Academic CV Writing

A well-written academic CV (Curriculum Vitae) is essential when applying to university or for academic positions. It summarizes everything you have done, seen, and could do in the future. It gives a complete picture of your educational journey. This part will review the most critical parts of your academic CV and give you some great tips on making it stand out to possible advisors and admissions committees.

Length and Presentation: Most academic CVs are short and to the point, with up to two or three pages. Instead of using personal photos, focus on content that shows off your academic skills and study interests. Do not use fancy styles. While academic CVs don't have to follow a strict template, online templates can help you structure your paper professionally. The most important parts of your work should be listed on the first page of your CV. This will make sure that important information stands out. When you write, you should also use LaTeX. (Plus, you can find good templates there)

Education: In the "Education" part, list your Bachelor's degree and, if it fits with your planned Ph.D. topic, the title of your thesis. Include the CGPA of your last four terms, if they are better than your overall CGPA. Include information about your B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees if you want an M.Sc.

Research Interest: Make it clear what kinds of study you're interested in and make sure they fit with the area of expertise of your potential supervisor. This part is essential because it shows your potential advisor how excited you are about their study and how well you fit in.

Publications or Research Experience: Journals and Conferences should be split up in this part if you have publications. Include short information about the books, like the title, the authors, and the date they came out. If you don't have any published works, rename this section "Research Experience" and use bullet points to describe the study you've done briefly. If you worked with any study labs while in school, you should ensure that your academic CV shows that you did so. Putting the names of the labs you've worked with can give your study experience more weight and show how well you can do things in the real world.

Work Experience: List any related jobs you've had, including their titles, start and end dates, and a short description of what you were responsible for. Positions that are related to your study should get more attention.

Test Scores: List your GRE, IELTS, and TOEFL scores, breaking them down by part. Be honest and thorough about your test scores.

Technical Skills: List all your technical skills, such as the apps or tools you know how to use. These skills show that you are flexible and ready to take on new research tasks.

Relevant Coursework: Include coursework related to the study you want to do. This shows how well you did in university and your knowledge of your chosen area.

Achievements: Focus on accomplishments related to university or study, like winning scholarships or prizes in academic contests or Olympiads. Do not include extracurricular activities that are not connected.

Academic Projects: List any important educational projects you did as a student. Please make a video, ResearchGate, or GitHub repository for these tasks and include links that people can easily find.

Extracurricular Activities: List your extracurricular activities if the university site asks you to and there is room for them.

References: If the professor's website or the university page asks for them, you can include them. But put the most important parts at the top of the list and only add links if needed.

Avoid Buzzwords: It's best not to use buzzwords that are too general or overdone, as they can be seen as generic and overused: "Hard-working" along with "dedicated," "Team player," "Excellent communication skills," "Detail-oriented," "Self-motivated," "Results-driven," "Dynamic" along with "energetic," "Innovative," "Flexible" along with "adaptable," "Proactive" along with "go-getter," It is often more effective to use specific examples and accomplishments to show off your skills and traits instead of using buzzwords. Use the "Show, do not tell" method.

Few Sample CV Templates:

• https://cdn.uconnectlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/123/2021/08/sampe-resumes-capd.pdf

• https://grad.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/pdfs/cvsamples.pdf

• https://www.overleaf.com/articles/shashwatas-cv/zhsnbynbcppr

• https://www.overleaf.com/latex/templates/software-engineer-resume/gqxmqsvsbdjf

Your academic CV is essential to show possible advisors and admissions committees that you are a good candidate. Remember that everyone has something unique to give, so feel free to talk about your goals and strengths. Accept the evaluation process and always ask for comments from seniors or peers. If you have a well-written academic CV, you can confidently start your academic journey and open the door to many exciting possibilities.

[You can find my Academic CV here for reference].

[All the underlined phrases are external links.]