CV / Resume

What is a CV?

A CV, short for curriculum vitae, is a comprehensive document covering a person’s full academic and professional history, including education, work experience, publications, research and achievements. Widely used across the UK, Europe, India and much of the Commonwealth, it aims to be thorough rather than tailored, changing little between applications beyond routine updates.

What is a Resume?

A resume is shorter and more targeted, typically one to two pages, and is the standard format in the US, Canada and several other countries. Rather than recording everything a candidate has done, it highlights experience and skills relevant to a specific role, and is usually rewritten or adjusted for each application.

CV vs Resume: What Is the Difference?

The core distinction is length, purpose and use. A CV is exhaustive and largely static; a resume is concise and adaptable to a given job posting. Terminology also varies by region: what’s called a “CV” in the UK often functions like a US resume, while an American “CV” refers to the longer academic-style document. Candidates applying internationally should confirm which format an employer expects.

What to Include in a CV or Resume?

Both should open with clear contact details and a brief personal summary. Work experience follows in reverse chronological order, ideally framed around measurable achievements rather than a list of duties, followed by education and relevant qualifications. A CV typically extends further to publications, research, memberships and references, while a resume stays leaner, adding only a skills section and, where relevant, a line on volunteer or extracurricular experience.

How to Write a CV or Resume?

Start by understanding the role well enough to know what to emphasise, then work through career history picking out outcomes rather than tasks. Formatting matters: consistent fonts, clear headings and enough white space make the document easy to scan. Trim anything that doesn’t serve the specific application, and have someone else proofread the final draft to catch errors that are easy to miss in your own writing.

Tips for Preparing a Successful Resume

Keep it to an appropriate length, leading with the most relevant and recent experience. Use plain, direct language, back up claims with specifics such as figures or outcomes rather than vague phrasing, and tailor each version to the job description rather than sending one generic copy everywhere. Treat formatting as part of the content, since a resume that’s easy to read gives its substance a fair chance of being noticed.