When I first started applying to international roles, I got confused. Some job descriptions asked for a CV, others for a Resume. At first, I thought both were the same thing. But after a few rejections, I sat down and did my homework.
In this guide, I'll share what I learned:
- The real difference between a Resume and a CV
- When to use which
- What to include
- And 5 tools that help you build your CV fast and free
Let's go.
What is a Resume?
A Resume is a short summary of your work experience, education, and skills. Most recruiters prefer it to be one page, especially if you're early in your career. If you've worked for more than 10 years, it can go up to 2 pages.
A good Resume is not your life story. It's a highlight reel.
You include only what's relevant to the job you're applying for.
Here's what a typical Resume has:
- Name and contact info
- Summary or objective
- Work experience (with bullet points)
- Education
- Skills
- Certifications (if relevant)
Example: Let's say you're applying for a frontend developer role. Your Resume should talk about React, JavaScript, any web projects you've built, and maybe a certification from freeCodeCamp. No need to write about your part-time gig at a bakery.
What is a CV (Curriculum Vitae)?
CV stands for Curriculum Vitae, which is Latin for "course of life".
In India, the UK, and most parts of Europe and Asia, CV just means Resume. But in the US and Canada, a CV is something else. It's mainly used for academic, research, and teaching roles.
A CV is long. It can go to 3 pages, 5 pages, even 10 pages.
It includes:
- Education history
- Teaching experience
- Publications
- Research work
- Presentations
- Awards and grants
- All your work experience
Example: If you're applying for a research position in a university, they want to see your full academic background. That's where a CV makes sense.
Resume vs CV – Key Differences
| Feature | Resume | CV |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 1–2 pages | No limit |
| Purpose | Job in industry (tech, business) | Academic or research role |
| Content | Relevant work experience | Full career, all achievements |
| Location (Usage) | US, India, SEA for jobs | Used globally, mostly in academia |
My Tip: If the job description says "attach your CV" but it's not an academic role, just send your Resume. They usually mean the same thing.
When to Use a Resume or CV
Here's what I follow:
- 🧑💻 Software jobs – Resume (always)
- 📚 PhD, university job – CV
- 🌍 Applying outside India – check local style
- 🧾 Government or fellowship – CV
- 🏢 Startups, product companies – Resume
Still confused? Ask yourself:
Is the role academic or research-focused? If yes → Use a CV If no → Use a Resume
What to Include in Each
Resume Template (Basic)
Name
Email | Phone | LinkedIn
Summary
Short paragraph with your key skills and goals
Work Experience
Company Name – Role
Jan 2021 – Present
• Built a dashboard using React and Redux
• Improved API performance by 40%
Education
B.Tech, Computer Science
XYZ University – 2019
Skills
React, Node.js, Git, REST APIs
CV Template (Basic)
Name
Email | Phone | LinkedIn | ORCID
Research Interests
Artificial Intelligence, NLP, Prompt Engineering
Education
M.S. in AI – IIT Bombay – 2021
Thesis: Training LLMs with Few-shot Prompts
Publications
• Sharma, S. (2023). Prompt Engineering for Business Chatbots.
Teaching Experience
• TA for Machine Learning, IIT Bombay
Awards
• Best Research Paper – AIConf 2023
Work Experience
Company Name – Role
...
Tools to Make a Great CV Online
Let's be honest. Not everyone wants to design a CV from scratch.
Here are 5 tools that help you build a professional Resume or CV in minutes.
1. Canva
When I need something quick and good-looking, I go to Canva.
- Free and easy to use
- Drag and drop sections
- Many templates to choose from
- You can export to PDF or share online
Best for: Freshers, designers, marketers Link: https://www.canva.com/resumes
2. Zety
Zety helps you write content, not just design.
- It suggests bullet points
- Resume score checker
- ATS-friendly formats
- You can preview before downloading
Best for: Job seekers who are not sure what to write Link: https://zety.com/resume-builder
3. Resume.io
Resume.io has over 25 templates, and supports multiple languages.
- Great for international job seekers
- Clean, modern layouts
- Free to try (you pay to download some templates)
Best for: Jobs in Europe, UK, Canada Link: https://resume.io
4. Novoresume
This tool focuses on content and design together.
- It guides you through each section
- Has a built-in spell checker
- Comes with cover letter templates too
Best for: Anyone switching careers Link: https://novoresume.com
5. Speeduphire (yes, your own tool!)
If you're tailoring your Resume for a specific job description, Speeduphire helps you:
- Check your Resume's ATS score
- Optimize it for job keywords
- Tailor it for each JD
- Improve your chances of landing an interview
Best for: Anyone serious about landing interviews Link: https://speeduphire.com
Real Experience
When I was applying for a remote role at a U.S.-based startup, I sent a 2-page CV.
No response.
I rewrote a 1-page Resume. Included only what matched the job description. Next week, I got the interview call.
Lesson? Keep it relevant. Don't dump everything you've ever done.
Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Sending a 5-page CV for a tech job
- ❌ Using fancy fonts that don't work on ATS
- ❌ Writing job duties instead of achievements
- ❌ Adding your photo (unless asked)
- ❌ Mixing up Resume and CV formats
Final Tips
- ✅ Keep a master CV. Add everything to it.
- ✅ Then build short Resumes for each job.
- ✅ Use bullet points, not long paragraphs.
- ✅ Focus on outcomes, not responsibilities.
- ✅ Use tools like Speeduphire to check ATS score.
- ✅ Save your file as PDF, unless asked otherwise.
- ✅ Keep filenames clean:
suraj_resume.pdf
Conclusion
CV and Resume are not the same. Use a Resume for jobs. Use a CV for academic roles.
Build your Resume smartly. Use tools to help. Don't overthink design, focus on relevance and clarity.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you want a quick review of your Resume. Happy to help