Resume vs CV: which one do you need?
By the FreeCVWriter team · · 2 min read
For most job applications, a resume and a CV are the same document with different names. In the US and Canada it is called a resume; in the UK, Ireland, and much of Europe it is called a CV. The real difference only appears in academic and some international applications, where a CV is a longer, fuller record.
In the US and Canada
A resume is a short, targeted summary of your experience — usually one or two pages — adjusted for each job. “CV” in North America normally means an academic or medical curriculum vitae: a complete record of education, research, publications, grants and teaching that grows over a career and can run to many pages.
In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand
CV is the everyday word for the one-or-two-page document you send with a job application — what Americans call a resume. In Australia and New Zealand both words are common and used almost interchangeably. Academic CVs still exist and are still longer.
In continental Europe
CV is the usual term. The EU’s Europass format is one widely recognised standard, though many employers are happy with any clear layout. Conventions on personal details vary more than the name does.
Photos and personal details
- US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia: leave out a photo, date of birth and marital status. Employers generally prefer not to see them.
- Parts of continental Europe, the Middle East and Asia: a photo is more common and sometimes expected. Check what employers in that country and sector usually receive.
- Everywhere: your name, email, phone number and a city or region are enough for contact details.
Which should you write?
Use the word the job advert uses. If it asks for a CV in the UK, send what an American would call a resume. If a US university asks for a CV, send the full academic record. For length, see how long a resume should be.
Every template on FreeCVWriter works for either. If you need a photo, the Portrait template has a slot for one; if you don’t, the one-column templates are the safest choice for online applications.