An academic CV is a comprehensive, evolving document that showcases your scholarly identity. Unlike a professional resume, which is concise and tailored for specific jobs, an academic CV is extensive and cumulative, often spanning several pages to include all your academic achievements and contributions.
Be sure to consult with your academic CV from your faculty advising team who can give more targeted advice about CVs in your discipline. It can also be extremely helpful to refer to recent faculty webpages and professional associations for CV examples that reflect the norms of specific fields. Below, we offer some general tips to get you started.
Core Sections (Most Disciplines)
Your academic CV should prioritize your academic history and accomplishments. Review our tips on tailoring your application materials according to the needs and priorities of the type of institution you are applying to.
- Contact Information
- Education (include dissertation title and advisor)
- Research Interests (optional but potentially helpful for early-career scholars)
- Publications (peer-reviewed articles, books, chapters)
- Presentations (conferences, invited talks)
- Teaching Experience (courses taught, TA roles)
- Grants and Fellowships
- Awards and Honors
- Academic Service (committees, peer review, organizing events)
- Professional Affiliations
- Languages and Technical Skills (if relevant)
- References
CV Tips for All Disciplines
- Review CVs of recent faculty in your discipline: What information to prioritize and how it is presented can vary significantly across fields. Look at well-crafted academic CVs to understand formatting norms, discipline-specific expectations, and ways to present your own experience clearly and effectively
- Prioritize academic content: List education, research experience, publications, presentations, teaching experience, and grants/fellowships prominently.
- Use clear, consistent formatting: Keep sections clearly labeled, and organized in reverse chronological order (typically). Use consistent formatting for dates, titles, and institutions and white space to improve readability.
- Include all relevant academic activities: In addition to your research experience and publications, include outreach, or leadership roles in academic settings; peer-reviewing, conference organizing, or committee work.
- Minimize non-academic content: Omit hobbies, personal interests, or unrelated work experience unless directly relevant to the role.
- Keep your CV up to date: Your CV is a living document; regularly update your CV with new accomplishments.
- Proofread carefully: Typos or inconsistencies can undermine your professionalism
Additional Online Resources
- The Chronicle of Higher Education: Do’s and Don’ts of Creating your CV by Jennifer S. Furlong and Stacy M. Hartman.
- Elsevier: Writing an Effective Academic CV
- For discipline-specific examples of academic CVs, look at faculty websites. In addition, scholarly associations often offer CV advice. For example, see
- American Historical Association (AHA): Cover Letters and CVs for History Job Seekers
- American Philosophical Association (APA): Guidance for Philosophy Job Seekers
- American Chemical Society (ACS): Academic Curriculum Vitae (CV) Guide
- Science, How to Write a Clear, Compelling CV
CVs for Faculty Jobs Abroad: Key Considerations
When applying for faculty positions outside the U.S., you may need to adapt your CV to reflect regional academic norms and expectations. Always research the institution and country-specific norms by reviewing faculty webpages, consulting with colleagues or mentors who have experience in that region, and online resources such as jobs.ac.uk and academicpositions.com. While the core content on academic work history and accomplishments remains consistent, the format, length, and emphasis may vary significantly. If applying in a non-English-speaking country, be sure to check whether materials should be submitted in the local language or in English.
