What Goes in a Resume or CV?
Case Western Reserve University
Career Center / Kimberly Paik
September 25, 2008
http://studentaffairs.case.edu/careers/
Agenda
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What is a resume?
What is a CV?
Uses / purposes
Basic principles
Sections / content areas
Tips on preparing an effective
document
What is a resume/CV?
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A key part of your job search
A summary of work experiences and
qualifications
A genuine writing project
A marketing tool – what can you sell
the employer/institution?
A resume/CV should…
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Get you more, high quality interviews
Give employers their first impression of
your professional talents
Market your skills and abilities
Catch an employer’s attention
Answer key questions
What is the difference between a
resume and a CV?
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Primary differences are the length, the content and the
purpose.
A resume is a one or two page summary of your skills,
experience and education. A goal of resume writing is to
be brief and concise since, at best, the resume reader will
spend a minute or so reviewing your qualifications.
A CV is a longer (two or more pages), more detailed
synopsis. It includes a summary of your educational and
academic backgrounds as well as teaching and research
experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors,
affiliations and other details.
What is the difference between a
resume and a CV?
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The curriculum vitae (also referred to as the vita or
CV) is a summary of an individual’s educational
background and experience as related to the
interests of academia.
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CV displays your academic credentials and
accomplishments in great detail.
The CV is used when applying for teaching and
administrative positions in academia or for a
fellowship or grant.
A resume is used to summarize an individual’s
education and experiences related to a specific career
objective in the public or private sector.
Uses and Purposes
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Job Search Tool – The purpose of a Resume /
CV is to land an interview
A CV can also be used for these purposes:
o
o
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supporting document with a grant or contract funding
proposal
requirement for an annual review by your employer
requirement with an application for membership in a
professional society / organization
background statement for an introduction at an
important convention presentation.
Basic Principles: Layout
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Pages: name and page number on each page except the first
Do NOT use a template
Double-check for spelling and grammatical errors
Paper Size: 8 ½” x 11” / Margins: .5” - 1”
Font Size: 10-12 (11 is often ideal); Ink: black
Format: use boldface to highlight information, but be
consistent in your use
Design: leave enough white space so it is easy to read
Use a laser printer, avoid colored inks
Do not staple
Use bond, neutral colored paper
Keep format simple
Resume / CV Know-How
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How do I grab the employer’s attention?
 Easy to read
 Logical flow
 Focused on accomplishments
 PAR statements
 Targeted to reader
Key Points – The Do’s
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Clean format that is easy to read/easy to scan
Most important information first
Choose strong headings
Stress results, skills, and accomplishments rather
than duties
Write to an outsider
Use consistent tense
Begin sentences with action verbs
Laser print on quality paper
Key Points – The Don’ts
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#1 mistake???? ERRORS!!!
Do not include personal information
Avoid personal pronouns
Vague, poorly focused
Don’t include the word “resume” or “CV” at
top
Photo
Salary history
Reason you left your previous position
Possible Categories of a
Resume / CV
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Identifying Information
Summary
Education
Research Experience
Teaching Experience
Work Experience
Skills
Activities, Honors, Awards
Service
Publications / Presentations
What categories suit you?
Identifying Information
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Name
Permanent address
Temporary address (if applicable)
Phone number
E-mail address
Summary
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A clear, concise statement describing your
skills/experience and expressing your goal
Gives structure
Be specific
3 ways to focus
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Knowledge, experience or skills offered
Job function (position) desired
Organization type, industry, or field desired
Sample Summaries
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PhD candidate in Environmental Science with 9 years
of work experience in forest and prairie ecology
seeking faculty position.
Doctoral candidate in Biochemistry with 10+ years of
experience in the healthcare industry. Skilled in
project management, research, and facilitating
presentations. Seeking consulting opportunity.
PhD candidate in Operations Research with research
experience in Scheduling, Linear/Integer
programming, Statistics, Logistics and Combinatorial
Optimization. Research interests include Forecasting,
Revenue Management, Inventory Management and
Simulation.
Education
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University and degree(s)
Graduation Date
Majors & Minors
Relevant Coursework
Can include honors or separate section
Date of completion
Dissertation / Thesis
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Date dissertation will be finished.
Dates describing your current status
(“Completed coursework, June 20xx,”
“Passed qualifying exam, March, 20xx”).
Provide the title and a brief description of
your work, its framework, your
conclusions, your advisor.
Sample Education
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, May 2012
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Dissertation title
Advisor
Master of Science, Electrical Engineering, May 2008
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Thesis title
Advisor
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, May 2006
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Multiple Scholarship Recipient, Dean’s List
Sample Education
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
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Ph.D., Chemistry, May 2012
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Dissertation: XXX
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Advisor: Person’s name
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GPA: 3.6 / 4.0
Iowa State University, Des Moines, IA
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M.S. in Chemistry, May 2008
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GPA: 3.5 / 4.0
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
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B.S. in Chemical Engineering, May 2006
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Minor in Biology
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Studied abroad for 3 weeks in South Africa
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GPA: 3.5 / 4.0
Experience
Company
Title
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Action + goal / result
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Action + skill developed
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Location
Dates
Include job title, the name of the employer/institution, your
responsibilities and accomplishments, dates.
You may want to divide the experience into Teaching and Research
Stress what you contributed and accomplished using verb/active
skills:
“Delivered 8 class lectures on composite materials and developed 5 supporting
problem sets and a midterm examination”
versus
“Responsibilities included preparing class lectures, homework assignment, and
exams.”
“Developed and implemented a scholarship plan which increased membership
grade point average through use of study groups.”
Experience
Research Experience
Postdoctoral Research: Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2007-present
(research advisor: Dr. Stephen H. Smith)
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Developed a quantitative theory of hierarchical structure in ecological systems.
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Analyzed how ecological communities reflect environmental heterogeneity at different scales.
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Completed a numerical study of foraging behavior with short and long range movement in
heterogeneous environments.
Doctoral Research: Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, 1999-2004
(research advisor: Dr. Jane Advisorname)
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Studied the impact of avian predation on lizards in the eastern Caribbean. Documented the
importance of differences in spatial scale between prey and predators.
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Completed analysis that demonstrates how species interaction can sharpen underlying
environmental patterns and how heterogeneous environments can stabilize predator and prey
populations.
Undergraduate Honors Research: Department of Biochemistry, Northwestern University, 1995-1999
(research advisor: Dr. Advisor Name)
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Investigated primary events of bacterial photosynthesis
Experience
Teaching Experience
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University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
Department of Cell Biology
Assistant Professor (tenure track), Summer 2005 to present;
Assistant Professor, acting (tenure track), 2004-2005
University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois
Department of Biology; Adjunct Instructor, Spring 2004
DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois
Department of Neuroscience;
Visiting Instructor, Fall 2003 to Spring 2004
Adjunct Instructor, Fall 2002 to Spring 2003
University of Iowa
Department of Biochemistry; Graduate Student Teaching
Assistant, Fall 1997 to Fall 2000; Summer 2001
Skills
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Computer
Technical
Laboratory
Communication
Leadership
Language
Sample Skills
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Protein and biochemical: cell fractionation,
enzyme assays, protein phosphorylation assays,
atomic absorption spectroscopy
Proficient with SolidWorks (CAD software), C++,
MatLab, MetaFluor, PageMaker
Advanced experience with SPSS and Microsoft
Excel
Fluent in French and Arabic
What is relevant?
Activities, Honors
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Professional Associations
Leadership Roles
Clubs
Include only if active member
Professional Associations
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
College Art Association, 2000-Present
Modern Language Association, 2004-2006
MEMBERSHIPS
College Art Association; Historians of Netherlandish Art;
Association of Art Historians; ICOM (International
Council of Museums) & ICFA (Fine Arts Committee);
Sixteenth Century Studies Society; Renaissance
Society of America
Awards
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Receipt of competitive assistantships,
scholarships, fellowships, teaching or
research awards
Award, Date
University Service
UNIVERSITY SERVICE:
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Curriculum Committee, Visual Culture Studies Research Cluster,
2002-present.
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Humanities Center, Advisory Committee, invited for 2006-2007.
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Department Representative to University Senate, 2003-2004.
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Faculty Mentor for First-Year Undergraduate Research Scholars
Program, 2005.
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Faculty mentor for Undergraduates creating the first
independent major in XXX.
Publications
Publications listed in standard biographic
form, classified by type (journal and
conference).
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See examples.
Presentations
INVITED PRESENTATIONS:
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“Title of Presentation,” Genetics Conference,
Northwestern University, October 2006.
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Be consistent!!
Tips for Success
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The very best CVs are drafted with particular
applications in mind, and clearly targeted
As you prepare your CV, think about what the
organization is likely to value:
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the quality and quantity of your research (achievement
and potential)
your previous experience
the ways you have “added value” to your current job or
department and made your presence felt
your education
References
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On separate page from resume
At least 3 to support your candidacy
Talk with your references FIRST
Bring to interview
Include all particulars (name, title,
company, address, phone, email)
References
Dr. Jane Smith, Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering
Case Western Reserve University
206 Sears
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
216-368-5555
email@case.edu
Dr. Somebody Jones, Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Ohio State University
XXX Building
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-555-5555
email@osu.edu
Resources / Websites
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http://chronicle.com/jobs/tools/cvdoctor/2007/01.htm
http://www.training.nih.gov/careers/careercenter/cv.html
http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradstud/sam
ples.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/curriculum_vitae.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/vita_samples.html
Resume/CV Advice
Visit the Career Center for a resume/CV critique
Monday – Thursday
11:00am-2:00pm
Walk in hours
Career Center, Room 206 Sears
No appointment needed
Or call 368-4446 to schedule an appointment