Curriculum Vitae or “CV” is a Latin word meaning “course of one’s life”
General Set-Up Features
• Font: Times New Roman
• Regular paper (white) is fine
• Font size: 12 point
• No underlining
• Single sided
• Margins: 1.5 centimeter all around
• Use bolding and CAPs to have things stand out
• Number pages
• No graphics
• Same font throughout (may vary sizing some)
• Full name on every page
A CV needs to be:
• Clear: Well-organized and logical
• Concise: Relevant and necessary
• Complete: Includes everything you need
• Consistent: Don’t mix styles or fonts
• Current: Up-to-date
Contact Information
• Full name
• Mailing Address: Permanent
• E-mail: Obtain email address that will not expire
• Phone number(s)
Sections on the CV
• ALWAYS
– Education (always first on the CV)
– Honors and Awards
– Professional Experience (Employment)
– Publications and Presentations
– Extracurricular and Volunteer Experience
– Interests
• OPTIONAL (as needed)
– Objective
– Certifications and Licensure
– Professional Affiliations
– Professional Activities
– Research
– Added Qualifications
Education
• Most current first (include your current educational work)
• Only include diploma distinctions
• Get the schools’ names correct!
• Degrees/certifications are what’s important – not the time spent
• Thesis/Dissertation titles listed
Honors and Awards
• List with most recent first
• Honors/Award Title: Date(s) received
• Go back to undergrad but not before – only academic and/or professional
• Scholarships count
• No descriptions
Professional Experience
• Includes anything you were paid to do or was extensive, regular volunteer
• Only include those items relevant to academic
• List most recent first
• No descriptions
• If listing research, include the lab and director/principle investigator
Extracurricular and Volunteer Experience
• List with most recent first
• Do not describe
• This tends to be the longest list… But watch it!
• It’s better to have long-term items or very relevant items and a shorter list than everything listed
• Student organizations go here
Professional
• Affiliations
– Only those current
– Alphabetical listing
– Include all dates of affiliation
– Note any positions
• Activities
– Past and present
– Most current first
– Only those very specific to academic/research career
– Should be school or university sponsored committees
– Include role
Research Experience
• List with most current first
• Make sure you fall under someone, unless it truly was your lab ownership
• If you gained grant funds, include
• You may briefly describe here (only place on CV)
Publications and Presentations
• Two views on which way to list first (most recent or in order of publication, generally in order of publication so you just add on
• Always bold your name in authorship
• You may include submitted and/or pending publications and/or presentations
• Presentations may be small or large, but should be pertinent enough to talk about
• Make sure you have copies of your publications and/or presentations for life of your CV
Interests and Added Qualifications
• Interests are hobbies
• List 4 of them
– Creativity counts/ Bespecific
– Make sure they are real
– Make sure they reflect you
– Get something active
– Get something group
• Added Qualifications shouldbe verifiable
– Include language fluency (and level- “fluent,” “conversational,”)
– Cultural knowledge may be included, especially if you’ve had hands-on experience or training
– Anything special
Prepared by Dr. Barbara K. Ige | UCLA