WHAT IS A CURRICULUM VITAE?

The word vitae’ is derived from the Latin language meaning “life.”  Thus, the purpose of completing ‘vitae’ are to describe people’s lives, their “courses of life, your “course of life,” their professional lives.  The singular form of the term is “vita.”

A Curriculum Vitae is your marketing tool.  It is created for the purpose of pursuing your career and educational goals. Your Vitae should thoroughly describe your experiences and accomplishments in a way that best demonstrates your qualifications for the type of position you are seeking.  In developing a Vitae you should remember that

• Vitae vary in format and style—choose one that suits you and emphasizes your knowledge, skills, strengths, and abilities.

• Pay careful attention to spelling, punctuation, grammar and style

• Organize information in a logical fashion.

• Keep descriptions clear and thorough, yet concise.

• Use a simple, easy-to-read font.

• Clearly number pages, with your name at the top of each.  Do not print pages back-to-back.

• Use good-quality white or off-white bond paper.

WHEN WOULD I USE A CURRICULUM VITAE?

If you are seeking a faculty, research, clinical, or scientific position, you will need a Curriculum Vitae. You may also want to consider this format when in the fields of healthcare, athletic training, education, social work, counseling, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, journalism, or other areas where you may have participated in various applied, “hands-on” experience and training opportunities related to your major field of interest.

A Vitae can range from 2 to 12 pages or more, depending on experience, and offers an in-depth look into any and all professional experiences you care to relate to the position you are seeking. For example:  Education, Awards and Fellowships, Teaching Experience, Research Experience, Computer/Technical Skills, Honors, Professional Activities, Presentations, Publications, Professional Memberships, Travel/Cultural Experiences, and others.

You should begin with a heading that includes your name, address, telephone number, and Email address.  If you plan to move, be sure to provide a way for employers to reach you, such as a family member’s address.  If your Email account was established through the university, make sure you set up an account that will remain active after you leave school (Always choose an Email address that appears professional).

 WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?

You’ll need a section for your education that highlights the knowledge you have acquired through your university preparation and professional and educational experiences.  At a minimum, the Education section should include your university, your degree and major, and when your degree was earned or is expected, as well as any certifications or credentials you have earned or expect to earn.  Other education-related information which can be included is:  GPA, academic minor (or second major), and related coursework (remember to include those courses in which your potential employer will be most interested.

 WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

Your Experience section is key and it usually is listed directly following Education.   Whatever order you choose for your Vitae, you should use the Experience section to highlight your work-related accomplishments, whether they are paid or unpaid.

Emphasize the areas related to the position you are seeking.  For example, if you are applying to work in a hospital setting, you may identify a section called “Clinical Experience” or “Hospital Experience.”  Quantify and qualify what you did – for example, in a clinical position, such as a Physician’s Assistant,  include how many rotations you completed. You can also include experience gained through participation in organizations and associations in a “Professional Memberships” section, or “Committee and Administrative Experience” section, as long as you can relate the experience to the job for which you are applying.

eHelpful Hints

• New job seekers usually begin the Curriculum Vitae with academic preparation, which draws attention to the degree. An experienced job seeker, however, can begin with experience and place the educational preparation somewhere else.

• Prioritize your top skills or experience to be presented in the first or uppermost section of your Vitae.

• Distinguish between kinds of experience. For example, academic appointments, hospital or clinical, and/or professional experiences.

• Due to the length of the Vitae, preparing one that is not boring or that buries information can be a challenge.

• Do not include papers submitted or in preparation unless they have been accepted, in which case indicate “in press.” Follow appropriate documentation guidelines for articles, books chapters, presentations, etc.

• Be specific when describing your experiences. For example: Worked with employees in a residential setting.  Instead you may say: “Recruited, hired, trained and supervised more than 20 employees for a residential, for-profit agency.” This is more likely to grab an employer’s attention.

• Tailor your Vitae to each position you are applying for, whether it be an application to graduate school, or a full-time teaching position.  Avoid  attempting to create a one-size-fits-all Vitae to send to all employers. They expect your Vitae to state how you might fit a position with that organization.

• Consider your Vitae as a work in progress, updating it to better suit your current situation. Have more than one person review it.

WORDS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

 When describing your experiences, action verbs should begin each statement.  Try these:

When reporting your accomplishments, use superlatives and other dynamic words.  Here are a few:

Be concise and impressive!  Don’t be afraid to highlight your accomplishments!