Curriculum Vitae Writing

Curriculum vitae, or CVs, are often used by the academic community instead of resumes.  While some might say that a curriculum vita does not need to follow a standard format, there are some expectations among the readers.  It's important to make sure the right elements are included in the document.

In this article, we're going to first explain the differences between a curriculum vitae and a resume.  Then we're going to talk about the types of jobs or positions that require job applicants to prepare and submit this type of document.  Next, we'll discuss the types of information that should be included in a CV.  We will finish up by providing you with a CV sample that you can download for free.

What is a Curriculum Vitae?

The term curriculum vitae is a Latin phrase, which translates as "course of life."  The plural form of the phrase is curricula vitae, while the reference is also frequently abbreviated as CV.  Less formal references may refer to the document simply as vita or vitae.

A curriculum vitae is more commonly used in the scientific and academic communities to replace a resume.  In general, the format allows for greater detail about scientific research and / or academic experiences compared to the relatively brief format of a resume.

As is the case with a resume, a curriculum vitae is a written document that contains a listing of job experiences and education, and they are usually prepared for the purpose of obtaining a job interview or when seeking employment.

Types of Jobs Requiring a CV

Typically, the following types of professions or events would require applicants to prepare a vita:

• Graduate Assistants / Grant Proposals
• Teachers, Professors, and Administrative Positions at Colleges and Universities
• Professional Speakers / Speaking Engagements
• Superintendents, Principals, Department Heads
• Research Assistants, Research Associates / Professionals
• Publishers / Editors

If you're new to these professions, and unsure if it's appropriate to write a CV or a resume, then you might want to check with someone already working in your area of interest or an advisor / faculty member at school.

Writing a Curriculum Vitae

Vitae and resumes both serve the same purpose.  They are a document that markets your skills, achievements, and educational experiences. The objective of a CV is to demonstrate to prospective employers, whether it's a publicly traded company or a college / university, that you're the ideal candidate for their job opening.

Lengths of CVs

While a resume is generally limited to two pages, CVs can get quite lengthy.  For example one suggested rule of thumb includes:

• Bachelors / Masters Degree Candidates - one to three pages
• Doctoral Candidates - two to five pages
• Experienced Researchers / Academician - five or more pages

Contents of a CV

If you live in the United States, then a CV is expected to include a fairly comprehensive listing of your work history.  This includes places and lengths of employment, academic credentials, citations / publications, as well as significant achievements.  At times, it may even be appropriate to include samples of your work.

In Europe, a standardized CV model has evolved known as the Europass, which was developed by the Council of Europe.  The idea behind the use of the Europass within the European Union is that a standardized document allows for easier movement between jobs throughout member countries.

Information Typically Included in a Vita

The type of information you would typically include when writing a vita includes:

• Education
• Internships / Grants / Fellowships / Academic Awards
• Masters and / or Doctoral Thesis
• Publications / Published Work
• Presentations / Papers Written
• Dissertation Topics
• Graduate Courses / Study
• Specialized Training
• Field Work / Foreign Study
• Languages Spoken
• Research / Consulting Engagements
• Research Experience
• Teaching Experience
• Committee Involvement / Activities
• Professional Licenses / Certifications

Keep in mind that although curriculum vitae can go well beyond the two page limit of a resume, curricula vitae still need to be concisely written.  Remember, the CV is your chance to demonstrate to a potential employer that you're a good job candidate.  You do this by highlighting your skills and achievements.  Try not to provide superfluous information.

Proofreading CVs

Once you put your CV together, make sure you follow some of the same "quality control" rules that apply to resumes.  For example, when you think you're finished, forget about your vita for at least one day.  Put the document aside, and don't look at it.  After a day or two, pull out the CV and read through it again.  This passing of time will help you to quickly identify the mistakes you've made, making proofreading the vita much easier.

Once you're satisfied that your curriculum vitae is ready to send to prospective employers, let a trusted friend, associate, or faculty member take a final look at it.  It always helps to get someone else's prospective, and leverage their experiences.

Example CV and Europass

As promised at the start of this article, we're going to provide you with several examples of well written CVs.  Our first example is a Curriculum Vitae Resume Builder.  The document is something that you can use as a visual example, as well as a template when preparing your own CV.

Our second two examples are those of the Europass.  Here we have samples of the Europass CV for Microsoft Word and a Europass CV for OpenOffice Writer.  Both the Word and OpenOffice documents are CV templates indicating the information needed to complete the document to the Europass standard.

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