Imagine that, you’ve found this dream job application while searching for career opportunities. You feel you’d be a perfect fit and you send your CV and breathlessly wait for the call-back. But it never happens. I believe, this is relatable to many of us, and keep wondering what might go wrong?  Well, there may be some possible answers below:

Your CV has never been checked by the employers because that did not draw attention. This nightmare scenario isn’t going to unfold ever again since you’re about to learn a surefire way to transform your ordinary CV into a fabulous one.

In this write-up, the difference between the CV and resume will be discussed.

CV vs Resume:

In its full form, CV stands for curriculum vitae (Latin for a course of life). In the US, Canada, and Australia, a CV is a document used for academic purposes. The US academic CV outlines every detail of any scholarly career. In other countries, a CV is an equivalent of an American resume. It is used when you apply for jobs.

Since this document is named differently across different countries, a lot of people keep asking: What is the difference between a CV and a resume?

In the hiring industry, nowadays there’s almost no formal difference between a CV and a resume. It’s the same thing that the British call a CV and Americans a resume. Just like they do with chips and French fries or football and soccer.

So, if you’re applying to a European company, you should create a CV. But if you’re applying to a US-based employer, you should make a resume. Keep in mind that a CV is not a cover letter. A curriculum vitae is a detailed list of specifications, while a cover letter is a full-blown marketing campaign.

Written By

Dr. Kamrun N. Koly, Founder, Bangladesh Society of Women in Public Health
Dr. Nafis Rahman Purna, Associate, Bangladesh Society of Women in Public Health.