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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A strong CV makes the evidence relevant to an opportunity easy to find. Start with the application’s instructions, then choose a format and sections that fit the role, field, and country. The samples and guidance below focus mainly on U.S. academic and research applications; CV conventions differ internationally.
CV or resume: which document should you use?
In U.S. university guidance, a CV is commonly used for academic, research, scientific, medical, fellowship, and grant applications. It usually gives a fuller account of academic credentials and related work than a concise, position-focused resume. The University of Pennsylvania describes a CV as “a full history of your academic credentials” in its resume and CV guidance.
That distinction is not universal: in some countries, “CV” is the general term for an employment application document. Treat the terms as local conventions, not fixed legal definitions. The application’s exact request takes priority. If you are pursuing both academic and industry roles, prepare versions tailored to each rather than assuming one document serves every purpose.
- Academic, research, fellowship, or grant application: use a CV when requested or when that is the expected document for the field.
- Nonacademic position: follow the employer’s wording and local convention; a focused resume may be more appropriate in U.S. hiring.
- Unclear instructions: check the institution’s or employer’s guidance before submitting.
What to include in an academic CV
Begin with contact information and education, often in reverse chronological order. Then select sections that support the particular application. A sample is a model for organization, not a checklist: include only relevant, accurate material.
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| Section | What to show |
|---|---|
| Research experience | Role, institution or lab, dates, project, methods, and outcomes or contribution. |
| Teaching experience | Institution, role, course context, dates, and responsibilities. |
| Publications | Complete, accurate citations in the discipline’s expected style. Label work precisely as published, accepted, under review, or in preparation. |
| Presentations | Authors, title, event, date and location, and whether the presentation was a poster or oral talk. |
| Awards and funding | Relevant awards, grants, fellowships, and other funding. |
| Other relevant experience | Professional memberships, service, leadership, employment, technical skills, and references when appropriate or requested. |
Section conventions vary by discipline and application. For example, university career guidance includes research, teaching, publications, presentations, awards, leadership, memberships, service, and references among possible categories; it does not make every category necessary for every applicant.
How to choose a CV sample or template
Choose an example that resembles your field, career stage, and target role. University of Pennsylvania Career Services offers undergraduate, master’s, and PhD/postdoctoral resume examples as well as discipline-specific examples and a STEM CV sample. The University of Victoria Career Services provides a CV template and a professor sample. Use these as structural references, not text to copy.
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- Check whether the example’s sections fit the opportunity and your actual experience.
- Adapt conventions such as publication citations and presentation details to your discipline.
- Replace every sample claim with truthful information you can verify; do not present another person’s accomplishments as your own.
- Follow any format or file requirements stated by the employer, institution, or funder.
How to organize and format your CV
There is no single correct layout or page limit across fields. Make the document easy to scan: use descriptive section headings, consistent formatting, readable type, and enough white space. Put the most relevant evidence early, while keeping chronology clear within sections.
Keep decoration restrained, especially when submitting through an online application system. Penn Career Services warns that some applicant-tracking systems may not read decorative elements such as tables, shapes, and images. Use the receiving system’s stated file and formatting requirements when available.
Length depends on field, experience, and purpose. Penn’s STEM guidance describes undergraduate CVs as typically two pages, while other Penn guidance distinguishes one-page undergraduate resumes from longer PhD and postdoctoral documents. These are examples from particular guidance, not a universal CV limit. Include enough relevant detail to support the application without adding unrelated material.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to write stronger experience entries
Give context for what you did and evidence of your contribution. Lead with an accurate action verb, then specify the scope, method, or outcome where you can do so truthfully. Tailor the details to the opportunity instead of relying on vague statements of responsibility.
For example, Penn contrasts the vague “Helped with book research” with an illustrative entry describing a review of 35 journal papers and delivery of a summary within two weeks. Those figures belong to Penn’s example, not to a general CV rule or accomplishment to borrow. Use your own verifiable details—such as the material analyzed, technique used, audience served, or result achieved.
Draft, proofread, and get informed feedback
- Read the posting or application instructions and identify the evidence it asks for.
- Select a format suited to the field, career stage, and destination.
- Choose relevant sections and prepare any requested references.
- Draft entries with specific, supportable descriptions of your work.
- Proofread names, dates, citations, and labels for publication status.
- Ask people familiar with the target field to review the document, then revise it for clarity and accuracy.
The University of Victoria’s career guidance likewise recommends analyzing the posting, selecting a format, preparing references, drafting, proofreading, seeking informed feedback, and revising.
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