Your Curriculum Vitae Handbook (CV)

Creating documents to showcase your experience is critical to landing new roles throughout your professional career. When applying for jobs, you’ll almost always be writing a cover letter to go along with your resume. However, you may need to consider another type of document to summarize your experience and background. A curriculum vitae, or CV for short, is what it’s called.

In this guide, we’ll look at what a CV is, how to write one with an example, and when a CV is preferable to a resume.

CV or resume? Resume? Should I use a CV or a resume? Which one is it?

While the majority of job applicants are familiar with resumes and will use CV or resume interchangeably, others have career needs that rely on understanding and optimizing the curriculum vitae. So, what exactly is a CV? A CV, like a resume, is a summary of your experience, background, and skills. It is, however, much longer than the concise resume and is not used for the average job application.

A CV is typically multiple pages long, with the length largely determined by your experience. A CV includes your academic background rather than just your work experience. This document contains a wealth of information about your academic experience, degrees earned, and research completed. It frequently includes information about academic publications you’ve written, presentations you’ve given, and any awards you’ve received.

CVs are frequently used by academics seeking a position or by PhDs seeking research opportunities. A CV provides a comprehensive overview of relevant experience for universities or schools.

How to Write a Curriculum Vitae

If you need to write a CV to apply for a job, use the steps below to create a professional document that will help you showcase relevant experience:

Step 1: Gather all of the necessary components.

What information should be included in your CV? When creating your curriculum vitae, make sure to include the following information:

• Contact information such as your address, phone number, and email address
• Educational background, including all relevant degrees earned or in progress
• Previous and current experience
• Honors and awards
• Publications and presentations, both completed and in the works
• Languages and abilities
• Fellowships

Step 2: Spend some time filling in the blanks.

After you’ve created a rough outline of your CV information, go back through and fill in as many details as possible. A CV, as opposed to a traditional work resume, is intended to be a highly detailed overview of your experience. The more pertinent information you can incorporate, the better.

Step 3: Check for errors.

In most cases, you’ll send your resume to a highly specialized board or hiring team. People reviewing your CV will read it carefully, whether you are applying for a professorship or a position at a law firm. Any errors can reflect poorly on you. Use an online spellchecker and have a few trusted colleagues or mentors review the document.

Example of a Curriculum Vitae

If you’re not sure where to start when writing your CV, an outline based on a CV example can help. The example below can serve as a CV template or guide for you. If you choose to use this example as a starting point, make certain that you carefully review all of the details of your CV to ensure that you have replaced all relevant information with your own.

Bonus tip: Creating a CV summary

In addition to writing a CV, you can also create a one to two-page summary of your CV. A curriculum vitae summary is a more concise version of your CV and might be requested when an organization is dealing with a large influx of applicants. For a shortened CV, simply take the most relevant and important details and include a concise version of them.

Frequently Asked CV Questions

You may have additional questions about the use and style of a curriculum vitae as you learn to write it. Check out the answers below to learn everything you need to know about creating a CV.

What exactly does CV stand for?

CV stands for curriculum vitae, which is Latin for “life course.”

What’s the distinction between a CV and a resume?

A resume is a brief document that highlights your work experience and provides a brief summary of your educational background. It emphasizes your competency and job skill sets. Often, you will tailor your resume to a specific role. A curriculum vitae (CV) is a much more detailed document that is used for academic or research purposes. A CV is more detailed and focuses on providing a complete picture of your education and background.

What is the right CV format?

A CV format should be professional. Use a business style template and avoid showy or difficult-to-read fonts. A simple text format will make it easy for both human and computer readers to scan your CV.

How long should a CV be?

A CV should be anywhere from two to twelve pages. The total length of your CV will depend on your experience. For a highly experienced professional with numerous publications, awards, and service work involvement, a CV can become a lengthy document.

When should you use a curriculum vitae?

When applying for an academic position in the United States, a CV is used. When applying for a professorship or other educational opportunity, a CV is usually required. It can also be used in scientific and medical settings, as well as for grant or fellowship applications.

Outside of the United States, some countries use a CV instead of a resume.