By Peter Miller · Published October 21, 2026 · Last updated: October 21, 2026
14 min read
When people search for CV examples, they usually want one thing: to see what a good one looks like for someone like them. Not a pretty template with placeholder Latin. A real-looking CV for a graduate, or a nurse, or someone moving from retail into HR, so they can see how the pieces fit.
That's what this page is. I've reviewed a lot of CVs and resumes from candidates in the US, the UK and across Europe, and the ones that work have more in common than the regional rules suggest. They're clear about the target job, they show results instead of duties, and they're easy to skim.
Below you'll find eight CV examples, each for a different situation, with notes on why it works. They're composites, not real people, and the numbers are illustrative. Copy the structure and the type of detail, then fill in your own.
Before the examples, a quick note on terms, because "CV" means different things in different places.
Quick Wins
- Pick the example closest to your situation and copy its structure, not its wording.
- Use the job title and skills from the posting in your profile.
- In the UK and US, skip the photo and date of birth.
What a CV is (and how it differs by country)
CV stands for curriculum vitae, Latin for "course of life."
- In the UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the Middle East and much of Asia, a CV is the standard job application document. It's usually one to two pages and is basically what Americans call a resume.
- In the US and Canada, a CV usually means a long academic or medical document listing research, publications, teaching and grants. For most other US jobs, you'd send a resume.
So if you're applying in London, Dublin or Berlin, "CV" is your everyday document. If you're applying for a US professor or research role, you need an academic CV. If you're applying for a US marketing job, you want a resume. More detail in CV vs resume .
Standard CV sections
- Personal details: name, phone, email, city, LinkedIn.
- Personal profile: three to five lines on who you are and what you offer.
- Key skills: six to twelve relevant skills.
- Work experience: reverse chronological, with achievements.
- Education and qualifications.
- Optional: certifications, languages, volunteering, projects, interests (only if relevant).
How to use these CV examples
- Step 1: Find the example closest to your situation and target country.
- Step 2: Copy its section order into a plain, one-column document.
- Step 3: Rewrite the profile for your target job title, using wording from the job advert.
- Step 4: Write your own bullets using the verb, action and result pattern you see in the examples.
- Step 5: Cut anything that doesn't support your target role, then check length.
- Step 6: Test the file against a real job advert before you send it.
Example 1: Graduate CV (UK)
Copy-paste: graduate CV example
{`PRIYA SHARMA
Manchester | 07700 900123 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/priyasharma
PERSONAL PROFILE
Recent Economics graduate (BSc, 2:1, University of Leeds, 2026) looking
for a graduate analyst role. Strong in Excel and Python data analysis
from my dissertation and a summer internship in a credit union's
finance team.
KEY SKILLS
Excel (pivot tables, XLOOKUP) | Python (pandas) | Data visualisation |
Report writing | Presenting to stakeholders
EDUCATION
BSc Economics, University of Leeds | 2023 - 2026 | 2:1
Dissertation: Effect of bus fare caps on commuter patterns in
Greater Manchester (analysed 3 years of public transport data)
EXPERIENCE
Finance Intern | Northern Community Credit Union, Leeds | Jun - Aug 2025
- Built a weekly Excel dashboard tracking loan applications for 6
branch managers, replacing a manual half-day report
- Cleaned and reconciled 2 years of member data ahead of a system move
Student Ambassador | University of Leeds | 2024 - 2026
- Led campus tours for groups of up to 30 prospective students
- Answered applicant questions at 8 open days
INTERESTS
Captain, university netball 2nd team`}
Why it works: Education comes first because it's the strongest asset. The dissertation is described like a project with real data. The internship bullet shows a result (half a day saved). Interests are included because they show leadership, not just hobbies.
Example 2: Experienced professional CV
Copy-paste: experienced professional CV example
{`DANIEL O'CONNOR
Dublin | +353 87 123 4567 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/danieloconnor
PERSONAL PROFILE
Operations manager with 11 years in e-commerce logistics. I run
fulfilment centres that ship 15,000+ orders a day and I'm known for
cutting cost per order without hurting delivery times.
KEY SKILLS
Warehouse management systems | Lean / continuous improvement |
Budget ownership (EUR 8m) | Carrier negotiation | Team leadership (120+)
WORK EXPERIENCE
Operations Manager | ParcelHub Ireland, Dublin | 2021 - Present
- Run a 24/7 fulfilment centre with 120 staff across 3 shifts
- Cut cost per order by about 14% in two years by redesigning pick
paths and renegotiating two carrier contracts
- Led the move to a new WMS with no missed peak-season deadlines
Shift Manager | ParcelHub Ireland | 2017 - 2021
- Managed a 40-person night shift; promoted after 18 months
- Brought mis-pick rate down by retraining pickers on scanner use
Team Leader | QuickShip Logistics, Cork | 2014 - 2017
- Supervised 12 warehouse operatives on inbound receiving
EDUCATION
BA Business Studies, University College Cork | 2014
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt | 2019`}
Why it works: The profile states scope in the first line. Bullets lead with scale and results. Promotion is visible because both titles sit under the same employer. Older roles get one bullet.
Example 3: Career change CV
Copy-paste: career change CV example
MARCUS BELL Bristol | 07700 900456 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/marcusbell PERSONAL PROFILE Retail store manager moving into HR. Seven years hiring, training and managing teams of up to 25, plus handling absence, disciplinary and grievance cases on the shop floor. CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice (completed 2026). RELEVANT SKILLS Recruitment and interviewing | Onboarding and training | Absence management | Employee relations | Rota planning WORK EXPERIENCE Store Manager | HomeStyle Retail, Bristol | 2020 - Present - Hired and onboarded 60+ staff across seasonal and permanent roles - Cut new-starter turnover in the first 3 months by building a buddy system and a week-one checklist - Handled first-stage disciplinary and grievance meetings with HR Assistant Manager | HomeStyle Retail, Bath | 2017 - 2020 - Ran weekly rotas for 18 staff and covered store management QUALIFICATIONS CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice | 2026 BTEC Level 3 Business | 2016
Why it works: The profile names the change in the first sentence. Skills are chosen for the new field, not the old one. Bullets in the retail role lead with HR-type work. The relevant qualification is in the profile, so it's seen early.
Example 4: CV with no work experience
Copy-paste: no experience CV example
EMMA WILSON Glasgow | 07700 900789 | [email protected] PERSONAL PROFILE Reliable, organised school leaver looking for a part-time retail or customer service role. Experience handling money and helping customers through volunteering, and available evenings and weekends. SKILLS Customer service | Cash handling | Teamwork | Time management VOLUNTEERING Volunteer | Oxfam charity shop, Glasgow | 2025 - Present - Serve customers and run the till on Saturday shifts - Sort and price donated stock EDUCATION National 5s: English (A), Maths (B), Business (B), Biology (B), Art (C) Hillpark Secondary School | 2026 ACHIEVEMENTS Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award | 2025
Why it works: It's short and honest. Volunteering is treated like a job. The profile says what kind of work and when they're available, which matters a lot for part-time hiring.
Example 5: Academic CV (US or international)
Academic CVs are longer and list scholarly work in detail. Here's the shape, shortened.
Copy-paste: academic CV outline
DR. SAMUEL ADEYEMI
Department of Chemistry, [University] | email | phone | ORCID iD
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, [University] | 2024 - Present
EDUCATION
PhD, Chemistry, [University] | 2024
Dissertation: [Title]. Advisor: [Name]
BSc, Chemistry, [University] | 2019
PUBLICATIONS
[Author list]. [Title]. [Journal], [Volume], [Pages], [Year].
[Author list]. [Title]. [Journal], [Year].
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
[Name of award], [Funder], [Year], [Amount if appropriate]
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
[Title], [Conference], [City], [Year]
TEACHING
Teaching Assistant, Organic Chemistry I (3 semesters)
SERVICE
Peer reviewer for [Journal]; graduate student mentor
REFERENCES
[Names, titles, contact details of 3 referees]
Why it works: It follows academic conventions: publications, grants and teaching are full sections, and referees are usually listed. Length isn't a problem here; completeness is expected.
Example 6: European CV
Expectations vary across Europe. Germany, Austria and Switzerland traditionally use a structured CV (Lebenslauf), often in a table-like layout with dates on the left, and photos are still fairly common there, though not required. France and Spain often expect one page for early-career roles. Many EU employers accept the Europass format, though plenty of recruiters prefer a simpler custom CV.
Copy-paste: European CV example (Germany-style structure)
ANNA KRAUSE Munich | +49 151 2345 6789 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/annakrause PROFILE Marketing specialist with 5 years in B2B industrial tech. Fluent in German and English. Focused on lead generation and trade-show marketing. WORK EXPERIENCE 03/2022 - present Marketing Specialist, Automata GmbH, Munich - Planned and ran 6 trade shows a year - Built LinkedIn ad campaigns that doubled inbound demo requests year over year 09/2019 - 02/2022 Marketing Assistant, Technova AG, Augsburg - Managed the company newsletter (12,000 subscribers) EDUCATION 2015 - 2019 BA International Business, Munich University of Applied Sciences LANGUAGES German (native), English (C1), French (B1) IT SKILLS HubSpot, Google Analytics, Adobe InDesign, Excel
Why it works: Dates sit on the left in a consistent format, languages use CEFR levels (A1 to C2), which European employers recognize, and it stays tight at two pages or less. For country-specific advice, see our guide on the best resume format for Germany .
Example 7: US-style CV (resume)
If you're applying for a non-academic US job and the posting says "CV," they almost always mean a resume.
Copy-paste: US resume-style CV example
JORDAN LEE Chicago, IL | (312) 555-0144 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/jordanlee SUMMARY Registered nurse with 6 years in emergency and med-surg care. BLS, ACLS and PALS certified. Known for calm triage under pressure and precepting new graduate nurses. LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS RN, Illinois | BLS, ACLS, PALS (current) | TNCC EXPERIENCE Emergency Department RN | Lakeside Medical Center, Chicago, IL | 2022 - Present - Triage and treat patients in a busy urban ED, 12-hour shifts - Precepted 9 new graduate nurses through orientation - Joined the sepsis protocol team that tightened time-to-antibiotics Med-Surg RN | Lakeside Medical Center | 2020 - 2022 - Managed 5 to 6 patients per shift on a 32-bed unit EDUCATION BSN, University of Illinois Chicago | 2020
Why it works: No photo, no birth date. Licenses and certifications are high up, where nurse recruiters look first. One to two pages.
Example 8: Senior or executive CV
Copy-paste: executive CV summary and first role
OLIVIA HART London | 07700 900321 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/oliviahart EXECUTIVE PROFILE Finance director with 18 years in consumer goods, including 6 years leading finance for a GBP 250m business unit. Led two acquisitions and a full ERP replacement. Board-level reporting and investor relations. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS - Led finance due diligence and integration on two acquisitions - Delivered a GBP 12m cost programme over three years - Replaced a legacy ERP across 4 countries on time and on budget EXPERIENCE Finance Director, UK & Ireland | BrightHome Brands, London | 2019 - Present - Own P&L reporting, budgeting and forecasting for a GBP 250m unit - Manage a team of 35 across FP&A, accounting and treasury
Why it works: "Career highlights" puts the biggest wins at the top. Scale (revenue, team size, countries) appears in nearly every line. Earlier roles would be condensed further down.
How to write each CV section
The examples show the finished product. Here's how to write each part of your own, with the details I look for when I read one.
Personal details
Name in a slightly larger font, then phone, email, city (and country if you're applying abroad), and a LinkedIn URL. That's enough. In the UK you don't need your full address, and you shouldn't include your date of birth, marital status or nationality unless the employer asks. If you need a visa or already have the right to work, a short line like "Full right to work in the UK" can save a recruiter an email.
Personal profile
Three to five lines. Start with your professional identity and level ("Payroll administrator with four years' experience"), add the one or two strengths that matter most for the role, and finish with a qualification, result or availability note. Write it in the first person without "I" if that feels more natural ("Known for..."), or with "I" if you prefer; both are accepted in the UK and Europe. Avoid strings of adjectives. One specific detail beats five words like "dynamic."
Key skills
Six to twelve items, taken from the job advert where they're true for you. Mix technical skills (software, methods, certifications) with a few role-specific soft skills, like stakeholder management or coaching. Group them if the list gets long. If an advert asks for a skill using a specific phrase, use that phrase, because both software and people search for it.
Work experience
Reverse chronological order, newest first. For each role: job title, employer, location and dates (month and year). Then three to six bullet points for recent jobs and one or two for older ones. Start each bullet with a verb, describe what you did, and finish with a result or a specific detail: how many, how much, how often, for whom.
If you were promoted, show each title separately under the same employer. Promotions are one of the strongest signals on a CV, and they're easy to hide by accident if you only list your latest title.
Education and qualifications
Graduates put this section near the top with the degree, classification (2:1, First) or GPA, university and dates, plus a dissertation or major project if it's relevant. Experienced candidates move it to the bottom and keep it to one or two lines. Professional qualifications, like CIPD, ACCA, CIPS, PRINCE2 or nursing registration, often deserve their own section because recruiters filter by them.
Languages
List each language with a level. In Europe, CEFR levels (A1 to C2) are widely understood. Elsewhere, "native," "fluent," "professional working proficiency" and "conversational" work fine. Don't overstate; interviewers sometimes switch languages mid-call to check.
Interests
Optional. Include them only if they add something: leadership (captain of a team), a skill relevant to the role (coding side projects for a tech job), or a talking point that shows commitment (marathon training, long-term volunteering). "Reading and travel" doesn't help, so leave it off if that's all you have.
References
In the UK, "References available on request" is no longer needed; employers will ask. Academic CVs are the exception, where listing two or three referees is normal.
CV length and layout by country
A rough guide, though individual employers always have the final say:
- UK and Ireland: Two pages is standard for experienced candidates, one page for school leavers and many graduates.
- Germany, Austria, Switzerland: One to two pages, a structured layout with dates on the left, and a cover letter (Anschreiben) is often expected.
- France: One page is common for early-career roles, two for experienced ones.
- Netherlands and Nordics: Usually two pages, fairly informal tone, and a short profile is common.
- Australia and New Zealand: Often two to three pages, with more detail per role than in the UK.
- US (non-academic): One to two pages, called a resume, no photo.
When in doubt, keep it to two pages and look at how the employer writes its own job adverts. Formal adverts usually mean formal CVs.
Tailoring a CV for each application
Once you've built your CV from one of the examples, keep it as a master version and make a copy for each application. Tailoring takes about fifteen minutes once you've done it a few times.
Read the job advert and underline the job title, the top three requirements and any specific tools or qualifications. Then adjust four things: the job title in your profile (if it's honest), two or three skills in your key skills list, the order of bullets in your most recent role so the most relevant comes first, and any wording that differs from the advert's. If they say "stakeholder management" and you wrote "working with senior people," switch to their phrase.
Save each version with the company name in the filename on your computer, but send it as "Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf." Keep a simple list of where each version went, so you can reread exactly what you sent before an interview.
CV mistakes to avoid
- Copying an example word for word. Recruiters see the same templates over and over. Use the structure, write your own content.
- Listing duties instead of achievements. "Responsible for customer service" tells nobody how well you did it.
Before: Responsible for managing social media.
After: Grew the brand's Instagram from 2,000 to 9,500 followers in a year with a three-post weekly plan.
- Fancy two-column designs. They often confuse applicant tracking software.
- Including unnecessary personal details. In the UK and US, skip photo, age, marital status and nationality unless asked.
- Going too long. Two pages is the limit for most non-academic CVs.
- An unfocused profile. "Hardworking individual seeking opportunities" says nothing.
Before: Hardworking and motivated individual seeking a new challenge.
After: Payroll administrator with 4 years processing monthly payroll for 800 staff in Sage. CIPP Foundation Degree, 2025.
- Typos. Read it aloud and ask someone else to check.
I have read CVs that were obviously built from the same online template, down to the identical profile sentence. The ones that stood out were plainer and more specific.
Check your CV before you send it
Applicant tracking systems read CVs the same way they read resumes. Upload yours to the free ATS resume checker with the job advert to see your match score, missing keywords, and any sections the software can't read. If you're starting from scratch, the free resume builder gives you a clean, ATS-safe layout that works as a CV too.
Most applications also want a cover letter; the cover letter generator drafts one from your CV and the job description. For a professional rewrite, see HireFlow resume writing .
Pick an example and start
The best CV examples aren't the flashiest. They're the ones that make your target job and your results obvious in seconds.
- Choose the example closest to your situation and country.
- Copy the structure, write your own profile and bullets.
- Keep it to two pages unless it's an academic CV.
When it's ready, run your CV through the ATS checker with a real job advert and fix what it finds.
Read more
Frequently asked questions
A good CV is one to two pages, uses a simple one-column layout, starts with a short profile aimed at the target job, and lists experience in reverse order with achievements rather than just duties. It's easy to skim in under a minute.
Most CVs should be one to two pages. Graduates and early-career candidates usually need one page. Academic and medical CVs can be much longer because they list publications, research and teaching.
In the UK, Ireland and US, no. In parts of Europe, such as Germany, photos are still common but not required. Follow the norms of the country and employer you're applying to.
In the US, a CV is a long academic document and a resume is a short job application document. In the UK and most other countries, CV is simply the everyday word for resume.
Yes, as long as it's simple: one column, standard fonts, plain headings and no graphics. Use it for structure and replace all example wording with your own details.