CV vs resume: what is the difference?

The short answer

A resume is a short, targeted summary of your skills and experience for one specific job. A CV (curriculum vitae) is a fuller record of your education and professional life, including research, publications and awards.

In Ghana, and in much of Europe, Asia and Australia, employers use the word CV for the short one to two page document you send with a job application. If someone asks for your CV or your resume here, they almost always want the same thing.

Where the two really differ

The difference matters most for applications abroad and for academic work.

• Length: a resume is usually one to two pages. An academic CV has no strict limit and can run to several pages.
• Content: a resume highlights what is relevant to one role. A CV records everything: education, research, publications, presentations, awards and projects.
• Customising: a resume is changed for each application. An academic CV changes only when you have something new to add.
• Use: a resume is for jobs and internships. A CV is for academic, research and teaching roles, grants and fellowships.

Which one do you need?

For an internship, national service or a normal job in Ghana, write a one to two page CV that is tailored to the role. Lead with your strongest section and cut anything that does not help.

For postgraduate study, lecturing, research roles or fellowships, an academic CV is what reviewers expect. It lists your research, publications and conference talks, and it can be longer.

Applying abroad

Read the job advert carefully. In the United States, resume means the short document and CV usually means the academic one. In the United Kingdom and many other countries, CV is the short document. When the advert is unclear, send the short, tailored version for a job, and the academic version for research.