When you’re applying for jobs in 2025, the question often comes up: should I use a resume or a CV? While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they represent two distinct types of job application documents. Knowing the difference—and understanding which one to use—could be the key to landing the role you want.
Let’s break down the differences between resumes and CVs in 2025 and guide you through which to use depending on your field and job requirements.
What’s the Main Difference Between a Resume and a CV?
Resume
- Length: 1-2 pages max.
- Purpose: Concise summary of skills, experience, and achievements relevant to a specific job.
- Focus: Tailored to the job you’re applying for, with a focus on your most recent experience.
- Content: Highlights accomplishments, skills, and measurable results.
- Flexibility: Designed to be tweaked for each job application.
CV (Curriculum Vitae)
- Length: Unlimited, though often 2+ pages.
- Purpose: Detailed, comprehensive account of your academic and professional background.
- Focus: Focuses on your entire career, education, research, publications, and presentations.
- Content: Includes detailed descriptions of academic work, projects, and professional achievements.
- Flexibility: Generally static; doesn’t change much based on the job.
Resume: When to Use It
Resumes are standard for most job applications in industries like tech, business, marketing, and many other sectors. In 2025, resumes are concise, highly tailored documents that help recruiters quickly gauge whether you’re a good fit for the role.
Best for:
- Corporate Jobs: Finance, marketing, project management, sales.
- Tech Jobs: Software development, IT, data analysis.
- Creative Jobs: Graphic design, content creation, copywriting.
Why You Need a Resume in 2025:
- Quick Scanning by Recruiters: Resumes are typically reviewed in 6-7 seconds, so it’s all about impact.
- Tailored to Each Job: A well-crafted resume focuses only on relevant skills and experiences.
- ATS-Friendly: In today’s hiring processes, resumes are frequently filtered through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). This means they need to be optimized with keywords from the job description.
Example: For a software development role, a resume could highlight specific programming languages (Python, JavaScript) and project outcomes (developed a customer service chatbot leading to 30% increase in efficiency) directly related to the job posting.
CV: When to Use It
A CV is most often used in academia, scientific research, medical fields, and for certain international job applications. In 2025, CVs remain the go-to format for roles requiring a deep dive into a candidate’s entire career, including research publications, academic achievements, and detailed job descriptions.
Best for:
- Academic Jobs: Professors, researchers, post-doc roles.
- Medical & Scientific Jobs: Doctors, healthcare professionals, lab researchers.
- International Jobs: Many European and Asian countries prefer CVs over resumes.
Why You Need a CV in 2025:
- Comprehensive Detail: CVs are meant to showcase your full career trajectory, including education, research, publications, presentations, and work experience.
- Ideal for Academic and Medical Fields: A CV allows professionals in these fields to provide detailed accounts of their achievements, such as published papers or clinical trials.
- Longer Format: CVs can be much longer than resumes and are expected to include extensive information on relevant areas.
Example: For a university professor role, a CV would include sections on education, research projects, published works, teaching experience, and conference presentations.
Resume vs. CV: Key Differences in 2025
| Feature | Resume | CV |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 1-2 pages | 2+ pages, often much longer |
| Purpose | Tailored summary of experience, skills, and results | Comprehensive career overview |
| Best for | Corporate, tech, creative jobs | Academia, medicine, research |
| Focus | Recent experience and accomplishments | Full career, including academic and research work |
| ATS Optimization | Critical for most job applications | Not typically filtered by ATS |
| Customizability | Highly flexible, changes for each application | Generally stays the same |
Which One Should You Use?
1. Corporate and Tech Roles: Stick with a Resume
Most corporate and tech recruiters prefer a concise resume. They want to see your relevant skills, job history, and measurable accomplishments quickly. Whether you’re applying for a project manager role, a marketing position, or a job in software development, your resume needs to be optimized and tailored to each job posting.
2. Academic and Research Positions: Use a CV
For academia, medicine, and research-focused positions, a CV is the gold standard. It allows you to showcase your research work, academic achievements, clinical experience, and any publications in great detail.
3. Applying for Jobs Abroad: Check Local Preferences
Some countries and job markets prefer CVs over resumes. For instance, European countries and countries in the Middle East are more likely to ask for a CV, even for non-academic roles. Always check the employer’s expectations and the standard practice in that region.
How Resume and CV Trends Have Shifted in 2025
In 2025, both resumes and CVs are undergoing subtle changes to match evolving industry expectations and technology.
1. ATS-Optimization is Crucial
With the increasing use of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) by recruiters, resume formats are evolving to be more ATS-friendly. It’s essential that your resume is well-structured, uses relevant keywords from the job posting, and avoids unnecessary design elements that could confuse the system.
2. Focus on Skills and Impact
Whether you’re using a resume or CV, there’s a greater emphasis on measurable results. Companies are increasingly looking for outcomes rather than just a list of responsibilities. This trend is pushing job seekers to highlight tangible achievements on both their resumes and CVs.
3. Digital Versions and Online Portfolios
In 2025, digital portfolios are playing a larger role in certain industries like tech and creative roles. While a resume gives recruiters a quick overview, an online portfolio or LinkedIn profile is becoming a complementary tool for showcasing a more detailed view of your work.
FAQs
Is a CV always longer than a resume?
Yes, a CV typically includes a comprehensive career history and can be much longer, while a resume is shorter, ideally fitting onto one or two pages.
Can I use a CV for a corporate job?
Most corporate recruiters prefer a resume. CVs are more suited to academic, research, and medical positions.
Do I need a resume and a CV?
It depends on your career. If you’re in academia, research, or applying for jobs internationally, you may need a CV. For most other fields, a resume will suffice.
Can I submit both a resume and a CV?
Generally, you would only submit one. However, some jobs might require you to submit a CV for detailed background information while also providing a shorter resume for an initial review.
Do resumes need to be tailored for each job?
Yes, a good resume should be tailored for each position, highlighting the skills and experience most relevant to the job description.
Best Resume and CV tools
Job Salary Comparator 2025, Job Interview Preparation Helper, Freshers and Experienced Skill Matcher Tool, Resume Data Visualization and Resume Analyzer
Final Thoughts: Resume or CV in 2025?
The key to standing out in 2025 is choosing the right document for the job you’re applying to. A well-tailored resume works best for corporate and tech positions, where concise information and a focus on measurable outcomes are crucial.
Meanwhile, a CV shines in academic and research roles, where depth and detail matter.
Need help crafting your resume or CV? Check out our Resume Formatting Tool and Resume-Length Calculator to create the perfect document for your next job application.