CV vs Resume: What Is the Difference?
The two words are used differently in different countries, which causes a lot of confusion. The short answer: in many places they mean the same thing, a document that summarises your work history, education and skills.
In the United States and Canada
A "resume" is the normal job application document. It is usually one or two pages and is adapted to each job. A "CV" in these countries usually means a longer academic document that lists research, publications, teaching and conferences, used for university and research positions.
In the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and much of Europe and Asia
"CV" is the normal word for the job application document. It is typically about two pages. The word "resume" is understood but less common.
Other formats and names
Some countries have their own conventions. In German-speaking countries the document is called a "Lebenslauf", in Russian-speaking countries a "резюме", and in many EU countries employers also accept the Europass format. Local habits about photos, age and marital status differ, so read the job advert and look at examples from your country.
Which should you send?
Use the word the employer uses and follow any instructions in the advert. If it says "CV", send a CV. If it says "resume", send a resume. For academic jobs, send the longer academic version. When in doubt, a clear one- or two-page document with your experience, education and skills is the safe choice.
FreeCVMaker lets you choose the language of your document separately from the language of the website, so you can use the site in your own language and download your CV in the language the employer expects.