How to Write a CV Introduction + Examples for 2025

Staring at a blank page, unsure how to begin your CV? You’re not alone. Most advice says, “Just start at the beginning”—but that’s not exactly helpful when you don’t know what the beginning should be.

Here’s the truth: the best way to start your CV is often to write the introduction last. Once your skills, experience, and accomplishments are laid out, it’s far easier to craft a compelling opening that highlights your strongest points.

In this guide you will learn how to write the perfect CV intro paragraph that will have recruiters reading on to the very end. Ready?

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Check other tips that will help you overcome writer’s block:

• What to Include in a CV
• What Should a CV Look Like
• Best CV Templates
• How to Write a CV
• CV Summary
• How Long Should a CV Be?
• CV Layout
• CV Format
• CV Structure

Choosing a CV Introduction

If the first thing you say when meeting someone is “what up?”, you might not leave the best impression—and the same goes for your CV. Before deciding what to say in your CV introduction, think about how you want to say it. What message do you want to get across? What are your strongest selling points?

Those are the key elements you’ll want to include in your CV profile—the short paragraph at the top of your CV that gives recruiters a reason to keep reading.

The good news? The guidelines for writing a strong CV introduction are consistent across industries. Whether you’re in marketing, healthcare, finance, or hospitality, the same principles apply.

Depending on your background, you’ll choose between two types of CV profiles—and we’ll help you figure out which one suits your experience best.

CV Objective

A CV objective is the ideal introduction for anyone just starting out in their career, returning to work, or making a career change.

Instead of focusing on years of experience, a CV objective highlights your skills, enthusiasm, and potential—making it clear why you’re a valuable hire, even if you don’t yet have a long track record.

CV Introduction Example

This internship CV introduction example shows how relevant accomplishments and ambition can create a strong first impression—even without formal work experience.

Sample CV Introduction: Objective

Although this candidate is moving into a different sector with a career change CV, the objective emphasises transferable skills and how they’ll bring value in the new role.

CV Summary

A CV summary is the go-to introduction for professionals with several years of experience or those continuing along a clear career path.

Unlike a CV objective, which focuses on potential, a CV summary showcases your relevant experience, key skills, and notable achievements—right at the top of your CV. It’s designed to reassure employers that you’re already operating at a high level and ready to deliver results from day one.

Here’s a CV introduction example of a compelling CV summary:

Intro for a CV: Summary

This summary immediately communicates the candidate’s value, measurable success, and career direction—enticing the hiring manager to read on.

Summary of Qualifications

A summary of qualifications is a short, sharp bullet-point list that highlights your most impressive skills, achievements, and experience—making it quick for hiring managers to see why you’re a strong match.

Let’s take the previous CV summary and rework it into a qualifications-based format:

Sample Introductions for a CV: Summary of Qualifications

Simple, right? Just select the 4–5 strongest highlights from your CV and reword them as punchy bullet points to grab attention fast.

CV Headline

Struggling to fit your career highlights into a one- or two-page CV? A CV headline (also known as a CV title) might be the solution.

Placed directly under your contact details, a headline is a concise phrase that sums up your professional identity—often including experience, key achievements, or standout credentials.

It’s not a full sentence. Think of it as your personal headline. See the examples below:

Introduction for a CV: Headline Example

Short, specific, and packed with value—your CV headline can help you make a strong first impression in a single glance.

So how can you write an intro just as good as the CV introduction examples above? We’ll show you.

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Start With The Rest of Your CV

Just because your CV introduction appears at the top doesn’t mean it should be the first thing you write. In fact, one of the best strategies is to save your introduction until last. Why?

Because a great CV summary or objective should reflect and reinforce the key highlights from the rest of your document. Writing the body of your CV first helps you identify your strongest achievements and skills—so your introduction can tie it all together.

Focus on building out these sections first:

• Work experience – Showcase your key responsibilities and quantifiable achievements
• Skills section – Include both technical and soft skills relevant to the job
• Education section – Highlight qualifications, certifications, and relevant coursework
• Additional sections – Such as languages, professional memberships, or awards

Once those are complete, go back to your CV introduction and craft a summary or objective that captures your most relevant strengths, positioning you as the ideal candidate from the very first line.

Writing a CV Introduction

Knowing whether you need a CV summary or CV objective is a great start—but now comes the hard part: writing it well.

Here are some key tips to help you craft a compelling, professional CV introduction:

• Keep it brief and focused – Aim for 3–4 sharp, purposeful sentences. A short paragraph is all you need to make a strong impression.
• Tailor it to the job – Use the job description as your guide. Match your skills to what the employer is looking for, and consider mentioning the company by name to show genuine interest.
• Use active language and relevant keywords – Action verbs make your writing punchier, and keywords from the job ad help your CV get past applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Show how you’ll add value – Finish with a statement that demonstrates how you’ll contribute to the company. This shows you’re thinking beyond just landing the role—you’re ready to make an impact.
• Proofread before you send – Even the best CV can be undermined by simple errors. Double-check grammar, spelling, and clarity to ensure a polished final result.

With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to writing a CV introduction that gets noticed—for all the right reasons.

Read more: How to Write a CV Profile

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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Key Takeaway

As you wrap up your CV, keep these key points in mind when crafting your introduction:

• Decide whether a CV summary or CV objective is the right fit for your experience level.
• Tailor your introduction to the job advert, focusing on your most relevant strengths and value.
• Keep it concise, use action-oriented language, and make a clear statement about how you’ll contribute to the company.
• A strong introduction sets the tone for your entire CV—so make it count.

Got questions about writing a CV introduction that gets results? Drop them in the comments below—we’re here to help!

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Sources

• https://doi.org/10.2190%2FBK23-74U3-333Q-0T86