Resume vs CV: Differences by Country 2026 (US, UK, Europe) - When to Use Which

Last Updated: January 2026 | Understand when to use a resume vs CV based on where you're applying.

In the US: résumé (1-2 pages) for business jobs, CV (2+ pages) for academic/research. In UK/Europe: CV is standard for all jobs. US résumés exclude photo/personal info. UK CVs are 2 pages with Personal Statement. German CVs require photo, date of birth, and are 2-3 pages. Each country has different ATS systems and format requirements.

The difference between a résumé and a CV depends on where you're applying. In the United States, they're different documents. In the UK, Europe, and most other countries, "CV" is the standard term for what Americans call a "résumé." Here's a comprehensive breakdown to help you choose the right document:

When to Use Resume vs CV: Quick Decision Guide

Use US résumé for: business, tech, finance, marketing roles in US companies. Use US CV for: academic, research, medical positions, grant applications. Use UK/Europe CV for: all job applications in UK/Europe. Terminology varies by country - US uses "résumé" for business, UK/Europe use "CV" for everything.

Detailed Comparison: US Résumé vs CV

Résumé (US Standard)

Purpose:

Job applications in business, tech, finance, marketing
Tailored to specific job postings
Results-focused and achievement-oriented

Length:

1-2 pages (most common)
Senior executives: 2-3 pages maximum
Recent graduates: 1 page

Content:

Professional Summary (2-3 sentences)
Work Experience (reverse chronological)
Education (brief)
Skills (relevant to job)
Certifications (if relevant)

Style:

Concise and scannable
Quantified achievements ("Increased sales by 25%")
Action verbs ("Led", "Managed", "Developed")
Tailored to job description
ATS-optimized

What to exclude:

❌ Photo
❌ Date of birth
❌ Marital status
❌ Personal information
❌ References (unless requested)
❌ Salary expectations

CV (US Academic/Research)

Purpose:

Academic positions (professor, researcher)
Medical positions (physician, researcher)
Grant applications
Fellowship applications
International positions (outside US)

Length:

2+ pages (can be 5-10+ pages)
Comprehensive and detailed
No strict page limit

Content:

Contact Information
Education (detailed, including thesis)
Research Experience
Publications (peer-reviewed papers, books)
Presentations (conferences, seminars)
Grants and Funding
Teaching Experience
Awards and Honors
Professional Memberships
References (often included)

Style:

Comprehensive and detailed
Chronological or reverse chronological
Academic achievements emphasized
Research focus
Less tailored (more comprehensive)

International Perspective: CV vs Résumé

United Kingdom

"CV" = What Americans call a résumé
"Résumé" = Rarely used, sometimes seen as American term
Length: 2 pages standard
Style: Professional, includes "Personal Statement"
Photo: No
References: Often included

Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, etc.)

"CV" = Standard term (what Americans call a résumé)
"Résumé" = Not commonly used
Length: 2-3 pages (varies by country)
Style: More formal, detailed
Photo: Often required (Germany) or optional (France)
Personal info: Date of birth, nationality sometimes included

Other Countries

Australia, New Zealand: "CV" (like UK)
Canada: "Résumé" (like US) or "CV" (academic)
Asia: "CV" is standard
Latin America: "CV" is standard

Key Differences Summary

Feature	US Résumé	US CV	UK/Europe CV
Length	1-2 pages	2+ pages	2-3 pages
Purpose	Job applications	Academic/research	Job applications
Style	Concise, tailored	Comprehensive	Professional, detailed
Photo	No	No	Varies (required in Germany)
Personal Info	No	No	Sometimes (age, nationality)
Summary	Professional Summary	Not used	Personal Statement
Publications	No	Yes (detailed)	No
References	On request	Included	Often included
Tailoring	Highly tailored	Less tailored	Moderately tailored

When to Use Which Document

Use a Résumé (US) when:

Applying to US companies (private sector)
Business, tech, finance, marketing roles
Tailoring to specific job postings
ATS optimization is important
You want a concise, results-focused document

Use a CV (US Academic) when:

Applying to academic positions
Research positions
Medical positions
Grant applications
Fellowship applications
International positions (outside US)

Use a CV (UK/Europe) when:

Applying to UK companies
Applying to European companies
International job applications
Academic positions (anywhere)
Research positions

Format Differences by Country

United States Résumé Format:

Sections: Contact, Summary, Experience, Education, Skills
Photo: Never
Length: 1-2 pages
Style: Results-focused, quantified achievements
ATS: Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse, Lever

United Kingdom CV Format:

Sections: Contact, Personal Statement, Experience, Education, Skills, References
Photo: Never
Length: 2 pages
Style: Professional, concise
ATS: Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse

Germany CV Format (Lebenslauf):

Sections: Contact, Photo, Experience, Education, Skills, Languages, Certifications
Photo: Required
Length: 2-3 pages
Style: Formal, detailed, includes date of birth and nationality
ATS: Workday, Taleo, Xing

France CV Format:

Sections: Contact, Profil, Experience, Education, Skills, Languages
Photo: Optional but common
Length: 1-2 pages
Style: Professional, skills-focused
ATS: Workday, Taleo, Apec

Common Confusions and Mistakes

Mistake #1: Using "Résumé" Outside the US

Problem: In UK/Europe, "résumé" is rarely used
Fix: Use "CV" for international applications

Mistake #2: Using US Format for International Jobs

Problem: US format doesn't work for UK/European jobs
Fix: Adapt format to target country (photo, personal info, structure)

Mistake #3: Using Academic CV for Business Jobs

Problem: Academic CV is too long and detailed for business roles
Fix: Use résumé (US) or business CV (UK/Europe)

Mistake #4: Not Adapting to Country Requirements

Problem: Each country has different expectations
Fix: Research country-specific requirements (photo, personal info, length)

Mistake #5: Poor Translation for International CVs

Problem: Machine translation doesn't work for professional documents
Fix: Use professional translation with industry terminology

How to Convert US Résumé to UK CV

Change "Professional Summary" to "Personal Statement" (4-6 sentences), add references section (or "References available on request"), adjust length to 2 pages, use British English spelling, and adjust date format if needed. UK CVs are more formal and include Personal Statement instead of Professional Summary.

How to Convert US Résumé to European CV

Add professional photo (required in Germany, optional elsewhere), add date of birth and nationality (if required), translate to local language (German, French, etc.) professionally, adjust format to local standards (Lebenslauf for Germany, CV format for France), and optimize for local ATS systems (Workday, Taleo, Xing for Germany).

How to Convert Between Formats

Converting US Résumé to UK CV:

Change "Professional Summary" to "Personal Statement" (4-6 sentences)
Add references section (or "References available on request")
Adjust length to 2 pages
Use British English spelling
Adjust date format if needed

Converting US Résumé to European CV:

Add professional photo (required in Germany, optional elsewhere)
Add date of birth and nationality (if required)
Translate to local language (German, French, etc.)
Adjust format to local standards
Optimize for local ATS systems

Converting US Résumé to Academic CV:

Add publications section
Add presentations section
Add research experience (detailed)
Add teaching experience
Add grants and funding
Add professional memberships
Include references
Expand to 2+ pages

ATS Optimization Considerations

Important: Different countries use different ATS systems:

US: Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS
UK: Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse
Germany: Workday, Taleo, Xing
France: Workday, Taleo, Apec

Each system has different requirements, so your document needs to be optimized for the specific country's ATS systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a résumé and a CV?

In the US, a résumé is 1-2 pages for business jobs, while a CV is 2+ pages for academic/research positions. In the UK and Europe, "CV" is the standard term for what Americans call a résumé.

Should I use a résumé or CV for international jobs?

For international jobs outside the US, use "CV" terminology. Adapt the format to the target country's requirements (photo, personal info, length, structure).

Can I use the same document for all countries?

No, each country has different format requirements. You need different documents for different countries, with proper translation and ATS optimization.

Do I need a photo on my CV?

It depends on the country. Photos are required in Germany, optional in France, and not used in the US or UK.

How long should my CV be?

US résumés: 1-2 pages. UK CVs: 2 pages. European CVs: 2-3 pages. Academic CVs: 2+ pages (no strict limit).

Conclusion

Key takeaways:

Terminology varies by country: US uses "résumé" for business, "CV" for academic. UK/Europe use "CV" for everything.
Formats vary by country: Each country has different requirements (photo, personal info, length, structure).
ATS systems vary by country: Different countries use different ATS systems with different requirements.
Translation matters: International applications require professional translation, not machine translation.
One size doesn't fit all: You need different documents for different countries.

Statistics to remember:

75% of resumes/CVs are rejected by ATS before human review
98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS systems
Each country has unique format requirements
Proper formatting can increase pass rate from 25% to 85%+

If you're applying to multiple countries or need to convert between formats, manually adapting your résumé/CV can be time-consuming and error-prone. Each country requires different format structure, different content requirements (photo, personal info), professional translation (not machine translation), ATS optimization for local systems, and cultural adaptation.

TopCV.io's CrossBorder CV specializes in adapting CVs/résumés for different countries and can help you convert between formats, adapt to country-specific requirements, provide professional translation, optimize for each country's ATS systems, and process quickly (2-3 minutes per tailored resume).

Whether you need a US résumé, UK CV, German Lebenslauf, or French CV, proper formatting and country-specific adaptation is essential for job search success.

Related Articles:

German CV Format Complete Guide - Detailed German CV requirements
How to Create ATS-Friendly Resume - ATS optimization for all countries
CV for United States - US resume format requirements
CV for United Kingdom - UK CV format requirements
CV for France - French CV format requirements
International CV Translation Guide - Professional translation tips

Remember: The terminology and format requirements vary significantly by country. Understanding these differences and adapting your document accordingly can dramatically increase your chances of getting interviews.