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Last Updated on: 3rd June 2022, 11:19 am
The resume is perhaps the most important tool in every professional’s arsenal. Crisp, clear, and up-to-date, a well-written resume is a vital document for anyone intent on scaling the corporate ladder.
But what about scholars and those with graduate degrees? When it comes to professional documents (and everything else), academia has a different set of rules. Before you pursue a career in academia or research, there are a few essential things you need to know about crafting a Ph.D. resume, better known as a CV.
These are a few frequently asked questions about putting together a Ph.D. resume, or CV:
- What is a CV?
- What topics are included on a CV?
- How do I write a good CV?
What is a CV?
A curriculum vitae (CV) is basically a resume for Ph.D.s and other academics and researchers. Like a resume, a CV is a complete record of an individual’s education and employment history. It shows where that person has been and the basics about their responsibilities in each position they’ve held. However, that’s where the similarities end.
Rather than just hitting the highlights, a CV is an exercise in depth and scope. It tells the whole story of your education and where you’ve been so far in your career, offering deep insight into your experiences and expertise. A good CV takes a narrative approach that adds nuance and context, taking the reader on a journey through your research and the professional development opportunities that have shaped you.
What Topics Are Included on a CV?
Good question! A CV starts off in the same way as a traditional resume, with contact information, education, and employment history. While that information comprises the bulk of a resume, in a CV, you’re just getting started. In the education section, in addition to listing your major degrees and the titles of your master’s thesis and dissertation (as well as committee chairs), you will also list any other institutional affiliations you have. These may include places where you’ve done research, held fellowships, or been awarded certificates.
Other sections of your CV may include:
- Leadership Experience
- Consulting
- Publications (Peer-reviewed or otherwise)
- Presentations (Conference panels, invited talks, and the like)
- Honors, grants, nominations, and awards
- Service (departmental, college, university, professional field)
- Volunteering
- Professional memberships and affiliations
These are some of the most common sections found on CVs. It’s okay if you don’t have entries for all of these fields; it’s a good idea to be aware of them and add them to your CV as they become relevant. There may also be categories not listed above that you will want to include on your CV. For instance, scholars in the healthcare fields often have licenses and boards to list on their CVs, and people in education typically list courses they’ve developed and taught. For this reason, CVs are lengthier than traditional resumes. Instead of 1-2 succinct pages, CVs can be 10+ pages.
Writing a Good CV
The key to writing a good CV is to be thorough and update it regularly. Experiences add up quickly, and it’s a beneficial practice to scour your calendar every quarter or so and add significant entries to your CV. Clarity is also highly-prized by people reading a CV; use a clean, easy to read font (I like Times New Roman, 12-point-font), and avoid graphics or other designs. Remember, your CV tells the whole story about where you’ve been and what you’ve done. Make it a good one.
