You’ve probably heard of the Curriculum Vitae (CV) more than once. In some cases, it’s used as a synonym for the resume. In others, it seems like it’s something completely different.

So, which is it? What’s a CV, anyway? Is it any different than a resume? If so, how?

In this article, we’re going to answer all those questions and more:
What is a Curriculum Vitae (CV)? [+ real-life example]
What is a resume? [+ real-life example]
What are the differences between a CV and a resume?
How’s a CV different in the US and the EU?
resume vs cv
What is a CV resume ? [+ Real-Life Example]
The term CV is an abbreviation of the Latin word Curriculum Vitae, which is literally translated to “the course of your life”.

A CV is a very in-depth document that describes your career journey step-by-step, including all sorts of personal information. You can look at the CV as a comprehensive description of everything you have ever done, all the achievements you are proud of, and all the publications that bear your name.

You need to update your CV every time you accomplish something new academically or professionally. Meaning, whenever you get a new job, publish something new, obtain a new certificate, and so on.

There is no rule of thumb on how long a CV should be - depending on the amount of experience, it can range from 2 to 8 pages.

What to Include on a CV
Full name
Contact information
Professional title, resume summary, or resume objective
Research interests
Education
Publications (both academic papers and books)
Teaching or lecturing experience
Work experience
Conferences and courses
Skills
Certificates
Languages
Grants of fellowships
References
Real-Life CV Example
Want to see how a CV looks like in practice? Check out a real-life sample below.

Elizabeth Smith is a marketing professional with a specialization in online marketing. She’s applying to become a professor at a university.

curriculum vitae cv sample
In Elizabeth’s CV, you can see a summarized snapshot of her life: everything she has studied, all the conferences she has been to, the skills she obtained, and a list of her publications.

Since she’s applying for a job in a university, Elizabeth mentions her academic achievements and interests first, and professional experiences later.

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What is a Resume? [+ Real-Life Example]
A resume is a short, straight-to-the-point, document created for the purpose of applying to a specific job.

Unlike the CV, you should try to keep a resume as short as possible. In 99% of the cases, you’d want to keep your resume to 1-page max. If you have 15+ years of experience, or really believe that the extra information you can mention can add value to your application, you can make it 2 pages tops.

In a resume, you only mention the aspects of your work experience and skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. A good resume highlights specific contributions you have made in your previous work and showcases how your different skills can be useful for the position you are applying to.

The resume is usually accompanied by the submission of a cover letter which states your intent for applying to the job. The cover letter builds upon the skills and experience you have touched upon in your resume, explaining how they’re going to help you excel at the job you’re applying for.

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What to Include on a Resume
Full name
Your job title, or the name of the position you’re applying for
Contact information
Resume summary or objective
Work experience
Education
Relevant skills
Languages and proficiency
Relevant certifications and interests (if any)