Writing A Curriculum Vitae
Writing A Curriculum Vitae
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a professional document that encompasses your life’s work. Your CV is unique to you and your experiences. Many use the terms resume and CV interchangeably. If you are unsure of what document should be submitted with your application, it is best to ask for clarification. CV and resume may also mean different things depending on the country in which you are applying. The information on this page is relevant to the United States.
CVs have no restrictions on length. The document is an accumulation of your experiences relevant to your career path. CVs are most commonly used in academia and research settings; however, you may see it required in other settings as well depending on the level of the position you’re applying to.
CV Guide and Template
If you’re not sure how to get started writing a CV, take a look at our printable guide and template for tips.
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Our Document Drop box is a place for School of Education students to submit resumes, cover letters, CVs, or other application materials and receive personalized feedback from the Career Center team.
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CV Document Details
Note that the information listed is one example of formatting.
Please make an appointment with a career advisor in the Career Center to review your CV.
Header/Personal Information
- Your name, personal email address, and a phone number should be the first pieces of information on your CV. These are the only required pieces of information needed in the Header. Optional information can include a physical address (personal if you are applying for a job), LinkedIn profile link, website, etc.
Curriculum Vita
personal.email@gmail.com | 123-456-7890
Education
- List your information in reverse chronological order (most recent to least recent)
- Make sure to include the following information for each of your degrees:
- name and location of institution
- name of the degree earned
- year degree was (or will be) earned
University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
PhD in Educational Policy Studies 20XX
Minor in Qualitative Methods
(optional) Title of Dissertation
(optional) Major advisor and/or Committee
University of Wisconsin–LaCrosse, LaCrosse, WI
MS Ed in Student Affairs Administration 20XX
BS in Sociology 20XX
Experiences
- The experience sections you have on your CV are where you can tailor your information based on the types of roles you are looking for, as well as the experiences you have.
- Experiences should be listed in reverse chronological order within each section. Noting this will allow you to move your experiences to the section that makes the most sense for where you want your experiences highlighted.
- Similar to the education section, you need to include the following items:
- name and location of the organization
- your position title
- dates of involvement (recommend month and year – month and year)
- bullet points that describe your experiences with concise, results-oriented information using action verbs (what did you do • how/why you did it • why it matters)
Example 1
Education Policy Research Experience
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Research Assistant 08/20XX- 05/20XX
- Coordinated IRB protocols and data collection for 10+ projects with 20+ local sites
Example 2
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Project Assistant August 20XX-May 20XX
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI
- Designed qualitative data collection protocol for an observation and interview study on race and student belonging in middle school classrooms
Examples of Section Names (this is not exhaustive)
- Memberships/Affiliations
- Leadership Experience
- Certifications
- Industry Experience (tailor to the industry or field)
- Service to the…(Community, field, university, department)
- Skills (unique to your field, computer, language, etc.)
- Teaching Experience
- Research Experience
- Honors/Awards
- Fellowships
- Grants
- Publications/Presentations
Format
- Length of a CV will vary depending on one’s experience
- Ensure information is consistent throughout the document for ease of finding information and reading
- Utilize bold, underline, and italics to draw the reader’s attention to specific information
- Font size should be between 10-12 point font
- Font type should be easily readable.
Common types used are:
Calibri | Cambria | Palatino |
Times New Roman | Verdana | Garamond |
Arial | Helvetica | Tahoma |