What is a CV?

Job searching and submitting online applications can feel like a never-ending performance featuring your professional skills and knowledge. If you're starting to identify more as a member of the chorus than the lead character, make sure you’re referencing the proper script.

A career-seeking superstar should understand the difference between a CV and a resume.

So, what is a CV?

Like a resume, a CV is a document outlining your professional experience. In contrast, a CV provides substantial detail where a resume may not and can be more relevant to specific career sectors and geographic location. Think of a CV like a feature-length documentary while a resume is more of a commercial preview.  Certain opportunities you seek may require the CV for a more expansive exploration of your education, professional experience, achievements, interests and skills.

What Does CV Stand For?

To discover what CV stands for, open the binding of your Latin reference guide. The unabbreviated version is “Curriculum Vitae” which translates to “Course of Life.”

If you do not already diligently document your accomplishments, consider drafting a CV for yourself. This can be a living and breathing list of what you have done and currently do as you progress through the years. The list should relate to your passions, interests and every step forward leading you to the future you deserve.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Have you completed a new academic credential?
• Have you had a job or internship relevant to your passions and interests?
• Do you possess specific skills gained throughout your educational and professional experience?
• Did you publicly publish an article, research paper or other professional media?
• Did you serve as a contributor on a research project or industry presentation?
• Have you won an award, formal recognition or a merit scholarship?
• Are you affiliated as a dedicated volunteer with a nonprofit organization?

Keep your list updated and continue to add to it as each achievement materializes. This is your course of life. Your CV is a professional celebration of you. Toot that horn!

If at some point you need to submit your CV for a career-related opportunity, you will not mistakenly forget and forgo any of the impressive details along the way.

How Do You Write a Simple CV?

As you draft or update your list of accomplishments for a CV, imagine yourself receiving a Very Important Professional award. The award presenter lists achievements throughout your life thus far and plans to leave no relevant stone unturned. To deliver a clear message, your gathered CV content should follow an easy-to-understand format.

SNHU Career Advisor Grace Dugan compares a CV vs. a resume and summarizes a CV as a “more comprehensive look at your experience, including awards, training, publications, projects, certifications and anything you can spell out that is relevant to the opportunity.”

Dugan said most of her work related to CV advising is with graduate students or professionals in the nonprofit space, seeking a career in academia or research sectors. Other instances occur when her advisees are considering international employment where use of the CV is more commonplace. Be aware that the term CV could also be interchangeably referenced with the term resume outside of the United States. So, it’s important to clarify with the recruiter or relevant hiring contact about which document is preferred prior to submitting your application.

In her CV template used to support SNHU students and alumni, Dugan suggests the following outline to organize academic and occupational accolades:

What is the Correct CV Format?

While the above-mentioned sections are helpful for writing a simple CV, be sure to do your research. When reviewing opportunities that request a CV, investigate whether the institution or organization provides a template for you to follow in the application overview or careers page on their website.

SNHU Career Advisor Dale Jacobs work with students and alumni in liberal arts programs. For learners interested in academic careers with a college or university, Jacobs recommends locating the employee directory or faculty pages online of the institution of interest to see if any of the academic team members link to their professional CV on a public-facing profile. If they are already working there, chances are high that their CV outlines an acceptable format for you to follow and fill in with your own applicable experience.

You can also review the types of research the academic team has been involved with before and during their tenure. These could serve as inspiration for examples of accolades and research interests you may want to expand upon moving forward in your own career path.

Tip: Check out some of the SNHU faculty leadership team’s academic and research interests and compare them with your own achievements and interests as you consider your professional goals.

For other opportunities in academia or research that may require a CV, stop by LinkedIn as well to seek out professionals who have worked or are working at organizations of interest – you may be able to find their CV uploaded and available for public review.

Test Your CV Knowledge

As you start to be able to answer the question of “What is a CV,” review the knowledge check below to test your newfound CV expertise:

Q: What does CV stand for?

A: Curriculum Vitae, or “Course of Life” in Latin

Q: If I’m applying for an office job abroad, should I have a CV or a resume?

A: CV and resume are sometimes used as interchangeable terms in countries other than the United States. Especially for an international corporate-related position, if you’re asked for a CV, check if it actually refers to the one-to-two-page resume snapshot or in fact requires a full CV document.

Q: Should I include certifications and awards on my CV?

A: Yes! If you were recognized professionally and it is relevant to your experience, you should absolutely include that on a CV. Your CV is a reflection of all that you’ve accomplished in your academic and career experience, so don’t be afraid to brag.

Q: What if I don’t have enough experience to fill in a whole CV?

A: Every CV is unique to the candidate’s specific experience. As you tally your achievements thus far with the outline provided and realize it only populates one page, that is still a great start. Although CVs are typically two-to-three or more pages in length, dig deep and remember what you can to get the document going. Create that simple outline and fill in more as you go along. Soon enough, your CV will be chock-full with your impressive repertoire.

Q: Should I start to use a CV instead of a resume to apply to jobs?

A: Although both documents provide a professional overview of your experience, let the job description and application requirements guide you. Typically, if a job application asks for a resume, then you should submit a resume document. The CV is more geared toward certain career sectors like academia and research and is rarely requested in the United States for most professional roles. Learn how to write an effective resume.

Final Thoughts

A second definition of CV should be Confidence Vault. Keep it close to you and always keep it updated. As you list your ongoing achievements, be proud of everything you can and will bring to this world. Each little step is a rung on the ladder of your future. Shine bright and look forward to the featured presentation of your professional premiere.

Online. On campus. Choose your program from 200+ SNHU degrees that can take you where you want to go.

Dana McGrath is an employer relations partner with Southern New Hampshire University Career Services. She began her SNHU career journey as an admission counselor and was promoted in 2021 to her current role, where she meets and collaborates with external recruiting contacts interested in hiring talent from SNHU online programs. Connect with McGrath on LinkedIn.