The Curriculum Vitae: A Resume for Academia

Job seekers in the academic, scientific, and research fields will be expected to submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV) (plural form, Curricula Vitae) with their application. A Curriculum Vitae, Latin for "Course of Life," serves the same purpose as a traditional resume but is subject to additional guidelines appropriate to the requirements of positions in academic fields.

An academic CV typically places the Education section immediately below the job seeker's contact information. This section should include graduate and undergraduate institutions, degrees, and thesis/dissertation topics. The seeker should also list courses taught, books and papers published, and fellowships or honors received. Research grants held by the applicant should be included. Seekers are advised that published works and fellowships are given particular weight for hiring in many academic institutions.

In addition to the above, a scientific or research CV should also include any professional affiliations, certifications, and licensures. A section containing information on the applicant's contributions to the academic community should be included in a CV. This section should include such information as conferences organized, experience reviewing grant and journal articles, and participation on committees. The CV should also provide details regarding any specialized areas of expertise.

Partly due to these additional informational requirements, a CV tends to be longer than a traditional resume. However, job seekers should strive for as much brevity as possible while still providing vital details about background, qualifications, and honors. The CV increases in length throughout an academic's career. In some cases, a short form of the CV may be requested. This contains the most pertinent and recent information.

Seekers in these fields can expect their credentials to be carefully checked by the hiring institution. In addition, extra care should be taken to ensure that the CV is grammatically sound and free of typographical errors.

CVs are also submitted for research grants and academic fellowships.

Click here to view a sample Curriculum Vitae.