Updated October 5, 2026.
In short: a resume is a short document — usually one page, sometimes two — that summarizes your work experience, education and skills so an employer can decide whether to interview you. Merriam-Webster defines a résumé as "a short account of one's career and qualifications" (Merriam-Webster). It is written for a specific kind of job, lists your most recent experience first, and leaves out anything that doesn't support the application. In the US and Canada a resume is what most employers ask for; a CV is the longer academic version, and in many European countries "CV" covers all job application documents, including a resume (UC Davis Career Center) (both checked October 5, 2026).
What is the purpose of a resume?
A resume has one job: to get you an interview. It is a selection of your history, not all of it — the experience, results and skills that match the job you're applying for, arranged so a reader can see in a quick skim that you meet the requirements. Temple University's career center puts it this way: the goal of a resume is to convey the skills and qualifications that are relevant to prospective employers, and "your resume and cover letter get you the interview, and the interview gets you the job" (Temple University, checked October 5, 2026).
What does a resume include?
Most resumes have five core sections, plus optional ones when they help the application:
| Section | What it contains |
|---|---|
| Contact information | Name, phone, email, city and state, LinkedIn URL |
| Summary or objective | Two or three lines on who you are professionally and what you're aiming for |
| Work experience | Jobs, newest first: title, employer, dates and bullets with results |
| Education | Degree, school, graduation (or [expected graduation](/blog/expected-graduation-date-on-resume)) date |
| Skills | Hard skills, tools and certifications the job asks for |
| Optional | Certifications, projects, volunteer work, awards, languages, publications |
Our guide to what to put on a resume goes section by section, including what to leave off.
What are the three types of resumes?
The type is about order: what the reader sees first. CareerOneStop, the U.S. Department of Labor's career site, describes three (CareerOneStop, checked October 5, 2026):
| Format | What it leads with | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Chronological | Work history, newest first | A steady record in the field you're applying to — most applicants |
| Functional | Skills grouped by category, with work history minimized | Rare cases; see [functional resume](/blog/functional-resume) |
| Combination (hybrid) | A skills or qualifications summary, then full work history | Most people, according to CareerOneStop's resume guide; especially useful when changing careers |
CareerOneStop's veterans guide notes that most employers prefer to receive a chronological resume, while its general resume guide says a combination of the formats works well for most people — as long as the employment history stays on the page, because applicant tracking systems may reject a resume without it. For the details of the most common one, see reverse chronological order.
What is the difference between a resume and a CV?
| Resume | CV (curriculum vitae) | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Typically one page; two for experienced applicants | No fixed limit; grows with your career |
| Content | Selected experience and skills for one kind of job | Full academic record: research, publications, teaching, presentations |
| Used for | Most jobs in the US and Canada | Academic positions and graduate school in the US; in many European countries, "CV" is the name for any job application document |
UC Davis's career center summarizes it: a CV presents a full history of your academic accomplishments, while a resume presents a concise summary of your qualifications. If a posting asks for a "CV" and you aren't sure which it means, ask, or send a resume if the role isn't academic.
How long should a resume be?
One page for most people early in their career, two pages when your relevant experience fills them. See one page or two for the details, including federal resumes.
How do you spell resume?
Résumé, resume and resumé are all accepted in American English. See how to spell resume.
Frequently asked questions
What is a resume in simple words?
A one- or two-page summary of your jobs, education and skills that you send to an employer when you apply, so they can decide whether to interview you.
What is a resume for a job?
The document an employer reviews first, usually alongside a cover letter, to decide who gets an interview. Many employers screen applications with applicant tracking systems (CareerOneStop), so plain formatting and the posting's own keywords matter.
Is a resume the same as a CV?
In the US and Canada, no: a CV is a longer academic record. In many European countries, "CV" is the everyday word for all job application documents, including what Americans call a resume.
What is the difference between a resume and a cover letter?
A resume lists your experience in sections; a cover letter is a short letter in paragraphs that explains why you fit this particular job. See cover letter format.
Do I need a resume for my first job?
It helps, even when an application form doesn't ask for one. A first resume leads with education, skills and activities instead of work history; see how to write a resume with no experience.
To start one now, build my resume with the resume builder, or browse resume examples for your job title.