The Curriculum Vitae

A guide to developing your CV.

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Career and Professional Development Center

This handout explains what a curriculum vitae (CV) is, how it differs from a resume, and how you can construct a CV that best suits you. It also includes helpful tips and recommendations. (Please note that this handout covers American usage of the terms “CV” and “resume.” The word “resume” may also be spelled “résumé” or “resume.”) The information for this handout was compiled from various sources to provide you with a wide range of application.

Curriculum Vitae (CV) vs. Resume Application Purpose

Length Focus Similarities

Curriculum Vitae Academia, higher education, and research focused fields A comprehensive summary of your educational and professional experiences such as presentations, publication, professional affiliation, honors and more Generally 3 or more pages depending upon the level of experience of the professional A comprehensive academic biography Tailored for each academic or research position

Resume Business, Non-profit, and nonacademic industries A outline of relevant and related professional, educational, and volunteer work that is applicable for the position that one is applying Commonly 1 page but no more than 2 pages

Can be read by skimming through the document

Can be read by skimming through the document

A listing of credentials that are most relevant to the position Tailored for each position you are apply for within the company or organization

All the information provided is All the information provided is accurate and truthful accurate and truthful (Adapted from Duke Career Services)

CV Format The following is a list of general formatting tips. These are not mutually exclusive, though they tend to aid in the readability for those who are reviewing the document.      

Single space One inch margins on all four sides 12 point font Consistent font size throughout document. Note that the header can differ in size No narrative verbiage nor first-person language Include your last name and page numbers on pages after the first

CV Headings and Content Your CV is a personal and customizable document. You must chose the information that best demonstrates your work as a scholar. Below is a list of headings that you can include. Note the sections with an asterisk (*) are strongly encouraged. The order of the headings may also change depending upon the focus of your CV. For example, for one position, you may want to list your research experience right after your education. For another position you may want to include your teaching experience in the spot below your education.

*Header

Include your name, permanent address, email, phone number, and LinkedIn or personal website address. Make sure that your name is prominent and bold. Avoid including your sex, age, height, weight, marital status, dependents, race, ethnic background, religion or photographs. Qualification Summary A qualification summary is a section where you list your most notable accomplishments or experiences that relate to the position that you are applying for. *Education List your education by degree and in reverse chronological order. Providing the abbreviation for the degree (B.A., M.A., Ph.D.) is sufficient compared to writing it all out. Include the institution and the year you received or will receive your degree. You may also include your dissertation in this section as well. Make sure it is below the appropriate degree. Professional Licenses This section is essential for professions requiring licensure or certification. When or Certifications identifying certifications include name of certifying agency, type of certification, date received, and whether it is current. Teaching experience Arrange the most recent teaching experience first. Provide position title, date ranges and responsibilities. A TA experience can also go here. Identify teaching specific courses taught, student advisement, and relevant collaborations. You may list a brief description of the course only if it relevant to the position. Research Experience Lab experience can also fall under this heading. This is one location where slight elaboration is possible, if the research was a team effort on a complex, multi-year theme. A few detailed sentences should suffice. Honors, awards, grants, List the name(s) of award and institutional location. Always list in reverse and fellowships descending order. Listing amount awarded appears to be field-specific. Check with a trusted advisor. Publication List scholarly publications such as a book reviews, book chapters, journals, and monographs in reverse chronological order. They should also be listed in the style that is common in your field such as APA or MLA. If you have a publication that is not complete, you can list “In Progress” in the location of the date. Presentations List all the papers and presentations you delivered or will deliver, along with the names, dates, and locations of the conferences or meetings where you presented the work. If you have given a number of presentations at regional and national meetings, you may want to pull out the presentations at national meetings or other venues where there is a screening process and some degree of competition. Invited Talks These are talks to which you have been invited at OTHER campuses, not your own. Give title, institutional location, and date. Year only (not month or day) at left. Professional All professional organizations of which you are a member listed vertically. Affiliations Include years of joining when you are more senior and those years recede into the past—demonstrates length of commitment to a field. University/ Include search committees and other committee work, appointments to Faculty Departmental Service Senate, etc. Languages *References

All languages to be listed vertically, with proficiency in reading, speaking, and writing clearly demarcated using terms such as: native, fluent, excellent, conversational, proficient, can read with dictionary, etc. List references vertically. Give name and full title. Do not give narrative verbiage or explanation of these references (i.e, “Ph.D. Committee member,” etc.) (Adapted from Karen Lee Kelsky, 2013)

Action Words Management skills administered analyzed assigned attained chaired contracted consolidated coordinated delegated developed directed evaluated executed improved increased organized oversaw planned prioritized produced recommended reviewed scheduled strengthened supervised Research skills clarified collected critiqued diagnosed evaluated examined extracted identified inspected interpreted interviewed investigated organized reviewed summarized surveyed systematized

Communication skills addressed arbitrated arranged authored corresponded developed directed drafted edited enlisted formulated influenced interpreted lectured mediated moderated motivated negotiated persuaded promoted publicized reconciled recruited spoke translated wrote Technical skills assembled built calculated computed designed devised engineered fabricated maintained operated overhauled programmed remodeled repair solved trained upgraded

Helping skills assessed assisted clarified coached counseled demonstrated diagnosed educated expedited facilitated familiarized guided referred rehabilitated represented

Creative skills acted conceptualized created designed developed directed established fashioned founded illustrated instituted integrated introduced invented originated performed planned revitalized shaped

Clerical or detailed skills approved arranged catalogued classified collected compiled dispatched executed generated implemented inspected monitored operated organized prepared organized prepared processed purchased recorded retrieved screened specified systematized tabulated validated Teaching skills adapted advised clarified coached communicated coordinated developed enabled encouraged evaluated explained facilitated guided informed initiated instructed persuaded set goals stimulated Financial skills administered allocated analyzed appraised audited balanced budgeted calculated computed developed forecasted managed marketed planned projected researched

NAME

E-mail address LinkedIn URL or personal website Address City, State, Zip (Area code) Telephone number Education Ph.D.

Major field Institution, City, State Actual or anticipation completion date Dissertation title Dissertation advisor

M.A./M.S.

Major field, year of completion Institution, City, State

B.A./B.S.

Major field, year of completion Institution, City, State

Relevant Experience (Teaching, Research, ect.) Position Title Dates Institution or Organization Name, City, State Describe what you did using brief phrases beginning with action verbs. Your descriptions may appear as a bulleted list or in paragraph form. Make a point to include responsibilities that highlight relevant skills or interests. Quantify wherever possible (i.e., number of students taught, dollar amounts of grants) and mention results if appropriate. Fellowships, Honors, Grants Name of Award, dates held Describe activities and responsibilities. Use brief phrases beginning with action verbs; include activities most relevant to the position sought. Use same format to list additional awards. This category could also be called “Honors” and include scholarships, honor societies, and other academic honors. Use the same format for each entry. List entries in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent or current experience. Professional Involvement List related professional and civic memberships. Generally, it is a good idea to omit any affiliations which might allow the reader to draw conclusions about your ethnic background, political or religious preferences, unless they are related to the positions you are seeking. Publications List all articles, book chapters, books and other publications using the style recommended by your profession. University Service List committees you have served on, leadership positions held on those committees or in other areas (such as faculty governance bodies), or in-house consulting. Professional Interests Include areas of concentration in the graduate studies, research interests, teaching interests and other areas of interest related to your field. This section can be broken into separate categories for each area mentioned above. References Indicate an address where prospective employers can obtain letters of reference or call your references.

Please note: This is a sample format. You should choose a format for your CV that works well with the information you are presenting and that is appropriate to your discipline. Experiment to achieve the” look” that presents you most effectively.

Academic Cover Letters When you are mailing, e-mailing, or uploading your CV to an institution to apply for a position, it is not uncommon to include a cover letter. While you should tailor your CV for each position, the cover letter allows you to further customize this initial presentation of your qualifications. Many universities will require both a CV and cover letter (sometimes also called a letter of application), among other supporting materials. An academic cover letter has a similar purpose to a business cover letter, but the content will be more specific. In addition, academic cover letters are generally longer and more detailed – often one and one half to two pages in length. This allows you to highlight your accomplishments in greater detail. As with any cover letter, you must tailor your academic letter to the institution and position. This means you will research both, then craft your letter to reflect the requirements and qualifications for the position, most effectively presenting you as a candidate who closely matches these qualifications. To do this, pay attention to the language used in the job posting to describe the ideal candidate. Use the same terminology to describe your skills and experiences. Focus your presentation on the areas that are important to the potential employer. For example, stating in your cover letter that you have experience teaching upper-division students when the position clearly states that the person hired will teach entry-level courses may cause your application to be rejected. Again, show that your background is a close match to the position you are applying for. Sample Academic Cover Letter/Letter of Application Your return address City, State, Zip code Date Dr. Jane Jones Director of Women’s Studies University Street Address (if applicable) City, State, Zip code Dear Dr. Jones: As with any cover letter, begin by stating your purpose for writing. Mention where you learned of the opening; if you were referred by someone, be sure to include that person’s name. Briefly discuss your academic interests and related experiences, and tell why they make you a strong candidate for the position. The next 3-4 paragraphs should detail specific instances from your experience that demonstrate how closely your qualifications match the requirements of the position. Cite examples (with details) to illustrate each of the skills and characteristics the employer has listed to describe the ideal candidate. As often as possible, use the language in the position announcement to describe your own attributes. You may wish to use a separate paragraph to address each functional area you plan to discuss. For example, one paragraph may be focused on your teaching experience, another on publications, and still another on awards and recognition. What you mention, of course, will depend on the employer’s specifications. Since academic cover letters are extremely comprehensive, they are not limited to one page in length. The final paragraph should spell out the additional documentation you are submitting with the letter such as your curriculum vitae, reference list or letters, academic transcripts, teaching philosophy, course syllabus, etc. and offer to provide other materials if needed. (These materials will be listed in the job posting.) Also indicate your availability for an interview, and reiterate your telephone and e-mail contact information. Or, you may state that you will follow up with the employer during a particular time period (after the application deadline) to arrange an interview. (Note: If the job posting specifies “no phone calls,” skip this step.) Thank the employer for considering your application. Closing, Your Signature Your First and Last Name (typed)