The resume-versus-CV question causes more confusion than it should. In some countries, the terms are interchangeable. In others, they refer to fundamentally different documents. Sending the wrong format signals that you don't understand the professional norms of the market you're entering.
The Fundamental Distinction
A resume is a targeted marketing document. It summarizes your most relevant qualifications for a specific role in 1-2 pages. You edit it for each application, emphasizing different experiences and skills depending on the job.
A CV (curriculum vitae) is a comprehensive academic record. It lists everything: all positions held, all publications, all presentations, all grants, all teaching experience, all professional memberships. Length is determined by content, not convention — a senior professor's CV might run 15-20 pages.
Country-by-Country Guide
United States and Canada: "Resume" for all private-sector jobs. "CV" only for academic, research, and medical positions. If a tech company asks for your CV, they mean a resume.
United Kingdom and Ireland: "CV" is the standard term for a 1-2 page targeted document — what Americans call a resume. Academic positions still use the comprehensive format.
Germany: The Lebenslauf is standard — typically 1-2 pages, often including a photo (though this practice is declining). Comprehensive CVs are used in academia.
France: The CV is the standard document for all applications, typically 1 page. Academic CVs follow international convention.
Spain and Latin America: Curriculum or curriculo is the standard term. Format expectations align with the European 1-2 page norm.
Australia and New Zealand: Both terms are used interchangeably, meaning a 2-3 page targeted document.
Structure Comparison
Resume Structure (1-2 pages)
- Contact information
- Professional summary (2-3 sentences)
- Work experience (reverse chronological, 3-5 bullets each)
- Education
- Skills
- Certifications (optional)
Academic CV Structure (no page limit)
- Contact information
- Research interests
- Education (including dissertation title)
- Academic positions
- Publications (peer-reviewed, books, chapters)
- Presentations and conferences
- Grants and funding
- Teaching experience
- Awards and honors
- Professional memberships
- References
The Practical Decision
If you're unsure which to send:
- Read the job posting for explicit instructions
- Research the company's location and industry norms
- When genuinely ambiguous, a clean 1-2 page resume is safe for most situations
- For academic positions anywhere in the world, default to a comprehensive CV
k-cv supports both formats. Build your content once, then adjust the structure and level of detail to match the format each application requires.