There’s no denying that job hunting can be a massive headache.

Filling out job applications and going to rounds of interviews is certainly no treat, but before you do all that, you have to write a resume – or is it a CV? If you’ve never thought much about the CV vs. resume debate, then you wouldn’t be the only one.

In this post, we’re going to outline the main differences between the resume and the Curriculum Vitae so that you can confidently provide one or the other based on what your prospective employer requires. The difference isn’t a massive one, but understanding it could help you land your dream job.

CV Vs. Resume: What’s the Difference?

The main differences are the length, what they highlight about your experience and skills, and what they’re meant for. Whether you’re requested to provide one over the other will likely depend on what type of position you’re applying for.

What Is a CV?

A CV is a summary of your experience and skills, but unlike a resume, it’s aim is to highlight your educational background and any accomplishments that might aid in your employment search. You might include information about teaching experience, degrees, relevant research, academic awards, publications, etc.

What’s a CV For?

Typically, a CV would be requested for jobs in the academic, scientific, or medical field. For this reason, they aren’t constrained by the 1-2 pages in length that resumes usually are. The more of the above information that you have to present to the employer, the longer your CV will be.

The goal is to provide enough information about your qualifications in order to stick out from other professionals in your field. If you’re unsure about how to build your CV, you can always hire a CV writing service to help you.

What Is a Resume?

A resume also showcases a rundown of your education, employment background, skills, and other credentials. Unlike a CV, which can be long-winded, a resume is meant to be as concise and readable as possible; one to two pages max.

There are numerous ways to structure a resume, with the most common being in chronological, functional, and combination formats. The position you’re applying for and how deep you are into your career will help dictate which one you choose.

What’s a Resume Used For?

If CV’s are used in academic and scientific fields, then resumes are used for basically everything else. Making your resume stand out from the dozens, if not hundreds of others can be difficult, which is why many people try to get creative with resume writing.

These days, you have to write for human eyes and the algorithms that a lot of hiring sites tend to use. Fortunately, there are many templates and examples of resumes for all different applications online.

Landing Your Dream Job

Now that you know a little bit more about the CV vs. resume discussion, you can choose the right one to apply for your dream job. Knowing the difference between the two is helpful, but learning how to write a good one is the next step. Keep researching and it’ll pay off soon.

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