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  • How to Write a CV for 2024
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What to Include in Your CV

Here are the 11 primary sections to include in your CV:

  • Contact information
  • CV summary
  • Academic history
  • Research interests
  • Publications
  • Presentations
  • Professional experience
  • Scholarships, honors and awards
  • Languages
  • Licenses, certifications, special skills and achievements
  • Professional memberships or affiliations

Wondering how to create a CV? Save time and hassle by using our CV Builder. Designed with AI-powered tools to auto-suggest phrases and keywords relevant to the industry that you are applying to.

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These sections can be listed differently, depending on which areas you want to highlight. With this in mind, here’s some essential guidance on how to write a good CV, section by section.

How to Write a Professional CV in 7 Steps

1 Format your CV

Your CV format should follow the standard layout to pass ATS scans and maximize readability:

  • 1-1.5 inch margins.

  • 10, 11 or 12-point text.

  • Fonts like Helvetica, Arial or Geneva.

  • Bold and 14-point section headers.

  • Bullet points.

 

2 Add your contact information.

Your CV will begin with your name and contact information. Start with your full name in a prominent and bold font. Then, add your current contact information, including your email and phone number.

contact-information

3 Learn how to write a CV summary.

A CV or professional summary is a three- to four-sentence defining statement that tells employers your expertise and achievements. Keep it concise and relevant by customizing this section to match the job description. Here’s an example:

cv summary or objective

4 Add licenses, certifications, special skills and achievements.

Typically, the first heading of a CV is your education rather than your most recent work experience. Under this heading, include the name of the school, the year you graduated and details such as the title of your dissertation or thesis.

Your CV should list your education in reverse-chronological order. For example, after a Ph.D., list other postgraduate degrees, such as a master’s degree, and then your undergraduate education.

licenses-certificates-skill

5 Detail your professional experience.

Outline your work history with a section that lists the names of all the organizations or companies where you’ve worked, your job titles, the dates of your employment and a summary of your skills and achievements. Include hard, soft and technical resume skills.

professional experience

6 Outline your academic history.

Typically, the first heading of a CV is your education rather than your most recent work experience. Under this heading, include the name of the school, the year you graduated, and details such as the title of your dissertation or thesis. Your CV should list your education in reverse-chronological order. So after a Ph.D., list other postgraduate degrees, such as a master’s degree, and then your undergraduate education. You don’t need to include anything earlier than your college education.

outline your academic history

7 Describe your research interests.

A CV tells the complete story of your academic and professional history, so you can add as much information as you need. Consider including any of the following:

Research interests: If you’re an academic researcher, list your main focus areas.

describe your research interests

Publications: List any publications, including books and peer-reviewed journals. Include a complete citation with the co-authors’ names, publication date and a summary.

Publications

Presentation: Mention lectures, conferences and presentations given. Provide the title, date, venue and a summary of the subject matter.

conference-presentations

Scholarships, honors and awards: Detail any honors, grants, fellowships, scholarships or awards you earned. Write the name of each grant or scholarship, the awarding institution and the date you received it.

honors-award

Languages: It is always an excellent strategy to show your multilingual fluency. Remember to mention your level of mastery.

languages in which you have fluency

Professional memberships and affiliations: Include any relevant professional memberships and affiliations. List each organization’s name, location and the dates of your active membership.

languages in which you have fluency

CV Versus Resume: When to Use a CV?

CV

resumes vs CV template

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Purpose: Resumes are typically used to apply for most jobs. CVs are credential-based and submitted for academic, scientific research and medical positions.

Location: CVs are the standard for job seeking outside the U.S., while resumes are the norm in the U.S.

Focus: A CV details your career, education, awards and scholarships. A resume is a snapshot of your most significant work achievements and skills. 

Length: CVs can run several pages, while resumes usually are one page.

Resumes

resumes vs CV

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When to use a CV?

You would typically need a CV to apply for international jobs. In the U.S., applicants should opt for a CV when applying for federal, academic and research positions. You may also be asked to submit a CV if you apply for a fellowship or grant.

Here are a few of the jobs that may require a CV:

  1. Scientists

  2. Academic researchers

  3. Art curator

  4. Teachers

  5. Professors

  6. Clinicians

  7. Federal jobs

Do’s and Don’ts to Make Your CV Stand Out

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Do’s

  • Take the opportunity to start your CV strong. Use your summary, skills and critical accomplishments to attract the recruiter’s attention.
  • Do focus on the visual appearance of your CV. It should be both visually appealing and easy to read.
  • Always proofread your CV to avoid grammatical errors. Have a second pair of eyes read your CV, not only for typos and spelling but also for general readability.
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Don’ts

  • Avoid being outdated and only use information that is relevant to the job.
  • Avoid light summaries; instead, use the opportunity to create compelling descriptions of your skills and accomplishments.
  • Do not include references or write “References available upon request.”
  • Never lie or exaggerate information on your CV.

CV Tips to Get Noticed by Recruiters

The average time hiring managers or recruiters spend reviewing a CV is six to eight seconds. Additionally, recruitment agencies usually rely on ATS and AI screening tools to scan for candidates. Considering this, let’s review how to write a CV for a job application and the five best tips to get recruiters to notice your CV.

  • Stick to basic fonts.

    As with your resume and cover letter, the first and most important rule when formatting a CV is readability. This means sticking with a basic, sans-serif font such as Helvetica, Arial or Geneva and keeping the body of your text between 10, 11 or 12-point size. (Your name and section headings can be larger.) Make sure you consistently use bold, italic and font sizes to keep your document clean and easy to read by the ATS and hiring managers.

  • Check your margins.

    Set your margins to a standard size: between 1 and 1.5 inches. It may be tempting to make your margins smaller to fit more words on the page, but your CV should run longer rather than sacrifice readability.

  • Use bullet points.

    Because your CV will have considerably more detailed information than your resume, try to summarize and highlight key facts using bullet points whenever possible.

  • Organize with section headers.

    Use section headers to organize your CV so it’s easy to understand at a glance. Make section headers bold and slightly larger font size. For instance, try setting your section headers to 14 if the body of your CV is 10 or 11 points.

  • Use CV templates and examples.

    CV templates are highly customizable. You can use templates as a guide. Follow the prompts to tailor each CV section with key accomplishments and skills. JobHero also features CV examples to empower you with sample text of how other professionals market themselves.

How to Write a CV FAQ

Is a CV the same as a resume?

CVs and resumes include information about your work history, academic background and professional skills. However, a CV is a more detailed account of your entire career. A resume is a concise summary tailored to the specific job you’re applying for.

What should a CV look like?

Although longer, CVs must maximize readability and maintain a minimalistic look to emphasize the critical information you want the recruiters to see. Ensure your CV uses:

  • 1-1.5 margins.
  • Bullet points.
  • Traditional fonts like Helvetica or Arial.
  • Bold section headers.
  • 10, 11 or 12-point text.

What makes a good CV?

A good CV shares these qualities:

  • Defines skills that align with the job requirements.
  • Demonstrates you understand the company’s objectives and can contribute to their success.
  • Proves easy to read and understand.
  • Presents genuine and honest credentials and information.
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