A curriculum vitae (CV), literally the “race of life,” is a document similar to a resume, but is more detailed. The purpose of a CV is generally the same as the purpose of a resume: to obtain a job interview. However, the job in question is usually in academia. A second purpose for a CV is to assist one who will write a letter of recommendation for an applicant; the CV provides valuable information to a letter writer and makes their job easier.
In general, the CV should be updated regularly to include the most relevant and pertinent information. It should be comprehensive, but also clearly written and concise. The focus should be on skills rather than just work and job descriptions. The font should be clear and readable. Pages should be consecutively numbered, and headers and footers with name and page numbers should be included. All citations should be accurate and complete. The CV should be reviewed for errors by a colleague or a consultant. The applicant should be prepared to explain any gaps in employment history in the interview. Review your CV carefully before interviewing; an interviewer can ask about anything on there. A one page letter of intent should accompany the CV, which should be carefully prepared. And it is not a good idea to “pad your CV,” as it will cause the applicant to lose credibility with the interviewer and the institution.
A complete CV has several components: contact information; personal information; employment history; education; professional qualifications; certificates and licenses; honors and awards; publications/books (if applicable); professional/academic memberships; and interests. Given the level of detail required in a CV, it is a good idea to update your CV frequently to keep track of your accomplishments, or, alternatively, to keep a file on hand documenting your accomplishments.
In the Contact Information section, all relevant contact information should be included, including name, home and work address, home, office and cellular telephone numbers, and email information.
The Personal Information section should include date of birth, place of birth, citizenship and VISA status, if relevant. A Social Security number should generally not be included, however. This section may be omitted entirely if not relevant to the particular position or institution.
Employment History should generally be in reverse chronological order, with position details and dates. If there are gaps in work history, a functional approach may be used, wherein the most relevant and prestigious positions are listed first; however, the applicant should be prepared to explain any employment gaps in the interview. Employment History be broken up into work history, academic teaching positions, and research and training.
The Education section should be limited to undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral training. GPA information may be included if the applicant has limited work experience; otherwise, it should be omitted. GPA information should be included, however, if the purpose of the CV is to request a letter of recommendation.
Professional qualifications should include certifications, accreditations and technical skills, such as software familiarity and technical prowess. This information tends to be of a more general nature than actual certificates or licenses, which should be included in the section on Certificates and Licenses (next section).
Certificates and licenses refers generally to documents that can be hung on a wall as opposed to general educational knowledge, which would be listed under Education; the CV should include the date attained and activity status (active or inactive). This may include training courses completed and Continuing Education courses needed to maintain professional licensure.
Honors and awards can include any academic, professional or extra-vocational awards, including military service awards, if applicable. Dates and conferring institutions should be included. If it is not clear the basis for the award, a brief description of the basis for the award should be included.
Publications should be identified as peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed, and those submitted for publication as opposed to those already accepted for publication, or already published. Electronic publications can be included. Presentations, abstracts, and exhibits can also be included in this section. Grants may also be cited. Publications should include dates, journal name and/or website, if applicable. Provide the reader with enough information that he/she could retrieve the article from an appropriate database.
Professional and academic memberships can include memberships in professional organizations and societies, academic committees, and the level of participation or title, such as Chair, member, or Vice President should be specified. Leadership roles in such organizations should be highlighted. Dates of participation should be included.
Interests include any avocational pursuits. Write about hobbies and stuff you like to do outside of work. Interviewers frequently ask about the material in the Interests section, so be ready for questions about this section.
If you follow all of these pointers on effective CV writing, you will be on track to getting that coveted academic appointment! Good luck and happy hunting from Logos Tutoring!