How to Write a CV (and How It Differs From a Resume)

“CV” and “resume” get used as if they mean the same thing, and depending on where you are in the world, they sometimes do. The confusion is worth clearing up before you write one, because the wrong assumption can leave you sending a ten-page academic document for a job that wanted a single page. Here is what a CV actually is, how it differs from a resume, and how to write one section by section.

CV vs resume: the real difference

The honest answer is that it depends on the country you are applying in.

• In the United States, a CV (curriculum vitae) is a long, detailed document used mostly in academia, research, and medicine. It lists your full history: publications, research, teaching, grants, and presentations. A resume is the short, one or two page pitch used for almost every other job.
• In the UK, Ireland, and much of Europe,“CV” is simply the word for what Americans call a resume: a concise, one or two page summary tailored to the job.

So before you write anything, answer one question: which meaning does this application use? The job posting and the location usually make it obvious.

Which one do you actually need?

• Applying to most jobs in the US: you need a resume, even if the posting says “CV.”
• Applying for an academic, research, scientific, or medical post in the US: you need a full academic CV.
• Applying in the UK, Europe, or much of the Commonwealth: you need a CV, which is a concise resume by another name.

If you landed here wanting the short, tailored document for a normal job, our step-by-step resume guide is the one to follow. The rest of this article covers the longer, detailed CV.

What goes in a CV

A full CV is comprehensive, but it still has a clear order. These are the sections to include, roughly top to bottom:

Contact details

Your name, phone, professional email, city, and any relevant professional links such as a research profile or portfolio.

Personal profile or summary

Two to four sentences on who you are, your field, and your focus. On a European-style CV this works like a resume summary; on an academic CV it frames your research interests.

Education

On an academic CV this sits high on the page and is detailed: degrees, institutions, dates, your thesis or dissertation title, and advisors. On a European-style CV it is shorter and can sit below your experience once you have a few years of work behind you.

Work or research experience

Listed newest first, with your title, the organization, dates, and what you did. Lead with results and contributions, not just duties, the same way a strong resume does.

The academic sections (CV only)

This is what makes an academic CV long. Include whichever apply: publications, conference presentations, grants and funding, teaching experience, awards, professional memberships, and references.

Skills

Languages, technical and laboratory skills, software, and methods relevant to the role.

How to write each section well

• Be specific.“Taught two undergraduate seminars of 30 students” says more than “teaching experience.”
• Lead with results in experience entries. Even in research, a contribution that moved something forward beats a list of responsibilities. Our guide on quantifying achievements applies here too.
• Keep formatting consistent. Uniform dates, headings, and citation style read as careful work.
• List publications in a standard citation format and keep it the same all the way through.

CV format and length

Length is the biggest difference from a resume, and it depends on which CV you are writing:

• A European-style CV follows resume rules: one or two pages, tightly edited. See how long a resume should be for where to draw the line.
• An academic CV can run many pages, because it is meant to be complete. Length is expected; padding is still not. Every entry should earn its place.

Whichever you write, keep the layout clean and single-column. If an employer runs it through software, the same ATS-friendly habits that help a resume help a CV: standard headings, no graphics for important content, and a PDF file.

If a resume is what you need

For the large majority of job applications, what you actually need is a short, tailored resume, not a multi-page CV. That is exactly what Speed Resumes builds: you fill in your experience once, paste a job posting, and get a clean, one or two page, ATS-ready resume in seconds. You can browse resume examples by job title to see what good looks like for your field.