[D66] Tegen het CV: a history

[René Oudeweg]

While the first known CV dates to 1482 (Leonardo da Vinci’s letter), the 
widespread adoption of the curriculum vitae in business and trade 
happened much later.

📜 17th–18th Century

Informal letters of introduction and written references were used among 
merchants and professionals, especially in Europe. However, there was no 
standardized CV format.

🏭 19th Century (Industrial Revolution)

During the Industrial Revolution, growing urbanization and the rise of 
factories created more structured hiring practices. Written summaries of 
experience became more common, particularly for clerical and 
professional roles.

🏢 Early 20th Century (1900s–1920s)

This is when the CV (or résumé) became widely adopted in modern business 
practice, especially in the United States and parts of Europe. Key 
drivers included:

Expansion of corporations

Professionalization of management

Growth of white-collar work

Standardized hiring procedures

By the 1920s–1930s, submitting a résumé was becoming a standard part of 
applying for professional and managerial positions.

✅ Summary

1482 – First documented CV (Leonardo da Vinci)

1800s – Increasing use in commerce and industry

Early 1900s (especially 1920s) – Widely adopted in business and trade