What Is a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Do I Need One?
Check out our guide to help you understand what a curriculum vitae is, when it's needed, its benefits, and what information to leave off it.

Published on May 11, 2022
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- CVs are best used when applying for certain jobs, and resumes for others.
- There are advantages and disadvantages to using a CV to apply for jobs.
- Even though CVs are longer, make sure to leave off certain pieces of information.
- CVs have many benefits, even if you're not using them to apply to every job.
When it comes to applying for jobs, you know you need to present your skills and experience in the best way possible. Many places will ask for either a curriculum vitae (CV) or a resume. It is important to remember that these two are not the same thing.
Knowing which to use and making it as impressive as possible is key because, according to Indeed, employers, on average, look at resumes for only 6-7 seconds. That is an incredibly short time to gain someone's attention.
Having a good CV or resume can help you at least get through that initial screening. Read on to learn more about the differences between the two.
CV vs. Resume
Understanding the difference between a CV and a resume will help you determine which to submit to employers to have the most success in your job search.
Getting past that initial screening is just the first step toward a new job. More will come later, but you need to get past that screening. So here's a rundown of CVs and resumes.
A CV and resume both should be tailored for the position you're applying for and show why you're the best candidate for the job. Despite what we may have tacked onto the bottom when we didn't have much work history, neither of these should include personal interests or hobbies.
Curriculum vitae is a Latin term that means "course of life." CVs tend to be longer than resumes, usually 3-4 pages. They can include education history, professional experience, skills, research projects, published works, coursework, awards, and other achievements.
Resumes tend to be 1-2 pages. They are more condensed versions of a CV. Either way, a well-written CV or resume is how to stand out among applicants. Instead of including everything in a resume, you focus on the skills and experiences relevant to the specific position to which you are applying.
Who Uses a CV?
Most of the time, you will submit a resume for jobs in the United States. Exceptions include when you are applying for positions in the academia, science, research, or medical fields.
If you are applying for a fellowship, a grant, graduate school, or a Ph.D. program, a CV may also be the right choice to fully showcase your skills and experience. If you are considering a position abroad, other countries tend to use a CV. So you will want to send one of those for jobs in those locations.
Benefits of a Good CV
Things You Can Leave Off Your CV
Even though you can include more information on a CV, it doesn't mean that you can't trim it. You want everything to serve a purpose, and there are some things that you can leave off.
Bottom Line
CVs can be excellent for applying for specific positions and organizing your thoughts. Even though you may not submit one to every job you apply for, it is still helpful to have one.
When applying to some jobs, you will not need to submit a CV. In fact, it could be a disadvantage if you do.
Because of its sheer size, recruiters may not have the patience to find the relevant skills to a particular job in your resume. Therefore, they will have a hard time evaluating you against other applicants. Be sure to send in the right job/experience history — a resume or a CV — depending on the open position.
Frequently Asked Questions About a CV
No, a CV is not the same as a cover letter. A CV is more like an extended resume. Cover letters address your experience and also specifics to the job description. They are used in conjunction with a resume. Cover letters are used to potentially impress hiring managers, tell the employer more about yourself, and address specific skills and how they relate to a certain position.
It is OK to send a CV over a resume — when the position calls for it. Otherwise, a CV may be too overwhelming for certain positions and harder to evaluate. CVs are typically required for positions in academia, research, science, medical fields, or if otherwise indicated. They should not be used in place of a resume.
CVs can be as long as you need them to be, but most of them tend to be 3-4 pages, depending on your career level. For those applying for a position in academia, it may go longer than four pages.
You want to be sure to include important background information, experience, educational background, honors and awards, skills and qualifications, and relevant contact information. Be sure to leave out personal information or hobbies.
BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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