Curriculum vitae vs Here's my résumé vs Profile

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Curriculum vitae

FormalTop 2,000 (common)

Here's my résumé

FormalTop 2,000 (common)

Profile

Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Most common: Profile
 Curriculum vitaeHere's my résuméProfile
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //kəˈrɪkjʊləm viˈteɪ//🇺🇸 //kəˈrɪkjʊləm viˈteɪ//🇬🇧 //reɪˈzʒʊːmeɪ//🇺🇸 //rəˈzumeɪ//🇬🇧 /["/ˈprəʊfaɪl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈprəʊfaɪl/"]/
MeaningA document listing your education and work experience.A document that lists your work experience and skills.A description of a person that includes information about their characteristics.
ExampleShe submitted her curriculum vitae to the company for the job interview.Here's my résumé; it outlines my experience in software development.You should update your profile on the social media site.
RegisterFormalFormalNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level--A2
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsupdate curriculum vitae, submit curriculum vitae, strong curriculum vitae, academic curriculum vitae, professional curriculum vitaesubmit a résumé, update a résumé, attach a résumédetailed, in-depth, age, build, build up, construct, profile of, high, low, public, have, give somebody/​something, boost, handsome, strong, three-quarter, present, examine, study, in profile
Antonyms--disregard, obscurity
Common mistakesConfused with 'resume'; CV is longer and more detailed., Using 'curriculum vitae' in informal contexts where 'CV' is sufficient., Failing to include all relevant experiences and qualifications in the CV.Using 'resumé' instead of 'résumé' - the accents are important., Confusing 'résumé' with 'CV' - a résumé is usually shorter and more focused., Not including key achievements - make sure to highlight your most relevant successes.Confusing 'profile' with 'proficient'., Using 'profile' as a verb incorrectly., Not distinguishing between personal and professional profiles.
Usage notesUsed in job applications; can be abbreviated as 'CV.' More common in UK than US, where 'resume' is preferred.Used in job applications or professional contexts. Avoid in casual conversations or non-professional settings.Commonly used in social media and professional contexts. Avoid using in very formal writing unless referring to a detailed report.

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Here's my résumé

Frequently asked questions: Curriculum vitae vs Here's my résumé vs Profile

What's the difference between Curriculum vitae, Here's my résumé, and Profile?

Curriculum vitae: A document listing your education and work experience. Here's my résumé: A document that lists your work experience and skills. Profile: A description of a person that includes information about their characteristics.

Which is more common: Curriculum vitae, Here's my résumé, and Profile?

Profile is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Curriculum vitae: She submitted her curriculum vitae to the company for the job interview. Here's my résumé: Here's my résumé; it outlines my experience in software development. Profile: You should update your profile on the social media site.

Can I use Curriculum vitae, Here's my résumé, and Profile interchangeably?

Not always. Curriculum vitae, Here's my résumé, and Profile are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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