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CV/Resume &
Cover Letter Writing
Brian Rybarczyk, Ph.D.
[email protected]
Director, Academic & Professional
Development
The Graduate School
UNC Chapel Hill
Goals
• Learn effective structures of CVs and
cover letters
• How to align content of CV and cover
letter with job ad
• Tailor your own CV and cover letter
Job
Position
Cover
Letter
CV
Other Application Materials
References/letters
Research/teaching statement
Writing samples
How long do prospective
employers look at your CV/resume
and cover letter?
A) 30 seconds
B) 2-3 minutes
C) 20 minutes
D) throughout the hiring process
What Are “They” REALLY
Looking For?
• Fit – background (research and training
discipline area) and qualifications aligned with
posted position
• Experience – aligned with posted position
• Productivity
• Other
– Other qualifications specified in job ad
– Pedigree – Educational institutions, advisors,
labs
– Time to degree
Academic
• Area of
research/scholarship
• Productivity: pubs &
presentations
• Teaching
• Grant writing
• Fit with potential
colleagues
Strategy Development Process to
Achieve Competitive Advantage
Resources
Capabilities
Distinctive
Competencies
–
Differentiation
Advantage
Or
Cost
Advantage
Strategy
Value
Creation
What do you have to offer that they want?
What’s your Differentiation Advantage?
http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/competitive-advantage/
EXPERIENCE
Either
you have
it
OR
You can
translate the
experience
you have to
the job
you’re
applying to
What if…
• I don’t have a lot of publications?
– Explain type of research/project
– Describe progress of the project
• I don’t have the right skills to match job?
– Think about projects differently
– May not be the right job for you
• I have experience in other areas
– Highlight transferable skills
– Management skills, project development,
teaching, organization
Job
Position
Cover
Letter
CV
Other Application Materials
References/letters
Research/teaching statement
Writing samples
Cover Letter Advice
Action
• Address properly
• Match materials to
correct position
• Address all aspects of
the job description
• Stretch your fit for the
position
• Missing/Generic letter
Message
• Know your audience
• Detailed and organized
• Can do all that is
required
• Non selective, may not
be able to fulfill
responsibilities
• Not serious about THIS
position
Education
Ph.D. English & Comparative Literature – UNC Chapel Hill
(December 2011)
B.S. English with a minor in art – Cornell University (May
2006)
Education
Ph.D. English & Comparative Literature – A.B.D., expected 2013
Large Research University, City, State
Dissertation title:
Advisor:
B.A. English Literature, minor Art History – Cornell University 2006
Teaching Experience
TA for English 101 course – Spring 2008
Instructor, ENG322 – Fall 2009
Instructor, ENG250 – Spring 2010
Teaching Experience
Large Public University, City, State, Graduate Instructor,
2006- present
ENGL 102 – Grammar and Structure
ENGL 101 – Essentials of Language
Teaching Experience
Instructor, Large Public University, City, State
Grammar and Structure (undergraduates, Spring 2007)
Essentials of Language (undergraduates, Fall 2006)
Teaching Assistant, Small School, City, State
Introductory Writing (undergraduates, Fall 2005)
PUBLICATIONS
Your name, author 2, author 3. Year. Title.
Journal, Issue.
GRANTS
Title of grant, funding agency, duration, amount (role: PI)
Exploration of North Carolina’s Water Quality,
Environmental Protection Agency, 2010-2013, $10,000
(role: Director, PI: Dr. Smith)
General Guidance
• Know your audience – need to tailor documents for
position and place
• Describe experiences to illustrate marketable skills
• Highlight results and accomplishments – not just tasks
• Quantify and qualify
• Break up long sentences
• Be consistent – dates, formatting, etc
• Absolutely no mistakes allowed – Proofread!
• Importance is shown by order (top to bottom, left to right)
reverse chronological order
• Use text formatting to make information easy to find
(i.e. bold, underlines, bullets), and headings but do not
overdo it
DON’TS
• Forget to seek assistance
• Worry about length – no set rules for CVs
– 3-5 for early career, 15-20 for senior scholars
• Include unnecessary information - i.e. interests,
hobbies, martial status, age, race, and religious
affiliations, astrological sign, kids names, etc.
• Be humorous or cute
• Be careful of CV advice from UK websites
• Pad
CV Padding
• Presenting a paper multiple times
• Lots of “manuscript in preparation” or
“forthcoming”
• Too much description of research
• Including lots of “invited lectures” which are
really local, dept seminars
• Including non-authored publications
• Long lists of courses taken
• Class presentations
Social Media
• Ensure consistency
• Dangers of what is public – think about transition from
grad student/trainee to professional
– Blogs, Facebook
• LinkedIn – (more resume like than CV)
– Summary important – who, what, why unique
http://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelesterline
show that you’re connected, you know field
Resources
The Chronicle’s CV Doctor
http://chronicle.com/article/The-CV-Doctor-Is-Back-/49086/
Resources
• Versatile PhD – Premium Content – Hiring
Success Stories – samples
• University Career Services
– http://careers.unc.edu
• LinkedIn advice
http://tarheelsintransit.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/writing-an-effectivelinkedin-summary/
• http://www.chrisbrogan.com/write-your-linkedin-profile-for-your-future/
• Faculty and other students/postdocs in your depts
• Resumes
– http://careerdevelopment.brown.edu/phd/resumes_cov
er_letters