Resume vs CV vs Biodata: What Each One Is and Which to Send

The short answer

There are really three different documents, and the confusion comes from the words being used loosely:

In practice, outside academia, "CV" and "resume" usually mean the same two-page document. The real difference is between a job-focused resume and a full academic CV, and between both of those and a biodata.

How the words are used in India, the UK, the US and elsewhere

• India: "resume" and "CV" are used interchangeably by most private employers and on portals such as Naukri. Both mean a one- or two-page job-focused document. "Biodata" survives in some government and public-sector forms, in older small businesses, and in marriage proposals.
• UK and Ireland: "CV" is the normal word for a job application document, and it is typically two pages, like a US resume. Photos and date of birth are not expected.
• US and Canada: "resume" means the job-focused document. "CV" means the full academic version, used for faculty, research and medical posts.
• Australia and New Zealand: both words are used; a job "resume" or "CV" is often two to three pages.
• Parts of Europe, the Middle East and Asia: "CV" is the usual word; some employers expect a photo or personal details. Check the posting or recent advice from the country, since conventions vary.
• Universities everywhere: "CV" usually means the academic CV, even for master's and PhD admissions, though a taught master's programme may only want a short resume. Check the programme's own instructions.

What goes in a resume (and what a UK "CV" usually means)

A resume selects. It includes what is relevant to the job you are applying for and leaves out the rest, so the order and even the content change between applications. A typical structure:

1. Name and contact details: phone, email, city, LinkedIn.
2. A short summary of two to four lines.
3. Skills relevant to the role.
4. Work experience in reverse-chronological order, with results rather than duties.
5. Education (degree, institution, year; CGPA or percentage for recent graduates).
6. Optional: projects, certifications, languages, internships for freshers.

For the writing itself, see how to tailor your resume for each job. If you are deciding on length, how to write a two-page resume covers when a second page is justified.

What an academic CV contains

An academic CV is a complete record rather than a selection. It grows over a career, and it is normal for it to run to several pages. Sections commonly included, in roughly this order:

• Education: degrees with institution, year, thesis title and supervisor.
• Research interests: one or two lines.
• Publications: journal articles, conference papers, book chapters, in a consistent citation style, often split into published, accepted and under review.
• Conference presentations and invited talks.
• Grants, fellowships and scholarships: name, funder, year, amount where customary.
• Teaching experience: courses, level, your role (lecturer, teaching assistant).
• Research experience: projects, labs, methods and equipment used.
• Awards and honours.
• Professional service: peer review, committees, society memberships.
• Referees: often two or three academics with contact details, if the institution asks.

The names, journal and details above are invented for illustration. For PhD applications, the CV usually travels with a statement of purpose; our SOP guide for university admissions explains how the two should divide the work.

The Indian biodata: when it is still asked for

A biodata is mostly about who you are rather than what you have done. It typically lists date of birth, father's name, address, religion, caste or category, marital status, languages known, hobbies and education, and often ends with "I hereby declare that the information given above is true to the best of my knowledge."

For private-sector jobs, these details take space without helping, so they are best left out. Biodata-style details still appear legitimately in a few places: some government and public-sector application forms, which have their own prescribed format; some small, traditional employers who ask for "biodata" by habit; and matrimonial profiles, which are a different thing altogether.

When an employer says "send your biodata" for an ordinary private job, they almost always mean a resume. Sending a clean resume is fine; if they then need extra details, they will ask.

Which to send: common situations

If you are unsure, read the posting for clues: mention of publications or teaching points to an academic CV; mention of "relevant experience" or a role in a company points to a resume. You can also simply ask the recruiter or admissions office what format they prefer.

Key takeaways

• Outside academia, "resume" and "CV" usually mean the same one- or two-page job-focused document.
• An academic CV is a full record of research, publications, teaching and grants, and can run to several pages.
• A biodata lists personal details; use one only when a form or employer specifically asks.
• In the US, "CV" means the academic version; in the UK and India, "CV" usually means a job resume.
• When unsure, follow the posting's instructions or ask what format they want.