Understanding CV Format
To understand the format of a CV or Curriculum Vitae, it’s important to first acknowledge the different meanings a CV can have around the world.
In the United States, a CV is typically used for academic, medical, scientific, and research positions. It is often more extensive and detailed, running several pages long because it includes sections such as publications, presentations, grants, and fellowships.
A CV in many other countries, particularly in Europe and parts of Asia, is often used for a wider range of job applications, similar to a resume in the U.S. It is typically more concise than the U.S. CV, often limited to 1-2 pages, depending on the country.
Therefore, depending on your position, industry, and geographic location, your CV’s format may contain slight differences, but every CV should have the following sections:
Other optional sections include:
- Certifications and training
- Professional affiliations
- Industry awards
- Languages
- Publications/Links to portfolio
- Volunteer experiences or relevant hobbies
CV Formatting Guidelines
Additionally, every CV should follow these basic formatting guidelines:
- One-inch margins
- 10 to 12 point font for body, 14 to 16 for headings
- Clear, consistent, professional typeface such as Arial or Times New Roman
- Single or 1.15 spacings
- Bullet points with clear, concise language
- One to pages long, unless otherwise specified
- Save PDF and DOC file versions
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3 Types of CV Format
When you begin to write, it’s important to know there are three types of CV formats:
- Chronological: Also known as the reverse chronological format, this is the traditional approach to writing a CV where work experience is the main focus on the document.
- Skills-based: The skills-based CV format is almost identical to the chronological, but, like a functional resume, devotes more attention to skills with an additional section labeled “Skills Summary”.
- Combination: The combination, or hybrid, CV format uses elements from reverse chronological and skills-based CV types, with a balanced focused between skills and experience.
Chronological CV Format
Structure:
- Contact information
- Personal statement
- Work history
- Relevant skills
- Additional sections such as awards, certifications, and volunteer experience
Skills-based CV Format
Structure:
- Contact information
- Personal statement
- Skills summary
- Relevant skills
- Work history
- Additional sections such as awards, certifications, and volunteer experience
Combination CV Format
Structure:
- Contact information
- Personal statement
- Relevant Skills
- Work history
- Education
- Additional sections such as awards, certifications, and volunteer experience
How to Format a CV
To effectively format a CV, you will need to fill in each section with the appropriate information of relevant qualifications.
Contact Information
Your CV should have the following contact information:
- Full name.
- Professional job title.
- Location (city, state/country).
- Email address (make sure your email is professional).
- Phone number.
- LinkedIn profile.
- Other professional social media or website links.
A CV’s contact information is found at the top of the page as a separate header. Make it easy for employers to understand and try to have your name stand out without it being distracting.
Here’s an example of what that would look like:
John Doe
1234 Elm Street
City, State, ZIP Code
Email: john.doe@fake.example.com
Phone: (123) 456-7890
LinkedIn: fake.linkedin.com/in/johndoe
View some of our CV templates to get a better idea of what format to use.
Personal Statement
The personal statement comes after your contact information on your CV. It is a brief yet engaging introduction to the value you offer as an employee.
There are two types of personal statements you can use:
- CV summary: A CV summary focuses on your past experiences and achievements.
- CV objective: A CV objective states your goals, skills, and relevant educational background.
Choose a CV summary over a CV objective when possible. This is because a CV summary can provide specific details that validate your qualifications, boosting your value as a potential employee.
In either case, use the personal statement section of a CV to grab the reader’s attention and make them want to learn more about you. It should act as the “elevator pitch” that gets your foot in the door.
Therefore, your personal statement must be:
- Clear and concise (no more than 100 words).
- Professional in tone.
- Tailored to the job you are applying to.
- Quantifiable with its achievements or skills.
To give you a better idea, here is an example of a good CV summary:
“Energy consultant with a PhD in Ecology, specializing in avian migration. Over 15 years of experience for multiple Fortune 500 companies in 11 countries. Highly organized, experienced in five different project management software systems, and versed in programming languages Python and R.”
Work Experience
For the work experience of your CV, use the following format:
- Reverse chronological order. List your most recent professional experience first and work backward from there.
- State your job title, company name, and dates of employment.
- Use bullet points to list responsibilities and achievements, with quantifiable data when possible.
- Use buzzwords from the job description to make your CV relevant and ATS-friendly.
- Demonstrate your value by showing how your responsibilities led to certain achievements, such as “Managed team of 15 analysts and coordinated growth in productivity by 25%”
Together, a work history section on a CV may look something like this:
Marketing Manager
ABC Corporation, City, State
January 2018 – Present
- Developed and implemented marketing strategies that increased brand awareness by 40% and sales by 25% within the first year.
- Managed a team of 10 marketing professionals, overseeing project timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
- Conducted market research and analysis to identify new business opportunities and target markets.
- Collaborated with the sales team to create and execute lead generation campaigns, resulting in a 30% increase in qualified leads.
Education
The educational experience of your CV is straightforward. Its goal is to show that you have the proper academic and educational qualifications for the position. This section will contain the following:
- Institution name.
- Type of degree.
- Area of study.
- Location of institution
You may include your graduation date, but only do so if required or if you are a recent graduate. Otherwise, the graduation date can provide information about your age, which can negatively influence hiring biases.
Additionally, you can list information such as honors and achievements if they help you stand out as a qualified candidate. Or, you can place them in a separate section, as long as you have the space.
Here is an example of an education section on a CV:
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
University of Example, City, StateBachelor of Science in Marketing
State University, City, State
Skills
When tailoring your CV to a specific job, list desired skills. Your skills section will help reinforce your qualifications for the role. This means there should be a combination of:
List your skills in bullet form and being mindful of the amount of space it takes up on the page. In general, focus more on technical and hard skills, as soft skills are harder to prove on a CV (use your cover letter and interview for that).
Here is an example of how to format the skills section on your CV:
Skills
- Strategic Marketing Planning
- Project Management
- Market Research and Analysis
- Social Media Marketing
- Content Creation and Management
- Lead Generation
- Team Leadership
- Data Analysis
- SEO and SEM
- Email Marketing
Remember to look for skills in the job description and use these keywords to help your resume stand out, especially with ATS.
Additional CV Sections
Some CVs are more extensive than others. This is particularly true in academia and research fields in the United States.
Whereas in the rest of the world, a CV is treated the same as a resume, in the US, it is expected for your CV to provide a comprehensive list of all your professional and academic experiences.
It is also possible that certain jobs may request more information. In any case, additional sections to a CV include:
- Awards
- Affiliations
- Certifications
- Publications
- Grants and fellowships
- Conferences
- Volunteer experience
- Relevant hobbies or interests
- Languages
Here’s a brief example of how some additional sections on a CV can look:
Certifications
- Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) – Digital Marketing Institute, 2020
- Google Analytics Certified – Google, 2019
- HubSpot Content Marketing Certification – HubSpot, 2018
Awards
- Marketing Campaign of the Year – ABC Corporation, 2021
- Employee of the Month – XYZ Inc., August 2016
- Dean’s List – State University, 2010-2012
CV Format Tips
As you format your CV, here are some great tips to keep in mind:
1. Keep It Professional and Consistent
- Font: Use a professional, easy-to-read font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
- Font Size: Use 10-12 point font for the body and 14-16 point for section headers.
- Margins: Use standard one-inch margins on all sides.
- Spacing: Use consistent spacing between sections and entries, usually 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing.
2. Organize Your Sections Logically
- Order: Place sections in a logical order. Typically, start with contact information, followed by a professional summary or objective, education, professional experience, skills, and additional sections like certifications, publications, and volunteer work.
- Headings: Use clear, bold headings to differentiate each section.
3. Tailor Your CV to the Job
- Keywords: Use relevant keywords from the job description. This helps with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and shows you’re a good fit for the role.
- Focus on Relevance: Highlight experiences and skills most relevant to the job you’re applying for.
4. Highlight Key Achievements
- Quantify Achievements: Use numbers to highlight your accomplishments (e.g., “Increased sales by 20%” or “Managed a team of 10”).
- Bullet Points: Use bullet points to list responsibilities and achievements for each job to make it easy to read.
5. Be Clear and Concise
- Avoid Jargon: Use clear, simple language and avoid industry jargon unless necessary.
- Conciseness: Be concise and to the point. Remove any unnecessary information.
6. Include Contact Information
- Complete Information: Ensure your full name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable) are included.
- Avoid Personal Details: In the U.S. and many other countries, avoid including personal details such as age, marital status, or a photo unless specifically required.
7. Proofread and Edit
- Check for Errors: Carefully proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
- Consistent Formatting: Ensure consistent formatting throughout the document, including date formats, bullet points, and indentation.
8. Use a Simple Layout
- Avoid Graphics: Keep graphics and fancy fonts to a minimum. They can be distracting and may not be ATS-friendly.
- Clean Design: Use a clean, professional design. Avoid too many colors and complex formatting.
9. Add Optional Sections Wisely
- Additional Sections: Add sections like publications, certifications, professional memberships, or volunteer experience if they enhance your candidacy.
- Relevance: Ensure these sections are relevant to the job you are applying for.
Helping Job Seekers Like You
Try Our CV Examples
Do you have a specific job or industry in mind? Then look at our downloadable CV examples that provide an easy-to-use format to write your next CV!
Key Takeaways
- A CV is formatted with the following sections: personal contact information, professional summary, work history, education, and skills.
- You can provide additional sections if you have relevant qualifications, such as awards, certifications, and volunteer experience.
- Most CVs are only one to two pages long; however, academic CVs and other special types may be more comprehensive and up to several pages long.
FAQ
A curriculum vitae, or CV, is a document that details your professional and academic experiences. It is meant to highlight your qualifications as an employee. In most countries outside the United States, the CV is synonymous with a resume.
However, in the United States, a CV usually refers to an academic CV, a comprehensive record of all your academic and professional experiences. In this case, a CV is used for academic and research positions. When an employer requests a CV, carefully understand what type of CV they mean.
The best format for a CV is the chronological format. This CV type focuses on work history, where each relevant professional experience is listed in reverse chronological order. This means your most recent job will be listed first, followed by your next most recent experience.
The chronological CV format is the best choice because it shows how your work experience qualifies you for the position you are applying for.
Recruiters and employers highly value this because it provides tangible evidence of your skills, especially when you include quantifiable achievements.
The five main parts of a CV are:
- Contact information
- Personal statement
- Work history
- Education
- Skills
These sections allow you to summarize your qualifications for a job position neatly.
If you have the space, you can add sections for relevant information, such as awards, certifications, trainings, or volunteer work.
There are three CV formats: chronological, skills-based, and combination. The chronological CV focuses on your work experience, while the skills-based CV draws attention to your skills. The combination, or hybrid, CV format balances a focus between work history and skills.
The skills-based CV is good for those who don’t have a lot of professional experience or are changing careers. This is because the skills-based CV draws attention to your skills and away from lack of experience.
However, because most recruiters and employers highly value experience, the skills-based CV is recommended for someone with less experience to show their qualifications through their work history.
You should write a CV instead of a resume when applying for jobs outside the United States. You may also need to write a highly detailed CV for academic and research positions.
