All three forms are valid:
- Resume — standard US English (no accents).
- Résumé — original French spelling.
- Resumé — older hybrid form occasionally seen.
In US English, plain "resume" is the most common spelling. None of them are wrong.
Pronunciation
All three are pronounced the same way: "REZ-oo-may."
When to use each
- Resume: Default for US documents, websites, and conversation.
- Résumé: When you want to emphasize the French origin or your style guide requires it. Some traditional employers and academic institutions still prefer it.
- Resumé: Less common; some older style guides used it. Functionally equivalent to "résumé."
Don't put "Resume" as the title of your resume
Don't write "RESUME" at the top of your resume document. Recruiters know what it is. Just put your name.
CV vs resume
- US: CV usually means an academic curriculum vitae — multi-page, with publications and research. Resume is the standard 1-2 page job document.
- UK / Europe / most of the world: "CV" is the everyday term for what Americans call a resume.
If applying internationally, use the term the local market expects.
Common misspellings to avoid
- Resumee — not a thing.
- Résume — accent on the wrong letter.
- Reasume — typo, sometimes seen.
If you misspell "resume" on your resume, that's a problem. Otherwise, all three accepted forms are fine.
The bigger pattern
The spelling matters less than the document. A perfectly spelled "résumé" with weak content gets you nothing; a plain "resume" with strong content gets interviews.
Sorce auto-tailors your resume per application — and we'll definitely spell "resume" correctly. 40 free swipes a day, AI agent applies.
For more: how long should a resume be, how to list education on a resume, resume margins.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is 'resume' or 'résumé' more correct?
- Both. 'Resume' is the standard US English spelling without accents. 'Résumé' is the original French spelling. 'Resumé' is a hybrid often seen in older style guides.
- Do I need accents in my actual resume document?
- No. The header of your document doesn't need to say 'résumé' — many people just write their name.
- Will recruiters care if I spell it differently?
- No. The spelling of the word doesn't affect anything; the substance of the document does.
- What about 'CV' vs 'resume'?
- In the US, CV typically refers to academic CVs (longer, multi-page, including publications). In the UK and Europe, CV is the everyday word for what Americans call a resume.