Professional Curriculum Vitae (CV) Format Guide With Examples
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Ensuring your CV is formatted well is crucial to getting your job application past applicant tracking systems and into the hands of those who hire. Below, we’ll cover how to format your CV correctly and give you some examples of CV format.
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CV Layout: Structure Your CV
A CV, or curriculum vitae, is a detailed account of your academic and professional life. While a CV is highly customizable, there are five required sections:
- Contact information
- Personal statement
- Work experience
- Academic history
- Skills
Let’s review them one by one.
1Contact information
This one is easy but no less important. Your contact information should be prominent at the top of your CV so the recruiter can contact you quickly. Include the following information:
- Full name
- Professional title
- Phone number
- Address
- LinkedIn profile
2Personal statement
A personal statement, similar to a professional summary or objective, is a short paragraph at the top of your CV summarizing your top skills, achievements and goals. Incorporate keywords from the job description and action verbs to grab the reader’s attention quickly. Here’s an example:
3Work experience
The work experience section of your CV can include your past roles and provide details on your responsibilities and accomplishments. Start with your most recent position and list your professional history in reverse-chronological order. When explaining your achievements, try using numbers to impress the hiring manager. Here’s how it should look:
- Developed and implemented new microbial testing protocols, resulting in a 20% reduction in testing time and a 15% increase in laboratory efficiency.
- Led a research project focused on identifying and characterizing foodborne pathogens in fresh produce, leading to the publication of two peer-reviewed articles in renowned scientific journals.
- Collaborated with the quality assurance team to establish corrective actions for microbial contamination issues, reducing product recalls by 25% within one year.
4Academic history
Format your academic history using the following order:
- Degree title
- University name
- Dates
- Honors or thesis (if relevant)
5Skills
Creating a skills section for your CV is simple. Carefully read the job description and identify key skills the employer is looking for. Then, list six to eight hard, soft and technical skills relevant to the role you’re applying for.
6Optional sections
Since a CV is a complete look into your academic and professional history, you can add many sections. Here are a few:
- Awards and honors
- Publications
- Projects
- Certificates
- Extracurricular activities
- Professional organizations
- Languages
- Volunteering experience
PRO TIP:
Most jobs requiring a CV are law, academia, research, medicine and government. We recommend adding publications and awards sections to your CV format to stand out.
How to Format a CV
A well-formatted curriculum vitae can help you pass applicant tracking systems (ATS). This is the correct CV format for a job:
- One-inch margins on all sides.
- 1.0 or 1.5 line spacing.
- The same font throughout the document.
- 11-12 pt font size for standard text and 14-16 for section titles and headers.
- Include all required CV sections.
- Bullet points for details.
CV Format Examples
Simple CV format
Professional CV format
Creative CV format
PRO TIP:
Need help finding what you are looking for? Check out our complete library of CV templates to find the best one for you.
How to Choose the Best CV Format
There are two CV formats to choose from. Select the one that best suits your career goals:
- Chronological CV format: This layout focuses on your work experience. Candidates with a rich professional history will stand out and most likely pass an ATS test.
- Functional CV format: For job seekers changing careers, with employment gaps or new to the job market, this format works well as it highlights their skills. It is less likely to pass an ATS test, but it helps you stand out if you have minimal work experience.
Key Takeaways
CV Format FAQ
What is the difference between a CV and a resume?
A CV and a resume differ in four ways:
- Purpose: In the U.S., a CV is typically only used to apply for academic, research, law and medical roles, while a resume is used to apply for most jobs.
- Location: Most employers will ask for a CV outside the U.S. and Canada instead of a resume.
- Focus: A CV showcases your entire academic and professional history, while a resume summarizes your work experience and qualifications to give the employer a snapshot of your career.
- Length: CVs can be up to five pages long, while a resume should be one page only.
How do I write a CV?
Our complete CV writing guide has all the tools and tips you need to create a top-notch curriculum vitae.
What is a simple CV format?
A straightforward CV format has the following elements:
- Professional header with contact information
- Personal statement
- Professional history
- Academic experience
- Skills section
- Publications
- Awards and honors
- Optional sections: certifications, conferences, professional affiliations, languages and volunteer work
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Last edited by: Amaury Gonzalez - September 06, 2024