What is the Difference Between CV and Resume

Difference between CV and Resume:

CV and Resume: these words are often used interchangeably. So, it can be confusing to know when and how to use each document. The confusion over resumes and CV's is often compounded by the fact that there is not a standard resume or CV template. Your documents will and should look different than your classmates. While there aren't formal rules to follow, there are certain expectations for each document.

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CVs are often the norm in a scientific research environment. So, most scientists are familiar with the basics for creating a CV. Therefore, creating a resume can be a bit more challenging. A lot of scientist's resumes end up looking a lot like a CV. And when placed in an applicant pool with resumes, this CV will stand out as odd and out of touch. It's important to understand the key differences between these documents and take the time to convert your CV to a resume when the position calls for it. 

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When to Use a Resume Instead of a CV?

If you're unsure, ask the hiring manager or pull your network and do informational interviews with people who are working at that company or in that industry. Generally, though you use a CV when applying to academic, government, or research positions.

A CV is often the preferred document for grants or fellowship applications as well. Use a resume for everything else especially if you are applying to industry positions. As noted in this chart, some other key differences are the length and formatting between the two documents. As opposed to CVs, resumes are often shorter, more concise, and highly tailored to the job at hand.

Resumes for postdocs range from one to three pages. But try to keep yours on two pages. The general rule of thumb is one page for every eight to ten years of experience. CVs are often long because you include your full experience details.

The purpose of a resume is to use it as a targeted marketing tool whereas a CV is often seen as an ongoing academic and work history. 

One of the key differences between a cv and resume is the content of what you include. On a resume, it has to be very succinct and relevant to the reader or the position at hand. You only have space for a few key sections such as a qualification summary, education, experience,and skills whereas on a CV you may include wide range of professional accomplishments and activities in sections like awards, grants, conferences and poster presentations. For both documents, it is important to be genuine. But this is not the space to be modest. These documents are often the only introduction you get to present to a potential employer. So, take the time to review them often. 

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Other key differences between a CV and a resume are the page length and design. As noted before, for a CV, it's virtually unlimited length, however, it should remain focused still. For a resume, try to keep it at one to three pages. The design is also a key difference between a CV and a resume. Resumes are highly formatted. You want to maximize all of the white space on that document whereas with a CV, there is very little formatting, but it still must be clean and easy to read. You don't often see bullet points on a CV. Your lab and your publications often speak for themselves on a CV. This is not true for a resume. So, you must include bullet points on your resume under your experience section. Don't assume that your lab or job title is enough to convince the reader that you are qualified for the position. On a resume, you should be using strong, active verbs and numbers to highlight your accomplishments in a quantitative way. As an example, don't just say you taught a lab section. Employers want to know specifics like the fact that you designed lesson plans and taught introductory biology to 54 undergraduate students. Remember these key factors when you're creating your bullet points for your resume. There are some universals for both documents.

For both a resume and a cv you should omit the following.

1. Personal pronouns:

When you're creating your bullet points, never say I or my team or any other personal pronoun. It can feel awkward, but you sort of speak in the third person. 

2. Do not Lable your Document:

You don't need to label or your documents. I often see people label their document, Curriculum Vitae or Resume, at the top. That's unnecessary to include. 

3. Do not include References:

Don't include references on either your resume or CV. Generally, this is a separate document entirely. It's not even necessary to say references are available upon request. It's assumed you have a list of references to provide when the time comes. If you have any specific questions about the differences between a resume and a CV, comment your question below.