{"id":46751,"date":"2019-08-21T08:03:40","date_gmt":"2019-08-21T15:03:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/whats-the-difference-between-a-resume-and-a-cv-and-which-should-i-use\/"},"modified":"2019-08-21T08:03:40","modified_gmt":"2019-08-21T15:03:40","slug":"whats-the-difference-between-a-resume-and-a-cv-and-which-should-i-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/whats-the-difference-between-a-resume-and-a-cv-and-which-should-i-use\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the Difference Between a Resume and a CV (and Which Should I Use)?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Resume<\/a><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re navigating the confusing landscape of graduate school admissions, you know that one of the main components of your application is a resume or a CV. But, you\u2019ve probably seen by now that some programs ask for a resume, some ask for a CV, and some leave it up to you. <\/p>\n

So, is there a difference between the two? And if so, does it really matter? The short answer is \u201cyes\u201d and \u201cyes.\u201d Let\u2019s get into it. <\/p>\n

What is a resume? <\/h2>\n

The term \u201cresume\u201d comes from the French word, \u201cto sum up.\u201d This is a good place to start, because a resume is meant to be a relatively concise summary of your education, professional experience, relevant skills and accomplishments for a particular position (see how you can write your first resume<\/a>). A resume is generally supposed to be one to two pages, and may include sections such as name and contact information, education, work experience, volunteer experience, relevant achievements, and relevant skill sets. There are a variety of possible formats for a resume, but very importantly, a resume should be tailored for the specific position you\u2019re seeking. <\/p>\n

In the U.S., most employers and many master\u2019s programs tend to ask for a resume\u2014as opposed to a CV. So your submission should be concise, compelling, and relevant enough to quickly sell the applicant to the recruiter, hiring manager, or admissions committee as the right fit for that particular position.  <\/p>\n

What is a CV? <\/h2>\n

CV stands for curriculum vitae<\/em>, which is Latin for \u201ccourse of life.\u201d While this term may seem a little grandiose, it is essentially what this document aims to capture. <\/p>\n

A CV is a longer summary of your background that tends to be used for many grad programs and jobs in academia, scientific research, and medical fields, as well as jobs outside of the U.S. A CV is intended to be a fairly comprehensive\u2014and often lengthy\u2014summary of your academic background, research accomplishments, relevant work experience, teaching experience, publications, certifications, honors, awards, professional affiliations, and, sometimes, references. A CV is generally much more all-encompassing than a resume, and tends to be multiple pages long, starting around two for those early in their career, and spanning several for those later in their career. A CV is intended to demonstrate your academic achievements and scholarly potential, and should showcase your depth of experience in the particular field you\u2019re trying to work or study in. <\/p>\n

Which should I use? <\/h2>\n

Submitting a resume vs. a CV depends entirely on the position and program you\u2019re applying for. The most important rule of thumb here is to submit whichever the employer, school, or program is asking for\u2014if they specify. You may think such an obvious rule would go without saying, but many people fail to follow this, either because they don\u2019t understand the difference between the two documents, or they mistakenly assume they\u2019re interchangeable. Starting by simply sending in the correct document is a crucial first step. <\/p>\n

Beyond this rule of thumb, there are a few other guiding principles, some of which we\u2019ve hinted at already: <\/p>\n