CV Templates

What is a CV (Curriculum Vitae)?

CV (short for Curriculum Vitae) is the Latin word for “course of life.”

In a nutshell, a CV is a summary of who you are as a professional, including your work history, education, and skills. Done right, a CV is supposed to “sell you” to potential employers and land you a job.

#2. What’s the Difference Between a CV and a Resume?

Technically speaking, a CV and a resume are the same exact document, the only difference being that Americans call it a “resume,” whereas Europeans (and most other countries) call it a CV.

Here’s the catch, though.

A European CV can be between one and three pages long, depending on your career level and work experience.

A US resume, on the other hand, should (optimally) not be longer than one page (or two pages maximum, if you’re a seasoned professional with a lot of work experience to show for it).

For more on the CV vs Resume topic, check out our article.

How to Write a CV?

There’s a lot that goes into writing an attention-grabbing CV, so you’re better off reading our comprehensive guide to improve your chances of getting hired.

That said, here are some effective tips to get you started:

1. Pick a CV template that works for you and suits your industry.

2. Get the CV layout right by keeping your section headings consistent, leaving enough white space around the margins, and using a professional font.

3. Add all the must-have contact details (e.g. name, job title, phone number, and email), as well as other relevant contact details, such as your LinkedIn profile.

4. Include a concise CV summary that highlights your top achievements to grab the hiring manager’s attention from the get-go.

5. Show off your work experience by including as many quantifiable achievements as possible.

6. Keep your education section short and to the point by only mentioning your highest degree.

7. List each and every soft and hard skill you have that is relevant to the job.

8. Include optional CV sections, such as certificates and awards, languages, personal projects, or hobbies and interests.

9. Follow the tips in our CV builder to help you polish your CV.

What to Include in a CV?

Some of the essential sections to include in your CV are:

• Contact Information - This is where you include all your contact details, such as your phone number, email, name, title, and relevant social profiles (e.g. LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.).

• Resume Summary (or Resume Objective) - A three-four sentence summary of your experiences, key skills, and top achievements that is positioned at the top of your resume.

• Work Experience - All your relevant job positions, starting from your current or most recent job and going backward in time from there. The work experience section is also where you list your achievements and/or responsibilities for each role.

• Skills - A list of any hard and soft skills you possess that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

• Education - This section should mirror your education history. If you’re not a recent graduate with little-to-no work experience, you should keep it short by only including your highest and most recent degree.

• Optional section - Anything else that may improve your chances of getting hired, such as your awards, certificates, personal projects, internships, foreign languages you speak, etc.

How to Make a CV With No Experience?

If you’re a recent college graduate applying for an entry-level position, you likely have little-to-no work experience to add to your CV - and that’s totally OK. The hiring manager won’t expect you to have much work experience anyway.

There are other things you can add to your CV to stand out from other applicants, such as:

• Academic achievements

• Completed internships

• Volunteering experience

• Personal projects

• Hobbies and interests

How Long Should a CV Be?

For most jobs, a CV can be between one and three pages.

That said, we always recommend keeping your CV short and to the point (i.e. one page long). The more concise you make your CV, the more likely it is for the hiring manager to read it from start to finish.

If you’re based in the US, though, and you’re applying for a job or admission in academia, your CV can be as long as it needs to reflect your lengthy academic career (i.e. eight pages or more).

What’s the Best CV Template in 2024?

There’s no one-fits-all answer to this question. A better one to ask is: what’s the best CV template for you?

Here’s our take on this:

• Applying to a company that values innovation and creativity? Pick a creative CV template.

• Are you applying to a more conservative company, such as a bank or law firm? Pick a more traditional and professional CV template.

• Does the company you’re applying for fall somewhere between the two types we mentioned? Then pick a modern or simple CV template.

Top Tips for Picking a CV Template

If you’re still having trouble picking the perfect CV template for you, check out some tips that can help you get it right:

1. Consider and understand your industry and its standards.

2. Take into account the culture at the company you’re applying for.

3. Think about the image you wish to project as a candidate.

4. Assess your chosen template in terms of presentability and reader-friendliness.

5. Think about which CV sections carry the most weight. Pick a template that puts extra emphasis on them.

6. Make sure to pick a CV template without graphics, symbols, or any other unnecessary visuals.

7. Make sure the template you choose has space for a photo (if you’re planning on including one, anyway).

8. Finally, choose a template that feels right for you and that you genuinely like!