I can’t stress enough that when building a CV you need to first determine whether you truly need a CV or an Executive Resume, since these terms can be incorrectly interchanged from time to time. If you are building a CV, then keep in mind that much like a resume, you have lots of options with formatting, design and content.
Still, there are some rules. CVs tend to be a lot simpler in design and longer in content as they are a delivery system for intensive qualifications carried by one in the scientific or academic community. Now that I’ve laid out that important distinction, let’s take a look at SOME of the necessary content for building a CV.
A typical CV will always include the following information:
- Personalized Header with Name and Contact Information: Phone, email and addresses to reach you on and off hours.
- Areas of Interest, Teaching Statement, Philosophy: If applicable, this often replaces, or can be used in conjunction with, a profile or summary typically found on a resume.
- Education: Degrees earned or in progress, institutions and graduation dates and dissertation and thesis.
- Grants, Honors, Scholarships, Awards: Grants received, honors bestowed upon you for your work and awards for teaching or service.
- Publications and Presentations: Published articles and books and presentations given at conferences. Typically, these are two different sections depending on the applicant.
- Employment and Experience: Teaching experiences, laboratory experiences, field experiences, volunteer work, leadership and other employment relevant experiences.
- Scholarly or Professional Memberships: Professional affiliations, memberships and offices held.
- In addition to the above sections, you may include several others illustrating your skillset in Languages, Technology, Service, International Experience, Tenure, Community Engagement, Professional Development, Certifications, Licensures, Peer-Review Projects and Presentations, among others.
As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, with over 12 years experience as the contract coach for four higher education institutions, I have vast experience working with professionals, academicians, scholars, researchers and specialists who use CVs in their work. My point is that I’ve seen many on the journey up the career ladder to tenure, advancement, engagement or a new position entirely. And it’s important to use the right document.
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I hope this article provided you with a few applicable ideas for success. I would be honored if you shared this on social media. And speaking of sharing, please share your own ideas and experiences below. Together, we can build a happier career community.
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