WRITING A CV FOR AN ACADEMIC JOB APPLICATION: TIPS AND TRICKS

CVs are required when applying for tenure, advancement to professor roles, fellowships, additional training in academia, grants, contractual funding proposals, research or teaching roles, and membership in a professional association or organisation.  For employment in business and other non-academic fields, the term "resume" is employed in the United States. In certain foreign contexts, the word "CV" is utilised for all job chances; nonetheless, you should modify your document according to the nature of the employment. Make anappointment if you need assistance with your resume.


Curriculum vitae (CV) vs. Resume

 

Academia, Faculty

Industry

Main document for experiences

 

Curriculum vitae

Resume

Employer values in the search

 

Comprehensive scholarly record

Brevity, relevance, value added, efficiency; typically 1-2 pages (2 for PhDs or for those with more experience)

Key skills

 

Research, publishing, teaching, mentoring, grants

Varies based on position (example skills: analytical, interpersonal, teamwork)

Additional documents & tools

 

Cover letter, Research Statement, Teaching Statement, Diversity Statement, ResearchGate, LinkedIn

Cover Letter, LinkedIn

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Develop your CV strategically

You must possess two CVs: a master one that has all of your information and one that is specially crafted for a certain job or opportunity. The following advice should be kept in mind when you create your CV.

  1. Make your three to four most noteworthy abilities, accomplishments, and subject-area knowledge stands out for readers. Put the sections of your CV that are most pertinent to the opportunity higher up on the page.
  2. Don't forget about your audience. How technologically literate are they? Will they be able to understand your domain's jargon? What are they trying to find? What about you will be intriguing to them?
  3. It's more probable that content you provide early in your CV will stick noticed than content you include later. (An exception is that publications are generally near the end).

MyPerfectResume.com

Formatting your CV

There is no one right way to write a CV; instead, consider making it simple for readers to scan and discover the information they need.  Make appropriate use of descriptive section headers, subheadings, and white space to direct the reader. Maintain a consistent pattern throughout.

Typically, CVs outnumber resumes in length. Contrary to a resume, it is acceptable to go into great detail about your research and teaching experience. If you're looking for a job where research is the main responsibility, start by describing your research experience; if it's the opposite, start by describing your teaching experience. Include the objective, the contributions you have made and the effect or outcome of your contributions when summarising your experience.

Brevity is not as vital as completeness. An entry-level professional's length is normally 2 to 4 pages, whereas an experienced professional's length is 4 to 7 pages.

CV headings and sections

Headings can be placed and named strategically. Decide what is most crucial, then place that part at the top.

Common CV headings

  • Name & Contact Information
  • Education
  • Research Experience
  • Fellowships/Grants/Awards/Honors
  • Teaching Experience
  • Mentoring Experience
  • Other Professional Experience, e.g., Industry Experience, Government Experience
  • Presentations
  • Publications

Additional CV headings (if applicable)

  • Patents
  • Professional Associations
  • Leadership & Service Activities
  • Research Interests
  • Teaching Interests
  • Outreach Activities
  • Works in Progress
  • Skills – may include subcategories such as Computer, Languages, Lab Instrumentation
  • Languages
  • References
  • Other – could include relevant global /field experience, and personal interests

Including work or professional experience

Depending on the position you're going for, you might decide whether to include additional non-academic job experience on your academic CV. What skills did you develop from your job experience that would make it worthwhile to include even if it wasn't directly related to your academic interests? Your CV may include work experience in many different ways. You have the option of briefly describing your experience or just listing it.

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Publications section

  • List publications in reverse chronological order.
  • Use the citation style of your field
  • Put your name in bold to highlight your authorship
  • Can create separate categories to add clarity:  “Publications,” “Book Chapters”, etc.
  • Can list “Works in Press” or “Works in Progress” to show up-and-coming research

Presentations section

  • Conference presentations should include: Title, Name of conference or event, Location, Date
  • Can use sub-headings: “Invited Talks,” “Posters”, etc.

Patents

Short citation format: patent number, title, and date issued

If an application for a patent is still in progress, it may be listed but must be identified as such (e.g., "US Patent Application 4564848...") either under a different category or inside the "Patents and Patent Applications" section.


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Credit: MIT Career Advising & Professional Development