• Name and contact information, including mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address
• Professional qualifications
• Major/ Area of Study for all degrees showing dates and institutions
• Work experience
• Teaching experience (including associate instructor or GA positions)
• Research interests, dissertation, thesis
• Publications, presentations, articles, abstracts, books
• Grants applied for, grants obtained
• Leadership experience/ service work
• Professional affiliations/memberships
• Specific skills and certifications

The headings and categories of information that you choose to include on your CV may vary. Looking at a sample CV or the CV of your professor/faculty advisor may be useful in determining the headings and categories that best illustrate your qualifications for a particular position.

Always print the CV in a standard typeface that is easy to read, such as Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, Garamond, or Georgia. Avoid fonts that are difficult to read or that do not offer a mature, conservative feel.

The typical point size is 11 points. You should never use smaller than a 10-point font and generally no greater than a 12-point font. Use only white or ivory “resume” paper when printing copies of the CV. Resume paper is of high quality with heavier weight; it can be purchased at any office supply store.

Always print the CV single-sided and include a running header or footer on each page, indicating your name and the appropriate page number.

Consistency is essential in formatting. Utilize a consistent font throughout and the same header style for each section of the CV. Be sure to align bullets, dates, and locations along the same tab stops throughout the document. Sudden changes in format or alignment from one section to the next will make things more difficult for the reader and may be seen as a lack of attention to detail.

There are numerous ways to format a CV. One example is provided here, but there are many potential formats that may work, depending on your specific discipline. Take the opportunity to review many sample CVs. Ask the advice of career staff, faculty, and friends when formatting your CV. Have the document reviewed by several people before sending it out.