How to Write a CV (With Examples)

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If you’re planning to apply for a academic, medical, or research-based role, you’ll need to write a CV summarizing your qualifications. Use the following writing guide and CV samples to prepare a professional job application.

A CV (curriculum vitae) is a job application document that summarizes your professional background.

In many parts of the world, CVs are the same as resumes. But in the United States and Canada, a CV is a unique document. American CVs are longer and more detailed than resumes and used to apply for jobs in academia, medicine, and research.

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Our CV builder can make you a CV in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.

CVs also include information that isn’t typically seen on resumes, such as publications, research, teaching experience, presentations, grants, and more.

They are often at least two pages long, and this is one of the main formatting differences between CVs and resumes.

How to write a CV from scratch

Different goals call for different CVs. Here’s what to include and what to emphasize whether you’re applying for a job or an academic position.

1. Know what your CV should include

Most institutions expect you to use a standard CV format that covers your professional background, education, and experience in key areas like teaching and research.

At a minimum, your CV should include the following sections:

Contact information
Professional summary
Work experience
Education
Skills

You should also include the following information if you’re writing an academic CV:

Publications
Teaching experience
Conferences
Memberships & professional associations
Grants & funding

These additional sections may further help your application, depending on the role you are applying for:

Certifications
Clinical rotations (if you’re writing a medical CV)
Projects
Awards & honors
Technical skills/tools
Languages
Patents

2. List your contact information at the top

an example of how to write a cv contact info section

Employers need to know how to contact you if they want to offer you an interview.

Make it easy to find that information by including the following in the header of your CV:

First and last name (in a large font)
Phone number
Email address
City and state (optional)
Portfolio or website (if applicable)
LinkedIn profile (optional)

3. Open with a professional summary

how to write a cv example

A professional summary is a brief paragraph at the beginning of your CV that highlights your most relevant experience and skills. The goal of your summary is to convince employers to keep reading your CV.

This section should be concise (2–5 sentences) and tailored to the specific role you’re applying for, showcasing how your skills and experiences make you an ideal candidate.

4. List your work experience in chronological order

An example of how to write a cv work experience section

Your experience section is one of the most important parts of your CV — and how you structure it depends on the type of role you’re applying for.

If you’re applying for a professional job, list your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. For each job, include the following information:

Company name
Job title
Dates of employment
3–5 bullet points outlining your key responsibilities and achievements

If you’re applying for an academic role, replace work experience with an Academic Appointments, Teaching Experience, or Research Experience section, depending on the type of role you’re targeting. Again, list positions in reverse chronological order, including:

Your title (e.g., Teaching Assistant, Research Fellow)
The institution name and location
Dates
Bullet points that describe your contributions (e.g., courses taught, research projects, lab responsibilities, or publications)

Whichever path you’re on, emphasize achievements over duties, and tailor your content to the role you want next rather than just describing the role you had last. Use action verbs and quantifiable achievements to demonstrate the impact you had in past roles.

5. Detail your education

An example showing how to write a cv education section

Your education section should give employers a clear view of your academic background. How much detail you include depends on the type of role you’re targeting.

For professional job applications, keep this section concise. List your most recent degree first, followed by the institution name, location, graduation date, and the degree earned. If you’re a recent graduate, you can also include:

Your GPA (if it’s 3.5 or above)
Relevant coursework
Academic honors
Extracurricular activities that are relevant to your career goals

For academic roles, your education section should be more detailed. In addition to the basics, include:

Your dissertation or thesis title
Research focus or specialization
Advisor’s name (if relevant in your field)
Relevant coursework
Academic honors, scholarships, or fellowships you received

This information helps demonstrate your readiness for research or teaching positions. If you’ve completed multiple degrees, be sure to list them in reverse chronological order, from the most recent to the earliest.

6. Add additional sections

An example showing how to write a cv hobbies section

Add any additional sections that relate to your target role or highlight your unique strengths as an applicant.

How to Format Your Additional CV Sections

Section	Guidelines	Example
Publications	Use a consistent citation style (e.g., APA, MLA). Include authors, year, title, journal, volume, pages, and DOI if relevant.	Smith, Z., Appleseed, J. (20XX). Machine learning in diagnostics. Journal of Medical AI, 12(3), 44–59.
Teaching experience	List institution, role, location, dates. Add courses taught. Reverse chronological order.	Lecturer, University of California, 20XX–20XX. Taught Intro to Statistics to 120+ students.
Conferences	Include presentation title, conference name, location, date.	AI Ethics in Practice," presented at SXSW, Austin, TX, March 20XX.
Memberships & professional associations	List organization name, membership status, committee roles, years active.	Member, American Medical Association, 20XX–Present.
Grants & funding	Include grant title, funding body, amount (optional), your role (PI/Co-PI), and year.	Co-PI, Research Innovation Grant, National Science Foundation, $75,000, 20XX.
Certifications	Include credential name, issuing body, date earned, expiration date if applicable.	Amazon Web Services Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, earned 20XX.
Clinical rotations	List specialty, institution, location, dates. Add key procedures or patient volume if relevant.	Internal Medicine Rotation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Jan–Mar 20XX.
Projects	Use project title, tools/stack, dates, and 1–2 bullet outcomes. Include GitHub/portfolio links if relevant.	Inventory Dashboard, Python / SQL / Tableau, 20XX. Reduced reporting time by 40%.
Awards & honors	Reverse chronological order. Include award name, granting organization, and date.	Employee of the Year, Microsoft, 20XX.
Technical skills / tools	Group by category for readability (Languages, Cloud, Data, Design, etc.).	Languages: Python, SQL, JavaScript. Tools: Tableau, Git, Docker.
Languages	List language + proficiency level (Native, Fluent, Professional, Conversational).	English (Native), Mandarin (Fluent), Spanish (Conversational).
Patents	Include inventors, patent title, patent number/status, year.	Appleseed, J.; Smith, J. Smart Sensor Calibration System, US Patent No. 12,345,678, 20XX.

CV template for a job

Your CV should be tailored to the role you’re applying for, so feel free to add, remove, or rearrange sections based on what’s most relevant.

Here’s a flexible CV template to use as a starting point:

YOUR NAME

[Your Address], [City, State] | [Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number] | [LinkedIn Profile] (optional)

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

A brief 2–5 sentence introduction highlighting your key qualifications, relevant experience, and career goals tailored to the position.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Job Title
Company Name, City, State
Month Year–Month Year

Key responsibility or achievement
Key responsibility or achievement
Quantifiable result or impact

(Repeat for 3–4 recent roles)

EDUCATION

Degree Name
School Name, City, State
Graduation month and year

GPA (if you’re a recent graduate and it’s above 3.5)
Relevant coursework, honors, or thesis (optional)

SKILLS

Skill 1
Skill 2
Skill 3

CERTIFICATIONS

Certification Name
Issuing Body or Institution Name
Date earned (month and year)
Expiration (if applicable)

Academic CV template

An academic CV is typically longer and more detailed than a CV for a job, and it should reflect the qualifications most relevant to the teaching, research, or fellowship opportunity you’re pursuing.

While many academic CVs follow a similar structure, you can add, remove, or rearrange sections depending on your field, experience level, and the role you’re applying for.

Below is a flexible academic CV template you can adapt to your needs:

YOUR NAME, Degrees (e.g., PhD, MA)

[Email Address] | [Phone Number] | [LinkedIn or ORCID iD] | [Departmental Website or Personal Site]

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

2–3 sentences summarizing your academic focus, research interests, and teaching philosophy.

EDUCATION

Degree Title
Institution, City, State/Country
Graduation month and year

Dissertation/Thesis Title
Advisor (if relevant)
Honors, GPA (optional)

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS / TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Position Title
Institution Name, City, State
Month/Year–Month/Year

Course(s) taught or responsibilities
Instructional methods or curricular contributions

(Repeat for as many positions as necessary)

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Role
Project or Lab Name, Institution
Month/Year–Month/Year

Description of research focus, methodologies, and outcomes

PUBLICATIONS

Author(s). Title. Journal Name, Year.
(Use citation style appropriate to your field)

CONFERENCES & PRESENTATIONS

“Title of Presentation,” Conference Name, Location, Date.

GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS

Name of Grant or Fellowship, Granting Body, Year(s)

AWARDS & HONORS

Name of Award, Institution or Organization, Year

REFERENCES

Available upon request (or list 3–5 referees with full contact information)

CV examples for different roles

To help you get a better idea of what your finished CV should look like, here some professional CV examples for different roles:

Sample CV for a job application

EMMA COLLINS

San Diego, CA | (555) 298-4410 | emma.collins@email.com | linkedin.com/in/emmacollins | emmacollinsportfolio.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Results-driven marketing professional with 6+ years of experience developing data-informed campaigns, improving brand visibility, and driving revenue growth. Proven track record in digital strategy, content marketing, and cross-functional team leadership. Seeking to contribute creative and analytical strengths to a fast-paced marketing team.

SKILLS

Digital marketing strategy
Content creation
SEO
Email marketing (Mailchimp, HubSpot)
Social media management
Google Analytics
WordPress
HTML/CSS
A/B Testing
CRM Platforms (Salesforce, HubSpot)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Marketing Specialist
Brightline Media Group – San Diego, CA | May 20XX – Present

Led development and execution of multi-channel campaigns that increased qualified leads by 37% YoY
Manage content calendar and blog strategy, resulting in a 60% increase in organic web traffic within 12 months
Coordinate product launches and collaborated with design, dev, and sales teams to align messaging
Monitor campaign performance and created monthly reports using Google Analytics and HubSpot

Marketing Coordinator
TechNova Solutions – Los Angeles, CA | August 20XX – April 20XX

Supported email marketing and paid ad campaigns; helped reduce cost-per-lead by 22%
Created customer case studies and email drip sequences to support product education and retention
Tracked campaign performance metrics and assisted in A/B testing initiatives
Maintained CRM database and segmented contacts for targeted outreach

Marketing Intern
ThriveCo Digital – Remote | August 20XX – April 20XX

Wrote and scheduled weekly social media posts across Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook
Helped design infographics and promotional materials using Canva
Analyzed engagement data to optimize future content strategy

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Communication
University of California, Santa Barbara
Graduated: May 20XX

Minor in Digital Media
Dean’s List (4 semesters)

CERTIFICATIONS

Google Analytics Certification – Google, June 20XX
HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification – HubSpot Academy, March 20XX
Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate – Meta Blueprint, September 20XX

Sample CV for a research role

DR. SARAH A. NGUYEN

sarah.nguyen@univmail.edu | (617) 555-3842 | Boston, MA | linkedin.com/in/sarahanguyen | ORCID: 0000-0002-3847-192X

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Ecological genomics, avian migration patterns, climate change adaptation, conservation biology, quantitative field methods

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Biology
University of California, Davis — Davis, CA
Completed: May 20XX

Dissertation: “Genetic Adaptation in Migratory Bird Populations Across Climate Gradients in Western North America”
Advisor: Dr. Michael J. Ramirez

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, magna cum laude
Tufts University — Medford, MA
Graduated: May 20XX

Senior Thesis: “Urban Ecology and Birdsong Variation in Fragmented Landscapes”
GPA: 3.89

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Postdoctoral Researcher
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan — Ann Arbor, MI
June 20XX–Present

Conducted whole-genome sequencing and population structure analyses of migratory bird populations
Led a 3-year field study tracking environmental influences on migratory timing
Supervised two graduate research assistants and collaborated with researchers in Canada and Germany on data sharing initiatives
Published findings in Ecology Letters and presented at the American Ornithological Society’s annual conference

Graduate Researcher
UC Davis Center for Population Biology — Davis, CA
20XX–20XX

Designed and implemented a multi-site field study involving capture, tagging, and sampling of over 500 individuals
Used R and Python for ecological modeling and landscape genomics analysis
Received NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (20XX–20XX)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Teaching Assistant
Department of Biology, UC Davis
20XX–20XX

Introduction to Ecology – Led weekly lab sessions, graded assignments, and held office hours
Scientific Writing for Biologists – Assisted students in developing research reports and lab writeups
Received “Excellence in Teaching” recognition in 20XX

PUBLICATIONS

Nguyen, S.A., Garcia, M.L., & Ramirez, M.J. (20XX). Genome-wide selection in migratory birds facing climate shifts. Ecology Letters, 26(4), 587–599.

Nguyen, S.A. (20XX). Genetic signals of habitat fragmentation in Western warblers. Molecular Ecology, 31(10), 2341–2355.

Nguyen, S.A., & Thompson, A.J. (20XX). Field-based methods in avian sampling: A review. Avian Research Journal, 14(3), 201–213.

CV example for a graduate student

GRADUATE SCHOOL CV EXAMPLE

[Your Address] | [Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number] | [LinkedIn Profile] (optional)

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Recent Economics graduate with excellent educational credentials and progressive experience in data analytics and reporting. Aspiring to pursue a Master’s degree in Finance from a renowned institution to expand knowledge in quantitative finance, investments, financial markets, financial reporting, and analysis.

EDUCATION

San Francisco State University
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, May 20XX
Honors: Cum Laude (3.7/4.0)

Relevant Coursework: Introduction to Microeconomic & Macroeconomic Analysis, Intermediate Microeconomic & Macroeconomic Theory, Calculus, Mathematics, Quantitative Reasoning

Awards & Honors: President’s List, 20XX | Dean’s List for 4 semesters | Pathways Scholarship Recipient, 20XX

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Intern Analyst
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
May 20XX – August-20XX

Evaluated and organized 1995-2019 US personal income data by gender, race, education, and prognosis 2020-2040 gender income gap trend
Worked closely with the professor and 4+ team members to develop a detailed gender income gap report of gender inequality studies
Conducted detailed research to identify trends and formulate forecast models
Maintained 100% accuracy in analyzing large economic and statistical data to derive results and achieve desired outcomes

Volunteer
Pop Warner Football & Cheer, San Clemente, CA
March 20XX – November 20XX

Managed youth football programs in the country with 400+ annual participants, $300k annual budget, and 8+ direct reports
Represented the organization at local, regional, and national level
Employed best practices to handle all aspects of discipline, as well as all marketing, financial and special event functions

SKILLS

Leadership
Problem solving
Research & analysis
Data gathering
Forecasting
Public speaking
Communication

Academic CV example for a professor

DR. ELENA J. MARTINEZ

elena.martinez@brookdale.edu | (312) 555-7864 | Chicago, IL | linkedin.com/in/elenajmartinez | emartinezphd.com

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in English Literature
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Urbana, IL
Completed: May 20XX

Dissertation: “Rewriting the Canon: Southern Identity and Narrative Form in Contemporary American Fiction”
Advisor: Dr. Samuel Ingram

M.A. in English
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Urbana, IL
Completed: May 20XX

B.A. in English, magna cum laude
St. Mary’s College of Maryland — St. Mary’s City, MD
Graduated: May 20XX

Minor in Education Studies

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

Associate Teaching Professor, Department of English
Brookdale College — Chicago, IL
August 20XX–Present

Designed and taught 4–5 courses per semester, including Introduction to Literature, Contemporary American Fiction, and Critical Writing and Analysis
Served as faculty advisor for English majors and capstone research projects
Led department-wide curriculum redesign for general education literature requirement
Organized annual student writing symposium and chaired the Inclusive Teaching Committee

Lecturer, Department of English
Northern Michigan University — Marquette, MI
August 20XX–May 20XX

Taught freshman composition and literature survey courses to diverse student populations
Created scaffolded assignments emphasizing revision, peer review, and digital literacy
Participated in department teaching observations and professional development workshops

Graduate Instructor & Teaching Assistant
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
20XX– 20XX

Independently taught 6 sections of Rhetoric 101/102 and 4 sections of Introduction to Fiction
Received departmental award for Outstanding Teaching in 20XX

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Contemporary American literature, southern identity and storytelling, narrative theory, inclusive pedagogy, digital literacies

PUBLICATIONS

Martinez, E. (20XX). “Storytelling as Resistance: Reframing Southern Narratives in Jesmyn Ward’s Fiction.” Modern Fiction Studies, 67(2), 145–167.

Martinez, E. (20XX). “Regionalism Rewritten: Gender and Space in Contemporary Southern Fiction.” Southern Literary Journal, 49(1), 88–103.

CONFERENCES & PRESENTATIONS

“Teaching Intersectionality through Literature,” Modern Language Association (MLA) Annual Convention – Philadelphia, PA, 20XX
“Reclaiming Regionalism in the Undergraduate Classroom,” American Literature Association – Boston, MA, 20XX
“The Inclusive Canon: Decolonizing the Reading List,” Teaching Literature Conference – 20XX (virtual)

Years of Experience

114

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Seb is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with 10 years of combined experience in career counseling and editorial work. With a MA in International Communications from National Chengchi University (Taiwan), he helps job seekers translate their experience into employer-ready applications for global job markets.

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