Things You'll Need:
- Several pieces of paper or access to Word software on a computer
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Step 1
Organize information about yourself in terms of your background and academic interests. On one of your pieces of paper, or in one of your Word documents, write the words “Profession,” “Position,” “Office,” “Contact,” “Current Focus,” “Competence,” “Interests,” Appointments” and “Employment History.” Write these all on separate lines and leave several spaces between each entry.
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Step 2
Begin to fill in the blanks. Remember, you are just constructing at this point, not writing. Begin with “Profession.” If you are currently a professor or researcher, put that down. If you are a recent graduate and want to become a professor, put down the job you want: Professor or Researcher. Your “Position” is the refined version of your “Profession”: “Instructor,” “Research Director” or “Research Assistant.” For your contact information, if you do not have a school office address, put down your home address. List your current academic focus. List fields or sub-fields in which you are well-versed and have at least an undergraduate degree in or eighteen graduate credit hours for the “Competence” section. The “Interests” section is for related sub-fields in which you have an interest. “Appointments” are any tenured, associate, visiting or adjunct positions that you have held. Other Employment History is optional.
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Step 3
Finalize this section of your CV. Cross out items that you do not want to include. On a new piece of paper (or in a new Word Document), write each of the words again, (Profession, Position, etc.) and then, next to the category, list the information that you will actually use for when you write your CV. Throw out the old piece of paper with all of the markings on it.
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Step 1
Write down a list of your degrees and certificates on a second piece of paper. You can begin with the degree you most recently earned. Make note of any relevant information about this degree. When did you obtain it? Where did you obtain it? Did you graduate with honors? .
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Step 2
List any alternative education that you find applicable. This step is optional. Many students, however, have taken the time to take extra courses outside of the academic classroom. Make sure the education is relevant.
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Step 3
List professors who significantly affected your academic career. Begin with any chief academic advisors or mentors. List any co-advisors for theses or dissertations. If feel that other professors profoundly influenced your life but never directed you as an official advisor, you can still include them. List each persons’ first initial, last name, city or school, and the department in which they teach.
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Step 1
List any academic organizations with which you were or are actively involved. Label this section “Service to the school” and put it on a third piece of paper. You may have also served as an editor of an academic publication within your field. Write the details of these positions down and label them “Service to the profession.”
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Step 2
List your organizations, projects or volunteer duties outside of the school. You can put this on the same piece of paper. Just label the section “Service to the Community.”
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Step 3
Review your list of service and make sure it is comprehensive. You deserve credit and recognition for your leadership and hard work.
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Step 1
List all of the classes that you have taught, beginning with the most recent. Put this information on a fourth piece of paper or in a fourth Word Document. Make note of the date you taught the class, the class subject and what school you taught the class at.
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Step 2
List any lectures that you gave at academic conferences or in non-academic, professional settings. Do not leave anything out. If you were a guest lecturer for a particular class, write that down.
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Step 3
Omit this section if you do not have any teaching or lecturing experience.
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Step 1
Write down any “Off-Beat” publications that you want to include on a separate piece of paper or in a separate word document. “Off-beat” means that it was published in a respected and recognized magazine, newspaper or website but not an academic journal. Label anything like this “Off-Beat” publications. This section is optional.
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Step 2
List any peer-reviewed publications. “Peer-reviewed” refers to scholarly, academic articles that have been reviewed by peers in the author’s field and/or an editorial board of field specialists.
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Step 3
Review your list to ensure it is comprehensive. Make sure that all publication listings—Off-Beat or not—include the name of the publication, name of your article (or book), the journal or book name, date of publication and any applicable page numbers.
