The full form of the term “CV” is “Curriculum Vitae”, which means “course of life” in Latin. And that’s essentially what a CV is: a documentation of the trajectory of a person’s life so far, only with a specific focus on academics and career. Like a resume, a CV is used to gauge candidates applying for professional or academic positions.
The exact definition and purpose of a CV depends on your location, though. A CV in the U.S. is not exactly the same as a CV elsewhere in the world. So, when discussing the meaning of the term, we have to break things down geographically.
What is a CV in the U.S.?
In the U.S., a CV is a professional document that provides an in-depth and comprehensive overview of an applicant’s educational and professional background. It includes not just work history and schooling, but also publications, research experience, conference presentations, grants and fellowships, professional memberships, and more – essentially every achievement and credential a person has earned.
In the U.S., you should generally submit a CV if you’re applying for:
- Academic or research positions.
- Research grants, fellowships, or academic scholarships.
- Admission to a graduate program (especially a doctoral degree).
- Some types of federal jobs (especially those that involve research).
- A specialized role in the medical field.
- Certain opportunities in the entertainment industry.
The U.S. CV is not usually tweaked and tailored for each specific application. It is exhaustive, covering all the details of a person’s career, not only the relevant ones. For this reason, it can be ten or more pages in length.
What’s a CV outside the U.S.?
In places like the United Kingdom, Europe, South Africa, and New Zealand, a CV is more or less the same thing as a resume: a one- to two-page document that summarizes a person’s relevant qualifications for a job application. In some countries, the terms CV and resume are used interchangeably, and in others, only the term CV is used, but to refer to a resume-like document.
Similarly to a resume, this CV is concise and customized for each vacancy, with a focus on relevant work experience, skills, and professional accomplishments. It’s used to apply for regular non-academic roles across most industries. When you hear about a job application CV or a CV for a job, it’s probably this CV definition that’s at play.