Both a CV and resume represent your experiences and skills and are used in an application process to get you an interview. A CV presents a full history of your academic accomplishments, while a resume presents a concise summary of your qualifications. While both are tailored for the specific position you are applying to, they are used for different purposes with CVs being required for academic positions and resumes being needed otherwise. Graduate school applications typically request a CV but in general are looking for an expanded resume that includes any publications and descriptions of research projects. If you are applying for both academic as well as industry (private or public sector) positions, you will need to prepare both a resume and a CV.

In many European countries, CV is used to describe all job application documents, including a resume. In the United States and Canada, CV and resume are sometimes used interchangeably. If you are not sure which kind of document to submit, it is best to ask for clarification.

The Career Center has CV and resume samples for specific disciplines and education levels. We can review your CV and resume through our asynchronous Resume Review+ service or during an appointment with an advisor. 

CV vs. Resume: Format and Content