What Is a CV?
A curriculum vitae (CV) is a comprehensive document that details your entire academic and professional history. Unlike a resume, which is typically 1-2 pages and tailored to a specific job, a CV can be any length and provides a complete overview of your career, education, research, publications, presentations, and other scholarly activities.
CVs are primarily used for academic positions, research roles, medical careers, and applications in many countries outside the United States.
Standard CV Structure
- Personal/Contact Information
- Academic History and Qualifications
- Research Interests
- Publications
- Professional and Academic Experience
- Teaching Experience
- Grants and Fellowships
- Awards and Honors
- Presentations and Conferences
- Professional Memberships
- Skills and Languages
- References
Personal Information
Include your full name, title (Dr., Prof.), contact details, and professional online presence. For academic CVs, include your department and institutional affiliation. In many countries, it is standard to include a professional photo, date of birth, and nationality.
Academic History
List all degrees in reverse chronological order with:
- Degree type, field, and specialization
- Institution name and location
- Dates of attendance and completion
- Thesis/dissertation title and advisor
- Key honors or distinctions
Research and Publications
This is often the most important section of an academic CV. Include:
- Peer-reviewed journal articles
- Books and book chapters
- Conference proceedings
- Working papers and preprints
- Technical reports
Format citations according to the conventions of your field (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
Professional Experience
Include all relevant positions: faculty appointments, postdoctoral positions, research assistantships, industry roles, consulting work, and clinical positions. For each, describe your responsibilities, achievements, and notable contributions.
Additional Sections
- Teaching: Courses taught, student evaluations, curriculum development
- Grants: Funded research with amounts and funding bodies
- Service: Committee work, editorial boards, peer review
- Mentoring: Graduate students supervised, thesis committees
- Media: Interviews, public engagement, science communication
Formatting Best Practices
- Use a clean, consistent layout throughout
- Maintain reverse chronological order within each section
- Use the same citation format consistently
- Include page numbers for multi-page CVs
- Update regularly as you achieve new milestones
- Proofread meticulously for accuracy