CV EditorCV or resume? What is the difference?
It depends on where you are applying. In some countries the two words mean the same thing. In others, they describe quite different documents.
The short answer
CV stands for curriculum vitae, Latin for "course of life". Resume (or résumé) comes from the French for "summary". Historically, a CV was the complete record of a career and a resume was a short, targeted summary. Today, most people use the words according to local custom rather than that distinction.
| Where | What people call it | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| Australia and New Zealand | "Resume" and "CV" are used interchangeably | 2 to 3 pages |
| UK and Ireland | "CV" | 2 pages |
| Europe | "CV" (often in the Europass or a local format) | 1 to 3 pages |
| US and Canada | "Resume" for most jobs | 1 page (2 for senior roles) |
| Academia, research and medicine (everywhere) | "CV", meaning a full academic record | As long as needed |
Australia and New Zealand
Employers and recruiters use both words for the same document, and job ads will ask for either. What they expect is a document of about two to three pages covering your recent experience, with the most relevant roles described in detail. Many Australian public sector roles also ask for a separate statement addressing selection criteria, or a short pitch, in addition to the CV. Read the application instructions carefully.
United Kingdom and Ireland
"CV" is the standard term, and "resume" is rarely used. Two pages is the widely accepted norm. A UK CV does not normally include a photo, date of birth or marital status.
United States and Canada
For most jobs, employers expect a resume: a concise, targeted document, usually one page for early-career candidates and up to two for experienced ones. US resumes tend to be punchier, with short bullet points and little or no summary paragraph. Photos and personal details such as age are left out, partly because of anti-discrimination law.
In North America, "CV" usually means an academic CV (see below). If a US job ad for a non-academic role asks for a CV, it most likely just wants a resume.
Academic, research and medical CVs
In academia, a CV is a full record of your professional life, and it can run to many pages. As well as education and appointments, it typically includes:
- publications, grouped by type
- grants, fellowships and funding
- teaching and supervision
- conference presentations and invited talks
- professional service, such as reviewing, committees and editorial roles
- awards and honours
Academic CVs are not cut down for each application in the same way. Instead, you use the cover letter and selection criteria responses to highlight what is relevant.
Other countries
Expectations vary more than people think. In parts of Europe and Asia, it is still common to include a photo, date of birth or nationality, and some employers expect a specific national format. If you are applying abroad, look at the careers pages of a few employers in that country, or ask a local recruiter, before you send your usual document.
Personal details: what to include where
The biggest practical difference between countries is not the name of the document but what personal information belongs on it.
| Detail | Australia, NZ, UK, Ireland | US and Canada | Much of continental Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo | Not expected | Leave it off | Often expected; check local practice |
| Date of birth or age | Leave it off | Leave it off | Sometimes included |
| Marital status, nationality | Leave it off | Leave it off | Sometimes included |
| Right to work or visa status | Worth a line if it is not obvious | Worth a line if it is not obvious | Worth a line if it is not obvious |
| Full street address | City or suburb is enough | City and state is enough | Varies |
| Referees | Often two listed, or "available on request" | Not on the resume | Varies; written references are common in some countries |
When an employer in a no-photo country receives a CV with a photo and a date of birth, the usual reaction is mild discomfort: they have been handed information they are not supposed to take into account. When in doubt, leave personal details out. In CV Editor the photo is optional in every design, and the Single Serif design has none.
Turning a CV into a US-style resume
If you have a two- or three-page CV and need a one-page resume, the job is editing rather than rewriting.
- Cut by relevance, not by age alone. Keep the roles and achievements that match the job advertisement. Reduce everything else to a line, or remove it.
- Turn paragraphs into bullet points. Three to five per recent role, each starting with a verb and ending with a result. Our list of action verbs helps here.
- Shorten or drop the summary. One or two lines at most.
- Remove the photo, date of birth, referees and interests.
- Switch to US spelling if you are applying to a US employer: "organized", "program", "center".
- Write dates the US way if you use numeric dates: month before day. Spelling the month out ("March 2022") avoids the problem everywhere.
Going the other way - expanding a resume into a CV for Australia or the UK - means restoring context: a short summary, a fuller account of your two or three most recent roles, and your education and qualifications in more detail.
Paper size
Most of the world prints on A4; the US and Canada use the slightly shorter and wider Letter size. Nearly all CVs are now read on a screen, where the difference is invisible, and an A4 PDF prints acceptably on Letter paper using the printer's "fit to page" setting. CV Editor exports A4.
When a job ad uses the "wrong" word
International employers, and recruiters who work across countries, often use "CV" and "resume" loosely. Go by the location of the job and the rest of the advertisement, not the word. If a US startup asks you to "send your CV", send a resume. If a UK employer asks for a "resume", send a normal two-page UK CV. If the advertisement gives a page limit or lists what to include, follow it over any general rule here.
So which should you write?
Write for the place and the employer you are applying to:
- Applying in Australia, New Zealand, the UK or Ireland? A two-page CV (or "resume") targeted to the job.
- Applying in the US or Canada for a non-academic role? A one to two page resume.
- Applying for an academic, research or clinical post? A full academic CV.
Whatever you call it, the principles in How to write a CV apply: lead with what the employer needs, show results rather than duties, and keep it easy to scan.
CV Editor works for all of these. Open the editor, keep one complete version of your career, and export a shorter copy for each application.