Why I Love CVs (and You Should Too)
More Than a Document: Your Life, Your Story, Your Design.
Some people collect stamps. Others learn to bake.
I, on the other hand, collect CV templates.
It might sound odd, but crafting a CV has always felt like a small act of artistry to me. It's not just about formatting or chasing that perfect margin alignment to soothe my inner OCD (although... that too). It’s about building something that reflects your life—your growth, experiences, interests, and the version of you that has emerged over the years.
I started working on my CV in high school—yes, that’s over 15 years ago (yikes). At first it was just for extracurricular programs, but over time it became a habit. With every new experience, I’d update it. And along the way, I became… well, I think quite good at it. I even took courses on how to improve presentation and clarity. These days, I often help friends and colleagues polish their CVs and now I’d love to share some of that advice here.
1. Start with Formatting
It might surprise you, but for me, formatting comes first—even before I type a single word.
Why? Because writing a CV in Word is, frankly, a nightmare. Every new sentence shifts your bullet points, spacing gets weird, and you'll end up yelling at your screen because your section header decided to move to the next page. Not ideal.
Today, we have better tools. I personally use Zety, but Canva, Resume.io, and Novoresume are great too. If you live in Europe, even Europass has improved a lot. These platforms allow you to focus on the content, while they take care of the layout. Worth the small subscription fee, in my opinion.
A good format also helps you visualize your professional story as you build it, making the whole process easier and less overwhelming.
2. Core Sections (Academic CV)
Let’s focus on academic CVs for now. Here's the structure I typically use:
Contact Info (Photo optional—I include one, but I understand the ethical concerns)
Summary – A short paragraph on who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for. Hugely underrated.
Work Experience – Include internships and thesis-related research. Even unpaid work matters, to me.
Education – With degrees, universities, and marks if relevant.
Posters & Publications – Peer-reviewed work and conference posters.
Invited Talks – Oral presentations at conferences.
Educational Activities – Workshops, summer schools, and courses.
Skills – Technical, organizational, and digital skills, paired with when/how you used them.
Lab Tutoring – Any mentorship roles you had.
Languages – With certifications if possible.
Scholarships & Awards – Grants, fellowships, recognitions.
Hobbies – Just a few lines to humanize the page.
Academic Memberships – Societies and affiliations.
Lastly, always end with a sentence for data handling approval, followed by place, date, and signature. This makes the CV official, time-stamped, and ready for serious consideration.
If you’ve worked outside of academia—say as a waitress or in retail—include it! Just place it in a separate section from academic experience. It shows adaptability and grit.
3. Academia vs. Industry
My academic CV is 6 pages long—and yes, that’s completely fine in academia. But in industry? That’s a one-way ticket to the recycling bin. I'm not an industry expert, so if you're aiming for a role in that field, I’d recommend speaking with someone more experienced. But I have picked up a few useful insights along the way.
Here a few distinctions:
Summary: Must be tailored. Don’t mass-send the same CV—customize it for each role.
Length: 1–2 pages max.
Focus: In academia, you go deep—every detail counts. In industry, you go sharp—highlight impact, results, and transferable skills.
Publications? Barely relevant. Highlight what you know and what you can do instead.
4. Bonus Advice
Proofread. Religiously. I can’t stress this enough. Typos are like wearing mismatched shoes to a job interview—they might be overlooked, but why take the risk? Always get someone else to review your CV too. Preferably multiple people.
Use bold and italics sparingly. They’re great for guiding the reader’s eye, but overdo it and it gets messy. Be intentional.
Keep it updated. I update mine monthly. Poster presented? New skill acquired? Publication accepted? Update. Otherwise, you’ll forget.
Use ChatGPT. Really. Give it your CV and the job ad, and ask for suggestions. Ask what roles your CV might be suited for. Or just get help rewriting your summary. You don’t need to do it alone.
Your CV is more than just a document.
It’s your professional autobiography—a mirror of your values, choices, and growth. Treat it with care, polish it with intention, and be proud of what it says about you.
If you have tips of your own, I’m all ears.
Thanks for reading.
Best,
LoA
I'll admit, I've never really thought much about CVs before. Being a software developer though, something I and other devs have done is create a personal website. Of course, the idea behind such a website is to serve the same function as CV would while simultaneously being an example of the type of work you can do. I think it's a rather neat idea.
Overall, there are great suggestions in here! I am puzzled about one thing, though, especially for those using a C.V. in academia. What puzzles me is the suggestion to include: "Summary – A short paragraph on who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for. Hugely underrated."
As someone who has both been on the job market and on the other side of the desk as a member of a search and hiring committee, I have never seen that included on a C.V. That sort of summary would normally belong as part of one's bespoke cover letter when applying for a specific job. The cover letter and any accompanying letters of recommendation (as well as any publications) are what does the real work, with the cover letter being the first thing examined. The C.V. is regarded more as "specific supporting evidence" of qualification for the position.
If you apply for twenty positions, each of those twenty cover letters needs to reflect three things: (1) that the applicant is familiar with your institution, (2) a brief explanantion of why the applicant is a good fit for the position, and (3) a brief explanation of why the institution suits the candidate. If a cover letter looks to be boilerplate, that is a red flag. With often hundreds of applications to sift through and read for a given advertised position, the cover letter needs to grab the search and hiring committee members by showing that the applicant cares enough about wanting that particular position to do the requisite research and tailor the letter appropriately.