and have a great deal of experience and accomplishments, you might want to outline them in a CV. This is also factual for fellowship and scholarship applications.

What is a Résumé?

Still according to the reliable Wikipedia.com website, "A résumé also spelled 'resumé' or 'resume', is a document used by persons to present their backgrounds and skills. Résumés can be used for a variety of reasons, but most often they are used to secure new employment. A typical résumé contains a summary of relevant job experience and education. A résumé is a marketing tool in which the content should be adapted to suit each individual job application and/or applications aimed at a particular industry. The résumé is comparable to a curriculum vitae (CV) in many countries. However, it is substantially shorter than a CV in English Canada, the U.S. and Australia. For most jobs a résumé is adequate. 

Résumé DescriptionWhat this means exactly is that you use resumes to apply to specific jobs based on the required skills and experiences needed for that job only. Some details like publications and certain achievements are not applicable to resumes. And a resume is always shorter than a CV, no ore than a one page document, with clear headings.

Résumé Vs. CV

Unlike a CV, a résumé is typically one to two pages long and is formatted so a prospective employer can read it quickly. It is very common for all non-academic job seekers, presenting both your work experience and education. If you are a recent college graduate, include a good grade point average and details about any internship. You can list your most recent job first; highlight skills required by a particular job; or use a combination of both. You can also include volunteer positions, particularly if you are a new applicant or have had employment gaps.

Below is a table of comparison I have drawn to show the difference between a CV and a resume.

	Resume	Curriculum Vitae
Origin	French “to Summerize”	Latin “Life’s Course”
Pages	1-2 page	Several pages or more
Contents	Tailored to Specific Job Description	A biography of an individual
Industry	Technical and Commercial	Research and Education
Purpose	Job Application	Academic/Research purpose
Goal	Describe accomplishments briefly; leaving out extra details	Describe accomplishments with great detail; focus on how these relate to career plans
Details	Contact info; objective (e.g., obtain a job in…); work history; skills and qualifications	Contact info; education history; work history (as it relates to career development); research accomplishments/skills; awards/ scholarships; volunteer work/community service
Miscellaneous Purpose	Official	Personal

One Thing to take note of is that, both CV and résumé include the person's name, contact information, education, work experience and relevant work-related skills.

You probably may wonder why lots of people do not even get shortlisted for a job test or interview... a reason not farfetched I would say, taking CV to be a resume.

I hope these have been helpful to someone out there, and i want to thank you for dropping by my blog. Please don't forget to leave your comment at the end of the page.