GSBS Writing Studio CV and Resume Writing

LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com)
Before diving in on the CV vs Resume topic - Do you wonder how to best utilize LinkedIn for your job searches?
If so, check out these helpful pages to get you started and/or improve your profile online:
- Johns Hopkins' LinkedIn Guide: Harnessing the Power of LinkedIn for PhDs
- Roostervane:  LinkedIn for PhDs
- Beyond the Professoriate:  5 Reasons why PhDs Need LinkedIn
- NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education Blog:  Biggest Mistake on PhDs LinkedIn Profile

What is a CV?

Curriculum Vitae (CV) in Latin means "course of life" and is meant to give the reader an in-depth understanding of your education, publications, research experience, awards, honors, achievements, and skills. You will need a detailed CV document if you are applying for jobs in academia or research institutions. There is no page limit, and the length varies depending on your years of experience.

How do I start my CV?

If you aren't sure how to start your CV or need help in understanding if your current version has all the necessary components, check out our "CV Guidance for Trainees" and/or the UTMB CV template below. Note you are not required to use the UTMB template unless you are applying for something specific requiring this (such as a scholarship):
NOTE: Please remember to save the downloaded template to your own computer or cloud before you begin making changes! Otherwise, this will result in you changing and saving to the master template file below.

GSBS Writing Studio CV Guidance for Students and Postdocs: CV Guidance for Trainees
GSBS Writing Studio CV Template for Students and Postdocs: GSBS Writing Studio CV Template
UTMB CV Template: UTMB's Template for CVs

What is the difference between a CV and a resume?

While a CV is a detailed account of all you have done in your life to date, a resume is a very concise summary of only the relevant education and experience related to the job you are applying for. The length of a resume is typically much shorter than a CV (1-2 pages). Most industry jobs for MS and PhD level scientists want to see a resume rather than a CV, and it is key you showcase your most pertinent transferable skills related to the position you are pursuing. You can and should have several versions of your resume on hand for various positions. If you are not sure how to start your resume, check out the below templates for some guidance (note the PREP student resume template is meant for those potentially applying to a MS or PhD graduate program):
NOTE: Please remember to save the downloaded template to your own computer or cloud before you begin making changes! Otherwise, this will result in you changing and saving to the master template file below.

GSBS Writing Studio Resume Template for Current MS/PhD Students and Postdocs: GSBS Writing Studio Resume Template
GSBS Writing Studio Resume Template for PREP Students Applying to Graduate Programs: PREP Student Resume Template

How do I know what to include in either a CV or resume?

Here is a helpful table to guide you on your audience and the elements found in a CV versus a resume:

	Curriculum Vitae (CV)	Resume
Which one do I use?	Use a CV if you are looking for a job in *academia or research*.	Use a resume if you are looking for a job in *private industry, business, nonprofits, and/or government*.
Who will most likely see this?	PIs looking for someone to join their lab, department chairs, and other academics.	HR, hiring managers, and/or recruiters.
What am I trying to convey to the reader?	Your CV presents an entire set of historical information related to your education, credentials, research experience and skill sets, teaching, honors and awards, grant funding, publications, community service, and other information.	Your resume is a clear and concise summary showcasing your education, transferable skills, applicable experience, and background to establish you are the right candidate for the job you are applying for.
Length	Varies depending on experience. No page limit.	Usually one page, no more than two pages max.
Do I include publications?	YES! Be sure to list out all publications, presentation abstracts from meetings, and any manuscripts currently under review or in preparation. List out ALL authors (do not use "et al"), title of article, journal name (use the abbreviation in italics), year, volume, page numbers, and PMCID if available.	Typically, no. If it seems specifically relevant to the job in some way, you might consider making one small statement such as "Lead author on two manuscripts in Cell and Nature and co-author on four other papers".
Do I include honors and awards?	Yes. Be thorough and specific about this.	Not usually. If space allows, you might again make a condensed statement such as the one for publications.
Do I include grant funding received?	Yes. List out all specifics including agency name, grant identifier/number, title, PI's name, your role, dates, and total budget amount. *Note: if you are or were a T32/T35/R25 trainee, this would be listed under your honors and awards and not grant funding.*	No. If you were a T32 scholar/trainee, this might be something you can briefly mention under honors and awards but as stated above, only if space allows.
Should I include professional affiliations / memberships in national organizations?	Yes, list them all out.	No, not unless you hold a leadership position in one or more and that role has provided you transferable skills relevant to the job you are applying for.
Do I include references?	Optional	No