What is a CV? Meaning, full form and what a CV looks like

CV meaning in simple words

A CV is your professional story on paper (or on screen). It answers the employer's main questions: Who are you? What have you studied? Where have you worked and what did you achieve there? What can you do? Who can confirm it? A good CV answers these questions clearly in one to two pages, so the employer can compare you with other applicants quickly.

The plural of curriculum vitae is *curricula vitae*, though most people simply say “CVs”.

What does a CV look like?

Most professional CVs follow the same basic layout, from top to bottom:

1. 1

   Header

   Your name in large text, your professional title, phone number, email address and town.

2. 2

   Professional summary or objective

   Three or four sentences about who you are and what you offer.

3. 3

   Work experience

   Your jobs in reverse order (most recent first), each with title, employer, dates and achievements.

4. 4

   Education

   Degrees, diplomas, certificates and school results.

5. 5

   Skills

   Practical and technical skills relevant to the job.

6. 6

   Certifications, languages and other sections

   Licences, professional memberships, languages, awards or projects.

7. 7

   Referees

   Two or three people who can confirm your work and character.

CV vs resume: what is the difference?

In everyday use, especially in Africa, the words CV and resume are often used to mean the same thing: the document you send to apply for a job. Technically there are some differences, which matter mainly when you apply to employers in different regions.

• Length: a resume (common in the USA and Canada) is usually one page; a CV is often one to two pages, and an academic CV can be much longer.
• Detail: a CV may include more detail such as referees, publications, conferences and full education history. A resume is a short marketing summary.
• Usage: employers in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, the UK and Europe usually ask for a CV. American employers usually ask for a resume.
• Academic CVs: for lecturing, research and scholarships, a CV lists publications, research grants, teaching and conferences in detail.

CV vs cover letter vs application letter

A CV summarises your whole career. A cover letter (or application letter) is a one-page letter written for one specific job. It explains why you want that job and how your experience matches it, and it points the reader to your CV. Many employers ask for both. The CV proves your background; the letter makes your case for this particular role.

When do you need a CV?

• Applying for jobs, whether online, by email or in person.
• Applying for attachment, internships and graduate trainee programmes.
• Scholarship, fellowship and university admission applications.
• Registering with recruitment agencies.
• Tenders and consultancy bids, where key staff CVs are required.
• Volunteering programmes and some government positions.

What should not be on a CV?

• Your ID or passport number, unless specifically requested.
• Date of birth, marital status, religion or tribe.
• A photo, unless the employer asks for one.
• Salary history (discuss pay at interview stage).
• Reasons for leaving each job.
• Anything untrue. Employers often verify certificates and references.

Types of CV

Walkthrough: the sample CV on this page

The teacher's CV above shows all the standard parts of a CV working together. The header gives the name, title and contacts. The summary tells the reader in two sentences that this is a licensed mathematics teacher with a strong results record. Work experience lists two schools with achievements (a better WASSCE pass rate and a quiz team that reached the regional stage), and education shows the degree and school certificate. The licence, languages and referees close the CV. Every section answers a question the employer would otherwise have to ask.

How to make your own CV

The easiest way is to use an online CV builder. Fill in each section, choose a design and download a PDF. With our builder, creating and previewing is free; you can start from a career sample (teacher, nurse, driver, accountant and many more) or let AI write a first draft, and the live ATS score shows you how strong your CV is before you send it. For a step-by-step walkthrough, read our guide on how to write a CV for a job.

Frequently asked questions