While writing a resume is commonplace when it comes to applying for a new job, there are certain roles that may call for a curriculum vitae (CV). Though this document does serve a similar purpose as a standard resume, its overall composition will differ. You will also find that the content of a CV will focus less on traditional work history and more on education, published works, special honors, and other achievements.
Knowing how to write a CV is necessary for gaining employment in certain industries, which is why we have compiled a few tips for writing yours. Learn more about what a CV is, key differences from resumes, and see easily customizable templates that you can use on your job search.
Key Takeaways:
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There is no length requirement for a CV, but it should be long enough to depict your entire professional experience while be concise.
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Avoid adding any unrelated skills or gaps in your work history.
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To help tailor it to the job you are applying to, you can write a summary statement.
What is a CV?
To better understand what a CV is, we can start with the definition. Curriculum vitae is a Latin phrase meaning “course of life”, giving its first indication that the document is highly detailed. A CV is a credential-based document, meaning that it will include your research, certifications, and any affiliations with professional memberships.
For perspective, a resume is competency-based and will focus more on skills and prior job roles. In short, a CV is a document that gives an overview of your accomplishments with a focus on academics.
When to Use a CV Instead of a Resume
Unsure of whether to submit a resume or a CV? The good news is that you typically will not have to guess–it will be directly expressed in the job posting. If you do happen to run across a job listing that gives you the option to submit one or the other, there are a few factors to help you determine which is best for your job market.
CVs are typically relevant to recruiters when applying for jobs in academia, science, law, and/or medicine. Essentially, any field in or outside of academics that requires heavy research may need a curriculum vitae. When you consider how much time graduates spend researching and presenting for these career paths, it becomes clear why there is a document focused on these areas. Getting published is also an accomplishment that many graduate students focus on, and its also something that recruiters are interested to see.
You may also want to opt for a CV versus a resume when applying for fellowships and grants. These application packets will require more extensive details on awardees and the criteria is often based on merits or academic success. A CV is also more common when applying for international positions, with most countries preferring this document over an American resume.
What to Include in a Curriculum Vitae
When you start writing your curriculum vitae, there are a few points that you want to make sure to include. Similarly to a resume, you will include basic contact information, skills, and professional experience. You can also customize your CV to the position that you are applying for by writing a summary statement tailored to the job. Your CV should outline all of the following as they relate to your professional accomplishments:
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Contact information
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Education experience
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Work experience
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Research experience
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Teaching experience
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Honors and awards
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Presentations
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Volunteer experience
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Conference attendance
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Publications
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Grants or funding
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Memberships/Affiliations
This is a comprehensive list of the types of information that can be included in your curriculum vitae. You may find that certain sections can be combined or forgone altogether. For example, some candidates may have dedicated sections for “teaching experience” and “research experience” but not include a “work experience” section. Determining which sections to showcase on your CV will depend on your unique experiences but use this list as a starting point.
What Not to Include
Being that a CV is often longer than a standard one-page resume, it is easier for job seekers to get carried away with what they include. While you want to keep your curriculum vitae focused on the aforementioned points, you should also be actively avoiding certain components.
Starting from the top of your document, make sure you do not include personal or sensitive information. That means no date of birth or social security number. You also do not want to include a contact email address that is unprofessional.
In your statement, avoid mentioning your desired salary or any information regarding your last position. This short statement should be tailored to who you are as a candidate and what you have done.
The body sections of your curriculum will vary, but here are tips for what can generally be left off of your CV:
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Don’t include unrelated skills.
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Don’t address gaps in work history.
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Don’t discuss hobbies that are not relevant to the position.
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Don’t use the present tense for previous experiences.
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Don’t use hard to read fonts.
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Don’t include intricate design elements such as charts, tables, or images.
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Don’t include a photograph unless specified in the posting.
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Don’t include short-term employment unless your work history is limited overall.
How Long Should a CV Be?
We all know how tough it can be to write a one or even two-page resume, especially if you have an extensive work history. One of the distinguishing features of a curriculum vitae versus a resume is that there is not a strict length requirement.
Instead, aim to make sure that your document accurately depicts your entire professional experience while still being as concise as possible. Keep the CV do’s and don’ts in mind, and you should have an effective letter. That being said, most entry-level job seekers can accomplish this within two to three pages, with one survey finding that 91% of recruiters prefer two. Of course, more established job seekers with numerous publications or additional accolades may easily surpass this benchmark.
Curriculum Vitae Examples
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CV example:
ROBIN LEE 345 Maple Road Charlotte, NC 28277 | rlee@email.com | 123.456.7890 (Cell) Award-winning researcher and lecturer focused primarily on abnormal psychology studies. Published twice in the Psychology Today Journal and received multiple honors for early childhood education methodologies.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Psychology, June 2019 — FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, Tallahassee, FL
MA in Psychology, June 2015 — FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, Tallahassee, FL
BA in English (Emphasis: Literature), May 2013 — UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, College Park, MD
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEAdjunct Lecturer, Department of English, FSU
June 2019 — June 2020Literature Tutor, Department of English, FSU
August 2015 — June 2019TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Lecturer, Florida State University- Psychology of Motivation, Psychology 2311
- Research Methods, Psychology 334
- Abnormal Psychology, Psychology 3500
PUBLICATIONS
- Lee, Robin. “Abnormal Psychology Methods on Young Adults.” Dissertation.
- Study of M. La Rue, Experimental Psychology Standards for Psychology Today Journal 5 n. 6 (2017), 250-27.
- Review of T. Madison, Early Childhood Methodology for Psychology Today Journal 8 n. 9 (2019), 122-15.
HONORS / AWARDS
- Frank Prize, 2020
- Abnormal Psychology Leadership Award, 2018
- FSU Mentorship Award, 2018
- Psychology Institute Study Abroad Fellowship, 2017
MEMBERSHIPS / AFFILIATIONS
Society of Clinical Psychology
American Psychological Foundation
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Medical CV example:
DONALD TILL M.D 134 Lattice Drive Frederick, MD 21701 | dtill@email.com | 123.456.7890 (Cell)
EDUCATION
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), June 2016 — Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaB.S. in Biochemistry, magna cum laude, June 2012 — Duke University
HONORS / AWARDS
- Stanley N. Cohen Biomedical Research Award, 2014
- William Osler Patient-Oriented Research Award, 2013
- University of Pennsylvania Dean’s List, 2008 – 2012
EXAMINATIONS
USMLE Step 1, May 2014
USMLE Step 2 CK, May 2016
WORK EXPERIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, Department of Dermatology
Research Assistant (2015-2016)Assisted Mae Smith, M.D. in research and publication of “Dermatologist’s Treatment of Onychomycosis”.
DUKE UNIVERSITY
Resident Assistant (2010-2012)Provided guidance and resources to assist undergraduate residents with the transition to university life.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Volunteer
American Medical Student Association, UPENN (September 2014 — June 2016)-
Vice President, May 2015 — June 2016
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Organized Dermatology Today summit, September 2015
Hospital Volunteer
Langston Dermatology Outreach Clinic (June 2014 — June 2016)Volunteered in community outreach rotation for uninsured patients.
LANGUAGES
English (native speaker)Spanish (bilingual oral and written fluency)
MEMBERSHIPS / AFFILIATIONS
International Society of Dermatologic Surgery, 2016 – present
International Society of Dermatology, 2017 — present
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Academic CV example:
TYLER SMITH 3435 Elevation Street Tampa, FL 33606 | tsmith@email.com | 123.456.7890 (Cell)
RESEARCH INTERESTSAfrican American Literature, African Literature, Diasporic Literature
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in African American studies,
2019 — University of California Berkeley.
Dissertation: Pioneering Africa: Exploring Black Culture in the 20th Century
Ashley Ramirez, Chair
M.A. in African American Studies, June 2015 — University of California Berkeley
B.A. in African American studies, June 2013 — University of California Berkeley
WORK HISTORY
Adjunct Lecturer: University of California Berkeley, Department of African American Studies, September 2018 to Present.
PUBLICATIONS
Smith, Tyler. “Dissecting the African Experience in America,” Black Literature Today 12(3): 27-37.
Smith, Tyler. “Connecting to Black Culture,” Black Literature Today: 12(3): 21-33.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
2020. Smith, Tyler. “What is the Diaspora Today?.” Black Literature Association Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
2019. Smith, Tyler. “Recurring Themes in African-American Literature.” African Literature Annual Conference, Dallas, TX.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Lecturer, University of California Berkeley-
African American Literature, AFRICAM 3331
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Women in Black Literature, AFRICAM 3350
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African American Poetry, AFRICAM 4339
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of California Berkeley
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Multicultural Communities AFRICAM 2501
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Race, Identity, and Culture in Urban Schools AFRICAM 2610
HONORS / AWARDS
Leadership Award for Community Arts amp; Service, 2018
VèVè Clark Institute for Engaged Scholars Program, 2017
Black Literary Leaders award, 2017
MEMBERSHIPS / AFFILIATIONS
African American Culture Society
American Society of Journalists and Authors
American Comparative Literature Association
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Appropriate Curriculum Vitae Format
The format of your curriculum vitae is just as important as your resume or cover letter. Make sure that your CV has a consistent font and font size, though headers can be bolded and slightly larger. Some of the most common fonts are Times New Roman, Calibri, and Arial for their readability. Proper margins also assist with overall readability, with the ideal measurement being between 1-1.5 inches.
You also want to structure your CV so that sections are aligned and appear relatively similar in length. For example, you would not want to have five bullet points under your first work experience and then only provide one bullet point underneath the next.
All of your sections should list your experiences in chronological order, no matter which sections you choose to include. The document should present a timeline of your accomplishments to the reader. The final step to ensure that your CV is written correctly is to proofread. Read over it yourself and also get a second or third person to provide feedback as well.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
Expert
Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.
