If you ask a recruiter in New York for a CV, they will expect a 10-page academic history. If you ask a recruiter in London for a CV, they will expect a standard two-page document outlining your work experience.

The difference between a resume and a CV is not just about length. It is about geography, industry, and purpose. Let's break it down.

In this guide
  1. The difference in the US and Canada
  2. The difference everywhere else
  3. What is a Resume?
  4. What is an Academic CV?
  5. Which one should you use?

The difference in the US and Canada

In the United States and Canada, a resume and a CV are two completely different documents.

  • A Resume is a short (1-2 page) summary of your skills and work experience, tailored to a specific job. It is used for 99% of corporate and industry jobs.
  • A CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a comprehensive, multi-page document detailing your entire academic and professional history. It is used exclusively for academia, medical, research, and scientific roles.

The difference everywhere else

In the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Europe, and most of Asia and Africa, a CV and a resume are the exact same thing.

In these regions, the word "resume" is rarely used. When an employer asks for a CV, they are asking for a standard 1-2 page document detailing your work experience. They are not asking for a 10-page academic history.

If you are applying for a marketing job in London and they ask for a CV, send them what an American would call a resume.

What is a Resume?

A resume is a marketing document. Its goal is not to list everything you have ever done, but to prove you are the right person for a specific job.

  • Length: 1-2 pages (1 page if you have under 10 years of experience).
  • Content: Contact info, summary (optional), work experience, education, skills.
  • Focus: Achievements and impact (quantified with numbers), tailored to the job description.
  • Format: Highly scannable, using bullet points and clear section headers.

What is an Academic CV?

Curriculum Vitae is Latin for "course of life." In the US and Canada, an academic CV is a comprehensive record of your scholarly achievements.

  • Length: No limit. It grows as your career grows (often 3-10+ pages).
  • Content: Education, academic appointments, peer-reviewed publications, grants, fellowships, awards, conference presentations, teaching experience, and professional affiliations.
  • Focus: A complete chronological record of your academic contributions.
  • Format: Plain, structured lists. No bullet points describing daily duties.

Which one should you use?

Use this simple decision matrix to determine what document to send:

Use a Resume if:

  • You are applying for a job in the US or Canada in the private sector (tech, finance, marketing, retail, etc.).
  • The job description asks for a resume.

Use an Academic CV if:

  • You are applying for a faculty position at a university (US/Canada).
  • You are applying for a research grant or fellowship.
  • You are applying for a scientific or medical role that requires a full publication history.

Use a "Standard CV" (which is just a resume) if:

  • You are applying for a corporate job in the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa, or Australia.

Regardless of what you call it, the rules of good formatting apply: keep it clean, make it readable, and focus on the impact you made, not just the duties you performed.