Transcript Vita / Resume Writing - Central Connecticut State University

Vita / Resume Writing
Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D.
Sponsored by
the Psychology Club and Psi Chi,
Central Connecticut State University
What is the difference between a
resume and a curriculum vitae?

A resume is:




summary of employment, education, and
skills.
used for applying for a new position.
career and educational summary.
should highlight your skills and experience.
The Curriculum Vitae


The C.V. is a list meant to document every
job and degree ever received.
The C.V. includes:


Education and years attended
Work Experience in chronological order
(although a professional C.V. is only going to
include relevant work experience).
The Curriculum Vitae

The C.V.



Uses paragraph style.
Lists the responsibilities and skills.
Uses a first person perspective “I” and “my”
(not done in a professional resume).
The Curriculum Vitae

Resume:


written in the third person.
includes personal information.
The Curriculum Vitae

Resume



begins with a brief summary of qualifications
then Areas of strengths or professional
experiences are listed
professional experience is written in
chronological order (most recent or present
job first and going back from there).
The Curriculum Vitae



The resume then includes responsibilities
and accomplishments for each position.
After the work experience, Professional
affiliations, computer skills, and education
sections should appear.
The best resumes should be one to two
pages (one is better).
The Curriculum Vitae

The C. V. is often much longer.

Resumes presents highlights.
The C.V.
Vita
Personal History:
Your Name
Birth Date
Address
Phone Number
Citizenship
Marital Status
The C.V.
Educational History


Post secondary education listed
For each school, list:

major, minor, degree (type and date), honors, titles
of research (with the name of the supervisor).
The C.V.

Professional Positions




ordered sequentially.
can be a little creative.
practicum experience, research assistantships;
teaching experiences.
list your title and the name and address of the
agency.
The C.V.



list the nature of the position, e.g. part-time,
full-time, and when it was held.
list your duties and your supervisor.
list all the jobs you did.
The C.V.
Membership in Professional Associations

list all of your professional associations
(Student or Professional affiliation).
The C.V.
Professional Activities
 list all the projects you’ve worked on
 committee memberships you’ve held
 departmental committees
 in-service training programs you
conducted
 important guest lectures that you
presented, etc.
The C.V.
Papers Presented
 list all the papers you presented at
professional meetings.
 alphabetical order.
 colloquia.
 papers or talks to nonprofessional
audiences (e.g. the PTA, radio talk shows).
The C.V.
Publications
 organize them by year and by type
(articles, chapters in books, books).
 list in APA format.
 include any papers currently under
submission.
The C.V.
Projects Underway
 manuscripts in preparation
 projects that you are working on
 experiments in progress
Statements of Professional Interests
 professional interests.
 start off with a general statement and then
conclude with a specific listing.
The C.V.
Professional References
 3 to 5 professional references who speak
very highly of you.
 Ask the person b/f you include his/her
name as a professional courtesy.
The C.V.


list the number each reference, give their
name, title, and address.
“References Available on Request”.
Letters of Recommendation

In general, the best letters of
recommendation come from people who:


Have worked with you closely
Have known you long enough to write more
than what grade you received in class
Letters of Recommendation






Have relevant expertise.
Are senior and well know.
Have a positive opinion of you and your
abilities.
Have a warm and supportive personal style.
You need to have a personal relationship with
them.
Should you ask them if they are going to write
a strong letter for you? Absolutely!
Letters of Recommendation

Give your writers a well-organized packet of
materials.





Include : copy of your academic transcript.
A copy of your academic vita or resume.
A pre-addressed envelope for each letter.
Any forms that are supposed to be submitted with the
letter. Type in the recommender’s name, the person’s
title, and the contact information.
A cover note briefly listing all important information:
e.g. your contact information, the deadline for each
letter, information you want emphasized in each letter,
any other relevant information.
References
Careerbuilder.com (n.d.). Resumes and C.v.s – What’s the difference? Retrieved October 21, 2004, from http://www.
careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/CareerBytes/hints0600.htm
Plous, S. (2003). Advice on letters of recommendation. Retrieved on October 21, 2004, from http://www.social
psychology.org/rectips.htm.
Hayes, S. C. & Hayes, L. J. (n.d.). Writing your vita. Retrieved on October 21, 2004, from http://psych.hanover.
edu/handbook/vita2.html.