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Curriculum Vitae - Tips and Strategies
Tips
- Font: Use 12-18 point font size for name (the largest font size you use); 12-14 point font for headings; 10-12 point font for text. Sans-serif fonts (those lacking flourishes on the letters) read most easily. Don't use too many fonts but pick one and use it throughout
- Format: be consistent; don't be repetitive; be concise; include a page number and name header on all pages; be neat
- Paper: use white/off-white 24-lb paper and a matching envelope
- Printing/typesetting: Use a laser printer; never use a dot-matrix printer
- Don't: include SSN, age, gender, race, religion, political affiliation, marital/parental status, disability or national origin; explain why you're leaving your present job; include salary history; include DEA numbers
- Proofread (read backwards) and spell check
- Use active voice, not passive voice
- Avoid using the first person ("I," "my")
- Because these are read left to right, avoid placing dates on the left margin as doing so emphasizes the date as opposed to the activity
- Be honest
- Don't wait to create your external CV; you don't know when you may be asked to apply for or see a posting for your "dream job"
Strategies for keeping current – update your materials at least semi-annually
- Collect things in real time as they happen
- Use holding files with folders (electronic or paper-based) for each of the sections - publications as submitted, in press, and published (keep the same system for your teaching portfolio)
- Keep a running header with the most current version
If you maintain different versions of your documents for different purposes, update them at the same time or keep clear notes regarding what you've updated and what you haven't keeping a base file, then running "compare documents" will do much of that work for you, provided you save a redlined version and note on other documents the need to update them for consistency.
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