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CV Format Checklist: How to Structure Your CV and Use AI Tools to Stand Out

By DeVry University

January 23, 2026

12 min read

A CV is a comprehensive, structured overview of your academic and professional career. It’s primarily used when applying for roles in research and teaching, and for applying to international jobs. It’s longer than a traditional resume, which is typically 1 to 2 pages.
 

More businesses and hiring professionals are using applicant tracking systems (ATS) and AI screening tools in the hiring process. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, approximately 88% of companies use artificial intelligence for initial candidate screening. That means a proper resume or CV format — and the inclusion of role-specific keywords — play an important part in whether your CV is viewed by an actual person.
 

Read on to learn what a CV is, what sections to include, and formatting best practices. We’ll also take a look at how AI affects CVs and how you can use AI tools to enhance your CV.

In this article

What does “CV” stand for?
The difference between a CV and a resume
What should a CV include?
CV format checklist: What you need to follow
AI-ready CVs: How to make your CV work with AI tools
When do you need a CV?
Tips to make your CV stand out
Next steps for students and professionals

What does CV stand for?

CV stands for curriculum vitae, which is Latin for “course of life.” It’s a comprehensive overview of your academic and professional career. It also covers elements such as contributions to a field, including research, publications, awards, and more. The all-inclusive nature of a CV gives those reviewing it, including hiring managers and academic committees, a detailed look at your background.

In the U.S., CVs are mostly used to apply for academic and research roles, as well as for international jobs. Globally, CVs are used in place of a resume when applying for employment internationally.

What is the difference between a CV and a resume?

Is a CV the same as a resume? No. Each document serves a specific purpose for its audience. CVs are often multiple pages, detailing the breadth of your career, both academically and professionally. A resume is a brief, scannable document focused on career highlights tailored to a specific role for which you are applying. Here’s a closer look at the difference between a CV and a resume:

CV

Resume

1-2 pages for early career and longer for those with more experience

1-2 pages standard for all

Comprehensive academic and professional history

Work history relevant to a specific job

Used in the U.S. for research, academic, and international jobs; used internationally for many employment types

Used in the U.S. to apply for employment

What should a CV include?

Your CV format should have a strategic flow to help the reader. You’ll also want to add keywords in areas such as your professional experience to help your CV make it through applicant tracking systems. Here are the key sections to include in a CV:

  • Contact information: Include your full name, phone number, and email. City and state are optional. For consistency, use the same information on other documents you’re submitting, such as a cover letter or portfolio.

  • Personal statement: Write a short, 3- to 4-sentence statement highlighting what you bring to the role and your career goals. This is helpful for early-career applicants or if you’re pivoting into a different field.

  • Academic history: List degrees with institutions, locations, and graduation dates; honors you received; and relevant coursework. Start with your most recent credential and work backward.

  • Professional experience: Include organizations, their locations, employment dates, job titles, responsibilities, and achievements. Start each bullet point with an action verb. Include successful outcomes and data when possible.

  • Skills and certifications: Highlight technical, professional, and soft skills. Include industry certifications and the date issued. List digital or AI skills that would spark an employer’s interest.

  • Awards and honors: Showcase scholarships, fellowships, grants, and professional honors or awards. Include the names, years received, and context, such as criteria for selection.

  • Publications and presentations: List research papers, articles, books, or conference presentations you’ve worked on in proper citation format. Include titles, dates, and co-authors, if relevant.

  • Professional memberships: Note associations, boards, or societies you are involved with. Include membership level (student, professional, fellow), your role and contributions, if relevant, and dates of participation.

  • Volunteer or extracurricular activities: This is valuable if you’re a student or early-career professional. Listing these can show leadership, initiative, and skills gained outside of work. Include the organization, your role, and noteworthy contributions.

CV format checklist: Keep these tips in mind

While there is no one way to format a CV, these best practices can help you make a great first impression with the hiring manager or academic committee members.

Use an appropriate CV format

Like any professional document, proper formatting of your CV makes a difference:

  • Make headings relevant and descriptive of their respective section.

  • List experience in chronological order.

  • Use clean, sans-serif fonts, such as Arial or Calibri, in 10 or 11 points.

  • Keep margins between 0.5 and 1 inch to avoid too much white space.

  • Make sure sections progress naturally (e.g., academics, professional experience, then publications).

  • Use bullets for scannability.

Keep length appropriate to experience

The length of your CV will depend on your experience:

  • Students and early career professionals will have 1-2 pages.

  • Experienced professionals can aim for 3 pages.

  • Professionals in academia and research might have 5-10 pages.

Organize sections for clarity

List sections in order of relevance to give readers an understanding of the progression of your experience:

  • Starting with a clear personal statement and goals provides a strong foundation.

  • Listing publications you’ve contributed to, after your experience, reinforces your areas of expertise.

  • Rounding out your CV with memberships and volunteer activities shows initiative beyond your work.

Tailor your CV for each role

Just like all job candidates are different, CVs should be crafted based on the role:

  • Tailor your information, such as coursework or skills, based on your experience.

  • Academics can prioritize publications where they have authored relevant articles.

  • For specific roles within an organization, include industry and technical skills you have acquired that are listed in the job description.

Highlight transferable skills

Regardless of industry or role, key transferable skills that employers look for include leadership, communication, interpersonal, and digital literacy:

  • These skills are valuable for students who have little or no direct work experience, as they can demonstrate transferable skills through relevant coursework, volunteer roles, or projects.

  • For example, a community-based role where you led a group of volunteers could demonstrate leadership and initiative to a potential employer.

Use keywords relevant to your role

Adding related keywords to your CV is essential:

  • Employers are increasingly using applicant tracking systems to handle the large volume of digital resumes and CVs they receive.

  • The ATS identifies keywords in CVs and resumes based on the job description, and the AI-based platform helps match candidates to the role.

  • Incorporating relevant keywords into your CV shows employers your skills and experience align with the job they need to fill.

  • Weave keywords naturally into your summary and experience.

Use action verbs and data points

Optimizing your CV with meaningful words and statistics that back up your experience can make a powerful impression on the reader:

  • Highlight your experience and work by using strong action verbs such as “developed,” “led,” or “analyzed.”

  • Infuse the document with numbers, statistics, and dollar amounts that are relevant to your experiences.

Proofread carefully

An error-free document helps you make a confident and professional impression:

  • Once you have the content and CV format in place, run your document through spellcheck.

  • Read your CV out loud so you can hear the flow and catch missing or incorrect words.

  • Ask a friend or mentor to review it for you.

Update your CV regularly

Your CV is not a static document. As your experience evolves, so should your CV:

  • Refresh your CV with new roles, certifications, or publications as you gain more experience.

  • Place special emphasis on experience with AI-driven tools, new certifications, or fresh job skills you’ve acquired that would interest a potential employer.

AI-ready CVs: How to make your CV work with AI tools

Think of AI as your assistant, helping you refine your CV.

Use AI to align your CV with ATS and job-scanner technology:

  • ATS tools scan CVs for keywords, then rank or filter applicants to streamline the hiring process for a given role.

  • When inserting relevant keywords into your CV, go for an exact word match so the ATS picks them up.

  • Keep formatting clean, without tables or graphics that could confuse the ATS.

  • Use standard section headers (e.g., “Experience,” not “Career Journey”).

Use AI writing and editing tools to augment your CV:

  • Once you have a draft of your CV, using AI tools can help you enhance and hone it for a polished, final version.

  • Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can help you refine bullet points and tighten language, as well as format your document.

  • Make sure you review the document carefully and that all the content is correct and personalized to you. Keep your unique achievements clear and easy to understand.

  • Avoid over-reliance on AI. This is your opportunity to share your talents and experience in a meaningful way.

Future-ready tip: Remember that employers are using AI, too. You can make a great impression on reviewers when your CV is well-organized, structured for flow, and keyword-driven.

When do you need a CV?

There are many situations where a CV is appropriate:

  • Academic and teaching roles at universities

  • Fellowships, grants, and scholarship applications

  • Graduate school applications

  • Healthcare and medical roles that require more detail

  • Professionals pursuing advanced career roles where more depth is needed

  • Research or lab roles

  • Students and professionals exploring global or international roles

7 tips to make your CV stand out

Small but powerful additions can elevate your CV:

   1. Personalize your document to highlight your unique experiences.

  2. Infuse relevant keywords throughout to show alignment with the role.

  3. Ask a professor or mentor to review your CV and provide constructive feedback.

  4. Add a personal statement that demonstrates your skills and goals.

  5. Mention relevant mentorships that shaped your experiences.

  6. Use design elements sparingly and avoid tables or graphics to help your CV get through the ATS.

  7. Use AI responsibly to polish your language or brainstorm bullet points. Always review suggestions and personalize your CV so it’s authentic to you.

Chart the course of your life with DeVry

Our dedicated faculty, career coaches, and advisors are here to help you weave your professional and educational experience into a future that puts you on the road to success.

Frequently asked questions

What does CV stand for?

CV stands for curriculum vitae, which means “course of life” in Latin.

What degree of detail should a CV include?

A CV should be comprehensive, especially for academic, research, or international applications. It should include your:

  • Contact information
  • Personal statement
  • Academic history
  • Professional experience and skills
  • Certifications, awards, and honors
  • Presentations and publications
  • Professional memberships and relevant volunteer experience

How long should a CV be?

A CV should be 1 to 2 pages for people early in their careers, longer for experienced professionals or academics.

What’s the difference between a CV and a resume?

A resume is a summary of relevant skills and experiences and usually 1 to 2 pages in length. A CV is a detailed, structured history of your academic and professional experiences and can be 1 to 2 pages for students and those early in their careers. A CV is often between 5 and 10 pages for more experienced professionals and academics.

How do you make a CV AI-ready?

To make your CV AI-ready, use standard formatting, clear headings, and include applicable industry-specific keywords to optimize for ATS and AI-screening tools.

Can employers tell if a CV was created using AI?

Employers may be able to tell if a CV was created using AI if it hasn’t been edited and refined. Many employers can spot generic, impersonal, and inconsistent details. To avoid that, treat AI as a helper for formatting or polishing. Always personalize your CV with your authentic experiences and achievements, avoid plagiarism, and ensure it’s accurate to your experience.

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