Generally, your resume need not be longer than one page, as its main purpose is to make you stand out from the rest in the competition. You must see to it that your resume documents only the necessary and relevant information that is required for the current job that you are applying for. This is something that makes a resume of an alterable nature.
The Difference
- Length – The fundamental difference between a CV and a resume is that of length. Where a CV is a detailed document that can stretch more than two pages, a resume lists your skills and experiences in just one or two pages. This is the basic difference between a CV and a resume that you need to keep in mind while working on any of them. While filling in the details of your resume, you need to keep omitting the older information to help keep the focus on the current ones. This is one of the reasons that make a resume shorter in length when compared to a CV. Another factor that attributes to the short length of a resume is the use of short phrases and bullet-points in its format. On the other hand, a CV tends to be longer due to its listing of information more than just your skills and experiences like; research positions, publishing, presentations, honors, awards, grants, etc.
- Purpose –Other than length, what makes a CV and a resume different is the fundamental purpose for which they are used. In the United States and Canada, a resume is more commonly used for job applications. Whereas, a CV is the preferred document for foreign job applications as well as positions in academia. On the other hand, countries like UK, Ireland, and New Zealand, only prefer CV’s for all kinds of job applications. You can even download the format used for a CV in European countries via European Union CV format, available on the internet.
- Layout –As far as layout is concerned, a CV is more static in comparison to a resume. You need not alter a CV to apply for different job positions, as it is more of a document that states your entire career history. Moreover, whatever changes you need to make in a CV, can be made in the cover letter for the job. On the other hand, a resume is a highly customizable document that can be tailored as per the position for which you are applying for. You must also know that a CV generally follows a chronological listing of your entire information, whereas, in a resume you can shuffle around the details to suit the purpose. Therefore, while working on your resume, you need not follow a particular format rule at all.
Given all these differences between a CV and a resume, it is always a good idea to keep both the formats ready to be used anytime in your future. Keeping ready with both the formats will also give you a flexible stance to make an optimum and timely use of any favorable job opportunity that calls for any of these two formats.
