How to Write a CV
A CV (curriculum vitae) is a complete record of your academic and professional life — and it's a different document from a resume. This guide walks through exactly what to include, how to order it, how long it should be, and how the rules change by region. When you're ready, you can draft yours free in the CV Builder.
1. Start with the right document
Before writing a word, confirm you actually need a CV and not a resume. A resume is a concise 1–2 page summary tailored per job (standard in the US and India for industry roles). A CV is comprehensive and multi-page, standard for academic, research, and scientific roles and for many applications in the UK, Europe, and the Gulf.
2. Header and contact details
Put your full name and professional title at the top, followed by contact details. For academic and research CVs, include the identifiers reviewers actually use:
- Email, phone, and location (city, country)
- ORCID iD and Google Scholar profile for researchers
- LinkedIn and a personal website or portfolio, where relevant
- A photo only if the local norm expects one (Europe, Gulf, some academic systems)
3. Profile or research statement
Write 3–5 sentences summarising who you are, your focus, and your strongest signal — years of standing, research area, or notable contributions. Use the third person or an impersonal voice, avoid buzzwords, and mirror the vocabulary of the role. The CV Builder can draft this for you with AI Generate.
4. The core sections (and how to order them)
Order sections by strength for the specific role. A typical academic CV runs:
Education
List degrees in reverse-chronological order with institution, dates, and thesis titles. For academic CVs this often comes first.
Appointments & experience
Positions held, with organisation, dates, and a short description of responsibilities and impact. Use active voice and quantify where you can.
Publications
The heart of an academic CV. Group by type — journal articles, books, chapters, conference papers, preprints — use one consistent citation style, and highlight your own name in the author list.
Grants, teaching, and conferences
Add Grants & Funding (title, funder, amount, year, your role), Teaching Experience, and Conferences & Talks. These demonstrate independence and standing in your field.
Skills, languages, memberships, and references
Close with relevant skills and methods, languages with proficiency levels, professional memberships, and references (or “available on request”).
5. Length and formatting
Don't force a CV onto one page — that's a resume rule. Aim for completeness while staying scannable:
- Use clear section headings and consistent date formatting
- Keep one citation style throughout the publication list
- Choose an ATS-friendly template if software will screen it
- Export to PDF to lock the layout; keep a Word copy for systems that require it
6. Tailor for the region
Norms vary: US and UK CVs omit photos and personal data; European CVs (and the Europass style) often include a photo and more personal detail; Gulf applications frequently expect a photo and nationality. Pick a template that matches — for example, the International CV template includes a photo, while ATS CV omits it.
7. Draft it fast, then refine
You don't have to start from a blank page. In the CV Builder you can import an existing CV (PDF, DOCX, or TXT) and the AI extracts every section, or generate your profile statement and position descriptions, then edit everything to your voice. Browse CV templates or see CV examples for inspiration.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a CV be?
A CV is as long as it needs to be to present your full record — typically 2–4 pages for early-career applicants and longer for established academics with extensive publications. This is the key difference from a resume, which stays to 1–2 pages.
What should I put at the top of a CV?
Your name, professional title, and contact details (email, phone, location), plus relevant identifiers like ORCID, Google Scholar, or LinkedIn. Follow with a short profile or research statement.
What order should CV sections go in?
After your header and profile, lead with whichever section is strongest for the role: education and publications for academic CVs; appointments and experience for professional CVs. Place references last (or note "available on request").
Should I include a photo on my CV?
It depends on the region. Photos are common on European, Gulf, and many academic CVs, and discouraged in the US and UK to avoid bias. Match the local norm of where you are applying.
How do I list publications on a CV?
Group them by type (journal articles, books, chapters, conference papers, preprints), use a consistent citation style, list authors in order, and bold or underline your own name. Number them if the list is long.
