Curriculum Vitae (CVs)

A curriculum vitae, Latin for “course of (one’s) life,” is an official document that details a person’s education, academic work experience, research, and honors. Unlike a résumé, it is specifically for academic and research-based applications and is allowed to be much longer.

How can I get started on my CV?

CVs are large applications made for applying to academic positions and programs, such as professorships or graduate school. They contain anything and everything from past and present teaching positions and publications to community service and leadership opportunities. Anything that can be construed as a developmental part of your academic career is encouraged, thus they can be particularly long. To make drafting easier:

REVIEW the position you are applying for.

• oIs it research-driven? Is it a teaching position or otherwise student-focused? Whichever is, you will list those specific experiences, skills, and accomplishments first.
• BRAINSTORM everything you have done, and write it all down.
• oAnything you have done in your academic career should be included.
• oInclude any past or present duties, publications, extracurriculars, organizations, leadership positions, research projects, presentations, jobs, volunteer work, memberships that are related to who you are as an academic.

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