Maintaining and Keeping Your CV Updated
Start early and stay prepared
Creating a strong curriculum vitae (CV) starts well before you sit down to write it. Your CV should reflect your academic journey: it showcases your accomplishments, current work, and future ambitions. Preparing early gives you a chance to identify any gaps—such as teaching experience or grant achievements—and work toward filling them (Hall, 2020). This proactive approach will make your CV a roadmap that not only documents your past but also drives your future goals.
The essentials of a good CV
A curriculum vitae, meaning “course of one’s life (Merriam-Webster, 2021), is a concise overview of your career, qualifications, and education. It tells a story about where you are in your career and how you got there. Clearly convey information such as advisor names, timelines, thesis topics, and your motivations. Address any career gaps honestly to prevent misunderstandings.
Structure and length: customize for purpose
Your CV will vary depending on your career stage and the application purpose. Keeping a comprehensive version of your CV up to date serves as a master copy that can be customized as needed. You can also create shorter versions that focus on key highlights, which can be particularly useful when applying for specific opportunities . Regardless of career stage, aim to fill at least one page effectively, focusing on what makes you stand out. The order of sections should be adjusted to emphasize what is most relevant for your audience—such as listing teaching experience early if it is a strength (Princeton University Center for Career Development).
Crafting your CV: important tips
Use a clear, professional font like Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman in size 11 or 12. Avoid complicated fonts, and don’t overcrowd your CV with too much information on a single line (Gottlieb et al, 2021). Limit the number of manuscripts listed as “in preparation” to those genuinely close to submission. If you have a preprint ready or can discuss the work confidently in interviews, mention it to showcase progress.
Keep your CV concise—two to three pages are ideal for faculty positions. Committees will appreciate brevity, as they often review many applications. Focus on the most relevant aspects of your career, such as peer-reviewed articles, journal review duties, courses taught, and research-related awards. Avoid unnecessary details like hobbies or early experiences that do not add value to your application. For a modern CV, include an ORCID identifier and a link to your publications. These details help to distinguish you and present a professional image. Include your name in the document header or footer, and number each page to make navigation easier for the reader (Snapp, 2023).
Key components of a CV
Your CV should start with your name and contact information, ideally using a professional email address. For those early in their career, it can be effective to merge your education and employment history into a single “Professional Training” section that starts with your current role. Provide an overview of awards and honors, and include either a representative list of publications or link to a comprehensive list via ORCID or Google Scholar.
Presentations should be separated by type—oral or poster—and context, such as domestic or international. Highlight invited talks, which carry additional weight. Grant funding is an important indicator of capability; list any grants you’ve received, emphasizing their significance. Tailor descriptions of your teaching experience to align with the role you’re applying for—be sure to include mentoring roles if relevant.
Service and leadership activities are also key; mention any editorial duties, involvement in student organizations, or volunteer experiences. Make sure to list specific technical skills, language proficiencies, and relevant research methods, ensuring these are clearly connected to your academic background. Avoid generic skills like “Microsoft Office” unless they have direct relevance. Finally, include references with permission from those individuals, and ensure their contact information is up to date (Horowitz, DP et al., 2021).
Tips to strengthen your CV
Address any career gaps directly to avoid ambiguity (Derous and Ryan, 2019). Keep your audience in mind—academia often requires more in-depth information on publications, while industry positions may focus more on skills and tangible project outcomes. Regularly update your CV and maintain multiple versions suited to different purposes, whether you’re applying for a faculty role, a fellowship, or another opportunity.
Final considerations
Maintaining a CV is not a one-time activity—it is an ongoing process. Update it frequently and always keep it tailored to current opportunities. By regularly revising your CV, you make future applications easier while also gaining insights into your own career growth and the areas needing improvement (Kelsky K, 2016).
References
Derous, E, Ryan, AM. (2018). When your resume is (not) turning you down: Modelling ethnic bias in resume screening. Hum Resour Manag J. 2019; 29: 113–130. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12217.
Gottlieb, M., Promes, S. B., & Coates, W. C. (2021). A guide to creating a high-quality curriculum vitae. AEM education and training, 5(4), e10717. https://doi.org/10.1002/aet2.10717
Hall, HK. (2020). How to Prepare the Best Possible Curriculum Vitae. In: Roberts, L. (eds) Roberts Academic Medicine Handbook. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31957-1_4
Horowitz, D.P., Wu, CC., Kachnic, L.A. (2021). Preparing Your CV and Cover Letter. In: Chandra, R.A., Vapiwala, N., Thomas Jr., C.R. (eds) Career Development in Academic Radiation Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71855-8_5
Kelsky, K (2016). Dr. Karen’s Rules of the Academic CV. https://theprofessorisin.com/2016/08/19/dr-karens-rules-of-the-academic-cv/.
Merriam-Webster. Resume. Accessed November 5, 2021. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curriculum%20vitae
Princeton University Center for Career Development. CV vs. Resume Guide. Accessed November 5, 2021. https://careerdevelopment.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf1041/files/media/cv_vs._resume_guide_1.pdf
Snapp, E. (2023). Strategies for Obtaining a Faculty Position in the Biomedical Sciences: Views from Both Sides of the Job Search Process. https://info.addgene.org/hubfs/Getting%20a%20Faculty%20Position%203.4.pdf
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About the Authors
Yueh Cho is a senior postdoc fellow at the Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, and a 2024 Plantae Fellow. He is majoring in plant biology with expertise in protein homeostasis. He used Arabidopsis thaliana to mechanistically study ribosome behavior during translation and protein quality control inside the endoplasmic reticulum in response to the surrounding environment. You can find him on X: @YuehCho1984
