How to Write a CV: Guide With Template, Examples, & Tips

Between escalating competition, long hiring processes, ghost jobs, and job market uncertainty, today’s job applicants need an edge if they hope to break through the noise and reach recruiters and hiring managers. Knowing how to write a CV correctly can mean the difference between success and failure for any job candidate.

This guide will teach you how to make a CV from start to finish, including:

What Is a CV?

A CV is short for curriculum vitae, which is a detailed document that outlines your full academic and professional history. CV expectations vary by country, so content, length, and formatting norms may differ depending on where you’re applying. CVs are most commonly used for academic, research, medical, or scientific roles, as well as for jobs outside the United States and Canada.

In many cases, a CV is submitted alongside a cover letter that explains your background, research interests, or professional goals in more detail.

CV vs Resume: What’s the Difference?

While the terms “CV” and “resume” are sometimes used interchangeably, they aren’t the same thing.

Here’s how they differ:

A CV typically includes:

• Contact information
• Professional summary
• Education history
• Work experience
• Professional skills
• Publications and presentations
• Awards and honors
• Professional affiliations
• Personal interests (optional)

How to Write a CV in 8 Steps

Follow these eight steps to learn how to craft a CV that clearly communicates your qualifications and experience.

• Step 1:

  Add a Header With Your Contact Information

  Dorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc vulputate libero As in a resume, the top line of a CV should contain your basic contact information. Include your full name along with your current phone number and email address. If relevant, you can also add your professional website URL or online portfolio link.

  Example CV header:

  Jane Smith

  999-444-3333 | janesmith@gmail.com | janesmith.com

• Step 2:

  Write Your Professional Summary

  Your professional summary appears at the top of your CV and allows you to introduce yourself to the hiring team in one to four sentences. In this mini-bio, focus on highlighting your most important qualifications for the role, industry, and career that you’re targeting. You should also mention what type of position, setting, and organization you prefer.

  Example CV professional summary:

  Professional Summary

  Sales and marketing manager with over 3 years of experience in digital sales and marketing seeks to bring creative problem-solving and leadership skills to a marketing manager role at a Big Tech company in a fast-paced environment. Proven ability to increase web traffic by 50% through SEO and social media strategies. Expertise in managing multichannel campaigns to support company growth, backed by a bachelor’s degree in sales and marketing.

• Step 3:

  Detail Your Education History

  Like most resumes, a CV should contain details about your education. Because many academic positions specifically require a CV, the section describing your educational history should be more robust in a CV.

  List the most recent academic degree you’ve earned, and continue in reverse chronological order for any subsequent degrees. Also include any degrees you’re currently pursuing.

  For each entry, include these details:

  • Degree type
  • Graduation date (or expected date; include only if you graduated recently)
  • Institution name and location
  • GPA (optional unless required; include only if it’s 3.5 or higher)
  • Academic honors, thesis, or dissertation

  Example CV education history:

  Education

  Master of Business Administration (MBA) | June 2024 
  Stanford University | Stanford, CA

  • Thesis: “AI’s Influence on Supply Chain Optimization”

  Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics | May 2023
  University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI 

  • Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude
  • GPA: 4.0
• Step 4:

  Describe Your Work Experience

  Your CV should include a detailed work experience section with roles listed in reverse chronological order, including internships and volunteer work. Add two to three bullets per position that highlight key achievements, using strong action verbs and numbers when possible.

  Example CV work experience:

  Marketing Assistant
  Innova Tech, San Francisco, CA | June 2022–Present

  • Supported 11 successful client campaigns through market research.
  • Increased social media engagement by 20% through targeted campaigns.
  • Analyzed web traffic data to identify 5 key engagement trends.
• Step 5:

  List Your Relevant Skills

  A CV skills section is just as important as a resume skills section. Use the job description as a guide to determine which of your professional skills the hiring manager is looking for.

  Some skills that might be relevant to specific opportunities or occupations include:

  • Hard skills, such as cloud computing, programming languages, and technical writing
  • Soft skills, such as attention to detail, problem-solving, and time management
  • Transferable skills, such as adaptability, conflict resolution, and digital literacy
  • In-demand skills, such as AI and machine learning, data analysis, and critical thinking

  Example CV skills section:

  Skills

  • Technical: Google Analytics, Salesforce, Microsoft Office
  • Interpersonal: Communication, collaboration, conflict resolution
  • Management: Customer relationship management, project management, budget tracking
  • Languages: English, Spanish
• Step 6:

  Include Publications & Presentations

  CVs are often used to apply for academic and research positions, so they should include all of your completed publications and presentations, as well as any upcoming ones. List these in reverse chronological order.

  This section can contain:

  • Peer-reviewed journal articles you’ve written for or contributed to
  • Books and book chapters you’ve authored or coauthored
  • Research reports and theses
  • Online publications
  • Industry conference lectures and presentations
  • Panelist appearances
  • Keynote speeches
  • TEDx Talks

  Format your list of publications using common citation guidelines, such as MLA or APA style. For presentations, include the presentation title, event name, location, and event date.

  Example CV publications and presentations:

  Publications

  • Reed, J. (2022). The Impact of Social Media on Business Marketing. Journal of Business Technology, 12(3), 112–128.
  • Reed, J. (2021). Advanced AI Techniques. Journal of Data Science, 8(1), 45–60.
  • Reed, J. (Forthcoming). Ethical Conundrums in Machine Learning. AI & Society Review.

  Selected Conference Presentations

  • Reed, J. (2023, October). Challenges in Predictive Modeling. Invited Keynote, Dreamforce, San Francisco, CA.
• Step 7:

  Add Awards & Honors

  Include any professional, academic, volunteer, military, or personal awards and honors on your CV, listing them in reverse chronological order. Focus on awards that relate to your role or highlight leadership, innovation, or strong performance. Include grants, scholarships, or fellowships here or in a separate section if you have several.

  Other types of awards may include:

  • Employee or volunteer of the month/year 
  • Sales, project, or top performer awards
  • Awards from professional associations 
  • Service excellence awards
  • Leadership recognition 
  • Technical competition or hackathon wins
  • Inclusion on prestigious lists (e.g., Forbes 30 Under 30 list)
  • Dean’s List, Latin honors, and inclusion in honor societies (e.g., Phi Beta Kappa)

  Example CV awards and honors:

  Awards & Honors

  • Fulbright Scholar (2024)
  • Dean’s List, University of Tennessee (2020–2022) 
  • National Bioscience Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2021–2023)
  • Best Innovative Research Award, Annual Chemistry Symposium (2022)
• Step 8:

  Consider Optional Sections

  Including additional sections related to your accomplishments or personal interests, particularly if relevant to a particular role, can give you a connection point with a recruiter, hiring manager, or others on the hiring team.

  Consider adding these optional sections:

  • Professional memberships
  • Certifications and trainings
  • Community service
  • Consulting work
  • Conference attendance
  • Fieldwork
  • Study abroad experience
  • Scholarships, fellowships, or grants (if you didn’t include them under awards and honors)
  • Personal interests and hobbies

  Example CV personal interests section:

  Interests: International Travel, Puzzles, Guitar, Marathon Running, Cooking

Quick Tips: Formatting & ATS-Friendly CV Best Practices

As you learn how to make a CV, keep these formatting pointers in mind, which address both ATS-friendly formatting and general visual appeal for human reviewers.

CV Template

Now that you know the basics of how to write a good CV, use the template below to draft and customize your CV for the job you want.

CV Example

Here’s a detailed example of a CV for a marketing manager:

Customizing Your CV for Different Contexts 

A CV can be adapted for many opportunities, from academic and research roles to international positions. The key is to adjust your content, structure, and emphasis to align with the language and priorities of each role and its job description.

Below, you’ll find practical ways to tailor your CV for three common contexts.

• 

  Academic Positions 

  To customize your CV for an academic job, tailor relevant sections like teaching, education, and research to mirror the specific role you’re applying for. Use keywords from the job ad, highlight relevant coursework and skills, and organize your CV sections to emphasize strengths for the institution you want to work at.

  Strategically highlight your work experiences to show how they directly relate to the challenges a specific academic program is facing. By doing so, you’ll show the hiring team you’re a strong institutional fit and boost your chances of a successful job match.

• 

  Research Roles

  Customize your specific research-related skills to match the language in the job description. You can also reorder elements in your CV to place research experience, interests, and skills higher up on your CV.

  Consider crafting a dedicated “Research Skills” section with relevant subcategories, such as lab techniques, data analysis, AI, and computer skills. Quantifying your impact in your work experience section is even more important for a research role, so include numbers, percentages, and metrics to prove the outcomes and scale of your work.

• 

  International Applications

  For international jobs, you must showcase your international experience clearly in your professional summary and work experience sections. Localize your CV’s content as needed, paying particular attention to elements like language proficiency and visa status.

  Additionally, you should research your target country’s norms, including:

  • Photos: Some countries require CV photos, while others discourage them. Check local norms before including a photo.
  • CV length: Different countries have their own requirements about the number of pages to include in CVs.
  • Personal details: In some countries, birth dates and/or marital status are expected on CVs.
  • Language: If you’re submitting a CV in the local language, translate accurately and use localization tools. Add Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels for languages.

Common Mistakes & Pro Tips

Learning how to write a strong CV takes time. Avoiding common mistakes and following a few proven best practices can help you create a CV that’s clear, polished, and easy for employers to evaluate.

3 Common CV Mistakes

Here’s how to avoid some typical errors that trip up many job seekers:

3 Pro Tips for CV Writing

Here are some pro tips on how to write a CV that can help you get called in for job interviews:

Learning How to Write a CV Can Land You a Job

Crafting a strong CV can make the difference between getting the job you want and not. Review the eight steps above, use the CV template and CV examples, and follow expert formatting guidance to set yourself up for job search success.

Once your CV is polished, you can easily adapt it into a tailored resume using a resume builder. Monster’s Resume Builder makes it simple to create multiple versions for different roles, highlight your most relevant experience, and optimize your application for ATS software.