What to Include in a CV in 2024

A CV is an application document that provides a comprehensive overview of your educational and professional history. It’s also known as an academic CV because it’s used to apply for graduate school and for jobs in teaching, research, and science.

Academic CVs can be challenging to write because they include a lot of sections that aren’t used in a standard resume.

To find out how to format your academic CV and what to include, watch our video below where we walk you through writing the perfect academic CV:

In this article, you’ll find:

• What to include on your CV
• Some (downloadable) examples of what a CV should look like
• Answers to the most common questions about what you should include on a CV

Here’s what you should include in a CV:

1. Contact information

Just like a resume, your CV should include your name and contact information clearly at the top of the page. Add your address, email address, and phone number. You can also include a LinkedIn URL if your profile is up-to-date.

Using an eye-catching header is a great way to get a hiring manager’s attention and make your application more memorable. Your name should appear as a header on every page of your CV.

2. Personal profile

A personal profile is a great addition for students applying for graduate programs or academics who don’t have much professional experience.

Use 3-4 sentences to fill readers in on your academic achievements, experience, and professional goals. Here’s an example:

Ambitious researcher with a strong academic background and a passion for advancing knowledge in the field of bioinformatics. Recognized for receiving the Outstanding Research Paper Award at the International Conference on Genomics and Bioinformatics. Seeking opportunities to pursue a Ph.D. program and further expand expertise in computational biology and genomics.

3. Education

In your education section, include your

• degree titles,
• institutions where you attained them, and
• your dates of attendance.

You should also list your thesis and dissertation in your education section.

If you don’t have much experience yet, you can add some other details to demonstrate your academic achievements, such as your GPA, scholarships, or relevant coursework.

4. Professional appointments

Professional appointments include any positions you’ve held in academia. For each one, include

• your title,
• the institution and department,
• the dates you were employed, and
• 3–5 bullet points outlining your key responsibilities and accomplishments.

5. Teaching experience

List all of your teaching experience in this section. Include

• the course title,
• the institution and department,
• level of study (undergraduate/graduate) and
• when you taught the course.

6. Presentations

If you’ve given any formal presentations, this is where to put them. For each presentation, list the

• title of your presentation,
• where you gave the presentation (event and location), and
• the date.

7. Grants and fellowships

If you’ve earned any grants or fellowships, include

• the name of the grant or fellowship,
• the awarding body, and
• when you received it.

8. Academic awards

Show off any academic awards you’ve been given by listing

• the award name,
• the awarding body or institution, and
• when you got the award.

9. Research

If you have extensive research experience, demonstrate your research skills in a dedicated section. You should list

• your position title,
• the name of the institution,
• the dates you worked there, and
• an overview of your research in a few bullet points.

10. Publications

If you have publications to include on your CV, create a list of citations using the preferred style of the institution or field you’re applying to (and be consistent).

If you have a lot of publications, you can divide them further into subcategories by type.

11. Conferences

Add a conferences section to your CV if you’ve attended several, for each including

• the conference name,
• the institution where it was held,
• the location, and
• the date.

12. Licenses and certifications

To show you’re a true professional, list all of your licenses and certifications on your CV. This should include the

• certification name,
• certifying organization,
• location, and
• date awarded.

13. Professional associations

If you’re a part of any professional associations, list them on your CV simply by including the name of the organization.

14. Areas of expertise

In this section, list your top professional skills and areas of knowledge.

15. References

It’s common to include references on a CV, so feel free to add a reference or two, including

• the name and degree of your reference,
• their title (or relationship to you),
• the institution’s name and address, and
• the phone number and email address of your reference.

What does a CV look like?

To get a better idea of what goes on a CV, take a look at these professional cv examples:

Research CV example

Here’s an example of a research CV:

Download This Free Example

Grad school CV example

Here’s an example of a CV for applying to grad school:

Download This Free Example

The best free CV templates

Need to make a CV? The best way to start is by downloading one of our free CV templates and filling it in with your information.

Browse CV Templates

Frequently asked questions about what to put on a CV

If you’ve got more questions about what goes on a CV, you’re not alone. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions:

What should I include in a personal profile on a CV?

You should include a brief summary of your key qualifications for the program or position. While personal profiles aren’t required on CVs, they can be a good way for candidates with less experience to give the selection committee information about who they are, what they’ve achieved, and where they want to go.

If you’re a more experienced professional but want to include a professional bio, provide an overview of your research, areas of expertise, and overall teaching philosophy.

What skills should I include on a CV?

You should include the skills that are most relevant to the position you’re applying for on your CV. Here’s a list of great skills for a CV:

• Leadership
• Research
• Collaboration
• Data analysis
• Verbal communication
• Writing and editing skills
• Academic writing
• Public speaking
• Organization
• Mentorship
• Language skills
• Computer skills
• Project management

What shouldn’t I include on a CV?

Here’s what you shouldn’t include on a CV:

• A photo
• Any personal information (such as age, race, gender, etc.)
• Your high school education
• Any previous employment that’s unrelated to academia
• Any graphics or images – keep it simple and professional
• Creative fonts that make your CV more difficult to read
• Institution or field-specific jargon that the reader may not understand
• Unnecessary administrative information (like course codes)
• Too much detail – keep any descriptions of your work concise

What should I include on a research CV?

In addition to the sections mentioned above, you can also include a “Research Interests” section on your research CV.

Here are some additional tips for creating a strong research CV:

• Keep the focus on your research experience by placing research projects and positions near the top of your first page, and your research-related publications and presentations to follow.
• Make sure to showcase any grants you were awarded. Research always requires adequate funding, so any past experience securing grants looks really good on your CV.
• Target the position you’re applying for as much as possible by demonstrating familiarity and experience with the techniques and methods you’d be using in the new position.

If you want to see another sample, check out our research assistant CV.

What should I include on a scientific CV?

Aside from the sections mentioned above, here’s what you should include on a science CV:

• Specialized skills (you can turn this into its own section)
• Job-targeting keywords that show employers you’re a perfect match for the position

Remember to highlight your publications and research sections by featuring them prominently on your CV.

What should I include on a graduate school CV?

Applying for graduate school is a competitive process, so take the time to format your CV well. While you may not have much experience to list under sections like teaching, publications, or presentations, you can still make a compelling CV by focusing on showcasing your academic achievements.

Here’s what you should include on a graduate school CV (where applicable):

• Contact information
• Education (degrees, GPA, thesis, study abroad programs, relevant coursework)
• Employment (only employment that’s relevant to your field of study – include research positions and internships)
• Teaching experience (any TA positions)
• Honors and awards
• Grants and fellowships
• Conferences
• Presentations
• Any relevant extracurricular activities or club memberships
• Any relevant volunteer positions or community service

Build My CV

Our free-to-use 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.