Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan resumes for keywords and structured data. They match your profile to Cartography Professor roles by finding skills, titles, and education. If your file uses odd formatting, the ATS might skip key details or reject your resume.

Use clear, standard section titles like "Work Experience", "Education", and "Skills". List your degree (PhD in Cartography or Geography) and academic rank. Include publications, grants, and courses taught.

• Include keywords: GIS, ArcGIS, QGIS, spatial analysis, cartographic design, map projection, geodesy, remote sensing, GPS surveying.
• Mention pedagogy and curriculum development keywords: course design, student assessment, undergraduate and graduate teaching.
• Add research terms: GIScience, peer-reviewed publications, grant writing, fieldwork, lab supervision.

Avoid complex formatting like tables, columns, images, text boxes, headers, or footers. Use readable fonts like Arial or Calibri. Save as a simple PDF or .docx and avoid heavy design.

Keep keywords natural. Don’t stuff keywords in a list without context. Describe accomplishments with numbers when possible, like students taught or grants awarded.

Common mistakes include swapping exact job keywords for creative synonyms. For example, don’t use "map maker" instead of "cartographer" if the posting uses the latter. Another mistake is hiding certifications or methods in images or sidebars. You should list software and methods plainly so the ATS reads them.

Pick a clean template that highlights research, teaching, and mapping samples. Use reverse-chronological layout so your latest projects and publications appear first. That layout reads well and helps applicant tracking systems parse dates and titles.

Keep length tight. One page works for early-career faculty. Two pages work if you list long publication, grant, and mapping portfolios.

Use simple, ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia. Set body text to 10–12pt and headers to 14–16pt. Keep consistent margins and line spacing so reviewers can scan quickly.

Give your sections space. Use clear headings: Contact, Academic Appointments, Education, Publications, Grants, Courses Taught, Technical Skills, Mapping Portfolio. White space helps reviewers find key info fast.

Avoid flashy graphics and complex columns that break parsing. Use bullet lists for duties and achievements. Use action verbs and short, quantifiable statements for each role.

Watch common mistakes. Don’t use rare fonts, dense blocks of text, or odd section names. Don’t hide dates or use images of text. Don’t cram too many tiny margins to fit extra content.

Tailoring your cover letter matters for a Cartography Professor role. You show how your teaching, research, and mapmaking fit the program. You also show real interest in the department and its students.

Header: Include your contact details and the department's contact if you have it. Add the date and the department name.

Opening paragraph: Start strong. Name the exact position you want and the school you target. Say where you saw the opening and mention your top qualification in one short sentence.

Body paragraphs: Keep them focused. Match your experience to the job needs. Use short, concrete examples. For instance, note a course you designed, a grant you won, or a lab you run.

• Teaching: List courses you teach and any teaching awards. Mention use of GIS software or field mapping in class.
• Research: Summarize a key project, relevant methods, and a measurable outcome like citations or grant amounts.
• Service and outreach: Note curriculum work, community mapping projects, or student mentoring.

Use specific technical skills where they matter. Name one tool per sentence, like GIS, remote sensing, or cartographic design. Show soft skills such as mentoring, communication, and curriculum design.

Closing paragraph: Reiterate your interest in the Cartography Professor role at the named school. State confidence that you can help students and the program. Ask for an interview or conversation and thank the reader.

Tone and tailoring: Keep the tone professional and friendly. Write like you talk to a colleague. Use the job ad's keywords, avoid generic templates, and tweak one detail for each application. That shows you care.

When you apply for a Cartography Professor role, every detail on your resume matters. You need to show teaching ability, technical mapping skills, and scholarly impact in a clear way.

Small errors can hide your strengths. Fixing them helps reviewers see your fit for the job quickly.

If you teach cartography or want a faculty role in map science, this set of FAQs and tips will help you tighten your resume. You'll get clear advice on skills, format, projects, gaps, and certifications that hiring committees care about.