Is a CV (curriculum vitae) the same as a résumé?
A: Yes and No
A curriculum vitae and résumé share the same purpose, as they are both documents that highlights pertinent information about a candidate’s education, experiences, skills, and personal qualities. Résumés and curricula vitae, also known as CVs differ in their formats, uses, and acceptable lengths.
Résumés are usually 1-2 pages, and CVs can be unlimited in length since they include a more extensive listing of varied experiences.
CVs are often for positions in research, medicine, science, and higher education. They can also can serve as one of the application materials for some graduate or professional programs. If you’re applying for a position abroad, employers in other countries sometimes expect a CV instead of a résumé.
If a CV is longer, what else should I include that wouldn't be on my résumé?
A: It depends on how you’re using the CV.
If you’re using a CV to apply for graduate school, think about what the graduate program would be interested in learning about you. This often involves longer descriptions of academic work that you’ve done, including class projects, research, presentations, and papers, and field work.
If you’re using a CV to apply for an international position or a position in a field that typically uses CVs (including research, medicine, science, and higher education), you’ll be taking more time and space to describe prior experiences (jobs, internships, student organizations, leadership, coursework, etc.) that you think would best prepare you for this future job role.
