Resumes and CVs

Both a resume and CV (curriculum vitae) are documents that outline your education, experience and skills. However, they differ in their purpose and layout.

• When applying to a job in the U.S., a resume is almost always the preferred document.

• In many other countries, a resume is known as a CV. However, the term CV refers to a different document in the U.S.

• In the U.S., CVs are most commonly used in academic environments, such as when applying to graduate school, jobs in academia or research positions.

• CVs are more detailed than resumes and may be many pages long, while resumes are concise, usually only 1-2 pages in length.

• CVs include more details on academic accomplishments including research, publications and teaching, while resumes focus on work experiences, education and skills.

*Note- for details about what to include in a resume, see our Vandal Resume Guide (PDF).

Possible categories to include in your CV:

• Education and training
• Research experiences
• Teaching experiences
• Work experiences and internships
• Projects, works, exhibitions and performances
• Certificates, licenses and credentials
• Publications (authored or contributed to)
• Conferences and workshops (attended or presented)
• Fellowships, grants or other funding
• Advising/mentoring
• Skills such as languages, technical, computer
• Service, volunteerism and leadership
• Areas of knowledge, expertise or research interest
• Awards and accomplishments
• Affiliations or memberships

CV Example (PDF)