Find the Best Curriculum Vitae Examples
When you’re looking for a job, the first step is to create a job-winning CV. While this can seem overwhelming, it really doesn’t have to be. Our range of example CVs are specifically designed to help you stand out from the crowd.
Whatever job you’re seeking, our online CV examples cover every industry and sector. And whether you’re a school leaver, a graduate, or a more experienced professional, our CV builder will help.
View some of our many CV examples. Then, using our free CV builder, create your own. It’s fast and simple.
What’s the difference between a CV and a resume?
CVs and resumes are both documents designed to help you find work. But there are some key differences:
- A CV details your education and employment history. Resumes do the same, but are more concise and less exhaustive.
- CVs are longer than resumes (two sides of A4, as a rule). Resumes are only one side.
- CVs provide a linear history of past jobs and qualifications, while a resume focuses on your key skills.
- Resumes are a more common format in the US and Canada, less so in the UK.
What does CV mean in English?
CV is short for ‘curriculum vitae’:
- Curriculum vitae is Latin. It roughly translates to ‘the course of my life’.
- As a rule, people refer to a curriculum vitae as a ‘CV’. This is shorter and easier to pronounce!
- Always send your CV and job application along with a well-written cover letter.
Our example CVs are designed to help you build job-winning applications. Get started for free today, using our CV builder.
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Need a CV? We Have CV Examples for Nearly Every Job and Industry
Writing a CV online from scratch can feel somewhat daunting, but it needn’t be. Before you get going, we recommend getting to grips with how to write a CV. Then, take a look at some of our curriculum vitae examples. These cover almost every role and sector. Below you can see the most in-demand CV examples for UK jobseekers.
Nine Tips Create a Job-Winning CV
Our CV examples are an excellent way to start building a job-winning CV. First, choose from a selection of CV templates in our CV builder. Then, use the following tips to help you create a polished, professional looking CV.
Research the company
First things first. Before applying for any position, always research the company you’re applying for a job with. For instance, look at the sort of language the company uses. How do they talk about their company culture and future aspirations?
When writing your CV, try aligning your own aspirations and goals with theirs. This will give your application far greater impact. It’s also simple way to stand out, and is much better than sending a generic CV.
Use our online CV builder
To create a CV online with minimal fuss, our CV builder brings together expertise, templates, sample text and other helpful tips. This makes it fast and simple to build a job-winning CV online.
Get a second opinion
Before sending out any application, always get a second opinion. This isn’t to say you’ll have gotten it all wrong. But when you spend a lot of time trying to get your CV perfect, it's easy to miss mistakes. Get the person looking at your CV to check it for spelling and grammar errors.
You should also give them the job description to refer to. This way they can spot if you’ve missed out mentioning any important skills or experience.
Take a break
Once you think you CV is ready, take a break. Even if you think it's good to go, it’s always a good idea to let it rest for a while. Take a coffee break, then come back to it with fresh eyes. This will help you spot any mistakes or areas for improvement.
Edit for clarity, use plenty of white space and bullets, and aim to keep your CV to two sides of A4.
Include keywords and abbreviations
You might wonder why it’s important to include keywords in a CV. This is because applicant tracking systems often check job applications. It’s not always the case, but if you send your CV online when applying for a job, it’s a definite possibility. These systems can filter out up to 50% of applications before anyone looks at a CV or cover letter.
By using keywords and abbreviations, you can double your chances of getting through and having your CV checked by a pair of human eyes!
Print out any CV examples you use
It may sound daft - especially when using a pre-formatted CV online as a template - but print your curriculum vitae before sending it. This allows you to make sure it looks OK on paper, and that no important information gets cut off. Though we live in a digital age, some recruiters and hiring managers still like to see CVs in printed form. It's good to keep this in mind when you’re applying.
Back up your achievements
If you make any grand claims on your CV, it’s important to back them up. For instance, if you've said that you’re an excellent salesperson, prove it - include some figures from a previous job. If you’re a great marketing professional, provide some statistics to support this claim. Quantifying your achievements always goes a long way to show the impact of your work.
Spell check your CV
We’ve touched on this before, but it doesn’t hurt to say it twice: spell check your CV! One of the most common reasons people get ruled out for jobs is because their CV is full of mistakes. Always check (and double-check) spelling and grammar.
You shouldn’t just rely on the computer spell checker. This doesn’t always pick up on the nuances of language and won’t catch everything. For instance, company names are a great example. You definitely don’t want to get the employer’s name wrong!
Only include relevant social media on your CV
Last but not least, if you’re including social media on your CV, make sure the profiles reflect well on you. They should be relevant and professional. Pictures of drunken nights out won't do you any favours!
If in doubt, share your LinkedIn profile. This is made specifically for professional networking. Be aware though, even if you don't include your social media on your CV, it is only a Google search away. Make sure anything you don't want prospective employers to see is kept private.
How to Structure a CV
It’s important to get your CV structure right. If you’ve seen our curriculum vitae examples, you’ll notice they all follow a similar format. In this section we’ll work through the standard UK CV layout (from top to bottom) explaining the purpose of each section.
Contact details
At the very top of your CV, include the following:
- Name.
- Telephone number.
- Postal address.
- Email address.
It’s important to have your contact information in plain sight at the top of your CV. Hiring managers see many job applications. If they can’t find your contact details, they’re unlike to look for them.
One common mistake people make is to include their date of birth in this section. This is inadvisable. Employers don’t need to know how old you are, and due to anti-discrimination laws, it’s actually better not to tell them.
Personal profile
Think of your personal profile (sometimes referred to as a personal statement) as a mini covering letter (see our cover letter templates for more). Your personal profile should be a few sentences - no more than a couple of short paragraphs - that explain why you’re right for the job.
Remember: this may be the only part of your CV that an employer reads, so it’s important to get it right.
When writing your personal profile, ask yourself the following questions:
- Why are you enthusiastic about this job opportunity?
- What skills do you have that make you the ideal candidate for the role?
- What past experience do you have that means you're a good fit?
- What tangible evidence can you provide to back up your claims?
Weave these elements into a short, cohesive paragraph that compels the recruiter to keep reading. Focus on your positive attributes. Use proactive language and avoid the passive voice. Also, it might sound obvious, but avoid airing any doubts you have about applying for the job. You’d be surprised how often this happens!
Employment history
In the employment history section, include your past positions. Keep the details short at first. Start with:
- You job title.
- The organisation you worked for.
- The dates you worked for them.
Underneath this, bullet your key responsibilities and achievements. Write these so they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for.
A common mistake people make in this section is to include detailed descriptions of every job they’ve ever had. You don’t need to do this. Instead, focus on the most relevant roles. But do be aware, if there are gaps in your employment history, most employers will want to know why.
Qualifications
In this section, list your qualifications in order. Begin with the most recent first. For each, list:
- The name of your qualification.
- The grade you received.
- The school or institution where you received it.
- Your dates of study.
Beyond this, you needn't include more information - unless the application specifically requests that you do.
Skills and abilities
Think of this section as a ‘quick glance’ for the hiring manager. It’s an excellent place to highlight miscellaneous skills. These might include cash handling or software you know how to use. Including your skills and abilities is also important from a keyword perspective. Including them will help make sure your CV gets through any applicant tracking systems.
Hobbies and interests
The hobbies and interests section helps paint a rounded picture of you as a person. It's the place to include any pastimes you enjoy, or clubs you’re a member of.
While it's unlikely to make or break your CV, try to use this section to further demonstrate that you'd be good for the job. For instance, mentioning how you like running marathons or doing charity work will look better than saying you spend all your free time watching Netflix!
If there’s no space for this section in your CV, then don’t worry. It’s more of a ‘nice to have’ option. It won’t matter too much if you can’t find space to include it.
References
It’s always important to include a section for references, to show that you have them. However, you can usually just write ‘available on request’. The only exception is if an employer has specifically requested references as part of the application process.
Either way, make sure you have at least two external references (past employers or mentors) to hand. Just in case the hiring manager gets in touch!
Create a Job-Winning Application With Our CV Examples
With our tips and online CV examples, you now have everything you need to create a job-winning CV online. Our helpful advice and large library of curriculum vitae examples, you can now create a CV that:
- Includes a compelling personal statement, and urges employers to read on.
- Covers your employment history in detail (highlighting relevant achievements and responsibilities in a positive, proactive manner).
- Lists your education history concisely, and in line with UK standard CV conventions.
- Provides a quick ‘at a glance’ list of your key skills and abilities.
- Is formatted to look sleek and professional.
- Helps you win the job you want!
Making it fast and simple to create a job-winning curriculum vitae
Having to build a CV from scratch is a nuisance. But with our CV templates to work with, you can focus on what’s important - getting the content right. Our CV builder includes templates, sample text, best practice tips and advice on how to create a job-winning CV. It's fast and simple.
We’ve made certain all this has been specifically designed with time-short jobseekers in mind. Creating a great CV that increases your chances of getting to that all-important first job interview has never been simpler.