What is a Vita or CV

Article on frequently asked resume question "What is a Vita or CV"

In the career industry, there seems to be a constantly evolving set of terms and protocol for structuring a resume; meaning more to learn and keep up with on a regular basis, to ensure your resume is up to par amongst all others resumes used for application. One of the most basic terms that you should be familiar with; however, that has been around for quite some time-and is a staple to the industry-is the curriculum vitae otherwise known as the vitae or CV.

What exactly is a curriculum vitae? I’m sure you’ve heard some reference to it in some part of your career life, but do you have any idea what it is and how it is different from a resume? A curriculum vitae has a different connotation depending on the country it is being used in. In the U.S., it is a kind of resume document that offers more detailed qualifications than a standard one-such as one that might be needed in more scientific fields of career pursuit-such as medical or research career positions.

A curriculum vitae-while having the same directive as regards to conveying a person’s credentials-is longer and is more specific to the industry-with more industry-specific achievements and experience, such as: dissertations, doctorate degrees, research achievements, published studies, fellowships/internships, or any other details specific to science or something very complicated and involved. For a U.S. applicant, curriculum vitae is used for-as noted previously-only very specialized disciplines, such as in medicine or some other science. For applicants in the United Kingdom; however, a CV or a curriculum vitae denotes a document similar to the standard resume in the U.S.-but in the U.K’, more details regarding personal information is included in such a document for employer use.