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Preparing Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover Letter. Marianne Green Finding Jobs in Academia HETC PROGRAM Winter, 2013. Purpose of this workshop:. Provide information on CV (curriculum vitae) preparation and dissemination
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Preparing Your Curriculum Vitae (CV)and Cover Letter Marianne Green Finding Jobs in Academia HETC PROGRAMWinter, 2013
Purpose of this workshop: • Provide information on CV (curriculum vitae) preparation and dissemination • Indicate the difference between the use of the term CV in the U.S. and in other countries • Prepare for academic positions at colleges and universities.
Your application package for an academic position includes: • Curriculum Vitae (academic resume) • Cover Letter • Letters of Recommendation • Research or Teaching Statement • Additional Materials • Web Portfolio • Chapter from your dissertation, writing sample • Course evaluations
What does Curriculum Vitae mean? • CV means “Course of Life”; it is a document used primarily in an academic setting. • The CV may be used for: • Admissions to graduate school • Graduate assistantships or post doctoral fellowships • Scholarships • Grant proposals • Application for faculty or administrative positions • Speaking engagements • Appointment to committees
Curriculum Vitae/CV or Vita • Uses of CV (continued) • Leadership in professional or community organizations • Annual review for faculty and professional staff • Tenure review for faculty • Consulting positions • Publishing and editorial review boards
Basic rules for CV construction • General advice: • Use techniques to help the reader find relevant information easily- positioning/key words. • Create a professional product that reflects your skills and abilities. • Have your CV reviewed by faculty in your department. • Keep your CV current and ready to share at all times.
CV: Style and Form • Style and form of CV • No limit on number of pages • Each page, following the first page, should be numbered (3/4, 4/4). • Put your name on each page. • No job objective is necessary. • May include names, addresses and other identifying information for references at the bottom of CV. • Use reverse chronological order within categories. • Use formatting techniques such as indenting, uppercase, bold and italics consistently.
CV: Style and Form cont. • Dates: line up in column down left or right side of page. • Use same font throughout- conservative. • Proofread! • Use high quality, white or off white paper for your “mailable” CV.
CV: Style and Form cont. • Educational background should have a prominent place on the CV following contact information. • Include all degree granting institutions in reverse chronological order. Include dissertation, thesis topics and advisors. Entire committee- optional. • Honors and Awards category may follow Education or may follow Research.
CV – Categoriesorder in accordance with position you are trying to match • Education; Academic Preparation • Teaching Experience • Research • Research interests • Publications • Skills: Foreign language and Technical Skills • Conference Presentations • Community Service • Campus Leadership • International Experience • Professional Associations (Affiliations; Memberships) • Administrative Experience • Consulting • Professional Development • References
Category I: Identifying/contact information • Name • Address (Home, Office or both) • Cell phone number- “professional” message • Professional email address- not UD! • Personal web page (professional) • LinkedIn URL (optional)
Education • Categories- order should reflect requirements of position • Academic Preparation/Education/Academic Background is the first category * A post-doc may put his/her current research in a unique category that comes before the Education category. • Explain advanced degrees from non-USA institution in terms of equivalent U.S. degrees • Only degree granting institutions mentioned • If you receive 2 degrees from one school, mention school once Master’s Project or Thesis- title and name of adviser. Dissertation- topic and name of adviser Members of Committee- may be necessary in some fields.
Category II: Teaching (Research) Experience • University (mention one time only,with titles beneath). Department. Date • Your title (e.g. Lecturer, Lab Instructor, Teaching Assistant, Guest Lecturer, Tutor). • Course title and number. • Description of course: accomplishments, class size, level, your responsibilities and scope. Can include mentoring and advising experience if actual teaching experience is sparse.
Use Action Verbs to describe your teaching activities • Taught; instructed; tutored; mentored; advised; educated; lectured; graded; prepared; assigned; trained; oversaw; coached; reviewed; demonstrated; designed. • Use present tense for current activities and past tense for past activities. Use the first person implied, not third person.
Teaching Interests • Mention classes that you would like to teach in the future. • Make this align, if possible, with the requirements of a job posting you are interested in.
Research Experience • List chronologically starting with most recent University. Location. Department. Dates.*Post-doctoral research may be located before the Education section in some cases. • Your title (e.g. research assistant) • Special skills sets developed (software, test equipment, etc.) • Results of research • Future research projects
Use action verbs to describe your research activities • Researched; analyzed; presented; designed; investigated; explored; discovered; studied; tested; inquired into; simulated; probed; studied; examined; charted; monitored; measured; tested; experimented with; developed; uncovered; patented.
Research Interests • Include some future research plans that can, if possible, gibe with the research agenda of potential employers.
Publications • In chronological order within separate headings for: • Refereed Articles • Book Sections/Conference Proceedings • Abstracts • Articles in Progress To shorten the CV, you can choose “Selected Publications,” etc.(When research does not relate to current research)
Presentations • Conference Presentations • Posters • Invited Lectures (May also be in the Teaching Section)
Other Academic-Related Categories: • University Service , Leadership, Community Service, Memberships in professional societies- with dates. • Professional Development- HETC Program • Skills: Technology and foreign language skills. • Additional Information (unusual hobbies) • References: Name, Title, Institution, Address, Phone, Fax, email. May be annotated for teaching and research purposes.
CV-Production and formatting Considerations • Create different versions of your CV so you are prepared for sending it in different forms, as per requests. • Paper • Good quality bond- white or off-white- no linen threads to impede duplication, scanning or faxing. • Use bold print and capitalization; avoid underlining and italics or fancy fonts because they scan poorly. • Use Times New Roman as your font.
CV production (continued) • Web CV- (Suggested but not required)Create a “professional” web site and link to your CV and other documentation. (Avoid personal data on your “professional” web site.) • Create a Google profile and LinkedIn Profile to control your web presence. • Electronic Create a plain text version of your CV in case you are asked to email it or paste into text box.
Caveats • Caveats for CV preparation and dissemination: • Follow directions! • If you fax or email your CV, follow up with a hard copy of your CV on good paper. This shows an extra measure of interest. • For email: carefully label each attachment • Keep extra copies of your CV with you at all times for networking possibilities.
Caveats (continued) • Avoid personal information: date of birth, marital status, health, children, or a photograph. Only information directly related to your eligibility for the position should be included. • Please note that some countries require personal information on an applicant’s CV. • Include a cover letter or electronic “cover note” with your CV. • Be accurate; proof read carefully; have at least two people check over your documents, ie. your advisor; a professor, etc. Don’t rely exclusively on spell check.
Suggestions for CV distribution: • Distribution of CV • Accuracy counts! • Use white or off white paper without linen threads or water marks • No staples- use paper clips • Mail flat in a 9x12 envelope • Make sure cover letter mentions all enclosures under the signature • For emailing, make sure cover letter mentions attachments
Cover letters for CV • Preparing your cover letter • Try to direct it to a specific individual. • Mention something specific and positive about the institution to which you are applying. • Indicate how your experience/academic background will contribute to the institution as reflected in the job posting. • Use terminology that appears in the ads. • Provide examples*** • Try to communicate something of who you are as a person. • Use the traditional business format: block style, justified margins, shorter paragraphs, etc. (See sample) • Minimize the use of “I” to start first paragraphs. • Accuracy counts.
Cover letters for CV (continued) • Send shorter cover letter when asked to email them. • Use the middle paragraphs to show a match between job requirements and your qualifications. • After your signature, list any other documentation enclosed in envelope: abstract, writing sample, proposal, CV, letters of recommendation, etc. For emailed letters, list attachments with name.
Cover letters (continued) • Types of cover letters • Letters of Inquiry • Written to organizations when you are asking if a job is available. • Letters of Application • Written in response to a known job vacancy • Electronic cover letters • Be very concise; carefully prepare subject line, stay polite and respectful • Cover letter is not needed when resume is provided in person.
Converting CV into Resume • Resume A document that highlights experience and training related to a particular position. Used to locate a position outside academia. Needed for applying for non academic jobs. • Limited to two pages (one page is preferable for new professionals) • Contains primarily relevant information. • Pitched to a particular job