CV vs resume: what is the difference?
In everyday hiring, "CV" and "resume" usually mean the same thing: a short document that summarises your experience, education and skills for a specific job. The difference is mostly geographic – and in the United States, there is a second, much longer document also called a CV. Here is how to tell which one an employer expects and how to adapt yours.
The short answer
In the UK, Ireland, most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa, the standard job application document is called a CV (curriculum vitae). In the United States and Canada, the same kind of document is called a resume (sometimes spelled résumé).
For a typical job application the content is almost identical: a summary, work experience with achievements, education, skills and languages. What changes between markets is length, personal details and whether a photo is expected.
The US academic CV is a different document
In the US and Canada, "CV" usually means an academic curriculum vitae: a complete record of an academic career used for faculty, research, postdoc and some medical positions. It has no page limit and lists publications, conference presentations, grants, teaching, supervision and service. It can easily run to five or ten pages.
So if a US university or research institute asks for a CV, they mean the long academic version. If a US company asks for a CV, they almost always mean a resume – check the ad or ask.
Length
- US/Canada resume: one page for most candidates, two for senior roles with a long relevant history.
- UK/Ireland CV: up to two pages; one page is fine and common for early careers.
- Continental Europe: one to two pages; in Germany the Lebenslauf is often two pages and strictly reverse-chronological.
- Academic CV: as long as the record requires.
Photo and personal details by market
This is where the two traditions differ most, and where a wrong choice can look out of place.
- US, Canada, UK, Ireland: no photo, no date of birth, no marital status, no nationality. Employers avoid this information to prevent discrimination claims.
- Germany and Austria: a photo is common but optional; employers may not require it under the German equal treatment act (AGG).
- Poland: a photo is common but optional; a data-processing consent clause at the bottom is still widely expected.
- France, Spain, Belgium: a photo is frequent but not required.
- Everywhere: name, phone, email and city are enough. A full home address is no longer necessary.
Which word should you use when applying?
Use the word the job ad uses. If a UK company asks for a CV, send a "CV"; if a US company asks for a resume, call it a resume – including in the file name, e.g. "Anna-Kowalska-Resume.pdf". If you apply internationally from Europe to a US employer, convert the document too: drop the photo and personal details and tighten it to one or two pages.
Recruiters will not reject you for using the "wrong" word, but matching their language is a small signal that you understand their market.
What stays the same everywhere
Whatever you call it, the document is judged on the same things: is it easy to scan, does it show results instead of duties, and does it match the job ad? Use standard section headings, real selectable text in a PDF, and the keywords of the posting wherever they are true. Applicant tracking systems in every market parse the same way.
How RezuYes handles CV vs resume
You choose the language of the document from 13 CV languages, and the result follows that language's conventions – section headings in that language and a GDPR consent clause in the same language at the bottom. A photo is optional: add one if it is common where you apply, leave it out for the US or UK and the design simply has none.
AI writes the document only from your own facts – an old CV (PDF, Word or TXT), your LinkedIn profile or a short form – and tailors it to the job ad you paste. The preview is free with one free correction; the PDF download is a one-off payment, no subscription.
FAQ
Is a CV the same as a resume?
For most job applications, yes – the content is the same. "CV" is used in the UK, Ireland, Europe and Australia; "resume" in the US and Canada. In US academia, a CV is a longer, complete record of an academic career.
Should I send a CV or a resume to a US company?
A resume: usually one page, no photo, no date of birth. Send an academic CV only for academic, research or some medical positions.
Can a CV be longer than a resume?
A UK or European CV can be up to two pages, while US resumes are usually one. An academic CV has no page limit.
Do I need a photo on my CV?
It depends on the country. Leave it out for the US, Canada, UK and Ireland. In Germany, Poland, France or Spain it is common but optional.