by Marilyn De Angelis Pennell

Created on: February 28, 2009

When should you use a CV and when do you need a resume? The two are both very useful tools in a job search but they are not interchangeable.

What is a CV?

Also known as a "curriculum vitae" or "vita", this is a document that lists a job seeker's background and achievements and is most often used for faculty job searches in higher education as well as higher level research positions. Unlike its "cousin" the resume, the CV is usually longer than one or two pages. Its purpose is to introduce the job seeker to the institution, in terms of education, teaching experience, publications and research interests.

The CV usually begins with a summary of education, followed by publications, awards and research interests. These areas would be followed by selected teaching experience, fellowships and professional development. The CV is usually accompanied by a brief cover letter and sometimes a statement of Teaching Philosophy.

These materials are all considered very carefully in higher education and should be well crafted, conservative documents that convey an images of professionalism and intellectual curiosity. A CV is less of a sales document than the typical resume and more of a reflection of one's academic profile and potential to successfully serve a college or university.

What is a resume?

A resume is a job search tool that has many different forms, depending upon who the job seeker is and what he or she is seeking. A resume is usually much shorter than a CV-perhaps one to three pages, depending upon the background and experiences of the job seeker. Resumes are generally a "marketing tool" in that they sell the job seeker to the employer.

Many people think that a resume must reflect each and every position the job seeker has ever held. This is incorrect. The job seeker should create the resume to reflect those positions and work experiences that are most relevant for the position sought. The best way to achieve those goals is to write the resume as a "functional" versus a "chronological resume.

This means that one should structure the document in terms of most recent relevant positions and not as a history of all positions ever held. Those relevant positions that the job seeker held more than 10 years prior should be listed in a separate category called "Related Experience."

Both CVs and resumes can be tailored to specific positions. Job seekers can also tailor the presentation by using a Cover Letter that highlights the key aspects of the CV or resume.

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