How do you build a CV or resume?

Building a CV or resume is easy. Just use a high-quality CV maker . Despite the name, if you don’t add enough content to create a 2+ page CV, you’ll end up with a one-page resume. Cover letters are standard in the UK, so you’ll also need to make your own cover letter online — don’t worry, it’ll be done in a few minutes.

What is a CV or resume sample?

A CV sample is an example of a CV targeting a specific job. For example, if you’re applying to be a customer service advisor, taking a look at a sample customer service advisor CV is helpful. You can see the kinds of work experience employers are expecting, as well as the types of qualifications and skills you’ll need. A resume sample is the same idea but for a one-page resume. You can download samples to your computer in .docx format so you can edit them to fit your own background (doing this will be a bit slower than using a CV builder though).

3. How do you turn a CV into a resume?

If an employer asks for a resume instead of a CV, it’s straightforward: 1. Remove any irrelevant jobs from the document. On a CV, you usually include every single job you’ve had. On a resume, you just include jobs relevant to the position you’re applying for. For example, if you’ve worked as a graphic designer, and are applying for a senior graphic design role, cut out those Asda customer service or Uber Eats delivery roles you had back in uni. Tip: You should also remove any jobs that you held 15+ years ago. As well as helping you cut your CV down to resume size, it’ll also help protect you against age discrimination. 2. Remove certain sections that are standard on a CV but just take up space on a resume — for example, your hobbies and interests section 3. Try using a smaller resume/CV font size; but 10 should be the minimum font size on CVs and resumes. Other formatting hacks include —(i) reducing your margins down to a max of 1.25 cm, (ii) removing personal details like your full postal address, marital status, nationality, date of birth, National Insurance Number etc. (you shouldn’t list these anyway), and (iii) using a narrower font like Arial Narrow (you’ll be able to fit more text on your page).

A CV is a job application document that shows employers why you deserve an interview. A good CV highlights your educational and professional background, including your: key skills work experience qualifications and certifications ‘CV’ stands for ‘ curriculum vitae ’, Latin for ‘the path of your life’, which makes sense because a CV walks employers through the path of your career and education and lets them know whether you’d be a good fit for their company.

5. Do I need both a resume and a CV?

No, usually you don't need both a resume and a CV. The only case where you would need both is if you're applying to jobs in both the US and the UK. In that case, you'll need the shorter resume for the US and the more in-depth CV for the UK.

6. If an employer asks for either a CV or a resume, should I submit both?

No, in this case, the employer is letting you choose which document to send. If you already have a CV prepared, send it to the employer. If the job opening is in the UK or Commonwealth , use British English; if the job is in the US, use American English.

3. Why do Americans call a ‘CV’ a ‘resume’?

The word 'resume' comes from the French verb ' résumer ', which means 'to summarise', but it's unclear why Americans started using the word 'resume' instead of 'CV'.

What Is a CV? - Resume vs CV

ToC

If you’re job hunting, you’ve probably seen the terms ‘CV’ and ‘resume’ both used to refer to the document you need to apply for a role.

And they essentially mean the same thing!

‘Resume’ and ‘CV’ are both names for the career document you use to apply for a job.

The word ‘CV’ is used in the UK and Europe, while ‘resume’ is the name for most career documents in the US and Canada.

Moreover, there are some differences between CV formatting in the UK and resume formatting in the US that you should remember when writing your job application.

A CV typically consists of more pages than a resume.

What is a CV?

In the UK and Europe, a CV is a job application document that outlines your relevant experience and skills to show employers why you deserve an interview. The full form of CV is ‘Curriculum Vitae’, which is Latin for ‘course of life’.

Standard CVs are 1–2 pages long and summarise your recent work history, formal education, key skills, and any additional details relevant to the specific job. CVs for academic jobs are longer and give a detailed overview of your previous research, teaching experience, and professional memberships.

When writing a CV for UK jobs, it’s important to make your content concise and job-relevant by highlighting experience and achievements that relate closely to your target job.

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What is an American CV?

An American CV is a lengthy document used to apply for academic or research positions specifically. In this situation, you’d detail your teaching positions, publications, research, and anything relevant to your academic career.

American CVs can be well over 10 pages long — significantly longer than a standard CV for a job.

What is a resume?

A resume is the basic job application document used in North America – essentially the same thing as a ‘CV’ in most other countries. A resume outlines your most relevant skills and accomplishments, with the goal of convincing employers you’re the right person for the job.

Main formatting differences between UK CVs and US resumes

If you’re an American applying for a job in the UK or Europe (or vice versa), there are a few important formatting differences between CVs and resumes:

Page length

In the UK, job applications are slightly longer. The typical length for a CV is up to two pages long for most non-academic jobs.

If you’re writing a CV for your first job, writing a one-page CV is perfectly acceptable.

Meanwhile, in the US and Canada, it’s generally best practice to keep your resume to one page.

Page size

This is an important difference to consider if you want to download a CV template.

In the UK, Europe, and most other international regions, the correct page size for a CV is A4.

However, the preferred page size for a US resume is US letter size.

This matters because the US letter size is wider and shorter than A4. So if you download a US resume template for your CV, it will display incorrectly when you or the employer print it out on paper.

Spelling

If you’re writing a CV for jobs in the UK or Europe, use British spelling.

When writing, watch out for spelling differences between US and UK English. Here are some of the most common variations to look out for:

Difference	UK	US
'-our/-or'	colour	color
'-ise/-ize'	organise	organize
'-re/-er'	centre	center
Double 'll' vs single 'l'	counsellor	counselor

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some commonly asked questions about different job application formats:

1. How can I quickly convert my resume into a CV?

To quickly convert your resume into a CV, upload your resume to an online CV maker. These tools quickly scan your document and transfer the contents to a professional CV template perfect for job opportunities in the UK and Europe.

Some also feature AI writing assistants that can help you improve your CV so you maximise your chances of getting a job interview.

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2. Do I need both a resume and a CV?

No, you don’t need both a resume and a CV. The only case where you would need both is if you’re applying for jobs in both the US and the UK.

3. What is the difference between a UK CV, a US resume, and a portfolio?

UK CVs, US resumes, and portfolios differ in purpose and structure. UK CVs and US resumes are both job application documents that summarise your relevant skills and work experience. UK CVs are the preferred format in the UK and Europe, while the US resume is standard in the US and Canada.

Portfolios serve a completely different purpose. Their aim is to show tangible examples of your work. Portfolios are common in creative and technical fields, and may feature visuals, projects, or case studies to demonstrate relevant skills.

4. What does ‘CV’ stand for?

CV stands for ‘Curriculum Vitae,’ which means ‘course of life’ in Latin. You don’t need to write out ‘curriculum vitae’ on your CV, though — the abbreviation is fine.

Written by

Seb Morgan

Seb Morgan is a Career Counsellor for CV Genius, where he helps job seekers and professionals get more out of their careers. With over 7 years of experience in business and lifestyle journalism, he's written for a stack of careers-focused publications, including Oxbridge Home Learning, Study International, theHRDirector, and Employee Benefit News, and his expertise includes skill development, interview preparation, and CV and cover letter writing. West Midlands born and raised, Seb has since lived, worked, and studied in 4 countries across 2 continents. He speaks 4 languages and has survived job interviews in 3 of them. He currently also freelances as a travel and culture writer. Reach him at [sebastian] @ [cvgenius.com] or via LinkedIn.