Cambridge CV Template

The Cambridge Careers Service teaches two distinct CV tracks: one for undergraduates and Masters students (1–2 pages, employer-facing, transferable-skills focused) and a longer academic CV for PhDs and postdoctoral researchers. Both share the UK conventions Cambridge has standardized — single column, right-aligned dates, no photo, no personal details, and a college sub-line under the University.

This template gives you the employer-track skeleton. It works for graduate schemes, professional applications, and the first job after Cambridge — and it converts cleanly to an academic CV later by extending the Education and adding publications.

• Length: 1–2 pages for graduate scheme and professional applications. Academic CVs grow with the career.
• Font: Arial, Calibri, or a clean serif at 10–12 pt.
• Margins: 1.5–2 cm all sides.
• Dates: right-aligned, Month Year format.
• Photo, DOB, marital status, nationality: none.
• Layout: single column.

A short Personal Profile is recommended for employer CVs — 2–4 lines under your contact block. The Cambridge Careers Service suggests framing it around: your current programme, your specialism or interests, and the type of role you want next.

Cambridge teaches a flexible CAR/STAR-aligned bullet — Context, Action, Result — and emphasizes that bullets should reveal transferable skills (analysis, communication, leadership) drawn from any kind of activity, not just paid work.

• Lead with a verb in the correct tense.
• Give scope: scale, audience, stakes.
• Close with a measurable or visible result.
• Mix paid work, internships, college roles, and substantial extracurriculars in the same Experience section if relevant.
• Cap each bullet at two lines.

Education sits at the top while you are at Cambridge and for the first year or two after.

• University of Cambridge — then degree (e.g. BA (Hons) Natural Sciences or MEng Engineering), then graduation date.
• College sub-line (Trinity, King's, Newnham, etc.).
• Tripos parts and module/Tripos paper titles can sit beneath for current students.
• Predicted or final classification (First, 2:1) belongs on the degree line.
• A-Levels and GCSEs in compact form, removed after 2–3 years post-graduation.

Skills sit toward the end of the employer CV. Group entries — Technical, Laboratory / Research, Languages (CEFR levels), Certifications. List specific tools and methods rather than self-rated stars or bars.

• Submitting a US-style résumé. UK employers expect a CV, not a résumé — terminology and format both.
• Omitting the college. Cambridge employers expect to see it.
• Merging the employer CV and the academic CV. They have different audiences.
• Adding a photo, DOB, or nationality.
• Listing "References available on request." Either name your referees at the end or skip the section.