How to Write Great CVs

If you are applying for a position in academic, research, and/or scientific fields, a CV is required to present your full academic experiences, achievements, and contributions. Unlike resumes, which are summaries of your experiences, CVs are expected to be as detailed as possible with no page limit. Here’s how to craft a detailed and well-structured CV that makes you stand out:

1. Elaborate on Academic & Research Background:

As there is no page limit to your CV, make sure to include all academic and research experiences, including:

  • Publications: Articles, books, or papers you’ve published, using proper citation formats for your discipline.
  • Research Experiences: Descriptions of the research projects you’ve been involved in, noting the research lab, PI, your specific contributions, and any collaborative work.
  • Presentations: Highlight any conferences or seminars where you’ve presented your research or findings.
  • Honors, Grants, and Fellowships: Mention any/all recognition or funding you’ve received that demonstrate your academic excellence.
  • Memberships & Skills: List professional organizations you belong to and any specialized skills relevant to the field (like lab techniques, software, or languages.)
  • Teaching and Leadership Roles: Teaching assistant positions, course development, or leadership roles in academic settings that show your versatility.
2. Follow Disciplinary Standards

As with any academic work, it’s important to adhere to the appropriate disciplinary formats for citations and references when listing your academic contributions on your CV.

  • Use Discipline-Specific Bibliographic Entries: When listing publications and presentations, format them according to the norms of your field (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago style).
  • Clearly Describe Your Contributions: For each research project, focus on what you specifically did, such as data collection, analysis, writing, or leading the project. Emphasize your impact and how your contributions advanced the project.
  • Include Dates: Be precise with dates for all academic and research-related activities, whether it’s the start and end date of a fellowship, the timeline for a research project, or when a publication was released.
3. Highlight Your Strength through the Layout

Similar to a resume, a clean and well-organized layout is crucial for showcasing your qualifications. Unlike a resume, a CV offers more flexibility in rearranging sections to emphasize your strengths. When designing your CV, make sure you:

  • Left-justify text and use a standard font size (11 or 12 point) throughout.
  • List experiences starting with the most recent. This ensures the hiring committee sees your latest and most relevant work first.
  • Prioritize sections most relevant to the position you are applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a research-focused role, put publications and research experiences first. If teaching is a key part of the job, put your teaching experience front.