A CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a Resumé are documents used in job applications, but they have distinct purposes, formats, and lengths. The primary differences between them lie in their uses and how specific or detailed you’d need to be with your application.

Here are the details and distinctions: 

Curriculum Vitae (CV):

The Purpose

A CV is a comprehensive document that presents an individual’s complete academic and professional history. It is commonly used in academic, research, and scientific fields when applying for positions like faculty positions, research roles, fellowships, or grants. 

It aims to showcase the applicant’s in-depth knowledge, expertise, and accomplishments.

Length

CVs tend to be longer than resumés, often spanning multiple pages. They can be anywhere from two to even ten pages, depending on an individual’s qualifications and experience.

Content

A CV includes detailed information about the individual’s educational background, research experiences, publications, presentations, conferences attended, academic awards, and affiliations. It may also list teaching experience, grants received, language proficiency, and any other relevant academic or professional achievements.

Structure

The structure of a CV is usually more fixed and follows a chronological order, highlighting the applicant’s academic achievements and career progression. It is less focused on tailoring the content for specific job applications.

Resumé:

Purpose: 

A resumé is a concise document that presents an individual’s relevant skills, work experience, and accomplishments. It is used for job applications in the corporate world, industries, and most non-academic fields. Resumés aim to demonstrate the applicant’s suitability for a specific job position.

Length

Resumés are typically shorter than CVs and are usually limited to one or two pages. The focus is on providing a brief, targeted overview of the applicant’s qualifications.

Content

A resumé includes a summary of the candidate’s work experience, focusing on relevant job roles, achievements, skills, and qualifications. It may also mention educational details but is not as comprehensive as a CV in this regard.

Structure

Resumés can be more flexible in structure, and applicants often tailor them for each job application to emphasise the most relevant experience and skills.

In summary, a CV is a detailed and comprehensive document suitable for academic and research-oriented positions, while a resumé is a concise and tailored document designed for corporate and industry job applications. 

The choice between the two depends on the specific requirements and conventions of the region or industry in which the applicant is seeking employment.

In conclusion, choose your approach and the way you structure your CV or resumé depending on the job you’re applying for. The rule of thumb is to always be concise, relevant, and detailed where it’s the most important.