In most of the world, "CV" simply means the document you send with a job application. In the United States, the two words mean different things.
The resume
A resume is a short, focused summary of your experience, usually one page and two at most. It is what you send for almost every job in the private sector, and you tailor it to each role.
The CV (curriculum vitae)
In the US, a CV is a long, complete record of an academic career: publications, research, teaching, grants, conferences. It is used for academic, research and some medical positions, and it can run many pages.
Which one should I send?
- Applying to a company, a store, a hospital (non-research role), a startup: a resume.
- Applying for a faculty, research or fellowship position: a CV.
- Applying abroad: check the country's conventions. In the UK and Australia, a "CV" is close to a US resume.
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