In Pakistan, India, the UK and most of Europe, “CV” is the normal word for the document you send with a job application. In the USA and Canada, that document is called a “resume”, and “CV” means a longer academic record. Here is how they compare.
| CV (Curriculum Vitae) | Resume | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | “Course of life” in Latin | “Summary” in French |
| Used in | Pakistan, UK, Europe, Gulf, academia worldwide | USA and Canada (business jobs) |
| Length | 1–2 pages for jobs; longer for academic CVs | Usually 1 page, 2 at most |
| Content | Full career history, education, skills, sometimes publications | Short, targeted summary of relevant experience |
| Photo | Common in Pakistan, Gulf and parts of Europe | Not used in the USA and Canada |
The academic CV
For university teaching, research positions and scholarships, a CV can be several pages long and include publications, conferences, research projects, teaching experience and grants. Use the Publications and custom sections in HayaCV for these.
Which one should you send?
- Applying in Pakistan, the Gulf, the UK or Europe: a 1–2 page CV
- Applying to a US or Canadian company: a 1-page resume without photo or personal details
- Applying for academic or research roles: a detailed academic CV
- If the advert uses one word, use that word in your file name
With HayaCV you can keep both: duplicate your CV, hide the photo and personal details, shorten it to one page and you have a US-style resume.
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Ayub Khan Khattak
Founder of HAYAQR, HayaConverter and HayaCV. Builds free, privacy-first tools that help people in Pakistan and beyond work smarter.