by CV sections are the backbone of any well-structured and effective curriculum vitae.
Whether you're looking for your first job or you're a seasoned professional updating your application, knowing what sections to include—and how to organize them—can make a big difference in how your document is received.
In this article, we'll break down the most important components of a CV, explain their purpose, and show you how to tailor them for different roles or industries.
Why does CV structure matter?
Most hiring managers don’t read every resume in depth—they scan them for standout elements.
Research shows that they typically spend under 10 seconds during the initial glance. That’s a brief moment to capture their attention and highlight your value.
They’re usually looking for core items: job roles, company names, dates, and qualifications. If your layout is hard to follow or lacks clear CV headings, the most relevant details might get missed.
For instance, placing your experience after hobbies or using inconsistent formatting can lead to confusion.
Well-defined CV sections work like visual anchors, guiding the reader exactly where they expect to find key information. This isn’t just helpful—it gives your application a tactical edge.
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Core CV sections
Certain parts of a CV are considered non-negotiable by hiring professionals, and missing even one of them can weaken your profile. These essential components help present your background in a clear, professional way that’s easy to navigate at a glance.
Contact Details
Placed at the very top, this section ensures potential employers can reach you without digging through the page. Keep the information concise and up to date.
Include:
- Full name
- Phone number
- Professional email
- City and state
- LinkedIn or portfolio (optional, but helpful)
Opening Statement
This brief paragraph offers a snapshot of who you are and what you aim to contribute. It’s the pitch that sets the tone for the rest of your CV parts.
Use a summary if you have prior experience to highlight.
Results-driven project leader with 6+ years overseeing cross-functional teams in software development. Skilled in agile methodology, risk mitigation, and stakeholder coordination. Seeking to contribute to a forward-thinking tech firm focused on scalable innovation.
Choose an objective if you're entering a new field, just graduated, or transitioning careers.
Motivated recent graduate in architecture with a strong foundation in AutoCAD and Revit. Looking to join a dynamic firm where I can apply design thinking and contribute to sustainable urban planning projects.
Work Experience
This section outlines your employment history and highlights accomplishments rather than just duties. List your roles in reverse chronological order, giving each job a clear title and including the company name, location, and time frame.
Use bullet points to describe results, improvements, or projects rather than tasks.
Operations Specialist
Cascade Freight Co. | Dallas, TX | April 2020 – Present
- Reduce delivery delays by 20% by implementing new dispatch software.
- Oversee scheduling and logistics for a 40-driver fleet across three states.
- Train new hires on safety procedures and compliance tools.
Administrative Assistant
Willow & Hayes Consulting | Denver, CO | June 2018 – March 2020
- Managed executive calendars and coordinated travel logistics.
- Introduced digital records system, improving document access times by 45%.
- Supported onboarding for new team members and tracked employee paperwork.
Education
Organize your academic credentials in reverse order, with your most recent diploma first. Be sure to include the degree name, school, city, and graduation year. If relevant, you can also mention GPA or special coursework.
Master of Science in Human Resource Management
University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | 2021
If you're still a student, add your expected graduation date and any honors or relevant activities.
Skills
This section is your quick-hit list of tools, technologies, and strengths. Focus on specific abilities that relate to the job.
Avoid soft skill clichés—show those through your work experience instead.
Example for a UX designer:
- Figma & Adobe XD
- Wireframing & Prototyping
- Usability Testing
- HTML/CSS (basic proficiency)
- Cross-team Collaboration
- Accessibility Standards
- Mobile-First Design
Use job descriptions as a guide to select competencies that match what employers are seeking.
Optional sections in a CV
| Section | Purpose | Example Content |
|---|---|---|
| Certifications | Show additional qualifications or licenses relevant to your field. | - Google Ads Search Certification (2024) - Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Scrum Alliance (2023) |
| Languages | Highlight multilingual communication ability, especially useful for international roles. | - English (Native) - Spanish (Professional Working Proficiency) |
| Awards & Honors | Add credibility with recognition of your work or achievements. | - Employee of the Quarter – Brightline Logistics, Q2 2023 - Dean’s List – University of Michigan, 2020–2022 |
| Volunteer Work | Demonstrate commitment or leadership outside of paid positions. | - Volunteer Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity – San Diego, CA (2022–Present) - Weekend Literacy Tutor – Chicago Public Library (2021) |
| Projects | Present hands-on experience or personal initiatives. | - Developed budgeting app with React & Firebase – 1,000+ active users - Redesigned nonprofit site, traffic up 60% |
| Publications | Ideal for academic, writing, or research-heavy roles. | - “User Experience Trends in Mobile Apps” – UX Journal, March 2023 - Co-authored paper on renewable energy |
| Conferences & Speaking | Showcase presentations or professional engagement. | - Panelist, Midwest Startup Summit 2023 – Scaling Product Teams - Speaker, DataCon NYC 2022 – Practical ML |
| Professional Affiliations | Proves industry engagement or networking. | - Member, American Marketing Association (AMA) - Treasurer, NASW – Oregon Chapter |
| Hobbies & Interests | Add personality and potential culture fit. | - Amateur photography (urban & street style) - Trail running and national park hiking |
CV sections order
Organizing sections of your CV isn’t just about aesthetics—they play a major role in how quickly hiring managers can understand your qualifications.
For most applicants, especially those with a steady work history, this is the go-to CV order:
- Contact Information
- Summary or Objective
- Work Experience
- Education
- Skills
- Optional Sections (Certifications, Languages, etc.)
This makes it easy for recruiters to skim through your background and see career progression at a glance.
Depending on your experience, you might benefit from adjusting the layout to either focus on skills or emphasize your job history. Here are two main formats—plus CV examples to help you visualize each style.
Chronological
This is the most traditional and widely used structure. It lists your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. Employers prefer this format because it gives a clear view of your job trajectory.
Best for:
- Professionals with consistent experience
- Those applying within the same field
- Candidates who want to show growth over time
Chronological order of CV sections example:
Marcus Ellison
(347) 555-9182 | marcus.ellison@gmail.com
Brooklyn, NY
linkedin.com/in/marcusellisonSummary
Results-oriented marketing specialist with 8 years of experience in campaign development, digital advertising, and brand strategy. Known for driving audience engagement and delivering data-driven results in fast-paced environments.
Work Experience
Senior Marketing Associate
Launchwave Media | New York, NY | May 2020 – Present
- Lead a complete digital rebranding effort that boosted monthly web traffic by 48% and increased social engagement by 30%.
- Manage a $350K advertising budget across Google, Meta, and LinkedIn platforms, reducing CPA by 18%.
- Oversee and mentor a 4-person team, improving project turnaround time by 22%.
- Partner with product and sales teams to align go-to-market strategies, resulting in a 15% rise in qualified leads.
Marketing Coordinator
ZennTech | Jersey City, NJ | June 2017 – April 2020
- Created promotional campaigns for SaaS products, contributing to a 12% uptick in user acquisition.
- Built and scheduled email marketing sequences using HubSpot, reaching over 20K contacts with a 28% average open rate.
- Developed event marketing materials and coordinated logistics for 10+ tech expos nationwide.
- Collaborated with developers to redesign the company blog, improving mobile usability and reducing bounce rate.
Education
B.A. in Communications
Rutgers University | New Brunswick, NJ | 2017Skills
- Google Analytics & Tag Manager
- SEO and SEM strategy
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- HubSpot & Salesforce
- A/B Testing & CRO
- Campaign budgeting
- Public speaking and cross-functional communication
Certifications
- Google Ads Search Certification – Google (2024)
- HubSpot Content Marketing Certification – HubSpot Academy (2023)
- Digital Marketing Certified Associate – Simplilearn (2022)
Languages
- English (Native)
- French (Conversational Proficiency)
Functional
This order of CV emphasizes skills and abilities over job titles or dates. Instead of focusing on where and when you worked, it highlights what you can do. Your employment history is still included—but often as a brief list at the bottom.
Best for:
- Career changers
- People reentering the workforce
- Applicants with gaps or unrelated positions
- Recent graduates with strong skills
Functional CV sections structure sample:
Jessica Hanley
(206) 555-0923 | jessica.hanley@outlook.com
Seattle, WA
portfolio.jessicahanley.comObjective
Creative, technically skilled designer seeking a UX/UI position where I can apply visual design experience, front-end development skills, and user-centered research to build elegant, intuitive digital products.
Skills & Experience
User Experience Design
- Led usability testing and A/B experiments for a mobile budgeting app, improving user retention by 23%.
- Developed user personas, journey maps, and wireframes for 8+ freelance projects with diverse industries.
- Built prototypes in Figma and InVision to validate product ideas for clients before dev handoff.
- Integrated WCAG accessibility standards and user feedback into all stages of design.
Front-End Development
- Designed and implemented mobile-first websites using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.
- Collaborated with backend developers on integrating APIs and dynamic UI elements.
- Used Git and GitHub for version control on solo and group freelance projects.
- Ensured cross-browser compatibility and optimized page load performance using modern CSS techniques.
Visual Design
- Delivered logo designs, social media templates, and branded assets to over 15 small businesses.
- Produced responsive layouts using Adobe XD, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
- Created consistent style guides to maintain visual cohesion across platforms.
- Redesigned nonprofit website layout, leading to a 60% increase in traffic and 35% more donations.
Work History
- Freelance Designer | Remote | 2021–Present
- Administrative Assistant | Evergreen Dental | Seattle, WA | 2019–2021
Education
Certificate in UX Design
General Assembly | Seattle, WA | 2023B.A. in Art & Design
Western Washington University | Bellingham, WA | 2019Skills
- Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch
- InVision, Miro
- HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (basic)
- User flows & personas
- Accessibility standards (WCAG)
- Usability testing & heuristic evaluation
- Git & GitHub
- Typography and color theory
Certifications
- UX Design Certificate – General Assembly (2023)
- Responsive Web Design – freeCodeCamp (2022)
- Adobe Certified Professional – Visual Design Using Photoshop (2021)
Projects
- BudgetEase App (2023) – UX design and front-end development for a personal finance app with over 1,000 users.
- Hope for Housing Nonprofit Site (2022) – Full redesign of charity website using HTML/CSS and accessibility-first layout.
- UX Redesign Case Study (2023) – Conducted heuristic analysis and prototyping for local museum mobile site.
Conclusion
Well-organized sections of a CV can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview.
By including only the most relevant CV sections and presenting them clearly, you make it easier for recruiters to see your strengths at a glance.
Whether you’re creating a new curriculum vitae or refining your current one, use these guidelines to structure it for maximum impact.
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