Pick a clean, professional template that highlights research, teaching, and clinical experience. Use a reverse-chronological layout so hiring committees see your recent roles first. This layout reads well and works with most ATS systems.
Keep length focused. One page suits early-career faculty. You can expand to two pages if you have many peer-reviewed publications, grants, or leadership roles.
Choose ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Use 10–12pt for body text and 14–16pt for section headers. Keep line spacing at 1.0–1.15 and add space between sections for clarity.
Structure your document with clear headings: Contact, Academic Appointments, Education, Research, Teaching, Clinical Work, Grants, Publications, and Skills. Use bullet lists for duties and achievements. Start bullets with action verbs and quantify outcomes where possible.
Avoid complex columns, images, and embedded tables. They often break parsing and distract reviewers. Skip unusual fonts and heavy color. Use bold or italics sparingly to guide the eye.
Watch common mistakes. Don’t cram too much text or reduce margins to fit content. Don’t mix multiple resume styles. Don’t list irrelevant roles without linking them to teaching or research. Proofread for inconsistent dates and spacing.
Finally, tailor each version to the role. Highlight mentorship and curriculum design for teaching-focused positions. Emphasize grant history and trials for research-heavy roles.