Many job seekers have misconceptions about the differences between a resume and a curriculum vitae (CV). In most countries, the terms have become interchangeable, referring to a one to two-page document that encapsulates your work history, skills, education, and qualifications. Within the U.S., however, resumes and CVs have distinctive qualities that set them apart. In this guide, we’ll explore the nuances of each document and how you can use them to accelerate your job search.
What is a Curriculum Vitae (CV)?
In the United States, CVs are used primarily by individuals such as physicians, legal professionals, scientists, and other academics to pursue research opportunities, fellowships, and roles within higher education. A CV is far longer than a traditional resume, with no limitations on the number of pages. It provides a complete picture of your academic achievements. Due to the unwieldy length of the average CV, it’s not a practical choice for job seekers looking for work outside of academia.
What should I include in a CV?
- Profile: While not mandatory, a CV can open with a strong summary at the top of the document. On a resume, this section is only three or four lines, but on a CV, you have the freedom to craft a more detailed and comprehensive profile. You also want to use this section to address the organization’s needs.
- Education: If you are applying to an academic position, such as a fellowship or teaching position, this section takes the spotlight on your CV at the top. In addition to featuring degrees, you can highlight dissertations, awards, faculty advisors, and other notable aspects of your academic career.
- Publications: Feature a numbered list of publications you’ve authored previously. Be sure to provide proper citations for each of them following AP or MLA style guidelines.
- Research Projects: Provide engaging insights into your most impressive research projects, studies, and initiatives. Some people use business case format for projects.
- Conferences and Presentations: Highlight academic and industry conferences you’ve attended, especially if you were a guest speaker or delivered a presentation.
- Associations: Mention your involvement with prominent associations within your field, especially if you have a formal title or leadership role.
- Professional Experience: Provide detailed descriptions of your work history, including impact and results within and outside academia. For example, if you’re aiming for a research leadership position, you might include a consulting engagement with a biotechnology company and your teaching experience as a college professor.
- Industry Skills: Include a comprehensive list of industry-specific skills, technical competencies, and interpersonal skills.
- Certifications and Licenses: List any relevant industry certifications or licenses you’ve been awarded throughout your career.
When should I use a CV?
CVs are best suited for individuals seeking research positions and post-doctoral fellowships within the medical, legal, and scientific fields. They can also be utilized by professionals seeking faculty appointments and leadership roles at institutions of higher learning. A CV should generally not be used for job applications outside of academia.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) Examples
Scientist CV Example
Dr. Elena Marquez, PhD
[email protected] | City, ST | ORCID: 0000-0002-3948-5678 | LinkedIn | Personal Website
Profile
Molecular biologist with a focus on RNA-mediated gene regulation and therapeutic target discovery. Over eight years of research experience across academic and translational settings, with expertise in CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, long non-coding RNAs, and post-transcriptional gene silencing. Published in top-tier journals and presented at international conferences, with a strong record of interdisciplinary collaboration. Advanced degree in Molecular Biochemistry with postdoctoral fellowship in RNA Biology and Epigenetics ensures greater outcomes.
Education
PhD in Molecular Biology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC | August 2015 – May 2020
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX | August 2011 – May 2015
Research Experience
Postdoctoral Fellow – RNA Biology & Epigenetics
Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA | July 2020 – present
- Investigate long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) regulation of gene expression in breast cancer cell lines
- Lead CRISPR interference experiments and RNA-seq data analysis in collaboration with the Cancer Epigenetics Program
- Mentor two graduate students and one undergraduate research assistant
Graduate Research Assistant – RNA Silencing Pathways
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Molecular Biology | August 2015 – May 2020
- Characterized RNA-binding proteins involved in miRNA biogenesis using RIP-seq and CLIP-seq
- Developed novel reporter constructs to quantify target silencing efficiency in mammalian systems
- Presented findings at three national conferences and contributed to two peer-reviewed publications
Publications
Marquez E, Shen Y, Larkin JM, Wu K. (2023) “Long non-coding RNA FZR-AS1 regulates enhancer looping in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.” Cell Reports, 45(12), 117889.
Marquez E, Dey M, Tanaka M. (2020) “Interplay between microRNA processing and RNA-binding protein sequestration.” Nucleic Acids Research, 48(5), 2315–2330.
Tanaka M, Marquez E (co-first authors), Patel A. (2019) “Real-time imaging of RNA silencing activity using live-cell sensors.” Molecular Cell Biology, 39(9), e00412-18.
Presentations & Conferences
2023 – Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, RNA Biology Conference
Poster: “lncRNA-mediated enhancer activation in ER+ breast cancer cells”
2022 – RNA Society Annual Meeting, Boulder, CO
Oral Presentation: “Functional dissection of RNA silencing complexes in human cells”
2019 – Keystone Symposium: RNA Interference Mechanisms
Poster: “Imaging endogenous RNA silencing using real-time fluorescent reporters”
Grants & Fellowships
NIH F32 Postdoctoral Fellowship
National Institute of General Medical Sciences | 2021 – 2024
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
National Science Foundation | 2016 – 2019
Teaching & Mentoring
Guest Lecturer
Stanford University Graduate Seminar in Molecular Genetics | Spring 2022
Lecture Topic: “RNA-based Therapeutics and Delivery Challenges”
Graduate Teaching Assistant
UNC Chapel Hill, Molecular Biology Laboratory | Fall 2017, Spring 2018
- Led weekly discussion sections and assessed lab reports
Professional Affiliations
- RNA Society (Member, 2017–present)
- American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
- Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) – Stanford Chapter
Technical Skills
- CRISPR/Cas9 editing and CRISPRi screening
- RNA-seq, CLIP-seq, RIP-seq analysis
- qPCR, western blot, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)
- R (DESeq2, edgeR), GraphPad Prism, ImageJ, FlowJo
Languages
- English (native)
- Spanish (fluent)
Physician CV Example
Dr. Marcus J. Ellison, MD
[email protected] | City, ST | NPI: 1468890102 | LinkedIn | Personal Website
Education
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA | August 2010 – May 2014
Bachelor of Science in Biology (Honors)
Emory University, Atlanta, GA | August 2006 – May 2010
Postgraduate Training
Internal Medicine Residency
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY | June 2014 – June 2017
Infectious Diseases Fellowship
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD | July 2017 – June 2020
Board Certification & Licensure
- American Board of Internal Medicine – Certified in Internal Medicine | 2017
- American Board of Internal Medicine – Certified in Infectious Diseases | 2020
- Maryland State Medical License | Active | License #D87654321
- DEA Registration | Active
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD | July 2020 – present
Hospital Appointments
Attending Physician, Division of Infectious Diseases
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD | July 2020 – present
Consulting Physician (Per Diem)
Baltimore VA Medical Center, Baltimore, MD | October 2021 – present
Clinical Interests
- Hospital-acquired infections and antimicrobial stewardship
- HIV management and PrEP
- COVID-19 and emerging infectious diseases
Research Experience
Clinical Research Fellow – HIV Treatment Outcomes
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health | 2018 – 2020
- Co-led a longitudinal study on ART adherence and virologic suppression in urban patient populations
- Collaborated with epidemiologists and biostatisticians to develop predictive models for treatment discontinuation
- Presented results at national conferences and contributed to two peer-reviewed manuscripts
Publications
Ellison MJ, Granger K, Al-Khatib N. (2023) “Long-term retention in care among patients receiving PrEP in urban clinics: a five-year analysis.” Journal of the International AIDS Society, 26(1), e26004.
Granger K, Ellison MJ, Patel T. (2021) “Impact of antimicrobial stewardship rounds on resistance trends in ICU patients.” Clinical Infectious Diseases, 72(10), 1743–1750.
Ellison MJ, Zhang A, Roman C. (2019) “Predicting ART nonadherence using EHR data: a machine learning approach.” Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 6(7), ofz257.
Conference Presentations
IDWeek 2023 – Washington, DC
Poster: “Retention in Care and Viral Suppression in PrEP Programs Across Demographics”
Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2022 – Virtual
Oral Presentation: “Longitudinal ART Adherence in Urban Health Centers”
IDSA Annual Meeting 2019 – Philadelphia, PA
Poster: “Machine Learning Predictors of Nonadherence in HIV Care: Model Performance and Clinical Implications”
Teaching Experience
Clinical Preceptor – Internal Medicine Clerkship
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine | 2020 – present
- Supervise third-year medical students on inpatient infectious disease consult service
Lecturer – Introduction to Antimicrobial Stewardship (Fellows Seminar Series)
Johns Hopkins University | 2021 – 2023
- Delivered annual 90-minute didactic session for new ID fellows
Mentor – Scholarly Concentration Program
Johns Hopkins Medical Student Research Program | 2022 – present
- Mentor two students in project design and abstract preparation for national meetings
Awards and Honors
- Outstanding Fellow Teaching Award | Johns Hopkins Hospital | 2019
- Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Society | Inducted 2014
- Excellence in Clinical Research Award | CROI | 2022
Professional Memberships
- Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) | Member since 2016
What is a Resume?
Unlike a CV, a resume is a shorter document that provides a compelling overview of mostly your work. Its primary function is to quickly illustrate how your industry background, skills, and professional experience align with the position you’re applying for. While a CV has no limitations in terms of length, your resume should rarely exceed two pages outside of special circumstances.
What should I include in a resume?
You need to be more tactical when determining what information to prioritize on your resume compared to a CV. With only one or two pages, your content should be hyper-focused on conveying the strongest aspects of your work history that align with the target company’s needs. Depending on the situation, this may come at the expense of an association section or an older academic project. Conversely, an academic achievement might be more critical for a recent graduate than a customer service job they worked during college.
When should I use a resume?
Resumes are used much more widely than CVs. Most companies within the private sector expect a resume that communicates your qualifications and experience in two pages or less. The most notable exception is if you’re pursuing a role within the federal government. This requires a federal resume with a similar structure to a CV, as you’re expected to include nearly all aspects of your prior background.
Resume Examples
Project Manager Resume Example
Carla Jennings
[email protected] | City, ST | Portfolio | LinkedIn
Profile
A results-driven project manager with nine years of experience leading cross-functional teams in software, infrastructure, and health care initiatives. A strong history of delivering multimillion-dollar projects on schedule and under budget through structured planning and proactive risk management. Adept at aligning project execution with business goals while improving data-driven decision-making for stakeholders.
Key Skills
- Agile methodology
- Budget and resource forecasting
- Stakeholder management
- Jira, Asana, Kanban
- Cross-functional leadership
Professional Experience
Senior Project Manager
Optix Solutions Group, Boston, MA | August 2019 to present
- Led delivery of a $14 million cloud platform migration, launching three months ahead of schedule with $650,000 in realized savings
- Partnered with product and engineering leaders to launch a mobile health app that increased monthly patient engagement by 37%
- Introduced cross-functional kickoff and delivery processes that improved early-phase coordination and reduced handoff delays
Project Manager | NexusLogic IT Services, Boston, MA | June 2015 – July 2019
- Managed up to seven concurrent B2B software deployments ranging from $300,000 to $1.2 million, including a cloud-based CRM implementation for a regional logistics firm that cut onboarding time by 35%
- Standardized project planning templates and onboarding steps, reducing ramp-up time by 40% across client engagements
- Served as point of contact for clients during UAT and deployment, maintaining a 96% satisfaction score over four years
Project Coordinator | Infowise Systems, Worcester, MA | June 2014 – May 2015
- Tracked budgets, dependencies, and timelines across two internal IT modernization projects
- Maintained stakeholder communication logs and generated weekly status dashboards
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Information Systems | Northeastern University, Boston, MA | May 2014
Certifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI | 2017
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Scrum Alliance | 2016
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt | 2018
UX Designer Resume Example
Brandon Rhee
[email protected] | City, ST | Portfolio | LinkedIn
Profile
UX designer with seven years of experience delivering intuitive digital experiences in health tech, e-commerce, and SaaS. A strong history of translating user research into functional design systems that improve usability, increase engagement, and reduce cognitive friction. Adept at collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to align design with product goals and user needs.
Key Skills
- User research and testing
- Wireframing and prototyping (Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch)
- Responsive design (mobile + desktop)
- Accessibility and compliance (WCAG 2.1)
- UX writing and journey mapping
Professional Experience
UX Designer | Medisphere Health Systems, Seattle, WA | July 2020 to present
- Redesigned provider interface for a clinical documentation tool, improving navigation clarity and reducing user errors during patient charting
- Conducted in-depth usability testing with over 30 clinical users, translating feedback into iterative wireframes and final prototypes
- Collaborated with engineering and product in two-week sprints, contributing to a 25% improvement in session retention
Product Designer | BrightPath Retail, Seattle, WA | September 2016 – June 2020
- Developed onboarding experience for merchant dashboard, resulting in a 63% decrease in support requests in the first 90 days
- Designed a responsive UI for mobile and desktop platforms using Figma and Sketch
- Led accessibility improvements that brought the platform into WCAG 2.1 AA compliance
UX Intern | Kumo Interactive, Seattle, WA | June 2016 – August 2016
- Created wireframes and prototypes for a wellness tracking app used in beta by over 2,000 users
- Participated in user journey mapping and UI feedback sessions with cross-functional teams
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Human-Computer Interaction | University of Washington, Seattle, WA | May 2016
Certifications
- Nielsen Norman UX Certification | 2021
- Interaction Design Foundation: Usability Testing | 2022
Frequently Asked Questions About Resume VS Curriculum Vitae (CV): What's the Difference?
What is the biggest difference between a resume and a CV?
The biggest differentiators between CVs and resumes boils down to length and focus. A CV is designed for the academic and research communities, enabling the candidate to provide more insights into what they’ve accomplished in their field than in their daily work. A resume is meant for more corporate job opportunities within the private sector.
Should I use artificial intelligence (AI) to write my CV?
Although AI capabilities have rapidly evolved in recent years, using them entirely to create a CV is not advisable. As an academic, your knowledge and expertise are far more reliable than content generated by ChatGPT. If your CV is found to be written by an AI, there’s also a chance your application might be rejected altogether. That said, AI tools can be used to format your previously existing content in a new template and to generate ideas about how to state an experience.
Should I use artificial intelligence (AI) to build my resume?
Using an AI resume builder is a valid option for job seekers outside of academia, but it’s important to use tools like ChatGPT strategically. If you let the AI do all of the writing, you’ll be left with a generic document that fails to capture your unique story as an industry professional.