Curriculum Vitaes

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A curriculum vitae (CV) is distinguished from a resume by its length and content. A CV is a comprehensive biographical statement (generally three or more pages) emphasizing professional qualifications and academic credentials.

Why Use a CV?

  • To apply for admission to graduate or professional schools
  • To promote yourself for employment opportunities in academic and research settings
  • To inform employers about your achievements and activities for annual or tenure review
  • To describe your areas of expertise when applying for independent consulting
  • To support your application for fellowships, grants, or other contract funding proposals
  • To establish credibility when submitting a manuscript proposal to an academic journal or press

Sections to Include

Design your CV to emphasize your experience, strengths, and greatest achievements. In addition to the standard components found on a resume, consider adding the following sections that pertain to you and uniquely describe your credentials:

  • Recent and Current Research: A short description of your research interests including the type of research, purpose, and collaborators
  • Special Honors and Awards: Recognition, prizes or awards you achieved as a student or professional
  • Publications Authored/Edited: Follow the citation guidelines of your discipline (e.g., APA Publication Manual)
  • Grant(s) Received: Include the name of the grant, granting agency, title or purpose of project and date the grant was received
  • Presentations: Highlight the presentation title, co-presenters, conference/event name, date and location
  • Professional Association Membership(s): List current memberships only in alphabetical order
  • Professional Service: Detail the committee and service work you have performed
  • Other Competencies: Include language abilities, computer skills, international experiences, or any other relevant or notable skills

Finishing Touches

Content

  • Regularly update all your information which should be captured in concise, but descriptive phrases
  • Organize the information in a coherent manner that presents your abilities and background effectively
  • Avoid the temptation to “pad,” listing many and sometimes irrelevant projects to testify to your accomplishments

Formatting

  • Make sure your sections are presented so your most recent and relevant information appears first
  • Be consistent in the look, chronology of experience and formatting
  • Include a header or footer with your name and page number

Proofing

  • Ask for feedback from experienced professionals in your chosen field
  • Check for clarity, conciseness, completeness, accuracy and visual appeal
  • Check for “double entries.” No item should appear twice in the CV