Resume vs. CV: The Difference

Resume
A resume is a concise (brief and to the point) document. It provides a quick summary of one's most valuable skills, experiences and qualifications as they relate to a particular career or a specific position one is applying for, typically not longer than one or two pages. A resume have to be altered for each position that one is applying for so as to emphasize those skills and experiences most relevant to the position. A typical resume should include the following information: Name and Contact Information, Education, Work Experience, Skills and References. To keep information concise, resumes often include bulleted lists.

Curriculum Vitae
A Curriculum Vitae (CV, means "course of life" in Latin) is a comprehensive document that can be over three pages and include information on one’s academic background, including teaching experience, research, degrees, publications, awards, honours, presentations, and other achievements. It’s meant to establish your position as an expert in your field. The document is organised in sequence according to time and makes it easy to get an overview of an individual’s full working career. The size of a CV increases as one grows in career. Normally, CVs are longer than resumes. A CV doesn't change for different positions, it is static. A typical CV should include the following information: Name and Contact Information, Areas of Interest, Education, Employment and Experience, Publications and Presentations, Grants, Honors and Awards, Scholarly or Professional Memberships and References.

Both CV and Resume are meant:
• for job application
• to persuade an employer or a supervisor to consider one for a position
• to represent one as the right fit for a job/contract
• to get an interview

Major Differences:
The three major differences between a resume and CV are the length, the purpose and the content.
• Resume aim to summarize key information (very short) and are usually 1 to 2 pages maximum while CV aim to provide comprehensive information (covers one's entire career) and are often long, normally 5, 10, 15 or more pages.
• Resume have no particular format rule, therefore, it's highly customisable while CV is static.
• Resume is used to apply for position in company, industry, public and non-profit sector while CV is used to apply for positions in academia, grants and fellowships.
• The resume is made to fit each position or for specific need whereas the CV will stay put
• Resume is a brief, targeted list of skills and achievements while CV is a full record of one's career history
• Resume is focused on non-academic work (skills, knowledge and accomplishments) while CV is focused on academic work (teaching and research).

I hope this will help you to determine what you need for your next job application. If this is of help to you leave a comment. You can also add more differences so we can all learn.