CV (Curriculum Vitae)

In the US, a long academic document. Outside the US, often the same as a resume.

"CV" is short for curriculum vitae, Latin for "course of life." In the US and Canada, a CV means a comprehensive academic or medical document that can run 10+ pages and lists every publication, presentation, grant, and teaching assignment. In the rest of the world — the UK, Europe, Australia, India — "CV" is simply what Americans call a resume: a 1-2 page tailored document.

If you're in the US or Canada applying for a non-academic job, you almost certainly need a resume, not a CV, even if the job posting uses the word "CV." If you're in the UK, Europe, or elsewhere, "CV" is the standard term for a short resume-style document. Always check your country's convention and the specific employer's expectation.