A resume, or résumé, is a short, straight-to-the-point, document created for the purpose of applying to a specific job.
On the other hand, a Curriculum Vitae (CV), which is literally translated to “the course of your life”, is a very in-depth document that describes your academic achievements, career journey step-by-step, including all sorts of personal information.
However, in many countries (exclusive of the United States), it can get a bit trickier because the word CV is essentially just a synonym for the resume. Thus, it is always a good decision to double check with the relevant employers.
In essence, a CV is a book of your life. It presents a full history of your personal information, academic credentials, career journey, personal achievements and any other accomplishments like publications, awards, honours and etc.
In comparison, a resume is like the relevant pages (the gist) taken out from your book of life. It is a brief summary of your skills and experience that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Resume is usually accompanied by the submission of a cover letter.
A Cover Letter is a 1-page business document that needs to be sent together with your resume/CV when applying for a new job and serves to express your interest in the position. It serves as a first impression and a summary of your professional background supplemental to your resume to sell yourself and convince the recruiters to give you an interview, and ultimately a job.