The PhD CV Series - Part 1

Have you created yours? Plus, the Music Highlight

Do we really need a CV for our PhD?

We sure do!

How can we build it? You can ask people to have a look at theirs, or go to academic websites: if you have an account with Academia, or ResearchGate, a lot of academics have their CVs uplodaded there. Or, as my main and co-supervisors told me, as an academic it is a great idea to have your own website, where you can share things like your education, work, publications (there will be another post about this topic), and - you guessed right - a link or part of the drop-down menu on your website which will take people to your CV. I have seen a lot of acaemic CVs on various websites and they have helped me tremendoulsy to build my own.

(Image from LinkedIn)

What your CV could look like:

(Note: Academic CVs are generally much longer than regular CVs, because you are literally showcasing all your achievements.)

1. Personal Information

• Full Name

• Contact Information: Address (of your office, if you have one - I don’t have an office at a university; I have one in my parents’ apartment, but I would not like to share it on my CV), phone number, email (most preferably your university email - it looks more professional), LinkedIn or ORCID profile (both are preferred, in my opinion).

• Professional Title/Affiliation: Your current position (for instance, PhD Candidate, Department of Linguistics, University).

2. Research Interests

This should be a brief section outlining your research areas and interests, like a short summary.

3. Education

Degrees Earned: list your degrees in reverse chronological order, including:

• Degree type: PhD, MA, BA

• Institution you earned your degree from

• Department

• Graduation date (or expected completion date for your latest education)

• Dissertation or thesis title (if applicable - it can always change) and advisor(s).

4. Academic Position/General Employment

- Positions held, listed in reverse chronological order, such as:

- Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant, Lecturer.

- Include institution, department, and dates of employment.

5. Publications

Separate publications into categories like:

• Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

• Books/Book Chapters

• Conference Proceedings

• Other Publications (for instance, book reviews, blog posts related to research)

• Use a citation style relevant to your university guidelines (or personal preference, univesrities sometimes let you choose) and include only works that are published, forthcoming, or under review (these must be clearly labeled).

6. Teaching Experience

• Include positions such as teaching assistant, instructor, or lecturer.

• Specify course titles, departments, institutions, dates, and your role.

• From personal experience, if you have taught anywhere else, such as in any level of education (primary, secondary and so on), include it as it can always count positively.

7. Grants, Fellowships, and Awards

• List grants, fellowships, scholarships, and awards received.

• Include details like the name of the award, awarding institution, and the year received.

Note: A lot of people feel timid about including this part, as they think it looks arrogant, but as my late mentor used to tell me “You earned that award? No one gifted it to you. You should include it.”

8. Conferences and Presentations

• Include talks, posters, or panels at academic conferences, workshops, or symposia.

• Provide the presentation title, conference name, location, and date.

9. Professional Positions and Affiliations

• Here you should include editorial board memberships, peer review activities, organizing conferences, or holding positions in academic associations.

• Memberships in academic societies and organizations.

10. Skills

• Languages: Proficiency levels in various languages.

• Technical/Research Skills: Software, methodologies, laboratory skills, etc.

Formatting Tips

• Length: An academic CV can be several pages long, so don’t be afraid to list all your achievements.

• Sections and Headings: It is important to use clear headings (preferably in bold font) and organize sections chronologically and/or according to topic.

• Consistency: Keep formatting consistent (fonts, spacing, bullet points).

The Music Highlight

I have some David Bowie for today! Enjoy this amazing megastar : )