If you are someone who is looking for a job, you must have come across terms like resume, CV or bio-data. A resume, a CV, and a bio-data are all documents used to present your professional or personal information to potential employers or organizations. In general, all these three words are interchangeably used. However, a resume, a CV and a bio-data, all three are differently used when you are applying for a job or there is a need to present your professional journey to any organization. 

Knowing the difference between these three documents can help you in exhibiting your professional highlights. 

Read further to know the meaning and difference between these three documents.

Resume: 

A resume is a brief summary of professional experience, skills, education, and accomplishments of a person. It is usually one to two pages in length and is tailored to a specific job application. 

Curriculum Vitae (CV): 

A CV is a comprehensive document that outlines academic and professional achievements, research experience, publications, and other relevant information. It is typically used in academic or research-oriented fields and is more detailed than a resume. 

Bio-data: 

Bio-data refers to a document that contains information about personal details, such as name, age, gender, marital status, education, and occupation of a person. Bio-data may also include information about family background, interests, hobbies, and other personal details of a person. Unlike a resume or CV, bio-data is not typically used for job applications in most countries.

In summary, while all three documents serve the same purpose of presenting information about an individual to potential employers, a resume is a brief summary of professional experience, a CV is a comprehensive document of academic and professional achievements, and bio-data is a personal information document typically used in some countries.

How are these documents different on the basis of Details, Length & Content?

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• On the basis of details: 

A CV tends to be more detailed than a resume. 

Bio-data is a detailed document that provides a comprehensive summary of the life of a candidate along with career information. 

Resumes are more like the overview of your career journey.

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• Length: 

Typically, a CV can be over two pages long. 

You can limit resumes to one or two pages. 

A bio-data is usually over two pages long.

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• Content: 

A CV includes all your skills and certifications and is customizable for a larger audience. 

A resume includes only relevant and active certifications and shows a concise picture of your skills and qualifications. 

You can customize your bio-data as per the intent.

Knowing the difference between a resume, a CV and a bio-data helps you in showing your work experience, educational qualification, achievements, and other details as per the requirements and specifications invited by the employer. It will dissuade sharing of irrelevant information with any employer or organization.