Complete and Easy Guide to Prepare an Academic CV

General tips:

• Use a standard font, such as Times New Roman.
• Use white space effectively to make your CV easy to read.
• Use action verbs to explain your skills and knowledge.

Structure:

• Your CV should be one or two pages long.

Contact information:

• Make sure your contact information is up-to-date and accurate.
• Include your complete name, email, phone number, and mailing address.

Personal statement or objective:

• Your statement or objective should summarize your skills and experience.
• It should also explain why you are interested in the job or program you are applying for.

Education:

• List your academic qualifications in reverse recorded order.
• Include the institution’s name, the degree you earned, and your graduation date.
• You can include it on your CV if you have a strong GPA.

Work experience:

• List your work experience in reverse documented order.
• Include the employer’s name, your job title, and the dates you were employed.
• Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments.

You don’t have any experience?

Even without traditional work experience, you can showcase your skills and qualifications on your resume. Here are some suggestions for what to put in your resume if you don’t have any work experience:

1. Internships or apprenticeships: If you have completed any internships or apprenticeships, even if they were unpaid, list them prominently on your resume. Describe your responsibilities and contributions, using action verbs to emphasize your accomplishments.
2. Volunteer work: Volunteering demonstrates your willingness to work hard and contribute to your community. List your volunteer experiences, including the organization, position, and involvement dates. Emphasize any skills or knowledge you earned from these experiences.
3. Projects: Include any personal or academic assignments on your resume if you have completed them. Describe the project scope, your role, and the skills or knowledge you applied.
4. Extracurricular activities: Participation in extracurricular activities or clubs demonstrates your teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. List your involvement in these activities and any specific positions or responsibilities you held.
5. Certifications or training: If you have completed any relevant certifications or training programs, list them on your resume.
6. Awards or accomplishments: Include any awards, scholarships, or other notable achievements you have received. This can highlight your academic or personal excellence.
7. Summary or objective statement: A summary or accurate information briefly overviews your skills, experience, and career aspirations. Tailor this statement to the field of study that you are applying for.
8. References: Include a list of professional or personal references who can talk about your character, work ethic, and talents. Before listing your references on your resume, ensure you have permission to do so.

Skills:

• Include hard skills (such as computer software programs you are proficient in) and soft skills (such as communication and teamwork).

Here are some skills you can put on your academic resume:

• Research skills: This includes the ability to find and evaluate sources, gather and analyze data, and communicate findings.
• Critical thinking: is the ability to diagnose information, identify preferences, and draw sound conclusions.
• Communication skills: This includes writing and speaking effectively, both orally and in writing, and presenting information clearly and concisely.
• Problem-solving skills: This is the ability to recognize difficulties, create solutions, and implement those solutions effectively.
• Time management skills: This is the ability to plan and prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and work effectively under pressure.
• Computer skills: This includes using various software programs, such as Microsoft Office, SPSS, and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Foreign language skills: This is the ability to speak, read, and write in one or more foreign languages.
• Laboratory skills: This includes the ability to use laboratory equipment, follow safety protocols, and conduct experiments effectively.
• Teaching skills: This is the ability to prepare and deliver lectures, lead discussions, and assess student learning.

In addition to these general skills, you should list any specific skills relevant to your field of study. For example, if you are majoring in English, you might list grammar, editing, and writing skills. If you are majoring in computer science, you might list skills such as programming, web development, and database management.

When listing your skills, use action verbs to describe what you can do. For example, instead of simply listing the skill “communication,” you could say, “communicated effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders.”

Moreover, you can add different applications you can work with if it’s related to your field of study.

Awards and honors:

• List any honors or awards you have acquired.
• This is an excellent way to show potential employers that you are a high-achiever.

Tailoring your CV:

• Take the time to tailor your CV to your desired field of study.
• Emphasize the skills and background that are most relevant to the position.
• Use keywords from the job description throughout your CV.

Proofreading:

• Proofread your CV carefully for any mistakes.
• Request a knowledgeable friend or family member to proofread your CV.

Following these suggestions, you can create a professional academic CV to help you make a great first impression.

Now that you know all the essential tips use Globalisa’s academic CV template to build your own CV: