CV Examples to Kickstart Your CV Writing Journey

What is a CV in the first place? CV stands for curriculum vitae, it’s Latin for “course of life.” There are two types of CVs: an academic CV and a European CV.

An academic CV is most commonly used in the United States and Canada. It’s an in-depth document that goes over all your work history, prominently including your teaching experience, fellowships, memberships, research experience, affiliations, educational background and other academic achievements, including mentoring and conference work. It is a document you will only use if you’re applying for an academic job.

However, outside of the United States and Canada and primarily in Europe and a lot of parts of the world, a “CV” will refer to a document much closer to a resume. It may be a one to two-page document that showcases only the most important pieces of your work history and skills.

Because “CV” and “resume” are mostly interchangeable outside of the U.S., this has led some hiring managers in the United States and Canada, especially those with international hiring experience, to use the terms interchangeably. How do you know which document an organization is referring to?

First, look at the job title. If it’s outside the realm of academia, chances are extremely slim that recruiters will be asking for an academic CV. They’ll likely be looking for a more resume-style CV.

It’s also a good idea to consider how the hiring manager refers to it. If you’re talking to someone about a job opening and they say, “Send over your CV and I’ll take a look at it!”, they likely mean a professional resume.

In all cases, if you’re uncertain, always ask for clarification. If you apply with an eight-page CV when the recruiter was expecting a one-page resume, or vice versa, chances are they’ll reject you.

A cover letter is a completely different document from a CV, regardless of which type you’re referring to. A professional CV or resume is a tool that provides insight into your work experience and skill set. A cover letter is a document where you will elaborate on your experiences and achievements and tell the hiring manager why you’re the best person for the job.

If you’re planning to apply for a job, you’ll need both a CV and a cover letter. Use our ResumeHelp Cover Letter Builder to find cover letter templates and examples that will help you.

You can find CV examples on the ResumeHelp website. Here are some great searches to help you get started.

• Social media manager
• Healthcare worker
• Entry-level research assistant
• Graphic designer
• Project manager
• Human resources
• Information technology (IT)

As you can see, it’s easy to find resume examples for any position on our website. This can help you create the perfect CV or resume for any job application.

You can also check out the ResumeHelp website to find CV templates. These templates will ensure that your resume looks beautiful, even if this is your first job.

CV or resume templates will help provide you with a strong appearance for your CV but you’ll need some insight into the structure to write it more effectively. The following sections should appear in a resume or a European-style CV.

Header

Your header should include your full name and contact information, like your email address, phone number and professional social media links, such as your LinkedIn profile.

Resume summary or objective

Your next section is a two- to three-sentence paragraph. If you have a lot of experience, write a resume summary, which highlights years of experience in positions that will help you do better work in this position. If you don’t have a lot of experience, write a resume objective, which highlights your skills and knowledge.

Skills

This section should be a list of 8-12 bullet points that point out specific skills that you’re good at and are in the job description. Highlight both soft skills, which are generalized skills for all jobs, and hard skills, which are specific technical skills that you’ve learned for this particular area.

Work experience

In your experience section, include up to 10 years of relevant experience for the job. For example, if you’re applying for a scientific job, you might include research positions you’ve previously held but you likely won’t include food service jobs. Be sure to list your previous jobs in reverse chronological order, with the most recent job listed first.

Education

Your education section should only include post-secondary courses and should not include your high school experience. It’s also a good idea to steer away from adding your GPA.

Other categories

The “other” category includes any categories common in your industry that aren’t already listed. If many other job seekers in your industry have a “certifications” section, that’s a good sign that you should include it when you create your own.

When you need to create a good CV, it’s best to start with a CV format that looks solid and CV samples that have successfully worked to get others a job they love. You can find both of these elements at ResumeHelp. Check out our Resume Builder to find resume samples, tips and other relevant information to create your own resume or CV.