Your curriculum vitae (CV) has to be well-written, tailored to the job, expertly formatted and professionally designed if you want to get a job interview. We’re here to help you understand how to make a CV that shines with our library of professional CV examples for a wide variety of jobs, industries and experience levels.
Our CV samples can help you:
- Learn how to write a custom CV.
- Emphasize your top skills.
- Showcase your accomplishments.
- Format your CV appropriately.
- Avoid common mistakes when building a CV.
CV example breakdown
A good example of a CV will always:
- Display contact details correctly. Your CV must include your name, location, phone number and email address. As our sample CV shows, you must place it at the very top of the CV template. Add links to your LinkedIn profile and professional website or portfolio if you have them.
- Have a professional summary. Also called a CV statement or a CV profile, this short paragraph falls directly under the contact information section of a curriculum vitae. It introduces you to employers while highlighting your most significant qualifications for the job.
- Include a range of skills. Every CV example should have a skills section. Employers want to see a mix of soft skills, hard skills, technical skills, and — depending on your experience level and career goals — transferable skills. Make your CV ATS-friendly by highlighting keywords from the job description that match your abilities. Review your academic and work experience and add other skills you know will help you excel at the job.
- Provide educational details. An education section is a must on a CV. Add the schools you attended, their locations and the dates you were there, in reverse-chronological order, as our curriculum vitae sample demonstrates. There is no need to add your high school diploma unless it is your highest level of education.
- Present professional experience in reverse-chronological order. When writing the CV work experience section, spotlight your key accomplishments rather than your duties. Begin your work history section with your most recent job and work your way backward. Only include employment that is relevant to the position.
Pro Tip
Numbers increase the value of your key accomplishments
When listing your achievements in the employment section of your CV, write them as measurable achievements so employers can see the impact of your work. For example, “Implemented new lab procedure” has less value than “Implemented a new lab procedure that increased overall efficiency by 30%, resulting in 15% fewer mistakes in 3 months.”
Depending on your experience, the job you’re applying for and your industry, you might also look for CV examples that have one or more of the following:
- Publications. Job seekers in science, academic, medical and legal fields should place this section on their curriculum vitae. Include published or pending theses, dissertations, articles, reviews, research, or books.
- Teaching Experience. This section normally applies to job candidates in science, academia and medical professions, but anyone who has any experience teaching topics that pertain to their work should add this section to their CV. Not only does it show depth of knowledge about the job and industry, but it conveys public speaking, leadership and communication skills.
- Research Experience. Job seekers in the sciences, academia, legal, medical, marketing, human services and government who highlight relevant research experience on their curriculum vitae have an advantage over those who do not. Employees with research skills are valuable to employers because they help organizations solve problems, create innovative products and services, and evaluate resources.
- Honors and awards. Potential employers will surely notice an awards section on a CV. It’s a great way to show your most significant achievements — just be sure only to add accolades that pertain to the job.
- Volunteer activities. Applicants can get a leg up by including this section on their CVs because it shows interest in the broader community and conveys a selfless mindset. A desire to give to others selflessly is essential in the medical, educational and legal fields.
- Professional memberships. Some job applicants like to add these to their curriculum vitae to show hiring managers they are invested in their fields.
- Training, certifications and licenses. Suppose you have professional training, certifications, or licenses that have prepared you for the job. In that case, you might consider creating a separate section for them on your CV.
- Presentations. If you have a history of giving presentations or speaking publicly on topics about your field, describe them in this curriculum vitae section.
- Conferences, conventions, or seminars relevant to your industry. Having this section on your CV can help you stand out because it demonstrates your interest and depth of knowledge.
- Languages. No matter what industry you’re in or job you want, showing proficiency in more than one language on your curriculum vitae will get you noticed by prospective employers because it shows your ability to communicate effectively to a diverse range of people. It also hints to knowledge of other cultures and an interest in the world around you.
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CV examples by industry
Get started on the road to success with our CV examples. Choose one below that matches your industry and use our Resume Builder to create a custom curriculum vitae that wows hiring managers. If you’re looking for CV examples for students, find a sample CV below to use as a starting point.
How to use CV examples
A CV example provides many benefits for job seekers. A good CV sample shows you which sections are mandatory and offers ideas for optional sections (e.g., volunteer work), depending on your industry and job title. More than that, they inspire you to organize your qualifications in a way that makes the most impact and show you appropriate ways to format a CV.
Follow these tips to get the most from our CV examples:
- Choose a sample that matches your industry closely.
- Study the example to learn how to write a CV.
- Notice how the CV is formatted.
- Look closely at how skills are organized.
- Take note of skills that closely match your own.
- Choose a CV template.
- Use our Resume Builder to build a custom CV quickly and easily.
More resume resources
Check out our rich library of free articles to learn how to create a job-winning CV.
Resume-writing articles:
Don’t forget to write a cover letter! We’ve got lots of information to help you get started.
Cover letter-writing articles:
FAQ
What is a curriculum vitae?
A curriculum vitae, often called a CV for short, is a document that details a job applicant’s professional and educational history, skills, achievements, and sometimes publications, presentations, research projects and professional affiliations. A curriculum vitae can be any length, depending on the job seeker’s qualifications and work history.
How do I make a CV?
The following steps outline how to make a CV:
- Pick a CV example that matches your industry and job title.
- Follow our tips for how to write a CV.
- Choose a CV template appropriate for your industry and goals.
- Use our Resume Builder to create your custom CV.
- Download your file, save it and send it along with a cover letter.
Are Resume Now’s CVs ATS-friendly?
Yes! Resume Now’s CVs are created by experts who know applicant tracking systems (ATS) pick CVs based on keywords and that they can only read CVs designed and formatted according to specific requirements. That’s why our CV examples and templates use standard fonts, margins, and colors and incorporate clean layouts that are easy for ATS to scan.
What is the difference between a curriculum vitae (CV) and a resume?
The difference between a resume vs CV primarily involves the details. A resume is a one- to two-page document that presents an overview of a job applicant’s employment history, skills, and education. A CV, however, can be much longer than a resume, contain more sections, and provide more details about a job seeker’s qualifications. Also, the rules regarding the order of sections on CVs are less rigid than for resumes.
Do I need a cover letter?
Yes! Always send a cover letter with your job application, no matter how detailed your CV is. It is a great way to introduce yourself to a prospective employer and express your personality. Moreover, a cover letter can help you stand out from the competition because it gives you the space to convey your enthusiasm for the job and tell the hiring manager why you want to work for them.
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