While applying for jobs, most people do not pay attention to the fact that Curriculum Vitae and Resume are two different things. Those who do not understand the difference between these two documents, may end up disappointing the prospective employer. Writing a good CV or resume is actually an art. Today we will discuss the major points that set a CV and a Resume apart from each other.
Curriculum Vitae is a Latin term which means course of life. Résumé on the other hand is a French word which means a summary.
Both CV and Resume are document formats often used for compiling and submitting information on one’s life and work. Let us know what makes these two different.
Major Difference Between CV and Resume
| # | Curriculum Vitae (CV) | Resume |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Curriculum Vitae is a detailed document. | Resume is a summarized form of CV. |
| 2 | CV may run in several pages. | Resume is usually one or two pages long. |
| 3 | Often used in UK and Europe. | Preferred format in USA and Canada. |
| 4 | Preferred by academic and government institutions. | Private corporate sector prefers the brevity of resume. |
| 5 | Information is usually presented chronological order. | Information sections can be shuffled. |
| 6 | Requires less modifications. | Resume should be tailor-made for every perspective employer. |
| 7 | Stays same unless you need to add some new achievement. | Customized according to the needs of the employer/job/application |
Now you are well-versed with the differences between these two documents. You must ensure that you send the right one along with your next job application. In countries like India, South Africa and Australia, the terms Curriculum Vitae and Resume are used interchangeably. People do not consider these to be different from each other. But with globalization, foreign companies and institutions are setting up offices in these countries as well. So, it is becoming more and more important to know the difference between CV and resume.
In the following video, from my YouTube channel, Dashamlav, I am explaining these differences in Hindi language.
Major Sections in Curriculum Vitae
You may include information under following sections in a Curriculum Vitae. Please note that you don’t need to include all these sections — use only ones that are relevant to you.
- Contact Information
- Research Objective, Professional Profile, or Personal Statement
- Education
- Professional Academic Appointments
- Corporate Appointments
- Books Published
- Book Chapters Written
- Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Other Publications
- Awards and Honors
- Grants and Fellowships
- Conferences
- Teaching Experience
- Research Experience / Lab Experience / Graduate Fieldwork
- Non-Academic Activities
- Languages and Skills
- Memberships
- References
Major Sections in a Resume
A resume is prepared with an aim that it should be readable within 5 minutes. Therefore a concise summary of your work is presented in a resume. Typically the following sections are included in a CV.
- Contact Information
- Resume Summary or Resume Objective
- Work Experience
- Education
- Skills
- Additional Sections
- Awards
- Courses
- Publications
- Certificates
- Conferences, etc.
Should you have any questions about this topic, please feel free to ask in the comments section given below. WeCapable team and readers’ community will try to assist you. Thank you for connecting with WeCapable!
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