Curriculum vitae facts for kids

A curriculum vitae (say "kur-RIK-yoo-lum VEE-tye"), often shortened to CV, is a written summary of a person's life achievements, especially their education and work experience. The words "curriculum vitae" come from Latin and mean "course of life."

In many countries, a CV is the first thing a possible employer sees when someone applies for a job. It helps them decide if they want to interview the person. CVs are also used when applying for college programs, scholarships, or grants. Today, people often send their CVs online through email or job websites.

What's in a CV?

A CV usually includes important information about you. This helps people understand your skills and experience quickly.

General CVs

Most CVs are short, usually one or two pages long. They give a quick overview of your:

• Work history: Where you've worked before and what you did.
• Education: The schools you've attended and what you studied.
• Qualifications: Any special skills or training you have.
• Contact information: How people can reach you.

People often change their CV slightly for each job they apply for. This helps them highlight the skills that are most important for that specific job.

Academic CVs

For some jobs, like those in universities or medical fields, a CV can be much longer. These "academic CVs" include a lot more detail. They list all publications, research projects, awards, and other achievements. This type of CV shows a complete picture of someone's academic or research career.

The Words: CV and Résumé

The term "curriculum vitae" means "course of life" in Latin. It's usually shortened to CV.

In North America (like the United States and Canada), people sometimes use the word résumé (say "REZ-oo-may") to mean the same thing as a short CV. However, in other parts of the world, "CV" is the most common term for this document.

The plural of "curriculum vitae" is "curricula vitae."

See also

A robot, like a helpful assistant, can sometimes help with job applications!

• Cover letter: A letter you send with your CV to introduce yourself.
• Human resources: The department in a company that deals with employees.
• Video résumé: A short video where you talk about your skills instead of a written CV.