Résumé and Structured CV – What is the Difference?

In everyday use, "résumé" and "structured CV" describe nearly the same document — a concise, sectioned summary of your work history used to apply for a job. The differences that do exist are more about regional convention and emphasis than a hard rule.

Where the terms diverge

• "Résumé" is the standard US and Canadian term, and it implies a fairly compressed document — typically one page, focused tightly on relevant experience for the specific role.
• "Structured CV" is more common in Europe and emphasizes the format itself: clearly labeled sections in a fixed order (contact, summary, experience, education, skills), which can run to two pages without penalty.

Does it matter which term you use?

For the reader, not much — both describe a formatted, sectioned document rather than a narrative one. What matters more is matching the expected length and content for your target market: North American employers generally expect a tighter one-pager; European employers are more tolerant of a two-page structured document, especially with 8+ years of experience.

Practical takeaway

Use "resume" if you're applying to US/Canadian companies, and "CV" (structured or otherwise) everywhere else — see our full CV vs. resume breakdown for the academic-CV exception. The actual document you build barely changes; only the length and the label do.

Build either version

Our generator lets you choose a one-page or two-page layout, so you can produce the version that matches your target market's expectations. See the standard section order on our structured CV page.

Build your CV or résumé