Lse ac uk/careers How to write cvs and cover letters

What is the difference between a résumé 

and a CV?

If you see an advert asking for a résumé it’s likely that they 

have in mind a one-page document with a number of design 

features such as narrower margins and a smaller font size in 

order to create more space. In terms of content, a résumé 

usually covers the same areas as a CV, but with less space to  

go into detail. See page 7 for an example.

“ I found LSE Careers very useful when it came to 

understanding the structure of a UK style CV.”

LSE student

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Layout and design 

1 How long should a CV be? 

In almost all cases your CV should be no longer than two sides of A4. 

The exception to this is an academic CV, which will usually have an extra 

page about publications and conferences. A minority of organisations 

will expect a one-page CV, but for most a two-page CV is acceptable 

unless otherwise specified.