A resume is a brief, one-to-two-page summary tailored to a specific job, while a CV (curriculum vitae) is a longer, comprehensive record of your entire academic and professional history.
In most countries outside academia, "resume" and "CV" are used interchangeably to mean a short job-application document. But in academic, medical, and research contexts, and in much of Europe, the two are distinct.
Last reviewed: September 2026