How to Write a CV: Step by Step Guide & Examples

Academic, medical, research, and international roles often require a CV instead of a standard resume, with more detailed sections covering your full qualifications and experience.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to write a professional CV step by step, including how to structure each section, tailor your content to the job, and highlight your most relevant achievements.

Watch this quick tutorial to learn how to create a CV using LiveCareer’s CV builder:

What Is a CV?

A CV (curriculum vitae) is a document that outlines your academic and professional accomplishments in detail. It’s similar to a resume but typically more comprehensive, and it’s used in different contexts depending on the country.

In the U.S., resumes are more commonly used and are typically shorter. CVs are usually required only for academic, medical, or research roles that emphasize education and publications. In many countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa, CVs are the standard application document for most professional roles.

The key differences between CVs and resumes include length, structure, and regional use:

CV

• Used for academic, medical, and international roles
• Typically longer than a resume (often two to 10+ pages)
• Includes more detailed sections, such as publications and research
• Flexible formatting depending on the industry, role, and candidate background
• May include profile photos, depending on country conventions

Resume

• Used primarily for job applications in the U.S. and Canada
• Typically one to two pages long
• Focuses on relevant experience and skills rather than full academic history
• Usually follows one of three formats: chronological, functional, or combination
• Shouldn’t include profile photos

If you’re applying to U.S.-based companies, you should create a concise, tailored resume instead of a CV. If you need to write a detailed CV for academic, medical, or international roles, the next sections will guide you through the process.

How to Write a CV for a Job Application

To write a CV, organize your qualifications into five essential sections: contact information, summary, work experience, skills, and education. Additional sections can be added depending on your industry, experience level, and career goals.

Here’s a breakdown of key CV sections to consider:

1. 1

   Contact information/header

2. 2

   Personal statement

3. 3

   Work experience

4. 4

   Education

5. 5

   Key skills and qualifications

6. 6

   Research

7. 7

   Industry awards

8. 8

   Certifications

9. 9

   Publications

10. 10

    Professional affiliations

11. 11

    Conferences attended

12. 12

    Additional training

The five core sections form the foundation of a CV, while optional sections allow you to highlight specialized experience, such as research or publications.

Step 1

Add Your Contact Information in the Header

Your CV header should include your contact information so employers can quickly identify and reach you. You should typically include your:

Here’s an example of a properly formatted CV header:

Step 2

Write a Professional Summary With a Persuasive Pitch

A professional summary is a three- to five-sentence overview of who you are, what you specialize in, and your most relevant qualifications for the role. Your professional summary should typically include your:

A strong professional summary helps hiring managers quickly understand your background and decide whether to read the rest of your CV. Using clear and confident language, focus on your key strengths, core expertise, and most relevant achievements. For example: 

Here’s another example of how to write a good CV professional summary: 

If you have limited experience, use an objective statement to focus on transferable skills, career development, and academic goals. Here’s an example:

Pro Tip

Your professional summary is one of the most important sections to tailor for each job application. Focus on in-demand skills and relevant achievements that match the role description.

Step 3

List Your Work Experience in Detail

Your CV work experience section should list your relevant roles in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent position. Each work experience entry must include the following information:

Here's an example of how to format your work history section:

Here’s another example CV work history entry: 

You can use LiveCareer’s CV Maker to help structure your work experience section and generate ideas for achievement-focused bullet points, which you can then tailor to your own experience.

Here are a few tips to make your work experience section stand out:

Step 4

 Share Your Key Skills & Qualifications

Your skills section should highlight the abilities most relevant to the role you’re applying for, including technical, academic, and transferable skills that match the job description. Tailoring this section helps employers quickly see how your background aligns with the role’s requirements. For example:

Here’s another example of a skills section for a research-focused academic CV:

Step 5

Showcase Your Educational Achievements

Your education section should present your academic background in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent degree. Include the institution name, degree title, location, and dates of study, along with honors, distinctions, or relevant coursework. For example:

For academic or research-focused CVs, you can also include thesis titles or dissertations to highlight specialization and demonstrate expertise.

You may include graduation dates as part of your education section, especially for recent qualifications, but some candidates choose to omit undergraduate graduation dates due to regional practices or to reduce potential hiring bias. You can also include an expected graduation date if you’re currently completing a degree or transferring to a new program.

Here’s another example education section for a CV:

Step 6

 Customize Your CV With Additional Sections

Additional CV sections allow you to highlight specialized experience that goes beyond your core education and work history. Depending on your field, these may include publications, research experience, certifications, conference presentations, awards, professional memberships, or volunteer work.

For example, a social advocacy role may benefit from volunteer work, presentations, and participation in relevant conferences. Below are the most common additional CV sections and how to structure them.

Research Experience

Use a research experience section to highlight academic or professional research relevant to the role. Include project titles, roles, methodologies, and key outcomes that demonstrate your impact.

Example:

Publications

Include a publications section if you have multiple academic or professional works. List entries in reverse-chronological order using a consistent citation style and include titles, coauthors, publication details, and dates where applicable.

Example:

Teaching Experience

Use a teaching experience section to highlight instructional roles alongside your primary career. Include institutions, courses taught, dates, and key responsibilities, focusing on teaching impact and curriculum involvement.

Example:

Affiliations & Memberships

Include professional affiliations and memberships, and highlight any leadership roles, such as officer or committee positions.

Example:

Certifications & Licenses

Include certifications and licenses relevant to your field, especially those that demonstrate ongoing professional development. List certifications in reverse-chronological order with certification name, issuing body, and date earned.

Example:

Languages

Include languages you speak and indicate your proficiency level, as language skills can strengthen your CV in roles requiring multilingual communication.

Example:

Conferences

Include conferences you’ve attended or presented at to demonstrate professional development and active engagement in your industry.

Example:

Grants & Fellowships

Include grants and fellowships to highlight recognition of your academic or professional work and external validation of your expertise.

Example:

Awards

Include awards and honors to demonstrate recognition of your achievements by peers or professional organizations.

Example:

Templates to Kickstart the CV Writing Process

A CV template is a preformatted document that helps you create a CV quickly by providing a ready-made structure and design. Select one of the CV templates below to customize it with your own information.

These CV templates are designed to be visually clear, easy to read, and professional.

Recent studies show that 98% of employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen CVs before they reach a hiring manager. Using a well-structured template can help improve readability and compatibility with these systems.

You can also check your CV for ATS compatibility using our free ATS Checker to identify formatting or keyword issues before applying.

Complement Your CV With a Cover Letter

Many employers ask for or encourage a cover letter when you submit a CV. A cover letter complements your CV by explaining your motivation for the role and highlighting key qualifications in a more personal, narrative format.

Benefits of Submitting a Cover Letter With Your CV

Writing a cover letter allows you to go beyond your CV by adding context to your experience and explaining why you’re a strong fit for a specific role.

Pro Tip

If you want guidance on formatting and phrasing, you can use our Cover Letter Generator to structure your letter and tailor your content to the job description.