We often hear people use the term Curriculum Vitae (CV), but what is the difference between a CV and a resume? Find out, you may be surprised.

CVs = Resumes

Most of the time when people use the term CV, they generally have arrived to Canada from another country (typically a European or ex-European colony). The term resume and CV in most cases are synonymous. In other words, they are pretty much the same.

When are CVs and Resumes Different

We notice the difference between the two documents when one is applying to academic positions (higher learning, such as post doctoral, or PhD).  The CV would be more encompassing, and longer in page length than the resume.

Terminology is Important

It’s important to ensure that we use consistent terminology, as using the word ‘CV’ to indicate a resume, could indicate that one is not familiar with Canadian culture and could raise some alarms in terms of some assimilation barriers. So in other words, 9 out of 10 times, the word ‘resume’ is the correct term.

CVs are not Cover Letters

In the other case when we hear the word CV, it’s being used to indicate a covering letter. This is an incorrect use for the word and can cause a bit of confusion, especially when communicating with the recruiting contact.

We hope you enjoyed this article regarding CVs and resumes. Please share this article below and set the record straight regarding the two forms of pre-employment documentation. Also you can send us an email, or comment below and we would be happy to assist.