CV vs Résumé: What Do International Schools Actually Prefer?

If you're applying for teaching roles abroad, one of the most common questions you'll face is: Should I send a CV or a résumé? While both documents outline your professional background, they serve different purposes, and when it comes to international schools, choosing the right one can make all the difference.

In this post, we break down the key differences between a CV and a résumé and explain why international schools almost always prefer one over the other.

What is a CV?

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a comprehensive document that details your full professional and academic history. It includes:

Personal details (e.g. nationality, languages)
All teaching positions
Qualifications and certifications
Skills and professional development
References

CVs are typically 2 to 4 pages long, and can even be longer depending on your experience. They are commonly used across Europe, the UK, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Why International Schools Prefer CVs

International schools often need to see the full picture. They may need this information not just to assess your fit, but also for visa sponsorship, compliance, or ministry of education approval. A short résumé just doesn’t give enough detail.

1. They Need to See Your Full Teaching History

International schools typically want to review your entire professional teaching background, including roles that may not seem directly relevant to the specific post. A CV allows them to:

Verify the consistency and progression of your teaching experience
Understand the range of year groups, curricula, and subjects you've taught
Identify any gaps in employment, which are often queried in safeguarding protocols
Résumé-style summaries don’t offer enough context, and missing information can raise red flags.

2. Visa and Work Permit Documentation

In many countries, schools are required to submit detailed teacher profiles to immigration or education authorities when applying for work visas on your behalf. These bodies often ask for:

Full employment history
All qualifications and certifications, including dates and awarding institutions
Evidence of continuous teaching practice
Your CV becomes an essential part of the visa and compliance process. A short résumé doesn’t meet these requirements and can delay or complicate your application.

3. They Want to Understand Your Professional Journey

International schools are highly diverse environments. They often value experience in different countries, school systems, or even roles outside the classroom (like leadership or curriculum development).

A CV shows:

The breadth and depth of your experience
Professional development or training you've undertaken
How you've grown as an educator over time
This helps them see not only your current abilities, but also your potential contributions to the school’s culture and community.

4. CVs Reflect Seriousness and Professionalism

Many school leaders view a strong, well-organised CV as a sign that you're serious about working internationally. It shows you've taken the time to:
Understand the norms of global education recruitment
Prepare the kind of documentation that makes their job easier
Provide everything they need up front, saving time and back-and-forth
It gives hiring teams confidence in you as a candidate and streamlines the process for everyone involved.

What is a Résumé?

A résumé (borrowed from French, meaning “summary”) is a concise document, usually just 1 to 2 pages tailored to a specific job. It highlights:

Contact information
A brief personal statement or objective
Key teaching experiences
Selected skills and achievements

Résumés are most common in the United States and some American curriculum schools, especially when applications are submitted via platforms like LinkedIn or in fast-paced hiring contexts.

Which One Should You Use?

Unless you are applying specifically to a U.S.-based or American-curriculum school that requests a résumé, you should default to a CV.

When in doubt, go with a CV.

International schools are used to reviewing longer documents and often expect detailed applications. A well-structured CV allows you to showcase your qualifications fully, and positions you as a professional who understands the international teaching landscape.

Final Tips

Customise your CV for each role, and highlight experiences that match the job description.
Include key international experience or cross-cultural skills, especially for overseas roles.
Keep your formatting clean and use clear headings to make your CV easy to read.
Proofread carefully , especially when applying to schools where English is the main language of instruction.

CV vs Résumé: What Do International Schools Actually Prefer?