Resume vs CV: US and UK Differences

The short answer

In the United States, a resume is a short document, usually one page, tailored to a job. A CV (curriculum vitae) is a longer record used mainly for academic, research and medical jobs. In the United Kingdom, CV is the normal word for the document you send for almost any job. A UK CV is what a US employer would call a resume.

Side by side

• Length: US resume, usually 1 page. UK CV, usually 1 to 2 pages. US academic CV, can run many pages.
• Paper size: US Letter (8.5 x 11 in) in the US. A4 in the UK.
• Spelling: use American spelling for US jobs ("organized") and British spelling for UK jobs ("organised").
• Dates: US employers often read Month/Day/Year. In the UK, write dates in words, like "Mar 2022", to avoid confusion.
• Personal details: in both countries, leave out your photo, age, date of birth and marital status.
• References: in both countries, you can leave out references and say "available on request", or leave the line out.

Which should you use?

• Applying for a normal job in the US: send a resume.
• Applying for a normal job in the UK: send a CV of one or two pages.
• Applying for a teaching, research or medical post: check the advert. A longer CV is often expected, in the US as well.
• Applying in another country: check the local custom. Many European employers expect a CV.

Switching between them

If you move from one system to the other, change the paper size, the spelling and the date style, then trim or extend the length. The content itself, your results and skills, stays the same. In Resume Desk you can switch between US Letter and UK A4 with one tap.