Curriculum Vitaes (CVs) are often used when applying for scientific and academic positions. CVs tend to provide great detail about academic and research experiences with the intent to market one's skills, experiences, education and personal qualities.
The major difference between a CV and a resume is length and focus.
- A resume is a 1-2 page summary of your skills, experience, and education, and is preferred in business and industry.
- A CV is usually between 2-12 pages and provides a detailed synopsis of your experiences with a large focus on academic and scholarly accomplishments.
Getting started on your CV
There is not one “right” way to write a CV; aim for your CV to reflect the requirements of the position for which you are applying.
Your CV should be well-organized. Make a list of all your background information, then organize it into categories (e.g. presentations, teaching, grants). Make sure you include dates on all the publications you include.
Keep reading for details on categories to include on your CV, and CV samples you can look to for inspiration.
CV and Resume Checklist
Use the CV and Resume Checklist to help you build professional documents with relevant content.
Sample CVs
View the Sample CVs page for inspiration and examples of what a quality CV could look like for your major.
Typical Categories included in a CV
Contact Information
- Name
- Address (optional)
- Telephone
- Phone
- Email (professional e-mail address, e.g., ONID)
Education
Include institution name and location, dates, program and details of degree (e.g., thesis or dissertation title) in reverse chronological order.
- Post-doctoral degree
- Graduate school
- Undergraduate
Honors and Awards
Grants, fellowships, scholarships, honor societies
Professional Experience
Include organization, position title, dates and position details in reverse chronological order.
- Work history
- Academic positions
- Practica, internships, assistantships
Research and Experience
Include dates and position details in reverse chronological order.
- Include the details and results of your research, not just what you did but how, and what the goals of the research were. Quantify your processes and results wherever possible.
- Mention collaborators, unique problems solved, equipment/ techniques used.
Teaching
List in reverse chronological order and include course details and dates, number of students served, positive student evaluations, syllabus creation, teaching techniques and mediums employed.
University Service or Volunteer Work
Include committee and leadership involvement (e.g., governance bodies, institution judicial board).
Professional Qualifications
Certifications and accreditations
Publications
Include articles, book chapters, books and other publications using appropriate citation style. Remember to bold your name for multi-author.
Presentations
List poster sessions, conference presentations and department presentations you’ve delivered with the titles, dates and topics.
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
- E.g., Society of American Foresters, American Public Health Association
- Include dates of membership.
Skills
Include language, computer skills, equipment maintenance, lab skills, etc.
Résumé or CV: What’s the difference?
Résumé
THE PHILOSOPHY: A quick, skimmable snapshot of your skills and experiences that will catch a recruiter or hiring manager’s eye.
• Brief, targeted list of experience and achievements
• One to two page format common for early career
• Geared at private industry, nonprofits
• Focus on skills and keywords
How to Convert a CV to a Résumé
• Review job descriptions and incorporate keywords for qualifications and skills employers seek.
• The average résumé is one to two pages. Cut content down to the most relevant skills and experience.
• Consider sections called “Selected Publications” or “Selected Presentations” instead of listing everything.
• Convert paragraph descriptions to bullets starting with action verbs.
• Focus on transferable skills you’ve gained in academia (e.g.,leadership, communication, supervision).
Curriculum Vitae
THE PHILOSOPHY: The full history of your scholarly career communicating the breadth of your experience to other academics and scientists.
• Focus on research, publishing and teaching results
• Two to seven pages for an early career academic
• Used for academic, medical, research or teaching opportunities
How to Convert a Résumé to a CV
• Expand on your accomplishments. The goal is to list everything scholarly you’ve done, not provide a short snapshot.
• Work on fleshing out the résumé to be two pages or longer. (A tenured professor might have a 50-page CV.)
• Focus on academic, scientific and teaching-related experiences (e.g., conference attendance, poster sessions, courses taught).
• Include your last name and page number in the footer of each page.
U.S. CV and International CV
In many countries the term “curriculum vitae” does not mean a lengthy academic or scientifically focused résumé like it does in the U.S. It is more synonymous with how the U.S. uses the word “résumé” as a general job application document. Many international CVs include information not found on U.S. résumés such as pictures and marital status. Every country has its own convention for how to write a good CV. For country-specific CV tips, visit GoinGlobal in the Handshake 'Resources' section.