Professional CV Templates: How to Make Your CV Stand Out

Utilizing a professional CV template can be an advantageous tool for producing a high-quality CV that effectively showcases your skills and experience. These templates guarantee a professional and uniform appearance in terms of format and design, making a favorable impression on hiring managers.

Last update:
01/01/2024
Professional CV Templates: How to Make Your CV Stand Out

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That’s what we all look want. Right?

A CV template is a pre-crafted CV, that includes designated sections such as employment history, competencies, education, and other additional sections.

By using a template, you can guarantee that no important details are left out and that your appropriate skills and expertise are presented compellingly.

Thus, it is of utmost importance to use CV templates, because it enhances the visual appeal and potentially set you apart from other candidates by exhibiting your dedication to the role.

Choosing a resume or CV format template that is suitable to your career goals is very much important. It enhances your professionalism by presenting a well-designed CV to potential employers, indicating your commitment to your career.

Additionally, it helps you create a clear document that ensures that your skills and experiences are properly communicated and easily recognizable by hiring managers.

Moreover, it helps to emphasize the most relevant skills and experiences for your target job, setting you apart from candidates having a generic resume or CV.

Using a template can save time and effort in formatting and organizing your CV, enabling you to focus on creating a compelling resume that showcases your skills and experience.

Selecting an appropriate template is an essential step in crafting a strong, professional resume or CV that effectively communicates your value to recruiters and potential employers.

Types of CV

In the US, a resume that has a summary of work experience is used for a regular job and a CV is used for academic and research positions. It is just like the personal profile of the candidate. Usually, a CV in the US is two to three pages and a resume is one or two pages.

A CV doesn't includes a photo, age, gender, marital status, race, and religion as the norms set by US Anti-discrimination and Labor Law Agencies.

The second type of Curriculum vitae is the Generic CV. This type is similar to a resume but consists of long work history.

A generic curriculum vitae or CV consists of a resume summary, and professional history of previous jobs, It is used in other countries except for the US.

Academic CV Sample

Here is an example of an academic CV for the US job market:

Scarlet Smith

54th Street, NY, US

+1-784-784-7491

scarlet.smith@example.com www.ScarletSmith.com

CV Statement

Experienced psychologist with a Doctorate Degree in Psychology with 5 years of fellowship in the field of Philosophy and Psychology. Completed a thesis on Adolescent Mental Health and Childhood Trauma. Looking forward to joining a research institute and innovating new models of psychotherapy.


Educational Background

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology

Newyork University, NY, USA

July 2013


  • Thesis: Adolescent Mental Health
  • GPA: 3.9/4.0

Master of Arts in Psychology

Charleston University, NY, USA

May 2010


  • Thesis: "Childhood Trauma"
  • GPA: 3.8/4.0

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Sebastian College, NY, USA

June 2009


  • GPA: 3.7/4.0

Research Experience

Research Assistant

Newyork University, NY, USA

May 2015 - present


  • Assist the Research head in reviewing information and overseeing data collection
  • Perform data analysis and interpretation of datasets
  • Contribute to research publications and presentations
  • Collaborate with faculty and graduate students on ongoing research projects

Teaching Experience

Teaching Assistant

Barnard College, NY, USA,

August 2015- December 2018


  • Assist Subject Professor with course planning and syllabus development.
  • Assist in mock tests during lectures.
  • Check Grade assignments and prepare feedback reports for students.

Publications

  • Scarlet, S., & Timothy, G. (2013). "Adolescent Mental Health." Journal of Psychology, 50(2), 100-115.

Presentations

  • Scarlet, S. (2015, April). "Childhood Trauma." Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.

Professional Affiliations

  • American Psychological Association (APA), Member since 2013
  • Association for Psychological Science (APS), Member since 2015

Honors and Awards

  • Innovation Award, Newyork University, 2015
  • Graduate Research Fellowship, Newyork University, 2015-2019

This is one of the best samples of academic CVs. Unlike the resume, there is no professional experience included in this format. It only highlights professional qualifications.

An academic CV effectively showcases the candidate's qualifications and professional achievements in the field of psychology.

Modern CV Sample

Mike Benedict

Software Engineer

+1-545 -478-1597

mikebenedict@example.com www.linkedin.com/mikebenedict

Professional Summary

Experienced software engineer with a passion for solving complex problems and developing innovative solutions. Hands-on training in multiple languages and adept in PHP, java, and Magenta. Seeking to expand my knowledge and skills in the field of technology.


Education

Master of Science in Computer Science,

The University of Chicago, IL, US

2018


Bachelor of Science in Computer Science,

The University of Chicago, IL, US

2016


Professional Experience

Green Tech Solutions

Graphic Designer

Chicago, IL, US

2018 - Present


Job Responsibilities

  • Review design briefs to determine requirements
  • Plan projects and establish budget limits
  • Create graphics depending on the specifications.
  • Make preliminary manuscripts and offer your thoughts.
  • Create graphics, logos, and other designs by using tools.
  • Utilize proper colors and layouts for each graphic. Collaborate with copywriters and the creative director to create the final design.
  • Graphics should be tested on a variety of mediums.

USquared Technologies

Graphic Design Intern

Chicago, IL, US,

2016-2018


  • Conducted marketing research on statistics and branding to establish the best design for customer brands
  • Collaborating with the design team to create branding strategies, innovation, and design services
  • Contributed to the development of logos, brochures, and product packaging for a variety of businesses.
Skills

  • Adept in designing tools and software(Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Motion Graphics).
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Fluent in English and Spanish.
Interests and Hobbies

  • Playing guitar and piano.
  • Hiking and camping.
  • Volunteer work with local youth organizations.
References

  • Ian Dorby, Project manager, Green Tech Solutions - Ian.dorby@example.com
  • Ronnie Sebastian, Senior Graphic Designer, USquared Technologies - ronnie.sebastian@example.com
Additional Information

  • Winner of the Title “Best employee of the month” in March 2011

Helpful Tips for selecting a CV template

Selecting a CV template that matches the job can sometimes be tricky, but it is necessary for building a successful CV.

Here are some guidelines on how to compare CV templates and select the best one:

CVs are expected differently in various sectors. A creative sector, for example, prefers a more aesthetically attractive CV, whilst a more traditional company prefers a more plain and professional CV. Assess the industry norms and the sort of job you're looking for.

A CV template with a clean and basic design is typically more successful than one with a lot of graphics or a complex layout. Make sure that you select a simple format with headings or sections.

CV templates feature several parts, including those for personal data, education, job experience, skills, and hobbies. Make sure the template you select has the areas that apply to your job profile.

The best CV templates allow you to highlight relevant accomplishments and skills. So choose one that does this.

These tips can help you pick the best CV template that presents your abilities and experience professionally to potential employers.

If you are short on time, you can use our CV templates out of hundreds of templates designed for multiple industries and job positions.

Customizing Your Professional Curriculum Vitae Template

Don’t just copy and paste data from the template. The template must be customized with your information relevant to the job position even if using a pre-designed CV template.

Here are some insights for customizing your CV Template.

  • Create a neat and well-structured layout. An organized CV with segments and titles is simple to read and makes it easier for employers to discover the data they want.
  • To improve your resume's visual quality, choose suitable colors and font sizes. But, it's essential to refrain from employing an unnecessarily high number of colors or font types, as they might be distracting.
  • Make use of bullets. Your resume will be simpler to read and understand with the aid of bullet points, which serve to break up long blocks of information.
  • The general readability of your resume may be enhanced by using white space around your content and in between parts.
  • Your resume can be visually interesting by including pertinent photos or graphics, but it's important to utilize them sparingly and strategically.
  • As a guide, go to the job descriptions for your desired employment. Identify the most popular words and phrases. If appropriate, include such keywords in your CV.
  • To show off your knowledge and experience, use industry-specific vocabulary that is pertinent to your area of expertise.
  • When describing your achievements and experiences, use verbs of action like "achieved," "managed," or "collaborated."
  • Use pertinent terms and phrases that are in line with the job description to create a distinct area where you may describe your hard and soft abilities.
  • By adhering to these recommendations, you can increase the chances of employers taking note of your resume or CV and being called for an interview.

Sample CV Template 1

Insert a BlankSample CV Image

Sample CV Template 2

Insert Sample CV Image

Professional CV Format Template

To create a professional and effective CV, appropriate formatting is essential for readability and consistency. The hiring manager will find it simpler to review your material on a well-formatted CV and evaluate your credentials, abilities, and experience.

Moreover, good formatting makes your resume appear tidy and well-organized, which enhances the readability of your resume and contributes to a strong first impression.

Here are some formatting guidelines for each area of your curriculum vitae:

Personal information

Your name, address, phone number, and email address should be listed in the personal information section at the beginning of your CV. To make sure that your contact information is properly visible, use a font professional font.

Professional Summary

Your professional summary has to be brief and give a fast rundown of your training and work history. For ease of reading, use bullet points or a paragraph structure.

Work experience

Your work experience section should be organized by most recent employment first, in reverse chronological order. To emphasize your accomplishments, style this section consistently and use bullet points.

Education

The information in your education section should be presented in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent degree or credential. To include pertinent coursework, honors, and awards, use bullet points.

Skills

To highlight your expertise in various fields, arrange your skills section with bullet points or as a table.

References

The names, job titles, companies, and contact details of at least two professionals should be listed in your references section. Consistent with the rest of your Resume, format this section.

The secret to efficient formatting is to use clear font throughout your CV and label headings and subheadings properly.

Free CV Templates

If you're looking for a free CV template, several websites offer a variety of options to help you create a professional-looking CV. Here are some places to start:

  • Canva has a collection of free CV templates that you can personalize to fit your needs. They offer templates for different industries, job roles, and career stages.
  • Microsoft Office has a range of free CV templates that you can download and edit in Microsoft Word. They offer templates for various job roles and industries.
  • Google Docs has a gallery of free CV templates that you can access and edit online. You can also download them in Word format.
  • We at resume-example.com offer a range of free CV templates that you can download in Microsoft word and pdf format. Our template can help you pass the applicant tracking systems. It also comes with a free cover letter template.

Instead of creating a CV from scratch, click on the link below to use our builder to create a professional CV in minutes.

Resume-Builder
Remember: While using a creative CV template, you must tailor it to your skills, experience, and job requirements to ensure it represents you in the best possible light.

To sum up, by utilizing a professional CV template job seekers can enhance their chances of making a positive impression and distinguishing themselves from other candidates. By following these recommendations you can create a professional CV and increase the chances of landing an interview call.

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