When you’re preparing job application materials, you may encounter two different documents: a resume and a vita (short for “curriculum vitae”). Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings—especially in different industries and regions. Understanding the difference ensures you submit the correct document and present yourself in the best light.
Understanding the Terms
The term “curriculum vitae” is Latin for “course of life,” and the plural is technically curricula vitae. Some people refer to it informally as a vita. One source explains that although “vitae” is often used, it is not correct to treat it as plural of the document—it is part of the singular Latin phrase. Meanwhile, a resume (or résumé) comes from French, meaning “summary” of one’s professional and educational background.
Key Differences Between a Resume and a Vitae (CV/Vita)
Here are several core differences to keep in mind:
- Length and scope: A resume is typically a concise document: one to two pages in many cases. On the other hand, a vita or CV is much more comprehensive—no fixed length, often multiple pages if the individual has significant academic or research credentials.
- Purpose and audience: Use a resume when applying for most industry‑ or business‑oriented roles, where the employer wants a snapshot of relevant experience. A vita/CV is most appropriate for academic, research, scientific, or medical positions—where details like publications, teaching, grants and academic service matter.
- Content focus: A resume highlights achievements, skills, most relevant experience tailored to a particular role. A vita/CV includes full education history, research, publications, presentations, memberships, awards, and often more specialized sections than a standard resume.
- Geographic/regional usage: In the U.S. and Canada, the distinction is more pronounced: resume for most roles, CV for academia. In some other countries (UK, Europe, Australia, India), the term “CV” may simply mean what the U.S. calls a resume.
- Tailoring: A resume almost always needs to be tailored to the specific job posting—to highlight the skills most relevant. A vita/CV is more static in core content (though you may select parts to emphasize), since it represents a full record of your academic life.
When to Use a Resume vs a Vitae
- If you’re applying for a business role, non‑academic position, or anywhere outside heavy research/teaching, use a resume.
- If you’re applying for faculty positions, research grants, fellowships, PhD/post‑doc programs, or in fields where full academic credentials matter, prepare a vita or CV.
- If you’re applying internationally (outside North America), check the country’s conventions—“CV” maybe what you need even for industry roles.
- When in doubt, ask the employer or review the job posting: if they ask specifically for a “curriculum vitae,” you likely need the long form.
Practical Tips for Crafting Each
- For a resume: Keep it concise. Focus on relevant experience, quantify achievements (e.g., “increased sales by 25%”), use bullet points, one to two pages ideally.
- For a vita/CV: Organize into clear sections (Education, Research Experience, Publications, Presentations, Teaching, Awards, Professional Memberships). Be thorough. Keep it updated as a “living” document.
- Use consistent formatting, readable fonts, plenty of white space. Even though a CV may be long, clarity still matters.
- Customize when appropriate: even with a CV, you may highlight different sections depending on the role.
- Avoid including irrelevant or outdated experience—especially in a resume, where relevance is key.
Avoiding Confusion Over “Vita” vs “Vitae”
People often say “Send me your vita” or “here’s my vitae.” According to Latin scholars, the phrase “curriculum vitae” is already singular and “vitae” modifies “curriculum.” So saying “vitae” by itself can be technically erroneous or at least confusing. One practical piece of advice: just call it your CV or curriculum vitae, and omit attempting to shorten it to “vita/vitae” unless you’re sure your audience uses that term.
Conclusion
Choosing between a resume and a vita isn’t just semantics—it reflects how your application will be read, what your audience expects, and how your credentials are presented. If you’re clearly in a business or industry role, a sharp, tailored resume will serve you best. If you’re pursuing academia, research, or a highly credentialed field, then your vitae (CV) will allow you to showcase the full scope of your career.
And if you’re working on your application materials, consider giving your documents an extra polish—and if you need a strong cover letter to accompany them, check out https://letterlab.io for help generating a compelling narrative.