Writing the Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae

What you really need to know right

now…

Curriculum Vitae

Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae

• Length: Short

• Content: All-inclusive

summary of skills,

experiences, and

education

• Purpose-get employment

(or interview)

• Length: As long as it needs

to be

• Content: Area-specific listing

of education and academic

background

• Purpose: Detail background

and qualifications

Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae (or “CV”)

• Origin is Latin- “course of one’s life”

• Note “vitae” (vee-tie or vee-te) is the plural form;

“vita”

(vee-tuh) is singular

Curriculum Vitae

Why work on this now?

• Time goes by fast

• Helps you organize important things for your future

career (which organizations to join; what is missing)

• Assists in setting goals

• Assists when getting letters of recommendations or

applying for other programs/committees

Curriculum Vitae

Important NOTE

• There is not really a “right” way to do a CV.

However, there are some things that make the viewing

easier, make you look more professional, and include

things reviewers want to see.

• Your CV may be different than someone else.

• What’s important is that you keep one up to date.

Curriculum Vitae

General Set-Up Features

• Font: Times New Roman

• Regular paper (white) is

fine

• Font size: 12 point

• No underlining

• Single sided

• Margins: 1” all around

• Use bolding and CAPs to

have things stand out

• Number pages

• No graphics

• Same font throughout (may

vary sizing some)

• Full name on every page

Curriculum Vitae

Don’t forget, a CV needs to be…

• Clear: Well-organized and logical

• Concise: Relevant and necessary

• Complete: Includes everything you need

• Consistent: Don’t mix styles or fonts

• Current: Up-to-date

Curriculum Vitae

Contact Information

•Full name

• Mailing Address: Permanent

• E-mail: Obtain email address that will not expire

• Phone number(s)

Curriculum Vitae

Sections on the CV

•ALWAYS

Education (always first on the

CV)

- Honors and Awards

- Professional Experience

(Employment)

- Publications and Presentations

- Extracurricular and Volunteer

Experience

- Interests

• OPTIONAL (as needed)

- Objective

- Certifications and Licensure

- Professional Affiliations

- Professional Activities

-Research

- Added Qualifications

Curriculum Vitae

Education

• Most current first (include your current educational

work)

• Only include diploma distinctions

• Get the schools’ names correct!

• Degrees/certifications are what’s important – not the

time spent

• Thesis/Dissertation titles listed

Curriculum Vitae

Honors and Awards

• List with most recent first

• Honors/Award Title: Date(s) received

• Go back to undergrad but not before – only

academic and/or professional

• Scholarships count

• No descriptions

Curriculum Vitae

Professional Experience

• Includes anything you were paid to do or was

extensive, regular volunteer

• Only include those items relevant to academic

• List most recent first

• No descriptions

• If listing research, include the lab and

director/p

rinciple investigator

Curriculum Vitae

Extracurricular and Volunteer

Experience

• List with most recent first

• Do not describe

• This tends to be the longest list… But watch it!

• It’s better to have long-term items or very relevant

items and a shorter list than everything listed

• Student organizations go here

Curriculum Vitae

Professional

• Affiliations

- Only those current

- Alphabetical listing

- Include all dates of affiliation

- Note any positions

• Activities

- Past and present

- Most current first

- Only those very specific to

academic/research

career

- Should be school or university

sponsored committees

- Include role

Curriculum Vitae

Research Experience

• List with most current first

• Make sure you fall under someone, unless it truly

was your lab ownership

• If you gained grant funds, include

• You may briefly describe here (only place on CV)

Curriculum Vitae

Publications and Presentations

• Two views on which way to list first (most recent or

in order of publication, generally in order of

publication so you just add on

• Always bold your name in authorship

• You may include submitted and/or pending

publications and/or presentations

• Presentations may be small or large, but should be

pertinent enough to talk about

• Make sure you have copies of your publications

and/or presentations for life of your CV

Curriculum Vitae

Interests and Added Qualifications

• Interests are hobbies

• List 4 of them

- Creativity counts/ Be

specific

- Make sure they are real

- Make sure they reflect you

- Get something active

- Get something group

• Added Qualifications should

be verifiable

- Include language fluency

(and level- “fluent,”

“conversational,”)

- Cultural knowledge may

be included, especially if

you’ve had hands-on

experience or training

- Anything special

Curriculum Vitae

Good Luck!

Created by Dr. Barbara K. Ige, February 2007