ResumeResume, CV and biodata: the difference
In India the three words are used as if they meant the same thing. They do not, and sending the wrong one is a small but real mistake.
In one line each
- A resume is a short, selected account of your skills and experience for a particular job. One page, sometimes two.
- A CV (curriculum vitae) is a full record of your academic and professional life. It grows as your career does and can run to many pages.
- A biodata is a statement of personal particulars: name, date of birth, family details, address, education. It is used for some government and traditional applications, and for marriage proposals.
Side by side
| Point | Resume | CV | Biodata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 1 page, at most 2 | 2 pages to many | 1 to 2 pages |
| Purpose | To get an interview for a specific job | To give a complete professional and academic record | To state personal particulars |
| Content | Selected skills, experience and results relevant to the job | All education, posts, publications, research, teaching, awards | Date of birth, family, address, education, sometimes religion and community |
| Changed for each application? | Yes | Order and emphasis may change; content stays complete | Rarely |
| Order | Most relevant and recent first | By category, each in date order | Personal details first |
| Typical use in India | Private-sector jobs, campus placement, job portals | College and university teaching, research, medicine, senior roles, study abroad | Some government and local applications; marriage |
Which one should you send?
Private company job, any level up to mid-career: a resume. Even if the advertisement says "send your CV" or "send biodata", most private employers mean a resume: a short document about your fitness for the job.
Teaching or research post in a college or university, a fellowship, a doctor's or scientist's post: a CV, with publications, conferences, courses taught and research guided. Follow the institution's own format if it gives one.
Application to study abroad: follow the university's instruction. Many ask for a CV; some for a resume of stated length.
Government job: usually neither. You fill the application form prescribed in the notification, online or on paper, and attach the documents it lists. Read the notification; do not send a resume where a form is required.
Jobs abroad: the words change by country. In the United States and Canada, "resume" is the usual word for the short job document. In the United Kingdom and much of Europe, the same kind of document is commonly called a CV. Customs about photographs and personal details also differ by country, so check the employer's guidance.
Marriage: a marriage biodata, which is a different document altogether.
Why the confusion
For decades, job applications in India were made on a "biodata" that began with father's name, date of birth and permanent address, and ended with a signed declaration. That habit carried over when private employers began asking for resumes. Many resumes today are biodatas with a few job details added. A modern employer wants the reverse: skills and results first, and personal particulars only if specifically asked. See photo, declaration and personal details.
Turning a biodata into a resume
- Remove personal particulars that the job did not ask for.
- Add a headline and a two to four line summary or objective.
- Move education or experience, whichever is stronger, to the top.
- Rewrite each job or project as points with actions and numbers.
- Add a specific skills section.
- Remove the declaration, date, place and signature unless asked.
The builder does this arrangement for you. For longer CVs, academic CVs and biodata formats, see our neighbour site cv.shareyourgroup.com.
When the employer gives a format
Always follow it. If a company or agency sends its own form or template, fill that and attach your resume only if invited to. A candidate who follows instructions exactly has already shown one quality every employer wants.
Questions people ask
Is a CV the same as a resume?
Not strictly. A resume is a short, selected document for one job. A CV is a complete record of your career. In everyday use in India, employers often say CV when they mean a resume.
Should I send a biodata for a private job?
No. Send a resume, unless the employer specifically asks for personal particulars in a biodata format.
What do I send for a government job?
The application form prescribed in the official notification, with the documents it asks for. A resume is normally not required.
More guides
Sample resumes
General guidance. This page gives general suggestions on writing a resume, reviewed in November 2026. Employers differ: if an advertisement or application form asks for a particular format or detail, follow it. Every name, employer and college in our examples is invented. Nothing here promises an interview or a job.