The terms "CV" and "resume" are used interchangeably in some countries and mean very different things in others. Here's the definitive guide.
In the United States and Canada, a resume and a CV are two distinct documents. In the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and most of Europe, "CV" and "resume" mean the same thing — the document you send with a job application.
In American terminology, a resume is a short, targeted document — typically one to two pages — that summarises your work experience and skills for a specific job application. It's concise, focused, and tailored for each application.
In American terminology, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a comprehensive document that includes your complete professional and academic history. It can be many pages long and includes publications, research, presentations, and awards. In the US, CVs are used almost exclusively for academic, research, and medical positions.
In the rest of the English-speaking world, "CV" simply means the document you use when applying for any job — what Americans would call a resume.
Rule of thumb: If you're applying for a job in the US or Canada in the private sector, send a resume. If you're applying anywhere else in the world, it's a CV — format it like what Americans call a resume (concise, 2 pages).
Our free CV generator includes six country-specific templates — US Classic, UK Oxford, AUS Pacific, EU Continental, and more. Each is formatted exactly how recruiters in that country expect.
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