A resume is a brief, concise document that presents, and effectively sells, your most relevant and positive credentials for employment.
A vita, or curriculum vita, meaning "course of (one's) life, is a more extensive document typically used by those with graduate education who are pursuing positions in academia or research. The abbreviation is often used: CV or CVs.
While your resume - even for most graduate students - should be kept to one page, vitae are usually two pages at the shortest, and can be many pages in length. Common lengths for curricula vitae are one to three pages for bachelor's and master's degree candidates; two to five pages for doctoral candidates; and five or more pages for an experienced academician or researcher. Even though it's a longer document, write it concisely and give it a clean, easy-to-read layout.
A curriculum vitae includes information about professional publications, presentations, committee work, grants received, and other details based on each person's experience.
