CV Introduction: Examples & How to Write (+Template)

You’ve sat down to write or rewrite your CV. Obviously, you’re aiming to end up with as effective a CV as possible. A CV introduction is absolutely critical to achieving that goal, and the best CV introduction is the one that gets the rest of your CV read by recruiters. That’s all well and good, but where do you even start?

This article will show you plenty of CV introduction examples and walk you through the process of writing a CV introduction that’s perfectly suited to your experience level and even CV length. The CV example below is better than the vast majority of those out there – yours can at least start off as well.

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CV introduction example (+ sample CV)

Now that’s the right way to start a CV! Let’s learn how to write your own CV introductory paragraph:

1. Why include a CV introduction?

Recruiters and hiring managers often see hundreds of CVs for each job. They don’t have the time or the energy to sift through your work history and skills to figure out what kind of worker you are. No one would. So you need to give them a helping hand; introduce yourself and whet their appetite.

A well-written CV introduction will give your reader a quick summary of who you are, give them a taste of what you have to offer, and get them interested enough to read the rest of your CV. This is similar to what a good cover letter does, but we’re not here to write a CV introduction letter, just a CV introduction paragraph.

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

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2. The four types of CV introduction

There are two main categories of use cases for a CV introduction: a CV objective and a CV summary. A CV objective is great if you’re just starting out on a career path—whether that means you’re writing your first CV or a career change CV. It doesn’t assume any experience and focuses on your potential.

A CV summary is what you want if you’re already on a career path. It draws upon your work history to show recruiters what it is that you could bring to their company. There are three possible types of CV summary: a paragraph version, a bullet-point version, and an ultra-compact headline version.

3. How to write a CV introduction without experience

Writing a CV objective can be a daunting task as you don’t have any relevant experience yet (because you’re either just starting out or changing careers). Luckily, there’s a simple, three-sentence structure you can use that never fails. Start by introducing yourself: your occupation, experience or year-level, and specialisation.

Describe in a single sentence an achievement that’s relevant to the job you’re applying for. Start with a verb like ‘wrote’, ‘negotiated’ or ‘organised’ and focus on any benefits that arose as a result of your actions, and which an employer would be interested in. Put numbers to everything you can, estimating if need be.

Finally, answer in a single sentence the question ‘what do you hope to achieve in this role?’ or, ideally, ‘what do you hope to achieve for your new employer’. This might be more difficult if you’re writing, for example, a student CV, but if you’re a career changer then you can really bring your transferable skills to the fore.

CV introduction example: CV objective

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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4. How to write a CV introduction with experience

A CV summary is for you if you’re already on your chosen career path and have some experience under your belt. You can generate a CV summary quickly and painlessly by following a similar three-sentence structure to a CV objective.

First, introduce yourself by mentioning your current job title, years of experience, and one or two of your attributes. You can also mention particular contexts or specialisations in which you’ve been working. Next, detail one of your on-the-job achievements, describing both the action you took and the benefits your employer gained.

Finally, close out your CV summary by answering the question of what it is that you hope to be able to achieve in this role for your new employer. This automatically shows that your professional goals line up nicely with the employer’s business goals.

CV introduction example: CV summary

5. How to write a summary of qualifications

A summary of qualifications is very similar to a CV summary, but it’s in point-form rather than being a CV introduction paragraph and it’s focused more strictly on your attributes, skills, and experience than it is on your goals. To write it, simply populate 4–5 bullet points with highlights from your CV.

Summary of qualifications example

6. How to write a CV headline

The fourth kind of CV introduction differs significantly from the first three by simply doing a lot less. A CV headline will generally only cover 1/4–1/3 of what the others can cover. This is the trade off for having a CV introduction that takes up just one line—a huge advantage if you’re low on space.

To write a CV headline, combine your professional identity with one or two of the following: a pared-down achievement, an attribute (adjective) or two, your experience expressed in years. Put your CV headline under your contact details in your CV. Use a CV summary if you have the space, though.

CV headline examples

7. Final tips for success to keep in mind

The best advice for getting the best CV introduction possible with the least effort is to leave writing it until last. You’ll have a much, much clearer view of your CV after you’ve at least finished your work experience and skills sections. Picking out achievements and skills is a breeze once you have those done.

Many job applications these days are passed through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs) before recruiters ever get to see them. Give your CV a fighting chance by mentioning the company to which you’re applying by name, mentioning the position by name, and mirroring keywords from the job advert.

The trick to creating impressive achievements is quantifying everything you can, especially the benefits that your employer gleaned as a result of your actions. This makes your achievements concrete and convincing. You can use accomplishment statements to help you structure your achievements.

Presentation is important. Proofread your CV introduction at least a couple of times and get someone else to look over it (and your whole CV, of course). Use an understated CV font like Noto, Garamond, Liberation, Arial or Calibri and leave the font size at 11–12 points. Always save in PDF to protect formatting.

A cover letter alone simply won’t be enough—you need an impactful CV, too. Create your CV in minutes. Just follow our wizard and fill in every CV section with ready-made content. Get started by choosing a professional CV template.

The LiveCareer online CV maker lets you build a professional CV fast and download it as a PDF or DOC.

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I hope this article has helped you straighten out the different kinds of CV introductions you have to choose between. Feel free to leave any question, comments, feedback or experiences down in the comments section below.

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.