How to Write a CV (Curriculum Vitae)

A CV can be two different things depending on the role you’re after. For academic roles, it’s often a long, detailed document. For jobs, it’s usually a shorter summary of your experience.

In this article we’ll walk you through how to write either version.

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What is a CV?

A CV, short for curriculum vitae (Latin for “course of life”), is a document that outlines your professional and educational history. CVs are different from resumes in length, level of detail, and usage depending on where you are in the world.

In the United States, the term CV typically refers to an academic CV, which is used when applying for roles in research, higher education, or fellowships. Academic CVs are comprehensive documents that include publications, research, teaching experience, presentations, grants, and more.

However, in most other countries, the term CV is used more broadly to describe the document you submit when applying for any job — essentially what Americans call a resume.

How to write a CV for a job or academic role

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. Choose an appropriate CV format

Before you start writing, it’s important to choose a CV format that matches both your career goals and the expectations of your industry.

If you’re writing an academic CV, opt for a formal, traditional layout. Academic CVs are expected to look professional and straightforward, with an emphasis on clarity over visual creativity.

For job-focused CVs, you have more flexibility. The level of formality should reflect your field — CVs for finance, law, or government roles should remain formal, while industries like marketing, design, or tech may welcome a more creative style.

2. Clearly list your contact information at the top

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 strong professional summary

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 experience in chronological order

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

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 that highlight your strengths

One of the biggest advantages of a CV over a resume is its flexibility. Unlike resumes, which are typically limited to one page, CVs can be as long as necessary to fully showcase your qualifications. That means you can (and should) include additional sections that support your candidacy and reflect your strengths.

If you’re writing a CV for a job, you might include:

• Skills
• Certifications & licenses
• Volunteer work
• Languages
• Hobbies and interests (if relevant to the company or role)
• Professional memberships

If you’re applying for an academic role, consider including:

• Publications
• Research experience
• Relevant coursework
• Projects
• Conferences & presentations
• Grants & fellowships
• Awards & honors
• References

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:

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:

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

Sample CV for a research role

CV example for graduate students

Academic CV example for a professor