What is a CV and when should you use a CV instead of a resume?

A long, multi-page resume is called a Curriculum Vitae (CV). It is Latin for "course of one's life."

According to Resume Edge (an online consulting group that charges about $100 to professionally rewrite CVs and resumes) you should use a CV in professional industries such as "medicine, law, education, science, and media (television, film, etc.)," and if you are applying for a job in a country outside of the U.S.

For more advice on how to write a CV, click on the link to the right.

NoteIn Britain the term "curriculum vitae" (abbreviated CV) is synonymous with "resume" and you shouldn't produce anything longer than you would if applying for a similar job in America. Obviously, if applying for a demanding professional post for which one can expect fierce competition one needs to be extra clever.

That said, employers in Europe can't spend ages reading every applicant's life history, so make your CV reader friendly, so that essentials are easily recognizable. For example, if applying for an academic post or for a creative job in the media, list publications (and also photographic portfoliOS and the like) separately under their own heading(s). Don't interrupt a list of academic publications or of creative achievements with details of routine administrative functions.

Alternate_ ">AlternateBasically the primary differences between a resume and a curriculum vitae (CV) are the length, what is included and what each is used for. A resume is a one or two page summary of your skills, experience and education. While a resume is brief and concise - no more than a page or two, a Curriculum Vitae is a longer (at least two page) and more detailed synopsis.

A Curriculum Vitae includes a summary of your educational and academic backgrounds as well as teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors, affiliations and other details. In Europe, the Middle East, Africa, or Asia, employers expect to receive a curriculum vitae. A curriculum vitae is used primarily when applying for academic, education, scientific or research positions. It is also applicable when applying for fellowships or grants.