How to Write a Professional Academic CV

How to Write a Professional Academic CV

No matter what stage you are at in your academic career, having a professional academic CV is essential. Whether you’re applying for jobs, grants, fellowships, or conferences, an academic CV is often the first impression you make. Unlike a business résumé, which is typically concise and skill-focused, an academic CV is a comprehensive document that grows throughout your career.

Academic CV vs. Business Résumé

The key difference lies in length and structure:

• A résumé is usually limited to 1–2 pages.
• An academic CV has no page limit and expands as your achievements increase.
• CVs are primarily lists, not bullet-pointed job descriptions.
• Items are always in reverse chronological order with dates clearly indicated, making it easy to track your academic productivity over time.

Tailoring Your CV

Every opportunity has different expectations. Always adapt your CV for each application:

• Highlight teaching experience for teaching-oriented roles.
• Emphasize research and publications for research-heavy positions.
• Follow specific instructions in calls for applications (e.g., some fellowships may ask only for a selection of publications).

It’s also essential to maintain a master CV with all your accomplishments. From this, you can create tailored versions depending on the requirement.

What to Include in an Academic CV

A strong academic CV includes the following sections (organized in reverse chronological order):

1. Contact Information

Name, address, phone number, email.

2. Current Position

Job title, institution, and office contact details.

3. Education

List all degrees with institution, department, and year. For Ph.D., include thesis title and committee members.

4. Academic Employment

List professional academic appointments (postdoc, lecturer, tenure track). Exclude TA roles here.

5. Publications

The most important section. Organize into categories such as:

• Peer-reviewed journal articles
• Books and edited volumes
• Book chapters
• Reviews and other publications

In STEM, emphasize original research articles first. Bold your name in author lists for clarity.

6. Awards and Honours

Include award name, granting body, year, and (if applicable) amount.

7. Grants and Fellowships

List separately from awards if relevant in your field.

8. Invited Talks

Provide talk titles, inviting department, institution, and date.

9. Conferences

List panels organized, papers and posters presented. Include all authors, bolding your name.

10. Teaching Experience

Include courses taught, TA experience, and responsibilities. Organize by institution or subject.

11. Research Experience

Mention research assistantships, projects, and fieldwork.

12. Service

Include professional memberships, editorial roles, journal review work, and university committee service.

13. Optional Sections

Depending on your field, you may also include:

• Research interests
• Skills and languages
• Media coverage
• Dissertations supervised

Key Tips for Success

✔️ Keep the document organized and professional.

✔️ Update regularly – every publication, award, and conference counts.

✔️ Be strategic – highlight what’s most relevant for the role you’re applying to.

✔️ Consult with mentors to learn field-specific conventions.

✔️ Avoid outdated or irrelevant items (e.g., graduate school travel grants for senior faculty).

Final Thoughts

Your academic CV is more than just a record—it’s a career roadmap. A well-prepared CV demonstrates your productivity, focus, and suitability for academic opportunities. By keeping it current, tailoring it strategically, and presenting your achievements clearly, you’ll be well-positioned to advance in academia.