Resume vs curriculum vitae – what are the differences and why do we have two pretty similar keywords?

In this article, we would like to actually focus on the meaning and differences of keywords resume and curriculum vitae also with an assistance of Wikipedia. And yes, even though most for most of us, these two keywords represent same thing, if we look more closely, we can spot some differences.

Resume and Wikipedia

How is Wiki describing keyword resume?

Lets start with translation of this keyword.

Resume is a French word and means summary.

Did you also think, that it was an English word? 🙂

And what does it actually mean?

A résumé also spelled ‘resumé’ or ‘resume’, is a document used by persons to present their backgrounds and skills. Résumés can be used for a variety of reasons, but most often they are used to secure new employment. A typical résumé contains a summary of relevant job experience and education. The résumé is usually one of the first items, along with a cover letter and sometimes an application for employment, which a potential employer sees regarding the job seeker and is typically used to screen applicants, often followed by an interview.

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The complexity or simplicity of various résumé formats tends to produce results varying from person to person, for the occupation, and to the industry. It is important to note that résumés or CVs used by medical professionals, professors, artists and people in other specialized fields may be comparatively longer. For example, an artist’s résumé, typically excluding any non-art-related employment, may include extensive lists of solo and group exhibitions. Interestingly, when employers review a résumé they typically only spend ten to fifteen seconds, therefore the top half of a résumé is the prime real estate for important information.

And because of this description, you can also have more types of resumes. You can start with online resume and e.g. check LinkedIn structure, you can use infographic templates or your résumé can be written in functional or chronological way.

Curriculum vitae and Wikipedia

And how is Wiki describing keyword curriculum vitae?

Let us start with the latin translation.

Curriculum vitae can be loosely translated as [the] course of [my] life.

The plural of curriculum vitae, in Latin, is formed following Latin rules of grammar as curricula vitae (meaning “courses of life”) — not curriculum vita (which is grammatically incorrect), nor curricula vitarum.

That was interesting, but what does the term curriculum vitae stands for or represents?

Curriculum vitae (CV) provides an overview of a person’s experience and other qualifications. In some countries, a CV is typically the first item that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is typically used to screen applicants, often followed by an interview, employment.

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In the United Kingdom, most Commonwealth countries, and Ireland, a CV is short, and therefore contains only a summary of the job seeker’s employment history, qualifications, education, and some personal information. Some parts of Asia require applicants’ photos, date of birth, and most recent salary information. CVs are often tailored to change the emphasis of the information according to the particular position for which the job seeker is applying.

In the United States a CV is used in academic circles and medical careers as a “replacement” for a résumé and is far more comprehensive; the term résumé is used for most recruitment campaigns. A CV elaborates on education, publications, and other achievements to a greater degree than a résumé, but it is often expected that professionals use a short CV that highlights the current focus of their academic lives and not necessarily their full history.

Resume vs curriculum vitae conclusion

Okay. So we have some differences in “battle” between resume vs curriculum vitae. To make it short, let’s put some conclusion into couple of sentences.

1. First difference is that one keyword is in French, second one in Latin but they both has your summary or course of your life through your educational and professional career.
2. Resume vs curriculum vitae -> this also means focus on different topics
3. Resume vs curriculum vitae -> resume is usually shorter and describes you from a high perspective

To ease it up even more, we can use a picture describing differences between resume vs curriculum vitae

And at the end, we would like to mention – resume vs curriculum vitae – it doesn’t matter, because on our page, you can find both 🙂

P.S.: Please be careful with the references underneath the Wikipedia pages of these terms. Their tips and hints are quite obsolete.

So guys, what do you thing about this resume vs curriculum vitae article? Which term or way you prefer more to describe yourself to your future employer? Please let us know on our Facebook or Twitter channel.

Thank you very much for reading and have a nice day.