Medical CV
Those pursuing an MD or applying for physician roles benefit from submitting a medical CV that highlights research, publications, laboratory experience, and experiences gained during residency.
What Is a CV? Meaning Examples
A CV, or curriculum vitae, is a detailed record of your education, experience, and achievements. Learn how to create a CV, and explore examples for every career stage.
by Gabriela Hernandez, Last Updated: February 26, 2026
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Whether you’re applying for academic roles, research positions, or medical jobs, understanding what a CV is and how it differs from a resume is essential.
Learn what a curriculum vitae is, when to use one, and how to create a CV that effectively highlights your experience, education, and professional achievements.
What Is a Curriculum Vitae?
A CV, or curriculum vitae, is a job application document that recounts your complete career profile, from your work history to detailed academic achievements. CVs are extensive documents that you should update regularly to showcase all your new accomplishments, skills, and experiences.
Depending on the country, a CV will mean different things and suit different types of job seekers.
What Does a CV Mean in the U.S.?
In the United States, a CV is a job application document similar to a resume, but it’s reserved for a select few jobs. CVs in the U.S. are mainly used to apply to jobs in medicine, law, academia, or entertainment, where your entire education and experiences are relevant.
What Does a CV Mean Internationally?
Outside the U.S., the CV is the standard document used by all job seekers to apply for any job, regardless of industry. Sometimes, “resume” and “CV” are used interchangeably, depending on the country where you apply. For instance, an employer asking for a one- or two-page CV generally means a resume-like document.
Although the resume and the CV share the same purpose of helping you land a job, in the U.S., they differ in many aspects.
What Is a Resume?
A resume is a concise job application document that highlights your most relevant work experience, skills, and accomplishments. Unlike a CV, a resume is typically one to two pages long and tailored to each specific job application.
You can read more about CV vs resumes on this page, or you can skip ahead and get a customized curriculum vitae tailored to your desired job with the help of our CV Maker.
What’s the Difference Between
a CV & a Resume?
CVs and resumes are job application documents used in and outside the U.S. for different purposes. Check out this comparison below to help you determine which document is suitable for you.
CV
Resume
If a resume sounds better suited to your needs, check out our Resume Builder, which will create a fully customized resume tailored to your job’s specifications.
Top Jobs That Require a CV
Although the resume is the most widely accepted job application document in the U.S., a handful of industries will expect you to apply with a more traditional curriculum vitae.
Legal CV
In law, CVs are standard for students, graduates, and attorneys, highlighting cases, research, conferences, and key publications that firms expect.
Education CV
Education professionals benefit from an academic CV that highlights their degrees, achievements, and teaching experience for roles like principal, professor, or superintendent.
Research CV
Research roles often require a CV to showcase your research experience, publications, fellowships, and grants, whether in academia, a lab, or a research firm.
If you’re applying for any of these industries and need to write a curriculum vitae, explore our customizable CV examples for your desired job.
The Correct CV Format
How you format a CV will depend on your job or industry. Unlike resumes, which have three resume formats you can choose from, you can combine any of the 12 standard CV sections to create countless custom CV formats.
- 1
Contact Information
- 2
Personal Statement
- 3
Work Experience
- 4
Education
- 5
Key Skills & Qualifications
- 6
Industry Awards
- 7
Certifications
- 8
Publications
- 9
Professional Affiliations
- 10
Conferences Attended
- 11
Additional Training
How to Write a CV
If you want to write a CV from scratch, follow these expert tips to make the most of your curriculum vitae and land that dream role.
1
Organize Contact Information
First, ensure all the necessary contact information is placed clearly and neatly at the top of your CV. Add the following details:
- Your full name
- Phone number
- City and state of residence
- Digital portfolio, LinkedIn, or any relevant socials (optional)
2
Write a CV Summary to Impress Recruiters
Impress recruiters by writing a CV summary that features your most job-relevant qualifications. For example, a few achievements you can include here are:
- Your job title
- Years of experience
- Area of expertise
- Prestigious fellowships or grants
- In-demand skills for your industry or role
Check out this CV summary example for inspiration:
“Experienced economics professor with 9 years of dedicated service in higher education. Demonstrated expertise in economic theory, curriculum development, and innovative teaching methods. Proven track record of research and publications in respected academic journals such as the Quarterly Journal of Economics. Passionate about mentoring students in their educational and career pursuits. Adept at interdisciplinary collaboration and with strong communication skills for effective knowledge dissemination.”
3
Include a Detailed Work Experience
Include a work history section where you showcase every job you’ve had in your respective field.
The format for this section should include the following:
- Job title
- Employer
- Location
- Employment dates
- Three to four bullet points describing key achievements
A way to maximize this section is to understand the difference between responsibilities and accomplishments. When writing your CV’s work experience section, replace generic job duties with unique achievements that set you apart.
Another way to boost your CV is to include numbers (such as dollar amounts and percentages) that substantiate your achievements, known as quantifiable accomplishments.
Check out how these tips are applied to a CV work experience section:
Research Assistant | IU Health University Hospital – Indianapolis, IN 03/2018 – 9/2025
- Conducted over 300 PCR assays, achieving a 98% success rate, significantly contributing to the efficiency of genetic sample analysis and accelerating research timelines.
- Assisted in publishing a groundbreaking research paper, cited over 50 times, which investigated the genetic basis of a rare disorder, making substantial strides in understanding the condition’s underlying mechanisms.
- Played a pivotal role in managing the lab’s budget, resulting in a 15% cost reduction through efficient procurement practices while maintaining the quality and availability of essential research supplies.
4
Mention Relevant Core Qualifications
When you’re debating a resume vs CV, one defining characteristic of the curriculum vitae is the core qualifications section. Similar to a combination resume format’s summary of qualifications, the CV’s core qualifications section shows potential employers a preview of your most relevant professional skills.
This section consists of a few professional skills or succinct phrases detailing your skill set and how you applied them throughout your previous experiences.
You should use this section to include relevant keywords from the job description. Identify the skills and qualifications that appear on the job description that you possess. You should be showcasing them front and center on your CV.
Check out this example of core qualifications in a CV:
Core Qualifications
- Advocacy of human rights
- Intercultural communication expertise
- Strong litigation skills
- Levelheaded and calm under pressure
- Leadership, management and negotiation skills
5
Showcase Educational Achievements
In a CV, the education section is one of the most important and should include a detailed overview of your most impressive accomplishments.
Your CV’s education section should include the following:
- Degree title
- College or university
- School location (city and state)
- Graduation date (optional for recent graduates)
If you have multiple degrees, list them in reverse-chronological order—meaning you start with your most recent degree and work backward.
Other details you can add to customize your education section include:
- Your GPA
- Dean’s List
- Honors and awards
- Relevant coursework
Check out this example of a CV’s education section:
Education
Master of Arts in Caribbean Literature
Harvard University — Cambridge, MA
Honors: magna cum laude, Recipient of The Lurcy Fellowship 2022
Bachelor of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies
University of Puerto Rico — San Juan, PR
Minor in Literature
6
Customize With Additional CV Sections
Once you complete these five main CV sections, you can customize your CV with sections relevant to the role.
For instance, a lawyer might add sections for their publications, research experience, and teaching experience. A translation professor might benefit more from including sections for languages, conferences, and affiliations.
Here are some of the sections to include in a CV:
- Publications
- Research experience
- Teaching experience
- Teaching skills
- Languages
- Affiliations and memberships
- Conference participation
- Conference attendance
- Certifications and licenses
- Grants and fellowships
- Awards and honors
CV Examples
Are you looking for more inspiration? Check out these CV examples for different jobs and experience levels.
Economist
Lab Director
Lawyer
Librarian
Nurse Practitioner
Physician
Principal
Professor
Research Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Television Writer
Translator
1/12
Key Takeaways
- “CV” stands for curriculum vitae, or “course of life.” A CV is a job application document that provides a detailed overview of your education and career achievements.
- In the U.S., resumes are more prevalent, but CVs are used for jobs in academia, law, entertainment, medicine, research, and education.
- Internationally, CVs are the standard job application document for all types of jobs. These CVs may resemble traditional resumes in both content and length.
- A CV typically includes a job seeker’s contact information, a summary, a core qualifications section, work experience, and education. Depending on the desired role, a CV should include additional sections like publications, research experience, teaching experience, conferences, awards and honors, and more.
- The easiest way to write a CV is by utilizing a tool like our CV Maker, which creates personalized content based on your desired job title and experience.
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