HW Works Career Resources

A curriculum vitae (CV) is a detailed record of your academic life and is typically used for the following purposes:

• Applying to graduate or professional school
• Applying for academic work (post-doctorate programs, teaching and research positions in higher education)
• Preparing for a masters defense exam, or doctoral candidate and defense exam
• Accompanying document with your academic conference presentation submission 
• Applying for fellowships, awards, grants and recognitions, etc.

Your CV will continue to evolve and expand throughout your academic career. For example,  your CV will look different when applying for a Masters degree compared to applying for a tenure track academic position. The purpose of a CV will determine what information will be included, the sequencing of information, and details about your role in an experience. 

The resume and CV have different purposes. A resume is a targeted document to apply for a job. Your CV is a record of your academic life and focuses on 3 areas of your academic experience: teaching, research, and service.

Although resumes are generally limited to 2 pages, a CV can be as long as needed to contain all relevant information:

• Content
• Wording
• Formatting
• Presentation
• Hybrid

This sample CV is designed to follow accepted conventions (content, formatting, wording and presentation) and norms within academic settings. The CV structure is applicable to many different disciplines. 

Resumes

A resume is one of the most common tools used in applying for work. It gives employers a sense of who you are and what you have to offer and is a major determining factor in securing an interview. A strong resume highlights your:

• Experiences: formal education, paid and unpaid work, professional development activities, work experience required to complete your degree, experiential learning activities, extra-curricular activities, projects, and so on.
• Attributes: skills, values, interests, beliefs, philosophies, and personality traits.

Experiences and attributes overlap and include things beyond the examples listed above. Your attributes are inextricably linked to your experiences. The most important thing to know is that your resume will make the most impact if it is targeted for each job you apply for. As you apply for each job, think about what you can include in your resume to showcase your candidacy.

Components of a Targeted Resume

• Content
• Formatting
• Wording
• Presentation

Cover Letters

A cover letter is an opportunity to explain how your experience, education, skills, and accomplishments uniquely connect to the position you are applying for. Your letter should communicate your personal narrative, why you will be a great fit for the position and the contributions you can make to the organization.

• The Fundamentals
• Beware
• Targeting

As you prepare for your interview, it is useful to keep the purpose of the interview in mind, from both the employer's perspective, and yours. Doing so will help you prepare and answer questions well.

The interview allows the employer to:

• Assess your competency for the position.
• Determine your fit for the position and the organization.
• Clarify the role and their expectations.

The interview allows you to:

• Communicate your related experience, attributes, and accomplishments.
• Learn more about the position and the organization.
• Assess if the position aligns with your goals, values, and needs.

Preparing for the Interview

• During the interview
• After the interview

Types of Interview Questions

• Autobiographical and Career Management
• Behavior Descriptive Interview (BDI) Questions
• Hypothetical Questions
• Technical Questions
• Occupation Specific Questions

• A portfolio is a collection of documents that illustrate your achievements, skills, personal traits and so on. It is generally used in an interview setting to demonstrate your abilities and prior experiences to an interviewer. It also provides you the opportunity to not only tell a potential employer why you are a strong candidate for a position, but also show why.
• Traditionally, artists, designers, writers and others in creative professions have used portfolios to showcase their work. More recently, many school boards ask applicants for teaching positions to bring a portfolio to the interview.
• A portfolio can be paper-based (presented physically as a binder or folder) or electronic (an "e-portfolio," presented on a laptop or tablet).
  • What is in a portfolio?
  • Building a master portfolio?
  • Creating a targeted portfolio?

Your online presence is made up of your personally-identifying content and information on the internet. This may include profiles and posts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, personal websites, Tumblr, blogs, and more.

Your online presence can positively or negatively impact your work search process. By intentionally managing your online presence, you can:

• showcase your achievements, skills and experiences to potential employers,
• develop your reputation and increase your access to new opportunities,
• gain connections with professionals in your field(s) of interest, and mitigate any potentially negative information outside your control (e.g. images, comments)

Google Yourself

What results would turn up if someone googled your name or email address? Google yourself and look at the results as if you were a potential employer.

Tips for managing your online reputation

• Differentiate between your personal and professional profiles/brands. In some fields and for some individuals, there is no separation between personal and professional profiles.
• Lockdown any information you wouldn't want a potential employer to view (e.g. Facebook updates).
• Make sure your professional profile is visible and accessible, according to your professional goals. If you want employers to be able to find you online, can they?
• Take time to intentionally manage your online presence on an ongoing basis.

Build Your Profile

In most fields, it is important to have a professional online presence.

Tips for increasing your online presence

• Create a polished LinkedIn profile.
• Use a professional photo and email address for career-related activities.
• Contribute to your field and demonstrate expertise by writing blog posts, tweeting at events, creating informative Youtube videos, and contributing thoughtfully in LinkedIn discussion groups.
• Build a personal website using tools like Google Sites, Behance, about.me, WordPress, Bloggr, Tumblr, and others.
• Update your online profile(s) on a regular basis so that your information remains current.

Networking is forming and cultivating meaningful relationships with people who can help you access new and current information, gain exposure to new experiences, and connect you to new people. Networking is one of the most effective ways to fulfill your career goals because people in your network can support you as you explore career options, search for work, and grow in your career. Your network can also provide important social and emotional support.

Your Network

Think about the kinds of support you can expect from your network. Your need for support may be intensified when you are searching for work or considering a career transition, but your network can be instrumental to your success at all stages of your career.

Creating and maintaining an inventory of relationships can be useful. To begin, think about who you call when you need:

• Advice: People who have successfully done something you are working towards; people who can provide advice and assistance.
• Support: People with good listening skills and concern for you who will provide you with moral or emotional support.
• Information: People who have current information about what is happening in a field, sector, organization, or community.
• Connections: People who might open a door for you by providing a reference or an introduction to someone you should meet.
• Instruction: People willing to help you gain additional knowledge or who can tutor you on skills you require.
• Sponsorship: People who are willing to champion your ideas, provide you with a reference, or provide the funding you require.

Remember, you are a part of people's networks too. You can add value to others' networks by connecting people, offering your skills and talents, and providing knowledge. Be sure to thank your contacts when they help you and keep them up to date on developments in your career. Networking relationships are reciprocal which means you should treat people respectfully, learn what others need, and be thoughtful about making your relationships worthwhile.

Networking as a Work Search Strategy

Networking is proven to be a highly effective work search strategy. In an Employment Survey of 2010 University of Alberta Graduates, three of the top five job search strategies that lead to an interview or offer of employment directly involved networking (i.e., talked to people I know well and let them know I was looking for work, contacted organizations or people I had previously worked or volunteered with, and talked to acquaintances and let them know I was looking for work).

The other two top methods involved applying to job postings found on employers' websites or other websites, but networking is likely involved in these cases as well. The internet makes it very easy for employers to post jobs and secure applications. Most organizations have a website or a social media presence. Many organizations have formal recruitment processes that you must follow in order to be considered for a vacancy. The question then becomes how to stand out among the other applicants. Networking allows you to make an impression on people who make the hiring decisions, or those who are closely connected to people making hiring decisions. When your application comes through the formal channels, networking means your name may be recognized. Employers often appreciate prior knowledge of applicants since it can reduce the workload of shortlisting applicants.

Networking can give you additional knowledge about organizational culture, challenges the organization is faced with, initiatives in the planning stages, and other information that will help you skillfully target your application. Networking can also give you tips about opportunities that may be coming. This is all information that can increase your competitive edge. Some employers may choose not to post available jobs, preferring instead to interview people who are recommended by current employees, or other professional contacts

• Identifying Your Current Contact
• Building Your Network