Free CV Template

What a CV Template Is and Who Needs One

A curriculum vitae (CV) is a comprehensive document that lists your academic background, work experience, research, publications, presentations, and awards in detail. The term 'curriculum vitae' is Latin for 'course of life,' and that name describes it well: a CV is a full career record, not just a highlight reel. In the United States, CVs are used primarily in academic, scientific, medical, and research settings. Outside the US, particularly in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, 'CV' is often used interchangeably with resume and typically refers to a shorter document.

If you are applying for a faculty position, research grant, graduate program, medical residency, or international job, you likely need a CV rather than a resume. Students applying to graduate school or academic programs may also be asked for a CV. A free CV template gives you the correct sections in the right order so you are not guessing at format.

• Used for academic, research, medical, and international job applications
• Longer and more detailed than a resume: typically 2 or more pages for experienced candidates
• Includes sections for publications, presentations, grants, and teaching experience not found on a resume
• Requested by universities, research institutions, government agencies, and international employers
• Graduate and medical school applications commonly require a CV over a resume

What to Include in Your CV

A strong CV covers your full professional and academic story. The core sections appear in nearly every CV; additional sections like grants, teaching experience, or conferences are added when they are relevant to the position or field. Academic CVs tend to be longer because every publication, presentation, and research appointment matters in that context.

• Contact information: name, city, phone, email, LinkedIn or personal website URL
• Education: degrees in reverse chronological order, including institution, location, graduation year, and dissertation title if applicable
• Professional or research experience: roles, organizations, dates, and 2-4 bullet points describing responsibilities or achievements
• Publications: formatted in the citation style of your field (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) with full citation details
• Presentations and conferences: papers presented, posters, invited talks, and the event names and dates
• Skills: technical tools, software, laboratory techniques, or languages relevant to your field
• Honors and awards: scholarships, fellowships, grants, and prizes with awarding institutions and years
• References: either listed with contact details or noted as 'available upon request'

How to Use This CV Template Step by Step

The template above is designed to be copied into Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or any text editor. It uses plain formatting so you can easily apply your own fonts and styles. A clean, readable font like Calibri, Garamond, or Georgia at 10-12 point size works well. Keep margins at around 1 inch and use consistent spacing between sections.

For a CV in Google Docs, make a copy of the template into your Drive, fill in each section, and delete any sections that do not apply to you. For a Word CV template, paste the text into a blank document and use Heading 2 styles for section titles to make the structure clear. If you are submitting a PDF, export directly from Docs or Word to preserve formatting on the recipient's screen.

1. Copy the template text above into Google Docs, Word, or your preferred editor
2. Fill in your contact information at the top, including a professional email and LinkedIn URL if you have one
3. Add your education history starting with your most recent degree and working backward
4. List your work or research experience in reverse chronological order with bullet points for each role
5. Add a publications section in the citation style standard for your field (APA, MLA, or Chicago)
6. Include any additional sections relevant to your application: teaching, grants, presentations, or certifications
7. Remove any placeholder sections that do not apply to your background
8. Export as PDF for email submissions or keep as Docs or Word for easy updating

CV vs Resume: Key Differences

The main difference between a CV and a resume is length and purpose. A resume is a short (typically one to two page) summary tailored to a specific job. It focuses on relevant experience and achievements and is the standard for most private-sector jobs in the US and Canada. A CV is a complete and growing record of your academic and professional life, often several pages long, that expands as your career does.

In many countries outside North America, the word 'CV' is used to mean what Americans call a resume: a short document sent to employers. If you are applying internationally, check whether the employer means a full academic-style CV or a shorter resume-style document before you write a lengthy academic CV for a standard business role. The template on this page is built for the traditional, full-length academic and professional CV format.

• Resume: 1-2 pages, tailored to a specific role, used for most US private-sector jobs
• CV: 2 or more pages, comprehensive, grows over time, used for academic and international applications
• Outside North America: 'CV' often means a short resume-style document rather than a long academic one
• Academic CV: includes publications, grants, teaching history, and conference presentations
• Both use reverse chronological order for education and experience sections

CV Tips and Common Mistakes

One of the most common CV mistakes is mixing up the resume format with the CV format and cutting content that should be included. Academic hiring committees expect to see your full publication list, teaching history, and every relevant presentation. Trimming your CV down to two pages to match resume advice can hurt your application in an academic search.

Another frequent issue is inconsistent citation formatting. If you have publications, pick one citation style for your field and apply it consistently to every entry. In scientific fields that is typically APA or Vancouver format; in humanities fields, MLA or Chicago. Mixed formats look careless and are one of the first things a reviewer notices. Keep a master CV with everything included, then create position-specific versions from it when needed.

• Do not trim your publication list to save space: include everything, even conference abstracts
• Use consistent date formatting throughout (Month Year or Year only, pick one and keep it)
• Format all citations in a single style: APA, MLA, Chicago, or Vancouver depending on your field
• Keep section headings clear and standard so hiring committees can scan quickly
• Tailor your CV slightly for each application by reordering sections to lead with what matters most
• Proofread carefully: a typo in a publication title or institutional name is easy to check and easy to avoid