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Craft Your CV

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Are you preparing to apply to academic jobs with your PhD? You may find it useful to know the key steps to creating job application materials, delivering engaging stories in academic interviews, and navigating the complex job market within the academy.

This page offers information to supplement the technical and specific support given by departments. Use it to guide your strategies for success.

In the United States, the Curriculum Vitae (CV) is primarily used for academic institutions (including community colleges), fellowships and grants, as well as many research, government, and related fields. The CV is a document that offers a comprehensive yet succinct overview of your skills, qualifications, discipline studies, and accomplishments in your academic career.  

You can expect your CV to grow longer as you gain more experience. For beginning Ph.D. students, two to three pages is average. For advanced Ph.D. students, three to five pages is the typical length. While all CVs feature similar formalities, norms exist for specific disciplines, so you should consult a member of your department and/or your advisor after creating your CV. Typical categories include: Education, Awards & Honors, Research Experience, Publications, Teaching Experience, & Professional Associations. Optional categories include: presentations, conferences attended, additional certificates, technical skills, industry/professional experience. 

Depending on where you apply, these categories, along with their emphasis, will change. For example, if you are applying to a research university , your research and publication sections will be above teaching sections, whereas if you are applying to a postdoc research based position, then you may omit your teaching experience altogether For a community college , you would emphasize your teaching section before your research sections. You need to understand what skills the institution values to determine how best to show those skills. We recommend creating a master CV that has all your accomplishments (don’t include high school information). That way, when you need to adjust and reorder sections based on where you are applying you have a good place to start. 

The CV is a “living document,” which means you will add to it constantly throughout your academic career. The good news is once you have a solid start to your CV, ongoing updates should be minor. Here are some helpful tips to ensure your document is capturing your information in the best way possible: 

Content 

Contact Information

Write your name centered at the top of the CV. It is also common to put your degree status (e.g., Candidacy, Ph.D. if awarded). Make your name stand out with a larger font size (size 16 or 18 recommended) and special formatting (bold). Below your name, write your department contact information (department name, address, website, typically on the left side) and your personal information (address, email, phone, located on the right).  Pro-tip: include your website that has your information, whether it's your departmental website, Academia.edu or personal website.

This is almost always the first section. You should list your institutions and month and year of graduation or “expected graduation: Month Year.” This should be in reverse chronological order (most recent first). You can list honors awarded from each institution if it is not listed in another “awards” section. You can also add an emphasis or specializations here as well. Although optional, often students put the name of their advisor(s) here.

Dissertation/Thesis

If you have completed a thesis or dissertation, you can add this under your Education section or in its own section. Consider putting an additional sentence or two if title is not clear. If you create your own section, you can add one or two bullets describing your topic and what you did (avoid long descriptions).

Awards, Grants, Fellowships, Honors, & Scholarships

We recommend using a header that includes one or two of these words (e.g., Awards and Honors) Use whichever words fit your successes best. If you have two or more awards, grants, scholarships and so on, you can create separate subsections to highlight them further.  Don’t be shy this is your time to shine!  Pro-tip: Optional to include award amounts or state competitiveness of award if it distinguishes you further or would be something that your audience may not know. 

Publications

Include a publication section if you can and bold your name (regardless if that is not how you would do it in a reference page). Consider adding subheaders to break up this section, or add asterisks to highlight key pieces of information.

Research Experience/Fieldwork Experience/Professional Experience

Start by listing your role (e.g., Graduate Student Researcher), the title of the project, the institution, and dates, which are typically listed on the left side in a CV. Below this, add either a few bullets or a small paragraph to briefly indicate your technical skills and work done. Use bullet points sparingly. Instead, use other types of formatting (e.g. white space, bolding, italics) to set apart key information.  Pro-tip: Be sure to add a section that captures your work as a graduate student when you worked on your dissertation. Often, students forget to add this and will only add positions where they were “paid” by their advisor. Remember that your work (paid/unpaid) is not what counts- you being a student is considered work and often, it's a pretty significant portion of what you’ve done in graduate school.

Depending on the number of positions you held, you can either group your teaching assistant/teaching associate positions together or create subheaders to split up each position. Consider where you will be applying and who will be reading your CV. For more teaching-focused positions, such as with small liberal arts colleges or community colleges, listing a robust teaching experience will be advantageous. List the course name (not course numbers), the dates taught, and the institution where you taught. If needed, you can include a brief course description if course title is not sufficient.   Pro-tip: Note if you developed course material or lectured extensively in any position.

Academic Service

Include university-wide groups, task forces, campus clubs, committees or other related work you were involved in. Consider department, university, or discipline-specific groups you participated in. Depending your level of involvement, you can list position title, organization, or dates served, or you can add one to two sentences or bullets to describe the position.

List your references on a separate page. Include the references' name, title, address, phone or email (depending on contact’s preference). Three to four references are usually adequate. You can attach this page as needed.

Other Possible Sections

Professional Affiliations (include name and date you’ve been a member), specialized trainings (can be included under a technical skills section, education section, or its own section), languages (good to indicate your level of proficiency), technical skills (important to include subheaders that can help break up your skills), and relevant professional experiences (including non-academic experiences accompanied by brief explanations).

Mechanics and Writing Fundamentals

Check your grammar and spelling.  Most computers will catch little spelling mistakes but they will not catch everything. Make sure your CV is reviewed by a friend, colleague, advisor, career counselor, or family member to try to catch mistakes. Your CV is a document that many people will review and will often be a document people use to evaluate your work, so be sure you are putting your best self out there. 

Write professionally and positively. Do not copy from another colleague or advisor. This is your document — make it your own. 

Finishing Touches

How you present your content is just as important as the content itself. Make sure that every section follows the same formatting (e.g., bold all your titles, make sure all the dates are justified on the left side) so it is logical to the reader. Here are a few other tips to ensure you present your document in the best way: 

• Utilize white space, and put important words and phrases in boldface
• Use black, 12-point, easy-to-read text with one-inch margins 
• Attempt to stay between the typical three to five pages for grad students
• Provide clear section titles with bolding, underlining or italics 
• Use consistent formatting, including placement of dates
• Put your name and page numbers in a header or footer on every page after the first page
• When printing: Print on writing paper (20, 24, or 28 lb) and remove hyperlinks
• When emailing: Black text is preferred since most people do not print in color. Send in PDF format. Be sure to add in any hyperlinks after you convert to PDF. 

As you craft your CV, review these example documents for inspiration.  

Example: SHEF

Example: STEM #1

Example: STEM #2

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Career Advising

Career Connection staff is available daily to provide students with career-related advice, from resume writing to choosing a career. A significant portion of staff time is devoted to advising students about options for fulfilling CPA licensing requirements, more information for which can be found in the CPA Requirements tab. Below is more information about Suggested Plans of Study, Resumes and Cover Letters, Interviews, Graduate Education, and our Peer Advisors.

Resume and Cover Letters

Your resume and cover letter are the first impression an employer will have of you. These documents reflect your most relevant experiences and qualities and are the basis by which you will be selected for an interview. We suggest reviewing the Resume Guide, Cover Letter Guide, and sample resumes in the sidebar prior to creating a first draft.

It is highly recommended that students come to our office for a professional resume review. If you would like to have your resume and cover letter critiqued by our office, please bring printed copies. Below are a few resume samples and  templates to help get you started:

The following are some common concerns students have when interviewing for internships or job positions. We recommend reading through this information and reviewing the Interviewing resources in the sidebar as part of your preparation.

Schedule a mutual time between you and your employer. Usually, the employer will give you a frame of reference (e.g. “Could you let us know when you are available next week?”). If your schedule permits, you should try to schedule the interview as far in the future within the employer’s timeline as you can to allow for the maximum amount of preparation. Consider what time of day you tend to do your best work and if you will have enough time to study before your interview. Once you have determined a mutually agreeable time, respond to the employer as soon as possible.

Try your best to stay within the employer’s suggested interview timeframe. If you cannot make the interview within the employer’s timeframe, do not be afraid to say you are unavailable in a friendly manner and suggest alternative dates/times. If the employer is already interested in interviewing you, requesting a different time will not lead them to revoke an interview offer.

If you can pick the time of your interview, try to give employers multiple options. They often have to coordinate with multiple interviewers who are also busy.

Dress for the job that you want. For instance, a student who is interviewing for the position of an Investment Banker should be dressed as if they are meeting with a client. First impressions are critical, and when in doubt, you should lean toward dressing up. You want to show the employer that you are taking this opportunity seriously.

Make sure you are comfortable in what you are wearing. You do not want to be distracted by the fit of your clothes.

Do not let your clothes distract from your personality. It is fine to show off your style, but your clothes should not speak for you.

The first interview could be an in-person interview, virtual interview, or phone interview. In almost any position, the first interview is usually behavioral: the company is trying to find out more about you, your personality, and how you fit within the culture of the firm. That being said, you should be ready for a couple of technical questions, as employers are also trying to gauge whether or not you should go on to the next round.

If possible, try to use websites like Glassdoor or Vault to see if you can find interview questions for your particular position at that company. It is also helpful to research popular interview questions and practice answering as many of these questions as you can.

The second interview is typically in person at the firm’s office. The firm may pay for a flight and hotel for the day of your interview. Second interviews are usually longer, with senior staff, and are typically much more difficult than the first interview. Often, second interviews are with several different staff members from different departments of division of the firm - people you will be working with if you get the position.

Your studying for the second interview should be much more technical. You may have to complete a challenge or solve a problem in this interview. The firm wants to see how you work under pressure and your capacity of problem-solving.

Many firms have more than just a couple of interviews. It is incredibly expensive, labor-intensive, and time-consuming to train new employees, so employers will want to be sure that you are the right fit.

Financial and Consulting firms often have interviews called “Superdays,” where all the candidates are flown to office headquarters. Candidates are put through an intensive day of interviewing, problem-solving, and networking.

If you are on a fifth interview and do not feel any closer to getting the job, there is an appropriate way you can inquire about when you might hear about the position and if there is anything else the firm needs from you. That being said, patience is the best policy when waiting for a hiring decision. There is often a lot of red tape involved in hiring because it is such an expensive and time-consuming process.

Graduate Education for Economics and Accounting

Many students continue their Accounting education through a Masters program. Masters programs in Accounting are generally one year full-time programs. There are programs students can complete while working part-time, but these programs typically take longer. Most Masters programs have their own recruiting schedules, and they work very hard to get students positions upon completion.

Reasons why students may consider getting a graduate degree in Accounting

• You would like to obtain more experience in Accounting before going on the job market
• You would like to make yourself more competitive after completing your undergraduate degree
• You do not meet the credit or unit requirements for the CPA

Applying to an Accounting Program

Entrance requirements for a Masters in Accountancy vary significantly from school to school. Some schools require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Some schools have rolling admissions, and others have specific deadlines for applicants. Please refer to AccountEdu.org for more information about specific Accounting programs.

Typically, students do not pursue a Masters in Business Administration directly after their undergraduate education. MBA programs can range in duration, but a full-time program will typically last for two years. Most competitive MBA programs will look for students who already have some professional experience.

Reasons why students may consider getting an MBA

• You desire to gain access to a large business network
• You desire to obtain a career in an upper management role
• You wish to gain a potential salary increase

Applying to an MBA program

The following are materials commonly required for application to an MBA program:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent from any major
• The GRE or the GMAT
• Work experience (highly suggested)
• Required essays or writing samples
• Admissions interview

Masters programs in Economics span one to three years and are aimed at placing students in government and private sector positions. Some students will also pursue a Masters degree in Economics prior to pursuing their PhD, but this is not always necessary.

Applying to a Masters Program

If you are thinking about getting a Masters in Economics, it is in your best interest to start preparing early in your undergraduate career. This includes taking more Mathematics courses, gaining research experience, and making connections with your professors - more than what you’ll gain solely from the Economics undergraduate major.

The length of PhD programs in Economics may vary, but typically span five to six years. PhD programs generally focus on getting students academic positions with research universities, but many students also pursue careers in the private sector.

Reasons why students may consider getting a PhD in Economics

• You love intellectual pursuits and being a scholar. The idea of making discoveries excites you
• You enjoy math and are skilled at it
• Studying formal models in economics courses is the best part
• You are comfortably studying 70-90 hours a week

Applying to a PhD Program

If you are thinking about getting a PhD in Economics, it is in your best interest to start preparing early in your undergraduate career. This includes taking more Mathematics courses, gaining research experience, and making connections with your professors - more than what you’ll gain solely from the Economics undergraduate major.

Please refer to the links below for helpful information on choosing and applying to a PhD program:

• A Guide for UCSB Undergraduates Considering a PhD in Economics
• The American Economics Association (AEA) Website
• AEA Suggested PhD Application Timeline
• AEA List of All US Graduate Degrees in Economics

Peer Advising

The Department sponsors a Peer Advising Program throughout the academic year. Outstanding Upper-Division students are employed and trained to offer assistance with career advising, CPA advising, internship and job advice, among other general office duties. Every Career Peer is well-trained in providing assistance across a wide range of career concerns.

  Andrew Cheng: Andrew is a third-year Economics & Accounting major who is also pursuing the TMP certificate. He is from Arcadia, California and plans to work for PwC after graduation. Andrew is very passionate about business and entrepreneurship and sees them as ways to solve issues such as access to sustainable energy and education. Outside of school, he enjoys playing volleyball, doing Jiu Jitsu, and cooking.

  Cassie Gao: Cassie is a third-year Economics major and part of the Dean's Honors Program in the Department of Economics. This past Spring, she worked as an investment analyst intern at JD.com, and most recently, she interned on the equity research team at Allied Millennial Partners. Additionally, she finished the Strategic Investment Program and is currently on the team of the Dean's Investment Group.

  Nate Kim  Nate is a senior at UCSB majoring in Economics and Accounting with a minor in Music. He has previously interned in investment banking and corporate finance roles and will return as a Financial Analyst in Cisco's Leaders in Finance and Technology (LIFT) rotational program upon graduation. In his spare time, Nate enjoys playing the guitar and following developments in the tech industry.

  Spencer Sween: Spencer is a fourth-year Economics and Mathematics major who holds a strong interest in Economics research. Throughout his undergraduate experience, Spencer has contributed to several academic research papers, worked for a hedge fund, and interned at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. He invites students to reach out to him at the Career Connection Office to talk about research opportunities or related career paths!

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UCSB Career Services, College of Engineering, and our network of industry affiliates collaborate to host several career-boosting opportunities for undergraduate students every quarter. From career fairs to information sessions, from internships to undergraduate research, we are here to help students kickstart their promising careers.

Visit the College of Engineering calendar here . Read about how to prepare for a recruiting event/Info Session here . If you have any questions, please contact Ashley Antoon, [email protected] , the Student Recruitment Manager for the College of Engineering.

UCSB Career Services holds career fairs and recruiting events each quarter, including a day dedicated to STEM majors each spring. Career Services also offers resume preparation help and review services.

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Handshake is the official UCSB Career Services site for jobs and internships. Search job and internship postings from employers. Create and store your resume, cover letter, transcripts, and other documents. See which employers are coming to upcoming career events, and schedule interviews with employers.

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Join an engineering student organization.

Numerous student organizations for engineering and STEM majors are active on campus and offer networking opportunities and events.

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Talk to your department or faculty advisor for major-specific internships or jobs.

Technology Management  Department

Students interested in the business side of technology or entrepreneurism are encouraged to get involved with UCSB’s Technology Management Department. Technology Management hosts a number of events each year such as the annual New Venture Competition .

Research Programs & Internships

Many professors in engineering and the sciences at UCSB offer rewarding undergraduate research opportunities that can help prepare students for post-graduation success. Read more about undergraduate research opportunities, how to approach a mentor, and how to find a research program.

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How can I get additional resume uploads in my VMock account?

Your VMock account automatically resets with ten (10) resume uploads in the fall quarter of every academic year. To request additional resume uploads, please email [email protected] for a quick reply.

10 Resume Tips to Help Your CV Stand Out, Experts Say

Posted: May 14, 2024 | Last updated: May 14, 2024

When you're hoping to land the job of your dreams , your resume can serve as the secret weapon you need to get your foot in the door. As the first touchpoint you'll have with a potential employer, it needs to stand out from the crowd if you want to be invited in for an actual interview. This is especially true in today's highly competitive job market.

"A great resume isn't simply a piece of paper on which to record employment history; it's a strategic tool for marketing yourself as the perfect job candidate," says Vit Koval , a global hiring and remote work advocate at the hiring company Globy .

With that in mind, experts say there are a handful of ways that you can upgrade your resume to ensure that it ends up in the right hands and makes the right impression. These are the top 10 resume tips to put your career goals within reach.

RELATED: How to Ace Every Common Job Interview Question .

1. Focus on results, not just experience.

Employers want to know the highlights of your career until now, but simply listing your experience won't paint the full picture.

"Too many resumes simply list experience," says Renee Fellman , a turnaround expert and interim CEO at Renee Fellman & Associates . "To make your resume stand out, clearly and concisely include the results you achieved that can be verified by the person to whom you reported."

She recommends asking yourself: "What were your goals? What did you accomplish?"

To that point, the experts all agree that it's a good idea to lean on data to quantify your achievements and showcase your impact. "Data is one of the most underused resume enhancement techniques," says Daniel Space , a senior HR director and content creator who goes by Dan from HR .

For instance, explain how you helped save the company $100,000, how you optimized a process for 11 percent efficiency, ensured training for a data analysis skill set of 900 employees, or managed a budget of $6 million, Space says, emphasizing the importance of specificity.

2. Tweak the resume to fit the job description.

RELATED: 10 Best Public Speaking Hacks That Experts Use .

3. Use a professional format for easy readability.

LaMonica also recommends giving careful consideration to your resume formatting, opting for a "clean, professional" style that's easy to read.

Hull agrees that "format matters." She recommends using standard fonts (Arial, Cambria, Garamond, and Times New Roman are all considered standard for CVs), appropriate use of white space, and clear margins and alignment.

Though consistency is key, Space adds that you can also use visual cues to highlight your CV's most important pieces of information. "For your best achievements, use bold lettering to call the reader's attention," he suggests.

4. Consider your order of presentation.

The order in which you share your experience, results data, education, and skills can also make a difference. "Highlight key skills and accomplishments at the beginning for emphasis," advises LaMonica.

"Your most important information is your experience—that should take up 80 percent of the page," adds Space, noting that education should go at the end. "You do not need a professional summary if your resume is directly appropriate for the role."

5. Keep it short.

Submitting a resume that's many pages long may signal to your potential employers that you're unable to synthesize information into digestible formats. Your biggest achievements are also likely to get buried in too much information.

"Brevity and clarity are key qualities of a great resume," says Hull, who was also the founding director of an executive coaching program for faculty at Duke University Medical Center.

RELATED: The 13 Best Ways to Make Money Online, Experts Say .

6. Use digital formats to your advantage.

Submitting a resume is different today than it was even a decade ago—one of the biggest differences being that most resumes are now digital.

By using the right relevant keywords, you have an opportunity to optimize your CV and pass through any automated tracking systems (ATS) used to screen candidates initially. In particular, you can include keywords, including specific skills and qualifications, that stand out from the job description.

LaMonica also recommends providing a link to a professional online profile or company website for additional information.

7. Address any gaps in employment.

Submitting your resume for consideration is the very first opportunity you'll have to tell your story. If you leave gaps in that story, your potential employers might make unfair assumptions.

This is especially important to remember if you've had any major gaps in your employment. "Tell the story of what was going on. Explain, don't be defensive, and focus on how the gap may have improved your skills, including resilience," suggests Hull.

8. Use a "Previous Experience" section.

Having lots of job experience is a good thing, but including details about jobs you held two decades ago can take away from your more recent achievements. Space adds that, unfortunately, "ageism is a thing"—meaning you may not want to highlight just how long you've been in the workforce.

RELATED: 5 Things You Should Never Lie About on Your Resume .

9. Proofread, proofread, proofread.

Nothing will turn off a potential employer faster than noticing typos or careless errors in your resume. Since your CV is your one chance to put your best foot forward, even minor mistakes in spelling, punctuation, or word choice can signal that your work is sloppy or rushed.

To avoid this mistake, read it slowly, ask a friend to give it a second pass, and run your work through a spellchecker. "Proofread meticulously to ensure error-free content," advises LaMonica.

10. Always include a cover letter.

Making a point of always including a brief but thoughtful and personalized cover letter "will greatly enhance your chances" of employment, says Koval. This is where you really get to tell your story, share your enthusiasm for the position, company, or general field of work, and let your personality shine.

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