Harvard CV Template: Writing Guide for 2025

Pursuing a career in academia or targeting opportunities at top-tier institutions? Then, the Harvard CV template will help you present your achievements with clarity and impact.

In this guide, we’ll take you through the unique structure of the Harvard CV, offering focused tips and examples to help you create a document that truly reflects your academic and professional excellence.

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We created the sample on the right using our builder. See other good CV examples like this one.

Want to study relevant CV examples? See the list below:

• Academic CV Example
• First CV Example
• General CV Example
• Graduate CV Example
• Librarian CV Example
• PhD CV Example
• Student CV Example
• Teacher CV Example
• Teaching Assistant CV Example
• Tutor CV Example

Harvard CV template

What is a Harvard CV?

A Harvard CV is an academic document showcasing your intellectual achievements, research, and key qualifications. The Harvard CV template is used for academic or research opportunities, and leadership roles in specialised industries. It emphasises your scholarly contributions and accomplishments.

Unlike a typical CV, a Harvard CV delves into your scholarly contributions, showcasing your ability to push boundaries in your field. It should reflect both intellectual excellence and practical expertise, covering not only what you’ve achieved but how you’ve shaped and engaged with the academic and professional communities.

How to write a Harvard CV in a few steps

What makes you stand out in a group of talented candidates? Is it your groundbreaking research, your ability to lead collaborative projects, or the unique perspective you bring to your field? A Harvard CV is your opportunity to answer that question.

Here’s how to create the document that hopefully opens doors to your next exciting opportunity:

1. Format your Harvard CV template properly

It all starts with the right CV formatting. Why? Because a sharp, well-organised CV speaks volumes before a single word is read. Think of it as designing a research presentation—you want clarity, structure, and an engaging layout. Plus, the way your CV is formatted helps the reader quickly grasp your strengths.

Here’s a bunch of tested formatting tips to outline your Harvard-style CV correctly:

• Keep your CV layout consistent and clean, with clear headings like Education, Research, and Experience.
• Use bullet points to highlight key achievements, avoiding dense blocks of text.
• Choose a legible CV font, such as Calibri or Times New Roman, and maintain wide margins for easy readability.
• Limit your CV to 2–3 pages, focusing on the most relevant information for the role.
• Ensure alignment of dates, locations, and titles for a polished, cohesive look.

If you followed these tips, you’ve already tackled a significant part of the CV preparation process. A well-formatted document will make your top achievements more visible and will show your ability to organise and present complex information clearly and precisely. These qualities are highly regarded in a variety of academic jobs.

2. Organise your contact information clearly

Your contact information should be prominently displayed at the top of your Harvard CV to ensure potential employers or collaborators can easily reach you. Use a clean, professional format and include only essential details.

Here’s an example inspired by the Harvard CV template:

Harvard CV template—header example

When preparing your Harvard CV header, stick to these rules:

• Full name: Use your full name, including titles like “Dr.” if applicable.
• Address: Provide your full address, but you can exclude it if privacy is a concern.
• Phone number: Use a number you actively monitor.
• Email address: Ensure it’s professional, preferably using your full name.
• LinkedIn/Professional website: Include links to a LinkedIn profile or personal website that showcases your work or research, if available.

This format keeps your contact details clear and professional while making it easy for employers to find the information they need at a glance.

3. Write a personal statement that captivates the reader

Think of your personal statement as the abstract of your CV. It’s the section where you summarise the core of your experience and ambitions. It’s not about listing all the details, but more about providing a glimpse into what drives you and what you aspire to achieve.

Your CV summary should concisely outline who you are, what you have accomplished, and what you aim to achieve in the future. This section should focus on your academic interests, major achievements, and the direction you want your career to take.

But don’t rely on generic, ready-made academic personal statements you find online. Instead, craft a personalised summary that highlights your unique contributions and ambitions. These very few tips will help you craft a tailored CV summary:

• Start with what defines you professionally or academically.
• Highlight your key accomplishments, such as research breakthroughs, leadership roles, or impactful collaborations.
• Conclude with your ambitions, emphasising how you can contribute to the institution or role you’re targeting.

Harvard CV template—personal statement example

Keep this section concise—ideally 4–6 sentences—and use it to set the tone for the rest of your CV. It should provide a brief summary that you will expand on in greater detail throughout the document.

4. Describe your academic journey

Think of your education section as more than a list of degrees. Here, you’ll put forward the foundations you’ve built to become an expert in your field. Present your educational background in reverse chronological order, focusing on the highlights of each stage.

In the education section of your Harvard CV, include key details such as:

• The degree title, institution, and dates of study.
• A brief description of your thesis, dissertation, or capstone project, showcasing its relevance to your current ambitions.
• Academic honours or scholarships that underscore your achievements.
• Notable modules or research topics that align with the role or field you’re pursuing.
• Practical or fieldwork components that highlight how you’ve applied your knowledge in real-world contexts.

Harvard CV template—education section example

Once you’ve completed this part of your Harvard CV template, ask yourself if it fully reflects your commitment to academic excellence. Consider whether there are other elements you could include, such as relevant coursework, academic awards, study-abroad experiences, or additional research projects that demonstrate your dedication and expertise in your field.

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

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5. Present your experience as impactful stories

Your professional and academic roles tell the story of how you’ve applied your skills and knowledge to make an impact. Whether through research breakthroughs, innovative projects, or team collaborations, these roles showcase not just what you’ve done, but the value you’ve added and the difference you’ve made.

When describing your roles:

• Focus on your key achievements, not just responsibilities. For example, instead of “Conducted data analysis,” write “Developed econometric models that identified key trends in regional economic disparities.”
• Quantify where possible, such as “supervised 20 students” or “secured £50,000 in research funding.”
• Highlight collaborations, leadership roles, or interdisciplinary work that demonstrates your versatility.

Harvard CV template—work experience section example

This example is a great representation of how to structure a work experience section in your Harvard CV to highlight your contributions and impact. Each role is clearly outlined with a timeline and institution, and the descriptions focus on achievements rather than just duties.

6. Highlight skills that showcase your value

Moving forward, it’s time to demonstrate the technical tools, methodologies, and abilities that drive your achievements. And the skills section is the ideal place to do that. If you’ve mastered a programming language, illustrate how you used it to analyse complex datasets or develop innovative research models.

If you’ve honed exceptional communication skills, show how they enabled you to present findings at international conferences or collaborate effectively on interdisciplinary projects.

Include:

• Specific software, programming languages, or technical tools you’ve mastered.
• Transferable skills like public speaking, project management, or leadership.
• Language proficiencies, especially if they add value to the role or field.

Organise your skills into categories to make them easier to scan. This ensures the reader quickly sees how you match their requirements.

Harvard style CV—skills example

You can separate technical skills and soft skills to create a clear distinction between your technical expertise and personal attributes, ensuring both are effectively highlighted.

7. Enrich your CV with supporting sections

Your Harvard-style CV can go beyond the basics to showcase the breadth of your experience and achievements. Consider adding tailored sections, as they can give the reader a fuller picture of who you are. I recommend that you include:

• Publications: Showcase articles, papers, or books you’ve authored.
• Conferences and presentations: Highlight your engagement with the professional community.
• Awards and honours: Detail recognitions that underscore your excellence.
• Extracurricular activities: Demonstrate leadership, teamwork, or personal interests.
• Research interests: Provide a snapshot of the areas you’re passionate about.

Harvard CV template—additional sections example

These sections add essential context to your CV, showing your engagement both within and beyond your field. They demonstrate that you are a well-versed candidate who combines technical expertise with active engagement, leadership skills, and strategic thinking.

Final touches to perfect your Harvard CV

A polished CV is more than the sum of its parts. Here’s how to make sure your Harvard CV leaves the best impression:

• Tailor your CV: Align it with the role you’re applying for, highlighting the most relevant experience and skills.
• Use action verbs: Choose words like “initiated,” “developed,” “led,” and “achieved” to describe your contributions.
• Proofread thoroughly: Even small errors can undermine your professionalism. Review your CV carefully for accuracy.
• Include references: Academic or professional references strengthen your credibility. Indicate that they’re “available upon request.”
• Focus on clarity: Make sure your CV is easy to navigate, concise, and well-structured.

And there you have it—your Harvard CV is ready to make a strong impression in the academic field.

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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Thank you for reading. Got any tips regarding the Harvard CV template you’d like to share? Is there anything you’d like me to cover in more detail? If you’ve got any questions about the Harvard CV, please use the comments section below. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

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Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

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