Pick a clean, academic template that highlights teaching, research, and grants. Use a reverse-chronological or hybrid layout so your publications and courses appear near the top for reviewers and applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Keep length tight. One page works for early-career hires. Two pages work if you have many peer-reviewed papers, large grants, or long teaching history.
Use ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia. Set body text to 10–12pt and headers to 14–16pt. Leave clear margins and consistent spacing so each section breathes.
List clear headings: Contact, Academic Appointment, Education, Research, Teaching, Grants & Funding, Publications, Awards, Service, Skills. Use simple headings so both humans and ATS find content fast.
Avoid heavy graphics, columns, or unusual fonts. Those break ATS parsing and make your CV hard to scan. Use bullet lists and short lines to call out achievements like course redesigns, student mentorship, and extension work.
Common mistakes include long dense paragraphs under publications, inconsistent date formats, and overuse of italics or color. Don’t cram every conference poster you ever gave. Focus on items that matter for the role you want.
Prioritize results. Show student outcomes, grant dollar amounts, and citations when they matter. Use active verbs and short statements so reviewers read your most important work first.