People use "CV" and "resume" as if they mean the same thing — and in much of the world they do. But there are real differences worth knowing before you apply.
The short answer
- A resume is a short, targeted summary of your skills and experience — usually one page, tailored to a specific job. Common in the US and Canada.
- A CV (curriculum vitae) is a fuller record of your career, education, and accomplishments. In the UK, Europe, and much of the Middle East and Asia, "CV" simply means what Americans call a resume.
When length matters
For most job applications, shorter is better: one to two pages, focused on what's relevant to the role. A long, exhaustive CV is mainly expected in academia, research, and medicine, where publications and grants matter.
What both should always have
- Clear contact details
- A tight professional summary
- Experience with concrete, measurable results
- Education and relevant skills
Just build one and adapt it
The practical move is to keep one profile and generate a tailored version per application — trim it for a corporate resume, expand it for an academic CV. That's exactly what MyCV.gg is designed for: write your story once, export as many versions as you need.