300+ CV Examples for Jobseekers in 2023

CV stands for “curriculum vitae.” It is a comprehensive overview of a person’s work experience, skills and educational achievements. It is sometimes used instead of a resume when applying for jobs. 

You might need a CV for academic, medical, scientific or research positions, as they include more information about the applicant’s educational background, including awards, grants or scholarships, research projects and important publications — that’s why we offer more than 400 CV examples for these industries.

A curriculum vitae (CV) is a detailed document that provides information on academic training, work experience and top skills, as our CV samples show. The length can vary depending on the amount of experience you have and what you’re applying for. 

In comparison, resumes provide a “snapshot” of a job applicant’s professional career, focusing on job-ready skills and career achievements. They tend to be shorter and generally one to two pages long.

In the U.S., a CV and a resume mean different things. A resume is usually one-to-two pages long and documents your work experience and skills — most job applications require a resume. Outside the U.S., a CV has the same function as a U.S. resume.

For more information, check out our guide for when to use a CV vs. a resume. If a resume better suits your needs, browse our library of 800+ resume examples to help you write a good one.

The length of your CV will depend on your unique work history, credentials and academic background. As long as you address all the important elements of your career, including work and school achievements, it can be any length needed (although most CVs stay under 10 pages long). 

We have some of the best CV examples to inspire you, and our CV Maker allows you to include all the sections you need to complete your CV and make it any length that you want, quickly and easily.

Many employers now use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes and give candidates a thumbs-up or thumbs-down — which means that having a polished, straightforward, readable document is a must. My Perfect Resume CV examples and CV templates ensure you have the proper CV format so you pass ATS without a hitch, so you can get a professional CV for a job every time. 

Some employers (and countries) are OK with having a job applicant’s photo appear on their CV, but it’s not common practice in countries like the U.S. or UK. Employers who accept photos on CVs won’t be put off if you don’t have one, so stay on the safe side and submit your CV without a photo. Most of our professional CV examples do not include photos.

Skills and experience are vital ingredients for a good CV. Hiring managers will look at your CV to see if you can perform the job. They’ll also seek evidence of academic achievements and recognitions that highlight your expertise and credibility in your field of specialty. Ensure your academic history and related sections (publications, awards and honors, presentations, etc.) are complete and robust. If you need any inspiration on what to write, you can always come back to view our 800+ CV resume examples.

A CV is a professional document and should only include relevant information. Don’t include anything that might be too personal, like your complete mailing address, information about your personal life, or interests that don’t apply to the job you want, such as your marital status or date of birth. 

Notice that our curriculum vitae examples stick just to what’s essential to the job application and don’t mention anything that isn’t necessary.

How to make a CV for your first job is similar to how you make a CV for a job if you have experience. Just follow these steps:

1. Choose a CV template.
2. Review CV examples from your desired job or industry to get some inspiration and see the best practices. Not every industry will have the same CV sections. We have more than 800 curriculum vitae examples to help you get started.
3. Highlight your core qualifications. 
4. Focus your curriculum vitae on your academic highlights and credentials, such as your GPA and relevant courses you’ve taken. 
5. Mention any extracurricular, volunteer or school-related activities that show your best abilities, such as honors work, research groups, internships or fellowships.

A CV template is a framework for a professional CV. We offer many types of CV templates that are professionally designed, ATS-friendly, easy to customize and work well for most jobs and industries. Download a CV template free of charge, or use one with our CV Maker to create a CV in minutes. You can also customize any of our 800+ CV samples in our CV Maker to build your CV.