Creating an Effective CV for the Academic Job Search

Presented by the Career Development Center 12-170

OUR STAFF ARE HERE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR CAREER TRANSITION

Overview

Contents
Nuts and bolts of a CV

Protocol
Your References

Context
Types of universities

WHEN TO PREPARE YOUR CV FOR THE ACADEMIC JOB SEARCH

Sept.-Nov. - Seek advice and support of your advisor and other professors. Develop CV and begin to apply for jobs.

Nov.-Jan. Prepare for screening interviews at annual conferences. Ask advisors to help if they can (for example, by making calls on your behalf).

Jan.-Mar. Prepare for campus visits.

March-May Negotiate offers (tenure track positions may be filled earlier in this timeframe, replacement positions filled later)

Differences Between a CV and a Resume

Category
What is It? How long is it? When do you use it?

Curriculum Vitae
A full list of your professional and educational history.

Resume

Do you include your publications? How important is style and layout? Should I modify it to match each specific job to which I am applying? Typically references are listed at Are references listed?
the end of the CV.

A summary of your experience and skills that are most pertinent to the advertised position. Usually many pages; length is not Usually one page only. Multiple pages important. only for senior level positions. Used for academic positions and Used for every other type of job research positions in government outside of academia and research and industry. science. A full list of publications is Even a partial list of publications is essential. rarely included. Style doesn't matter that much; Style and content are important. Bad content is what matters most. style is a real liability. CV's do not need much alteration to Resumes should be adapted to fit each fit each specific job opening. specific job to which you are applying. References are not listed on a resume. If required, you may submit a separate list of relevant references for each position (usually only when these are requested.)

WHAT IS A CV?
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) (rather than a resume) is used for teaching or research opportunities applying for fellowships or for further academic training. Other uses for a CV: a supporting document with a grant or contract funding proposal a requirement for internal review for tenure or promotion a requirement with an application for membership in a professional society or organization, or a background statement for an introduction at a conference presentation.

VITA OR VITAE?
The term curriculum vitae comes from the Latin Curriculum [course] and Vitae [life] The course of ones life.
"It is vitae (not vita) because "life" in the phrase "course of life" (or "a life's course") is in the genitive singular. If you consult your handy declension tables, you will note that a genitive singular feminine noun from the first declension ends in "ae" not "a. Eric Daniels, CVtips.com

CV FORMAT
There is no single correct format or style for writing a CV. CVs are frequently longer than resumes. Completeness is more important than brevity.

2 to 4 pages for a young professional 4 to 7 pages for a person with more experience 10 pages maximum.

EMPHASIZE YOUR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

A CV summarizes educational and academic history. It emphasizes academic achievements such as

teaching experience, publications (books, articles, research papers, unpublished manuscripts, or book chapters), and academic honors and awards.

WHICH EXPERIENCE IS INCLUDED ON A CV?

On a CV it is appropriate to describe both teaching and research experience in detail. (On a resume this is usually not appropriate.) If applying for a position that primarily involves research, describe research experience first; if the reverse is true, put teaching experience first. Work experience not directly relevant to research/teaching/academic opportunities should be omitted or described only briefly.

HIGHLIGHTING YOUR THESIS

If you are working on or have recently finished your doctoral degree, at least include a brief, clear summary of your thesis topic in the Education section. Including a one- or two- page abstract of your thesis, is recommended, but optional. If you do provide an abstract, write (See Abstract Attached) in the Education section of your CV, after the name of your thesis title.

WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE

Omit references to age, marital status, children, health, spouse's work, religious affiliation. Do not include as headings, words such as "Personal Information", "Name", "Address".
You dont need to use the heading Curriculum Vitae at the top. Its understood that its a CV.

TYPICAL SECTIONS ON A CV

Name and address Education Dissertation - thesis title, adviser(s) name(s) Fellowships and Awards [optional] Research Interests/Areas of Expertise, Prepared to Teach Research Experience Teaching Experience

Publications/Presentations Related Professional Experience (or separate sections for

Industry Experience, Government Experience, Administrative Experience)

Languages or other skills relevant to

your field (computer proficiencies, lab instrumentation)

Other (such as membership in

professional/scholarly associations, university service, travel or study abroad. Include only if relevant to your readers).

References

DISSERTATION ABSTRACT

A separate page at the end of the CV. Briefly summarize content, placing your work within its scholarly context, and noting its contribution to the field. Should be:

comprehensible to people outside your field scholarly enough to interest people in your field.

SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS

Include thesis title under Education Include thesis research under Research Experience Attach a 1-page Statement of Research Interests
a readable, compelling, realistic research agenda that fits well with needs, facilities and goals of the departmentP. Fiske

May include Patents as a category.

PUBLICATIONS

List in reverse chronological order. If you have a long list, create separate categories for Publications and for Presentations Publications can be grouped in sections including Books, Refereed Articles, Abstracts. Works in Press, Submitted Articles or Works in Progress can be listed but ideally these should not be the only items in the Publications category.

PRESENTATIONS

Papers Presented at Conferences:

title of paper name of conference dates and location.

You may indicate Invited Presentations, Posters.

REFERENCES

Provide the

name title university affiliation address telephone/fax number/email

of 3 (or more) individuals who can comment on your fit with the institution where you are applying.

CHOOSE REFEREES WHO

know you and your work well have high external visibility can speak well on your behalf from various perspectives can comment on your unique experiences, strengths, and any weaknesses (with an ameliorating explanation).

REFERENCE ETIQUETTE

Ask permission before submitting referees names. Whenever you provide reference information to an institution, advise your referees that they may be getting a request and keep them up-todate on your professional activities.

REFERENCE ETIQUETTE (contd.)

Tell your referees what topics they need to discuss so they can tailor their letters to specific positions.
If the ad requests reference letters immediately, provide enough information to your referees, and tactfully follow up to be sure the letters have been mailed in time. (Give 2-3 advance notice. Avoid short turnaround time.)

REFERENCE ETIQUETTE (contd.)

Tell your referees what topics they need to discuss so they can tailor their letters to the specific positions.
If the ad requests reference letters immediately, provide enough information to your referees, and tactfully follow up to be sure the letters have been mailed in time.

HISTORY OF U.S. HIGHER ED.

17th century - Few colleges. Outgrowth of medieval universities. (Harvard) 1862 Land Grant Colleges (59 schools in 44 states, e.g., U TX, U CA, U of I). MIT 1865 - Education focused on real world problems. 1890s - research-oriented private universities (U Chicago, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Cornell). 3 decades post-WWII - growth of research universities, federally funded research. (Number of faculty and students tripled). Most rapid growth of faculty in 1960s. Source: Tomorrows Professor, R. Reis, 1997

TYPES OF INSTITUTIONS
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/Classification/index.htm

Research/Doctoral Universities (260+) Masters Colleges and Universities (500+) Baccalaureate Colleges (600+) other categories (2000+)

WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED TYPE OF INSTITUTION?

The Best Possible Position is the one that is best for YOU. It may take 10-15 years from the time you enter grad school, through a postdoc, through the possible awarding of tenure - so make this choice carefully.