CV templates

Most people looking for a CV template need a job CV: a one- or two-page summary of their work, education and skills. Researchers and lecturers need a longer academic CV, and a few European applications ask for a Europass CV by name. Here’s how to tell the three apart, and what each one should hold.

What a job CV template should include

In the UK, Ireland, Australia, much of Europe and many other countries, a CV is the short document you send for most jobs; Americans call the same thing a resume. A good job CV template gives each part a clear place: contact details, a short profile, work history with the newest job first, education and skills. It also keeps them easy to scan, so a reader finds your latest role without searching.

That’s the document Rocket Resume’s CV templates are designed for. Type a job title and you get suggested lines for that role to pick and reword. For finished CVs in your field, look through our CV examples and keep one open beside the CV maker while you write.

What goes in an academic CV

Universities, research institutes, fellowships and graduate programs usually ask for an academic CV, and in the US and Canada this is what “CV” most often means. It runs as long as your record needs. Alongside education and appointments, it lists publications, conference talks, grants, teaching and research interests. Ask the department which headings and order it expects, then follow that model closely.

When to use a Europass CV

Europass is a standard CV format from the European Union, made on the Europass website. Use it when a posting, scholarship or exchange program asks for it by name. If an employer in Europe simply asks for your CV, a well-organized job CV in a clean design is the usual choice.

How to tell which CV the employer wants

The posting and the country usually tell you. Check these four things before you choose a design:

• Read the posting: publications, a research statement or a teaching record point to an academic CV.
• Look for the name: a request for a Europass CV will say so plainly.
• Check the country: outside North America, “send your CV” for an ordinary job means a job CV.
• Still unsure? Ask the recruiter; it’s a normal question.

Create My CV

Why start from a CV template, not a blank page

A template settles the layout, spacing and heading order before you type, so your time goes into the words. In the CV maker you fill in one section at a time, the preview shows the finished CV as you go, and you can move to another design whenever you like without losing anything you’ve written.

Do you need a different CV template for each country?

Usually not. A job CV’s structure travels well; what changes from country to country is custom, such as spelling, date formats, how long the CV runs and which personal details belong on it. Keep the design you like and adjust those details for each application. Our CV vs resume guide compares the US, the UK, the EU and India in one table.

One template, several applications

Keep one main CV, then create a version for each type of job you go after, such as one for sales roles and one for customer service. In each version, move the most relevant jobs and skills higher and borrow the job ad’s own terms. Your account holds more than one version, so a new application never starts from scratch. The how to write a CV guide walks through the wording of every section.