Difference between resume and CV

When we talk about the difference between resume and we are addressing those who are looking for work abroad, and specifically in English-speaking countries, where there are actually two different documents to present their applications and you can buy resumes. The difference between essay and resume must therefore be well understood when deciding to apply for jobs abroad.

Who uses resume and who uses CV?

The difference between CV and resume is a difference related to the location of the company where you apply of work and the length of the document, therefore how detailed it is.

In Canada and the United States the CV is a long and detailed document that is used for all those positions that require specific qualifications, for academic positions and scholarships. The resume, on the other hand, is the short version of the curriculum and is used for standard applications, which therefore do not require an excessive level of detail.

Even in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Ireland the difference is the same, but the resume is never asked: the classic CV as we also understand it in Italy is therefore the standard in these countries, as in the rest of Europe.

Australia and South Africa use CV and resume as synonyms, meaning with both the classic format and quite detailed (but never exaggerating with the length).

So let’s see in detail what curriculum and resume are.

What is meant by curriculum vitae

A curriculum vitae in English-speaking countries, meaning only the United States and Canada, is a document that is sent to potential employers when applying for a job. This document contains information that allows a candidate to highlight her skills. A CV is therefore needed to:

  • Introduce yourself
  • Present your experiences
  • Present your skills

A curriculum vitae is generic and should not be customized according to the company you are applying for; to be personalized is the cover letter, which must be carefully written to reflect both one’s own experiences and the employer’s requests.

The form chosen for a CV can be of different types: functional CVs and the chronological ones are usually the most adopted, based on the experience gained by the candidate.

A good curriculum vitae must contain at least the following information:

  • Personal data
  • Personal profile with CV summary
  • Training
  • Work experience
  • Skills
  • Personal qualities

Languages ​​known

  • Interests and hobbies
  • References
  • Internships
  • Courses
  • Extracurricular activities

A good CV is well formatted, contains no grammatical errors, is easy to read and contains a good amount of information, even detailed ones. Potentially we don’t have to ask ourselves the problem of length, precisely because it is a document that goes into depth.

What is meant by resume

A resume in the United States and Canada is the shortened version of the curriculum vitae: it must contain only information that is really relevant to the position for which you are applying, it must be short and must not go into too specific.

A resume must be customized based on the company you are applying to in such a way as to contain specific keywords and personalized experiences: only in this way will a candidate have a better chance of being selected for an interview.

The resume also contains only and exclusively the most important and pertinent information based on the job position for which you are applying.

These are the sections to be included in your resume:

  • Personal data
  • Personal profile with CV summary
  • Training
  • Work experience

All other items, unless they are essential to support your application, are optional including skills, personal qualities and languages ​​known. The maximum length of the resume is 2 pages.

As you can see, the resume in the United States and Canada is what the classic resume is for us.

When to use a curriculum and when a resume?

If you are applying for a job in the United States or Canada, the choice between CV and resume depends on the offer itself. Normally the resume is required for classic job positions while the CV is required for academic or state positions. If you are applying for jobs in the UK, Ireland and other English-speaking countries in Europe, a curriculum vitae is required as we understand it in Italy. If you are applying for jobs in Australia and South Africa, resume and CV have the same meaning.

The differences between CV and resume in the United States and Canada

Considering that the difference between these two terms is an entirely American question, here is a summary diagram with the differences in meaning between the two terms:

Curriculum vitae

  • It is used for academic positions, scholarships, state positions;
  • It presents full-bodied and extremely detailed information;
  • There is no length limitation;
  • The American CV is the extended version of our CV, comparable to our Europass.

Resume

  • Used for all job positions except academic and state;
  • Admits only relevant information, without going into details;
  • It must be two pages long;
  • The American resume is our curriculum vitae, and follows the same rules.

In conclusion

  • The difference between curriculum vitae and resume depends on the country to which you are applying for a job offer;
  • In the United States, a resume is equivalent to our classic curriculum (also valid throughout Europe) while the curriculum vitae is the longest and most extensive version, comparable in some way to our Europass;
  • In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa resume and CV have the same meaning, and correspond to our curriculum vitae.