CV vs Resume: What's the Difference in the US and UK?

In many countries, CV and resume are used interchangeably for standard hiring. In the US, the distinction is sharper — and getting it wrong can make your application look out of place before anyone reads a word of your experience.

United States

In the US, "resume" is the standard term for a job-application document: 1–2 pages, tailored to the specific role, no photo, no date of birth. "CV" in the US almost always refers to an academic curriculum vitae — a longer document listing publications, research grants, and conference presentations, used for academic, medical, or research positions. If you use "CV" for a standard corporate job application in the US, it can read as a mismatch with what the employer expects to receive.

United Kingdom (and most of Europe)

In the UK, "CV" is simply the standard term — there is no separate "resume" concept in everyday use. A UK CV is functionally the same document as a US resume: 1–2 pages, tailored, results-focused. Some UK CVs still include date of birth or a photo, though this is becoming less common, particularly at larger companies with formal diversity policies.

Which term should you use?

• Applying to a US or Canadian company → call it a "resume" and follow US formatting conventions (no photo, no personal details beyond contact info).
• Applying to a UK, European, or most international company for a standard role → "CV" is correct and expected.
• Applying for an academic, medical research, or grant-funded position anywhere → use the longer academic CV format regardless of country.

The document itself barely changes

For 95% of applicants, the actual content and structure are nearly identical — the difference is mostly the label and a few formatting conventions (photo, personal details, length). Use our generator to build a version suited to your target market, and see CV in English if you're writing in a non-native language.

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