A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a record of a person’s education, qualifications and previous experience. In the United States, the CV is used almost exclusively when seeking an academic position; it reflects the career development of teacher-researchers and must be updated frequently. To stay current, you need to treat your CV as a living document.
What is the difference between CV and Curriculum Vitae?
The main differences between a resume and a resume are length and purpose. Resumes often consist of three or more pages, used to build your academic persona. Your resume should highlight your abilities as a teacher, researcher and scientist.
A resume and a CV also differ in focus and format.
| Resume | CV | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Emphasizes skills relevant to the position | Emphasizes academic accomplishments |
| Use | When applying for positions in industry, nonprofit, and public sectors | When applying for positions in academia, research fellowships, and grants |
| Length | No longer than two pages | Depends on experience and the number of publications, posters, and presentations; often three pages or more |
| Format | Education section can be included at the top or bottom | Education section is always at the top (including advisor’s name, dissertation title, and a summary) |
What should a CV contain?
Your name and contact details
Overview of your training
Your academic and related work (especially teaching, editorial or administrative experience)
Your research projects (including conference presentations and publications)
Your departmental and public works
other abilitiesWhat should I highlight?
Relevant experience
The objective of your CV should reflect the specific position for which you are applying. For instance:
If you are applying to a research university, highlight your research projects, conference presentations, and publications.
If you are applying to a liberal arts or community college, highlight your teaching experience.Consider keeping multiple versions of your resume to make it easier to apply for different jobs as they become available.
Rate your experience
Include examples that have statistics and figures. For instance:
If you were a faculty leader, highlight how you increased your Praxis pass rate by X% in 3 years.
If you were a clinic manager, tell us how you implemented new processes that increased productivity by X% in the first 5 years.Brief and precise examples
Don’t just list your past work responsibilities; instead, highlight specific experiences that will help the employer understand what kind of teacher, researcher, and scientist you are. This can be achieved through a detailed description of your experience with quantifiable examples and details that emphasize your professional strengths.
These descriptions should be short and concise, with no vague or embellished statements.
Your goal should be to provide the most useful information that clearly demonstrates your qualifications for the job.
