For graduate students pursuing academic careers, crafting a Curriculum Vitae (CV) is crucial. A Curriculum Vitae (CV), Latin for “course of life”, summarizes your skills, experience, and education in greater detail and length (often exceeding two pages) than a resume. CVs are essential for graduate school applications, scientific research roles, and academic positions. Writing an effective CV is about presenting your strengths and experiences in a clear format that resonates with your reader's priorities, rather than adhering rigidly to a template.)
Resume vs. CV - What is the Difference?
Both a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a resume serve to present your experiences and skills in the application process, with the goal of securing an interview. However, they differ in scope: a CV offers a complete and detailed account of your academic accomplishments, while a resume provides a summary of your qualifications. Although both should be tailored to the specific position, CVs are typically required for academic positions, and resumes are the norm for non-academic roles. For graduate school applications, a CV is usually requested, often resembling an expanded resume with details of publications and research. If your job search spans both academic and industry (private or public sector) opportunities, you will need to develop both a CV and a resume.
| What's the Difference? | CV | Resume |
|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | Academics and professionals within your discipline | Hiring managers in diverse industries |
| Primary Purpose | Applying for academic or medical positions | Applying for a job in the majority of non-academic fields |
| Main Objective | To demonstrate your academic qualifications and achievements in depth | To highlight skills and experience relevant to a specific job |
| Employers' Expectations | A broad and detailed picture of your scholarly profile | A concise and persuasive summary of your qualifications |
Despite differences in content and presentation, both CVs and resumes aim to present you as a compelling candidate for jobs and educational programs. Therefore, strategically selecting and presenting your information is key to crafting an effective CV, typical CV sections are outlined below.
1. Personal Information
Include your full first and last name, followed by your academic degree(s) such as BSc, MSc, PhD (where applicable). You may bold and center your name. Follow with your current mailing address (either personal or institutional), phone number(s) and professional email address. You may also add LinkedIn link and github (where applicable).
2. Education
List formal post-secondary education in reverse chronological order. You may include honours, awards, thesis titles, topics and the names of your supervisors in this section if they are not detailed elsewhere. Training courses may be included here or in a separate “Professional Development” or “Additional Training” section.
3. Awards and Distinctions
List awards and honours in reverse chronological order. If you have only one award/honour per degree, you may choose to place them under the appropriate degree in the “Education” section. If you are applying for a research position and have received awards, put this section on the first page, after education to catch the reader’s attention.
4. Research Interests / Research Techniques
Present your current research interests and/or potential future research directions in a succinct and bulleted list. This section may also be used to detail relevant technical skills such as research methodologies, familiarity with specialized equipment, and coding languages, provided this information is not duplicated elsewhere in your CV.
5. Teaching Experience
List the courses you have taught or for which you were a Teaching Assistant (TA), including the course name and code, department, university, and dates. You may add a brief, one-line description of the course content. If you are applying for teaching-focused positions, place this section prominently before your research and professional experience.
6. Community Involvement
List academic committees and student organizations you have been involved in. For each, include a brief (one-line) description of your activities and accomplishments.
7. Publications
Provide complete bibliographic information for all published or accepted works. For extensive lists, include a selection and consider linking to a full online publication list.
8. Professional Affiliations and Honours
List memberships in professional organizations, significant appointments/elections to positions, honours from professional, business, educational, or related organizations.
9. Professional Experience
List related experiences in reverse chronological order stating job title, employer name, city/country, and dates. Emphasize leadership roles, successes, accomplishments, and recognitions where possible.
10. Other Experience
Provide brief details emphasizing skills and achievements, not just duties. List other jobs and activities not directly related to your academic goals. Include these to provide a complete timeline and to highlight transferrable skills. Provide brief details emphasizing skills and achievements, not just duties.
11. References
List three to five references on a separate final page. For each, include their name, title, employer, and complete contact information. For further information see the Graduate Students section of our website.
12. Ordering of Sections
Keep in mind that a CV doesn’t need to include all of the categories mentioned above, and the organization can be flexible. Carefully consider what information to include and how to present it, always focusing on the priorities and interests of your reader. Highlight your strongest qualifications for the specific position to make them stand out.
13. Using The CV Outside of Academia
Remember that industry CVs may require a different focus than academic CVs, highlighting areas like lab techniques, leadership, project management, and software proficiency. Tailor your CV to emphasize what your reader values. For a hybrid industry research CV example, see the Graduate Students section of our website under "Careers Outside of Academia." Also, consult faculty and the Career Centre for discipline-specific CV expectations and examples (e.g., "The CV Handbook," "The PhD Handbook for the Academic Job Search" available at the Career Centre). Remember that industry CVs may require a different focus than academic CVs, highlighting areas like lab techniques, leadership, project management, and software proficiency. Tailor your CV to emphasize what your reader values. For a hybrid industry research CV example, see the Graduate Students section of our website under Careers Outside of Academia.
It is important to recognize that expectations regarding CV content and presentation may vary across different academic disciplines. We recommend consulting with faculty members and the Career Centre for tailored feedback. Examples of CVs specific to various disciplines can be found in “The CV Handbook” and “The PhD Handbook for the Academic Job Search,” both available for your use at the Career Centre.
To schedule an individual CV critique, make an appointment by phone (905) 828-5451.
Please note that this information is subject to change. It is best to refer to the original sources for the most up-to-date information.
Updated May 2025