CV Examples by Job and Situation
Each CV example on this page is a complete document for a fictional person in a specific job or situation, and opens in the free builder as an A4 CV, the paper size that the Unicode CLDR locale data lists as the default almost everywhere outside North America. Choose one, check how the sections are ordered, and replace the details with your own. The CV is saved only in your browser, and the PDF download has selectable text and no watermark.
- Opens in CV mode on A4 paper
- Optional photo kept on your device
- No sign-up, no watermark
Pick a CV example
The example pages are written with US resume conventions, and the "Open as A4 CV" link loads the same content in CV mode so you can adapt it for the UK, Europe or Asia. Read the notes below on what changes between the two.
CV examples by job
Customer Service Resume Example
Bilingual representative with satisfaction scores, contact volume and help-center work.
Data Analyst Resume Example
Product and marketing analyst who pairs SQL, dashboards and experiments with business results.
Graphic Designer Resume Example
Brand and packaging designer whose resume stays parseable and lets the portfolio do the showing.
Nurse Resume Example
Registered nurse on a med-surg unit, with license, BLS and ACLS listed the way hospitals scan for them.
Security Guard Resume Example
Licensed unarmed officer with access control, CCTV and incident reporting experience.
Software Engineer Resume Example
Backend engineer with measured latency, reliability and delivery results and a clear tech stack.
Teacher Resume Example
High school English teacher with licensure, student teaching and measurable classroom results.
CV examples for students and first jobs
First Job Resume Example
Recent graduate turning weekend retail, a capstone and a certificate into a first-job resume.
Resume With No Experience Example
First-time job seeker using volunteering, a safety course and school achievements.
Student Resume Example
College student with coursework, class projects, a campus job and club leadership.
CV or resume: what changes when you adapt an example
In the UK and many other countries, the document you send with a job application is called a CV, short for curriculum vitae. Prospects, the UK graduate careers service, notes that in the USA and Canada CVs are known as résumés and tend to be more concise. In everyday hiring the two documents cover the same ground (contact details, profile, experience, education, skills), but a few conventions differ:
- Paper size. Unicode CLDR data lists US Letter as the default in the US, Canada and a few Latin American countries and the Philippines, and A4 everywhere else. CV mode switches to A4 automatically.
- Length. nidirect, the Northern Ireland government site, suggests aiming for no more than two pages, and the University of Chester careers team, quoted by Prospects, recommends no longer than two A4 pages. A US resume is usually one page.
- Personal details. The UK National Careers Service says you should not include your age, date of birth, marital status or nationality.
- Photo. Not expected in the UK unless you apply for acting or modelling work, according to the careers team quoted by Prospects. Some countries do expect one, so CV mode offers an optional photo that never leaves your device.
The structure of a CV that employers expect
The National Careers Service lists the sections a CV should include: contact details, an introduction, education history, work history and references. Contact details mean your name, phone number and email address. For references, it advises not to put someone else's contact details on your CV; you can say that references are available on request. nidirect adds two practical points: put your name at the top of the page instead of a "Curriculum Vitae" heading, and list your most recent job first with dates.
For fonts and formatting, Prospects recommends a clear, professional font such as Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman at size 10 to 12, with larger bold headings. The CV templates here follow those guidelines and keep a single-column layout so applicant tracking systems can read the text. If you want to apply for jobs in the EU, the European Commission also offers the official Europass CV editor free of charge in 31 languages; our CV maker page compares the two.
Choosing an example and making it yours
Choose by career stage first. Students and recent graduates should start from the student or first job example, which put education and projects near the top. Career starters without paid work can use the no experience example, which builds the page around skills, volunteering and training. Professionals should pick the job closest to theirs and borrow its structure: how licenses are shown, what results look like in that field, and which keywords hiring managers use.
After opening an example as a CV, keep the profile short and free of personal pronouns, convert any US spellings if your target employer is British, and adjust job titles to the local terms. Add a languages section if you speak more than one language. When you are done, download the PDF on A4 and keep a backup from the editor menu.
Questions about CV examples
What is the difference between a CV example and a resume example?
They show the same kind of document. "CV" is the usual name in the UK and many other countries, often on A4 and up to two pages; "resume" is the North American name for a shorter document on US Letter. Each example here opens in either mode.
How long should a CV be?
UK guidance from nidirect suggests no more than two pages, and the University of Chester careers team quoted by Prospects recommends no longer than two A4 pages. Students and graduates can often fit everything on one.
Should I put a photo on my CV?
In the UK a photo is generally not needed unless you apply for acting or modelling work. Some other countries do expect one. CV mode lets you add an optional photo that stays on your device.
Can I download a CV example as a PDF for free?
Yes. Open the example as an A4 CV, replace the fictional details with your own, and download a text-based PDF without a watermark. No account or email is needed.