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Curriculum Vitae
Because your resume or curriculum vita (CV) is usually the first and sometimes the only thing an employer
will see about you, it is often the most critical item in determining whether or not you will obtain an interview.
Theseessentialelementsofthejobsearchserveasan“advertisement”ofyourskills,knowledge,andrelevant
experience.
What Is the Difference between a Resume and a Curriculum Vita?
Getting Started
Begin your vita preparation by brainstorming. List everything that you can imagine could be included—both
your educational and professional history—being careful not to overlook anything. Then ask yourself what you
actually did in each of those activi ties. Your answers to what you actually did are the sets of skills that you have
to offer to an employer. Once you feel you have covered everything, you will decide what to include and what to
exclude.
Read through the tips below and then look at the template sugges tions in this section for guidance on placement
of sections. Then, start with a blank document on the com puter—do not use a resume template. Resume templates
areofteninexibleanddonotuseformatsthatareconducivetopresentingyourinformationinalogicalway.They
are especially inap propriate for curriculum vitae.
Tips for preparing a resume
can be found on page 22.
Resume Curriculum Vita
Purpose Outlines your personal,
edu cational and work related
experiences
Comprehensive summary of your
educational and professional experience,
including publications, presentations,
professional activities, honors, and
additional information
Length One- or two-page document Generally three or more pages in length,
depending on your qualifications and
level of experience
Focus Strengths and qualifications for
a particular position
Comprehensive biographical statement
Objective Statement
Included?
Yes No
Used in application for
these types of positions
Business, non-profit, other non-
academic positions
Faculty, research, clinical, or scientific
positions
Ifyouareuncertainwhethertousearesumeorvita,askyourself“AmIsendingthis
document to other Ph.D.s? Is my Ph.D. required for this position? Is my scholarship relevant
forthisposition?”Iftheanswerstothosequestionsareyes,youareprobablygoingtousea
vita. As a general rule of thumb, unless a vita is requested, you should send a resume.