What is a CV? Definition and Meaning of Curriculum Vitae [Free CV Builder]

When you apply for a job, the first thing that you do is share your CV in the hope that the employer will read it completely and call you for an interview.

But, on average, recruiters take only 6-10 seconds to review your CV. 

That’s a very short span of time, right?

Therefore, creating a professional CV that stands out and wins recruiters is very important in your job hunt journey.

In this blog, we will understand what a CV is, its key components and formatting structure, and how you can use a CV maker to create professional, job-winning CV for yourself.

What is a CV?

A CV is the short form for the term “Curriculum Vitae”, which literally means ‘course of life’ in Latin. A CV is a formal document that contains a detailed history of your professional and academic background. Typically, a well-crafted CV contains different sections like a brief about you, education, relevant job experience, skills, projects, achievements, and contact details. While applying for a job, CV is the first document that you share with prospective employers. On the basis of how your CV is and how it presents you as a working professional; a recruiter decides to move forward with your job application.

A few years ago, if you had to write a professional CV, either you needed to be good at writing and formatting, or you needed to hire a CV builder agency that can do this for you—that requires time and money.

As technologies evolves, you can now create professional CVs in seconds by using online free CV maker tools that save you time and money. We will dive into this later. Let’s first understand the difference between a CV and resume.

CV vs Resume – What’s the Difference?

While both are formal documents that contain your professional and academic highlights, a CV is more detailed and longer than a resume (which is concise and brief). The main difference between a CV and resume lies in their length and purpose. Generally, a resume is made up of 1-2 pages, whereas a CV can be made up of as many pages as required to describe the professional journey and accomplishments. Countries like Germany, USA, Australia, and Asian continents typically prefers resumes. Whereas the UK and most of European countries ask for a CV in a job application. It is also important to note that besides geographical locations, the purpose of choosing between a CV and a resume depends on the type of roles and industries you are aiming for.

Read more: 5 Proven Ways to Make a Perfect Resume for Any Job in 2025

Here is a list of roles and industries that prefer a CV:

Academic Positions

• University professors
• Lecturers
• Postdoctoral researchers
• Academic administrators

Research Roles

• Scientific researchers
• Research assistants/associates
• Lab managers

Medical and Healthcare Professions

• Doctors
• Medical researchers
• Clinical specialists

Grant, Fellowship, and Scholarship Applications

• Applicants for research grants
• Fellowship candidates

Government and International Organizations (in some regions)

• Policy analysts
• International development professionals

Senior-Level or Highly Specialized Roles

• Senior scientists
• Distinguished professionals with extensive backgrounds

Here is a list of roles and industries that prefer a resume:

Corporate and Private Sector Jobs

• IT professionals (software developers, data analysts)
• Marketing, sales, and business development roles
• Administrative and operations positions
• Human resources professionals
• Finance and accounting roles

Creative and Technical Roles

• Graphic designers
• Content writers
• Multimedia producers

Entry-Level to Mid-Level Positions

• Recent graduates
• Junior to mid-level professionals in most industries

Leadership and Management Roles (in business)

• Team leaders
• Managers
• Executives

Key Components of a CV

There are many components that are usually included in a CV. It’s also important to note that there is no one-size-fit-all policy for the number of components you need to mention. Adding components to your CV depends on the role, industry, and your relevant experience.

However, there are 5 must-have components that you should never miss while writing a CV regardless of what position or industry you are applying for:

1. Contact Information
2. Personal Statement or Profile
3. Work Experience
4. Education
5. Skills

Here are the key components of a professional CV:

Contact Information: Don’t just write your full name and number, but also include your professional email (please, no cutebunny123@email.com!), LinkedIn profile, and a relevant portfolio.

Good Example:

Aarav Mehta
Email: aarav.mehta92@email.com
Phone: +91 98765 43210
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aaravmehta
Portfolio: aaravmehta.in

Placement: Always at the top of your CV.

Professional Summary: This is your elevator pitch to summarize your professional life in 3-4 sentences and mention what you will bring to the table.

Good example:

Dedicated marketing professional with 5+ years of experience developing successful digital campaigns that increased customer engagement by 45%. Skilled in SEO, content creation, and social media management with a track record of exceeding KPIs.

Placement: Immediately below your contact information.

Work Experience: Describe your role (in 2-3 sentences) and achievements (in bullet points) of professional hand-on experience from past to present. Include Job title, company name, location, dates of employment, key responsibilities, and achievements. List experiences in reverse chronological order.

Good example:

Digital Marketing Manager | XYZ Company, Mumbai | Jan 2020–Present

• – Led rebranding campaign that increased website traffic by 35% and generated 20% more leads
• – Developed and implemented SEO strategy that improved organic search rankings by 40%
• – Managed a team of 5 content creators, resulting in 50% more engagement across social platforms

Placement: Typically follows the professional summary.

Education: Include Degree(s) obtained, Institution Name, graduation date, relevant coursework or honors (if applicable).

Good example:

Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) – Computer Science Engineering
Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore

2017 – 2021

CGPA: 8.4/10

• Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Machine Learning, Web Development
• Achievements: Dean’s List (2019), Finalist – Smart India Hackathon 2020

Placement: Freshers can include this section before work experience. From mid-level to seniors can include after the work experience.

Skills: Include technical Skills (e.g., software proficiency, programming languages) and soft Skills (e.g., communication, leadership). Write skills that you actually have without faking to avoid any misunderstanding in the future. Also, tailor your skills according to the job description to show your relevancy for the desired role.

Good example:

Technical Skills

• Programming Languages: Python, Java, JavaScript
• Web Technologies: HTML, CSS, React.js, Node.js
• Tools & Platforms: Git, Visual Studio Code, Postman, MySQL
• Others: REST APIs, Firebase, Agile Methodology

Soft Skills

• Problem-solving and logical thinking
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Team collaboration and leadership
• Time management and ability to meet deadlines

Placement: Can be placed after education or work experience, depending on relevance.

Publications & Research: It is important for academic positions. List relevant research papers or articles.

Good example:

AI-Powered Chatbot for Mental Health Assistance

International Journal of Computer Applications (IJCA) – August 2021

• Co-authored a research paper on the design and development of a machine learning-based chatbot that provides primary mental health support.
• Focused on NLP algorithms and sentiment analysis.

Research Project: Blockchain Applications in Indian Supply Chain Management

• Final year B.Tech research project under Prof. Neha Saxena, VIT Vellore.
• Explored the use of Ethereum smart contracts to enhance transparency in agricultural logistics.

Certifications & Awards: Add honors, accolades, or recognition that are relevant to the role you are applying for.

Good example:

Certifications:

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, 2022

Amazon Web Services
Credential awarded for demonstrating expertise in designing and deploying scalable, highly available systems on AWS

Awards:

The Infosys Young Innovator Award, 2022

Infosys Limited
Presented annually to select interns and entry-level employees demonstrating exceptional problem-solving and innovation.

Volunteering Work: It shows that you are value-driven, change-maker, and growth-oriented person. Adding volunteering experience is also a great way to show that you are not just after money but working professional that acts inclusively. It is also the best way to fill up your career gaps or show your experience as a fresher.

Personal information (optional): Humanize your application by adding your preferences, nationality, or language known, if needed.  

Hobbies or interest (optional): It showcases what you do besides work. Recruiters can learn more about your personality to check cultural fitness and morals.

Good example:

Event Coordinator – NSS VIT Chapter

Aug 2019 – May 2020

• Organized blood donation drives and cleanliness campaigns in rural areas around Vellore.
• Managed logistics and led a team of 20 volunteers during events.

References: Mention your colleagues or seniors to show people you have worked with and your genuineness.

Good example:

Mr. Gautam Shinde
Senior Manager – Software Development
TCS, Bengaluru
Email: rajiv.sinha@tcs.com | Phone: +91 98765 43211

How Long is a CV?

There is no standard length of a CV. The industry and position you are targeting, as well as the years of experience you have will determine how long your CV should be.

If you are a fresher, 1 page CV is sufficient. For mid-career professionals, a CV with 2-3 pages is preferred. For senior-level professionals, up to 3 pages is acceptable. If you are from academic, research, or medical background, your CV can be of more than 3 pages, depending on how many relevant things you have to highlight.

However, you should not stuff your CV with sections that are irrelevant. No matter at what position you are and for what role you are applying, only mention things that align with the job description. Remember, quality over quantity wins.

Which CV Format is Best?

When we talk about CV format, there is no one-size-fit-all. Consider these main format types:

Chronological Format: As the name suggests, you highlight your work experience in reverse chronological order, which means that the most recent work will come first. This format is best for people who have a stable career and solid professional experience.

Functional Format: Here you showcase your skills, project or abilities instead of work experience. This format is best for those who have gaps in their CV or change their career often.

Combination Format: This is the combination of both formats. It highlights both your skills and your work history, making it versatile for most situations.

How to write A CV?

Your CV should have all the key components like contact details, professional summary, work experience, skills (technical and soft), education background, achievements, and other relevant information that match with the job description of the role you are applying for.

Font and Size – The look and feel of your CV is non-neglectable. It should be easily readable and maintain a clean look. Use these all-time best fonts for a professional CV:

• Arial
• Avenir
• Times New Roman
• Calibri
• Helvetica
• Lato
• Roboto
• Proxima Nova
• Verdana

The size of the fonts preferred in a CV is 10-12 pt that can be easily readable.

Tailor Your CV – Don’t use one CV for every job. You should customize your CV every time you apply for an open job role. Add keywords, skills, and work experience from the job description to align it with your desired job application.

Use Action Verbs – Avoid conjunctions in your CV, use bullets while explaining your experience to make the document look clean, and replace generic verbs with active verbs like:

• Achieved
• Implemented
• Reduced
• Increased

For example, instead of writing: Was responsible for managing the social media accounts and increasing engagement.

Write: Managed company’s social media accounts and increased engagement by 35% in 6 months.

Quantify Achievements – Write numbers whenever possible, it makes your success measurable and catches the eye of the hiring manager.

For example, instead of writing: Improved sales performance

Write: Increased regional sales by 27% in Q1 2023, exceeding targets by 15%

Create Job-winning CVs with AI-powered CV maker

The process of writing a great CV, which is ATS-friendly too, is time-consuming, error-prone, and takes a lot of effort and refinement.

This doesn’t need to be like this.

You can now leverage a free cv builder tool or an AI-powered CV maker software that cuts the chase of writing the CV from scratch and gives you job-winning, ATS-friendly CV in seconds.

What is an AI-powered CV Generator Tool (How it works)?

A CV builder tool is an online software that leverages advanced technology like Generative artificial intelligence to help candidates create industry-standard, ATS-friendly CVs in seconds.

Generally, an AI-driven CV maker asks for input like contact information, skills, education background, work experience, achievements, and more. Using these input fields it automatically creates content that is keyword-rich, grammatically correct, and in a professional tone that aligns with your role and industry.

This means, unlike outdated CV makers—that just create the document with no suggestions and personalization—an AI-driven CV builder can personalize your CV draft based on the job, position, or even company you are aiming for, helping you to stand out.

These tools also offer ready-to-use, ATS-friendly templates that allow you to create intuitive CVs without needing any design expertise.

A CV maker, driven by AI, can even optimize your CV to pass Applicant Tracking Systems used by most recruiters. In addition, it offers content suggestion based on the role you are applying for and also allows you to edit your CV draft in real-time to make final touch ups.

Conclusion

A well-crafted CV is like a ticket to landing your dream job.

Therefore, it is important to create a CV that not just speaks for yourself but also win recruiters and motivate them to call you for the interview.

Whether you are applying for your first job, a mid-level employee, or seasoned working professional, you can create a job-winning CV for yourself by following the guidelines and tips we have covered in this blog.

Most importantly, your CV is a living document, keep updating it regularly.

You can also leverage a free AI-powered CV maker like talentanywhere.ai if you find writing a CV is a daunting task for you.

talentanywhere.ai offers an AI-led CV maker that generates professional CVs that can beat any ATS and reaches recruiters, so you can boost your chances of getting interview callbacks. Pick from 140+ HR-approved templates and craft a CV that helps you to stand out from other applicants. You can even upload your pre-built CVs and let AI check 13 crucial parameters in your document to generate personalized suggestions for you, helping you optimize your CV with expert-based suggestions for every job description.