How to write a professional CV: 2025 Guide + CV Examples

A professional CV format is integral to a successful job search. Employers are looking for candidates who excel in a professional context, and your CV should demonstrate that you do. Even if you have great skills and years of experience, you won’t score an interview if you don’t have a great CV.

To write a professional CV, make sure to use a strong format, the right details, and compelling work experience. To help you get ready for your next job application, here’s our guide to writing a professional CV.

Recommended links:

1. Our collection of 500+ professional resume examples.
2. Our gallery of 20+ downloadable resume templates.

What is a CV?

A CV is a document that lists your work history, education, skills, and achievements. Employers use CVs to assess your qualifications for a job. CV stands for “Curriculum Vitae,” which means “course of life” in Latin and is typically more detailed than a resume.

The exact content of a CV can vary by industry and location. Most CVs contain a Work History section, an Education section, and a Skills section. Other sections can be included as well.

You give your CV to an employer when you apply for a job. The employer then reads your CV and uses it to decide whether or not to bring you in for an interview.

A good CV is integral to your job search. A professional CV format can be the difference between scoring your dream job and being rejected.

What is the difference between a CV and a resume?

The main difference between a CV and a resume is length and purpose. A CV provides a detailed account of your academic and professional history, often used for academic or research roles. A resume is shorter, typically one page, and tailored to specific job applications.

In the USA, resumes and CVs are technically two different things. A resume is a short document, usually one or two pages, with a summary of your qualifications for a particular job. A CV is a longer document, usually used in academia, with a detailed account of your previous positions, academic achievements, and research publications.

In the UK, there is no distinction between the two things, although the word CV is much more common. Here, both words usually refer to the shorter, less detailed document.

When you build your CV, it’s important to know exactly what you’re writing. Employers have very specific requirements, and it’s important to make sure you know exactly what kind of CV you need to submit.

How to write a CV

Follow these five key steps to create a professional, job-ready CV that stands out to recruiters and hiring managers.

Step 1: Choose a professional CV format

• Use a clean, easy-to-read layout that matches your industry.
• Select a CV builder with templates suited to your role.
• Prioritize structure and readability to showcase experience effectively.

Step 2: Research the company you’re applying to

• Visit the company’s website and review their mission, values, and team.
• Check their LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram for updates and culture insights.
• Use Glassdoor or Salary.com to understand expectations and reviews.
• Align your CV language and tone with the company’s brand and voice.

Step 3: Customize your CV content

• Tailor each CV to the job description using keywords and relevant skills.
• Highlight specific achievements that match the company’s needs.
• Add sections like Publications, Certifications, or Patents where appropriate.
• Reflect the company’s tone and culture in your writing.
• Read more: Customize Your Resume For New Job Applications.

Step 4: Write an effective work experience summary

• Focus on measurable achievements over daily tasks.
• Use action verbs like led, built, increased, and implemented.
• Add data when possible (e.g., “Improved retention by 20%”).
• Include job title, company, dates, and 3–5 concise bullet points.
• Make your experience stand out.

Step 5: Make sure your contact information is correct

• Add name, phone number, email, city, and LinkedIn or portfolio links.
• Double-check for typos or formatting errors.
• Use spell check, read aloud, and get feedback from a colleague.
• Avoid common errors: Resume mistakes to avoid.

What to Include in a Professional CV

A professional CV should be clear, complete, and tailored to the job you’re applying for. Include the following sections to meet employer expectations:

• Contact Information: Full name, phone number, professional email, city, and links to relevant online profiles (e.g. LinkedIn or personal website).

• Work Experience: A reverse-chronological list of past roles with job title, company name, dates, and key achievements in bullet format.

• Education: Degrees or diplomas, institution names, and graduation years. Add honors or academic details if relevant to the role.

• Skills: A concise list of core competencies relevant to the position—both technical and soft skills.

• Publications (optional): Include academic articles, research papers, or professional publications with correct citation format (important for academic CVs).

• Certifications (optional): List any industry-recognized certifications or licenses not covered in your Education section.

• Volunteering (optional): Relevant unpaid roles that demonstrate leadership, community engagement, or transferable skills.

• Memberships (optional): Participation in professional associations, industry organizations, or leadership roles in clubs.

How to Write the Contact Information Section of a CV

The contact section is one of the most important parts of a CV—it tells employers who you are and how they can reach you. This section should be simple, accurate, and professionally presented.

• Place your contact details at the top of the document, either left-aligned or centered. It should be the first section a hiring manager sees, positioned above your summary or work history.

• Include the following key information:

  • Full name: Use your professional or legal name. Avoid nicknames or informal abbreviations.
  • Professional email address: Use a clean, professional email (e.g., firstname.lastname@email.com). Avoid outdated or casual addresses.
  • Phone number: List a number where you can be reliably reached. Include a country code if applying internationally.
  • City and country: Include your current location to help employers assess your proximity or relocation flexibility.

• Add links to relevant online profiles:

  • A LinkedIn profile is widely accepted and recommended.
  • Include a portfolio website if you’re in a creative, tech, or freelance field (e.g., UX designer, developer, writer).
  • Only add other platforms (like Twitter or GitHub) if they showcase your professional expertise.

• Avoid unnecessary personal information, unless it's standard in your location:

  • Do not include age, marital status, gender, or a photo in CVs for countries like the USA, UK, or Canada.
  • In countries such as Germany, France, or the UAE, a photo or date of birth may be expected—research local norms before submitting.

• Double-check everything for accuracy:

  • Spelling errors in your email address or a missing digit in your phone number can prevent employers from contacting you.
  • Broken links or outdated portfolio URLs should be updated before submitting your application.

How to Write the Work Experience Section of a CV

The Work Experience section is the centerpiece of most CVs. It demonstrates your professional background, highlights accomplishments, and shows how your experience aligns with the role you're applying for.

• List your roles in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent job and working backward. This format is preferred by most hiring managers because it emphasizes current and relevant experience.

• Include the following for each job:

  • Job title: Use clear, recognized titles that reflect your responsibilities.
  • Company name: Include the full company name; you can add a brief description if it’s not well known.
  • Dates of employment: Use consistent formatting (e.g., Jan 2021 – Dec 2023).
  • 3–6 bullet points: Focus on accomplishments and outcomes, not just duties.

• Write bullet points that highlight measurable achievements:

  • Start each point with an action verb (e.g., led, developed, implemented, streamlined).
  • Include metrics where possible (e.g., “Reduced processing time by 20%,” “Increased monthly sales by $15,000”).
  • Showcase impact over tasks—this gives employers insight into your capabilities.

• Tailor the content to your industry:

  • For tech roles, emphasize project outcomes, tools used, and problem-solving.
  • For management roles, highlight leadership, team performance, and cost savings.
  • For creative roles, link to portfolios or describe the scope of campaigns or deliverables.

• Avoid generic descriptions:

  • Instead of “Responsible for customer service,” say “Resolved 100+ customer inquiries weekly, maintaining a 95% satisfaction rating.”
  • Instead of “Managed team,” try “Managed 8-person cross-functional team, improving project delivery time by 25%.”

• If you have employment gaps or a non-linear career path, consider using a Functional or Combination format. These formats help emphasize skills and achievements over strict timelines.

• Keep formatting consistent and clean: Use the same font, spacing, and bullet style throughout. Make the section easy to scan, especially for recruiters reviewing multiple CVs quickly.

How to Write the Education Section of a CV

The Education section gives employers insight into your academic background and qualifications. While it may carry less weight than work experience in some fields, it’s a crucial part of any complete CV—especially for early-career professionals or academic-focused roles.

• List your education in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent degree. This allows hiring managers to see your highest level of education first.

• Include the following for each entry:

  • Degree or diploma: Use the full name of the degree (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering).
  • Institution name: Include the official name of the university, college, or school.
  • Graduation year: If you’re currently enrolled, you can list “Expected [Year]” or “In progress.”

• Optionally include additional academic details, especially if relevant to the job:

  • GPA: Add only if it’s 3.5 or higher and expected in your industry (e.g., finance, law, consulting).
  • Honors and distinctions: Mention if you graduated cum laude, received a dean’s list recognition, or earned academic scholarships.
  • Relevant coursework: Useful for students, recent graduates, or applicants switching fields. Focus on job-aligned subjects.
  • Research projects or thesis titles: Include if applying to academic, scientific, or technical roles.

• For academic or research-focused CVs, expand this section significantly:

  • Include areas of specialization, dissertation topics, advisors, and publications.
  • Highlight fellowships, academic conferences, or awards received.

• Avoid unnecessary details:

  • There’s no need to list high school if you have post-secondary education.
  • Do not include unrelated or outdated coursework unless specifically relevant to the job.

• Tailor the section to your target role:

  • For corporate roles, keep it concise and focused on degree relevance.
  • For academia, research, or PhD applications, this section can be detailed and multi-layered.

How to Write the Skills Section for a CV

The Skills section helps employers quickly understand what you’re capable of. It’s especially important in CVs for technical, creative, or specialized roles where specific competencies are essential to the job.

• Choose 6–12 core skills that align with the job description and reflect your actual strengths. Prioritize skills that are regularly requested in your target industry.

• Use a bulleted list or group skills by category for clarity and readability. Common groupings include:

  • Technical Skills (e.g., Python, AutoCAD, SEO)
  • Analytical Skills (e.g., data interpretation, forecasting)
  • Interpersonal Skills (e.g., collaboration, public speaking)

• Focus on job-critical and demonstrable skills:

  • For a digital marketing role, highlight tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush, or Meta Ads Manager.
  • For engineering roles, list software, modeling systems, or safety protocols.
  • For project managers, emphasize skills like Agile, stakeholder communication, or risk assessment.

• Optionally include visual indicators:

  • Star ratings, progress bars, or levels (e.g., Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced) can be used in modern CV designs, especially in creative industries.
  • Use them sparingly and only if the format remains professional and ATS-friendly.

• Avoid generic soft skills unless supported by context:

  • Phrases like “team player” or “strong communicator” should be demonstrated through achievements in your Work Experience section.
  • Instead of listing “leadership,” show how you led a team or managed a project.

• Tailor your skills list to each job application:

  • Use keywords from the job ad to ensure your CV passes applicant tracking systems (ATS).
  • Only include skills you’re confident discussing in an interview.

• Update this section regularly as you acquire new proficiencies or software experience. A strong Skills section should evolve with your career.

How to Write the Publications Section for a CV (optional)

The Publications section is essential for academic, scientific, or research-focused CVs. It demonstrates subject-matter expertise and contributions to your field. In professional contexts outside academia, this section can be adapted into a Portfolio or Writing Samples section.

• Include this section if you're applying to:

  • Academic positions (professor, lecturer, researcher)
  • Postgraduate or PhD programs
  • Scientific, technical, or policy research roles
  • Journalism, content marketing, or editorial positions (as a portfolio alternative)

• Use a consistent academic citation style throughout, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, depending on your discipline. Formatting should match expectations within your field.

• Each entry should include:

  • Title of the work
  • Full list of authors (bold your own name if desired)
  • Journal or publisher name
  • Date of publication (month and year or just year)
  • DOI or URL (optional, but helpful if submitting digitally)

• Example (APA style):

  Smith, A., & Patel, R. (2023). Advances in renewable energy storage. Journal of Sustainable Technologies, 18(2), 45–59.

• For non-academic roles:

  • Use a Portfolio section instead, and hyperlink article titles or project names.
  • Include platforms (e.g., Medium, Forbes, company blog) and dates.
  • Example:

    “How to Scale an SEO Strategy” – Moz Blog, July 2022 [Link]

• Don’t include minor or irrelevant publications if they don’t support your application goals. Focus on work that strengthens your expertise in the role you're targeting.

• Keep formatting uniform and professional, especially if you’re including multiple types of publications like journal articles, white papers, or conference proceedings.

How to Write the Volunteering Section for a CV (optional)

The Volunteering section highlights unpaid work that demonstrates valuable traits like initiative, leadership, and commitment. It’s especially useful for early-career professionals, career changers, or anyone with limited formal work experience.

• Use this section to showcase relevant soft skills or transferable experience, particularly if the volunteer work aligns with the job you're applying for.

• Include the following for each entry:

  • Organization name: Include the full name of the nonprofit, charity, or initiative.
  • Role or title: Clearly state your position (e.g., Volunteer Coordinator, Fundraising Assistant).
  • Dates of service: Use a consistent format (e.g., Mar 2022 – Present).
  • Key contributions or impact: Describe what you achieved or contributed—focus on results or responsibilities that reflect your professional strengths.

• Example entry:

  Event Volunteer Habitat for Humanity, June 2022 – Present

  • Coordinated logistics for community build projects involving 50+ volunteers
  • Helped raise $12,000 through local outreach and fundraising campaigns

• Tailor your entries to the job:

  • For roles in education, healthcare, or social impact, community involvement can significantly boost your profile.
  • For leadership roles, emphasize management of people, events, or operations in a volunteer setting.

• Avoid including volunteer work unrelated to your career goals unless it showcases exceptional leadership, public engagement, or a unique personal story that enhances your application.

• Keep the formatting consistent with your Work Experience section—this maintains a polished, cohesive CV layout.

How to Write the Certifications Section for a CV (optional)

The Certifications section is ideal for showcasing credentials that support your qualifications and demonstrate continued professional development. It’s particularly valuable in technical, project-based, regulated, or skills-driven industries.

• Include certifications that are directly relevant to the job or industry. Highlight credentials that show mastery of tools, platforms, methodologies, or compliance standards.

• Each certification entry should include:

  • Name of the certification
  • Issuing organization (e.g., Google, PMI, Microsoft)
  • Date earned or expected (use “In progress” if you’re currently completing it)

• Example entries:

  • Google Data Analytics – Coursera, 2023
  • Certified Scrum Master – Scrum Alliance, 2022
  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Amazon Web Services, 2021
  • CPR & First Aid – Red Cross, 2024
  • PMP (Project Management Professional) – PMI, In progress

• Tailor your list based on your field:

  • Tech roles: Cloud, programming, cybersecurity, or data certifications (e.g., AWS, CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft)
  • Marketing: SEO, Google Ads, HubSpot, or social media credentials
  • Project management: Agile, Scrum, Six Sigma, PMP
  • Healthcare or trades: Licenses, safety certifications, or continuing education

• Avoid including outdated or irrelevant certifications unless they still hold value in your industry. Group expired certifications under a separate heading if needed.

• Maintain consistency in formatting, especially if listing more than 3–4 entries. Use bullet points or a clean table-style layout depending on your CV design.

How to Write the Memberships Section for a CV (optional)

The Memberships section highlights your involvement in professional, academic, or community organizations. It demonstrates commitment to your field, ongoing learning, and active industry engagement—qualities employers often value, especially in leadership or client-facing roles.

• Use this section to show you’re connected to your industry and invested in staying current with trends, standards, or peer collaboration.

• Include the following details for each membership:

  • Organization name: Use the full name of the association, society, or group.
  • Membership role or status: Indicate your level of involvement (e.g., Member, Board Member, Treasurer, Mentor).
  • Dates of involvement: Include the years or full date range (e.g., 2021–Present).

• Example entries:

  • Member – American Marketing Association (AMA), 2020–Present
  • Chapter Vice President – Women in Tech, 2022–2024
  • Board Member – National Association of Architects, 2021–2023

• Prioritize memberships relevant to the job or industry:

  • For tech professionals: IEEE, ACM, or local coding groups
  • For healthcare workers: AMA, AANP, or regulatory boards
  • For finance: CFA Institute, CPA associations
  • For creatives: AIGA, Writers Guild, or professional guilds

• Emphasize leadership roles, public speaking, mentorship, or event coordination if applicable. These experiences demonstrate soft skills like communication, collaboration, and strategic planning.

• Avoid listing purely social clubs unless your role was substantial or they are well-known in your industry (e.g., Toastmasters, BNI). Always frame the membership in a professional context.

Professional CV samples

As you get started on your CV, use these professional CV samples to inspire you.

IT Officer professional CV sample

Travel consultant professional CV sample