Preparing CV & Cover Letters Career Counseling and Support Services 1640 Neil Avenue, 2 nd Floor Younkin Success Center (614) 688-3898 ccss.osu.edu

Preparing CV & Cover LettersCareer Counseling and Support Services

1640 Neil Avenue, 2nd Floor

Younkin Success Center

(614) 688-3898

ccss.osu.edu

• What is vita (CV)?

• Addressing content and format

• Research and Teaching Oriented Vitas (Academia)

Career Counseling and Support Services

Today’s Agenda (learning TIPS!)

• Vitas/CV = used when applying for a job in academic settings

• Resumes = used when applying for a job in industry settings

• Sometimes = Vitas used in industry (research positions)


Rule of Thumb

• Skills = Can you do the job?

• Motivation = Will you do it?

• Personality = Will you fit in?

• $$ = Hiring Costs


Employers’ Expectations

I. Identifying Information

II. Education

III. Research Experience

IV. Research Grants

V. Research Awards

VI. Publications

VII.Conferences and Presentations


Vitas ~ Research Emphasis

VIII. Teaching Experience

IX. Industry Experience (if not, omit)

X. University Service

XI. Additional Skills

XII. Honors and Awards

XIII. Professional Affiliations

XIV. References


Vitas ~ Research Emphasis

Same Format, but will need to play around with the order of sessions


II. Education

III. Teaching Experience

IV. Teaching Awards

V. Conferences and Presentations

VI. Research Experience


Vitas ~ Teaching Emphasis

VII. Research Grants

VIII. Publications

IX. Industry Experience (if not, omit)

X. University Service

XI. Additional Skills

XII. Honors and Awards

XIII. Professional Affiliations

XIV. References


Vitas ~ Teaching Emphasis


II. Education

III. Industry Experience (if not, omit)

IV. Research Experience

V. Research Awards

VI. Research Grants

VII.Research Publications


Vitas ~ Industry

VIII.Additional Skills – include teaching skills

IX. Honors and Awards

X. Professional Affiliations

XI. References


Vitas ~ Industry

I. Identifying Information• Name (bolded)

• Address (university) – Spell out – consistency

• E-mail (last name included) ~ Web Site

• Telephone Number (Work and home, voice mail)

II. Education• Reverse chronological order (Spacing and Bolding)

• List Universities, degrees, majors, locations, dates

• Post Doc experience

• Dissertation title and name of advisor (depends!)


Content: Applied to all CV

III. Research Experience• Research Interests – list them• Research Work Experience

• Employer, Job Title (bolded)• Location and dates (spell out)• Experience: Verb + Subject +

OutcomeIII. Technical Skills – Bold them



IV. Research Grants• Include project name, funding

source, and amount• Go in reverse chronological

orderV. Research Awards

• Include name and year• Reverse Chronological order



VI. Publications• Peer Reviewed Publications• Book Chapters and Reviews• Abstracts• Double space to separate them• Note if - in progress, in review, in press

VII.Conferences and Presentations• Name of presentation• Reverse Chronological Order• Location• Double Space to separate them



VIII.Teaching Experience• Teaching Interests• Teaching Experience

• Employer, job title, location, dates• Verb + subject + outcome• Who, what, and how you teach• Use bullet points

IX. Industry Experience (If relevant)

• Employer, job title, location, dates• Verb + Subject + Outcome• Need to tailor• Use bullet points



X. University Service• List committees, advising experience• Employer, job title, location, dates• Verb + Subject + Outcomes• Use bullet points

XI. Additional Skills• List them• Bold them• Use bullet points



XII. Honors and Awards• Reverse Chronological Order

XIII.Professional Affiliations• Reverse Chronological Order• May list if active member or leadership position

XIV.References• Minimum 3 ~ maximum 5• In the order you would like them to be contacted• Be sure to include identifying information, job title, degrees,

address, e-mail, telephone numbers, web sites



• Works in tandem with your CV, and represents your best opportunity to communicate directly with your target audience prior to an interview.

• Summarize your experience and concentrate on highlighting appropriate accomplishments and interests related to the job (may vary according to nature and goals of the position)

• Your cover letter should not exceed a page and a half or two at the most.


The Cover Letter

• The stated and unstated philosophy and politics of the department

• The extent to which the institution to which you are applying differs from OSU and the relative importance of teaching versus research

• The extent to which your research is mainstream and its significance readily apparent

• The extent to which your qualifications diverge from those mentioned in the job advertisement

• Typical circumstances or career paths


Variables to Consider

• Your address

• Date

• Person’s Address

• Salutation (Dear title or Selection Committee)

• 1 paragraph: Position you are applying to and how did you learn about it

• 2 paragraph: Research, Teaching, Service (Show fit)

• 3 paragraph: Anything extra

• 4 paragraph: Ask for an interview


Cover Letter Format

Documents

Preparing CV & Cover Letters Career Counseling and Support Services 1640 Neil Avenue, 2 nd Floor Younkin Success Center (614) 688-3898 ccss.osu.edu