A comprehensive document detailing your entire academic and professional history. Unlike a resume, a CV has no page limit and includes publications, research, and teaching experience.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) Explained
A curriculum vitae (Latin for "course of life") is a detailed document that covers your complete academic and professional history. Unlike a resume, which is typically 1-2 pages, a CV can be many pages long and grows throughout your career.
CVs are standard in academia, research, medicine, and many European countries. They include sections for publications, research experience, teaching experience, grants, conference presentations, and academic service that would not appear on a traditional resume.
In the United States, "resume" and "CV" are sometimes used interchangeably in casual conversation, but they are different documents. Use a CV when applying to academic or research positions, and a resume for industry roles.
Example
An academic CV might include: Education, Dissertation, Research Experience, Teaching Experience, Publications (15 peer-reviewed papers), Conference Presentations (22), Grants Awarded ($1.2M total), Professional Service, References.
How This Relates to Your Resume
Only use a CV when explicitly requested or when applying to academic or research positions. For industry jobs, always use a targeted resume.
Build Your Resume Now
Apply what you've learned with Magic Resume's free AI-powered editor. No sign-up required.
Create Your Resume Free