Writing an Academic CV That Gets Noticed
May 10, 2026 · 8 min read
An academic CV differs from a job resume: it can run several pages and should foreground publications, research experience, and teaching, not just work history.
Lead with education and research experience if you're applying for a PhD or postdoc; lead with publications and grants if you're applying for an academic job.
List conference presentations, posters, and workshops attended — these signal an active research profile even before you have many publications.
Keep formatting clean and consistent: one font, clear section headers, and reverse-chronological order within each section. Avoid graphics or columns that confuse PDF parsers used by some application systems.
Helpful resources
- Harvard FAS Office of Career Services — GSAS CV & Cover Letter Guide
- UC Berkeley Career Center — The CV (academic job search overview)
- Yale Office of Career Strategy — How to Write a CV for the Academic Job Market
- University of Cambridge Careers Service — CVs and Cover Letters
- University of Oxford Careers Service — CVs
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