Choose a clean, professional template for a Dean role. Use a reverse-chronological layout so your leadership roles and academic achievements appear first. That layout reads well and works with most applicant tracking systems.
Keep length tight. For early or mid-career Deans keep one page. For Deans with long track records, stretch to two pages only when every item adds clear value.
Pick ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Use 10-12pt for body text and 14-16pt for headers. Keep margins around 0.5–1 inch and add space between sections so reviewers can scan fast.
Use standard headings: Contact, Summary, Experience, Leadership & Administration, Academic Contributions, Education, Selected Publications, and Skills. Put dates and institutions in a consistent spot. Use short bullet points that start with strong verbs and include one metric when you can.
Avoid heavy graphics, multiple columns, or decorative fonts. Those elements can break parsing and distract readers. Use simple bolding and italics only for emphasis.
Watch common mistakes. Don’t cram too much text into tiny fonts. Don’t use unexplained acronyms. Don’t list every committee you ever joined; highlight strategic work and outcomes instead.
Finally, tailor the top third of the resume to the job. Lead with a short summary that highlights campus leadership, budget oversight, fundraising, and academic vision. That helps hiring committees decide to keep reading.