This candidate will earn his Ph.D. in political science in the spring of 2010. He plans to apply for nine faculty positions at doctoral institutions and others, as well as for postdocs. On the nonacademic side, he expects to apply to some consulting firms and nongovernmental organizations focused on human rights.
Most of our comments about his CV are on format and presentation of information. He’s from a very well-regarded program and appears to be a strong candidate.
This résumé needs a fair amount of work.
David Jones (1)
Street address, City, State, Zip code Phone(Landline) 999-888-7654
Email Address: djones@ustatex.edu
EDUCATION (2)
Ph.D. Political Science University of State X Spring 2010 Ranking as of July 2009 Top 5 of a student body of 250-plus M.A. Foreign Affairs University of State A Spring 1999 M.A. French Z University Spring 1996 B.A. French University of State Y Fall 1992
| SELECT AWARDS AND HONORS |
| | International Studies Association Travel Grant Spring 2009 Dissertation Year Fellowship (University of State X) |
| 2007-8 |
(7)
PUBLICATIONS (3)
| | Dialogue Article “Interview With Jane Smith by David Jones.” |
[4] Contemporary Political Theory | forthcoming |
| Feature Article “Brian Barry and the Headscarf Case in France.” |
[3] Contemporary Political Theory 5(2):176-192. | 2006 |
| “The ‘Relative Universality’ of Human Rights: An Assessment.” | 2005 |
[2] Perspectives on Global Development and Technology 4(3-4):577-601. |
| “Kant and Nietzsche on Human Rights: A Theoretical Approach.” | 2000 |
[1] Scandinavian Journal of Development Alternatives and Area Studies 19(2-3):191-207. |
QUALIFICATIONS (4)
Read, write, and speak in clear English prose. Able to present complex information in a logical and straightforward manner before a general audience. Expertise on human rights, cultural diversity, foreign affairs, and French.
ACTIVITIES (5)
Served on student government committees and universitywide committees. Led student-reading groups, and organized petition drives.
SKILLS (6)
French (near-native level), Chinese (fluent), Proficiency in independent research.
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
1. The contact information on your résumé uses several different fonts. Select one and use it throughout, probably Arial 12 since that’s what you have used for the rest of the résumé. Also, the wording “Phone (Landline)” is awkward. We understand that you are communicating that there will be a good connection but you can do that by substituting the word “home.” Return to résumé.
2. Your Education section is ugly and choppy. Although we’re sure you didn’t mean to do it, the lines from various degree programs merged into one another. Please reorganize the entries here so that degree and date are on the top line followed by institution, location, and any notes on the next line.
Ph.D. Political Science, Spring 2010
University of State X
And, as we mentioned in our comments about your CV, please omit “Ranking as of July 2009: Top 5 of a student body of 250-plus.” It’s unnecessary, and your references will discuss how you measure up to your peers. Return to résumé.
3. If you want to list your publications on your résumé, that’s fine, but remove the bracketed numbers. It might be better to re-title this section Academic Accomplishments and have statements such as: “Published four articles in refereed journals. Presented research to experts on human rights from around the world at six conferences.” Return to résumé.
4. Consider moving the Qualifications section to the top of the résumé and renaming it Profile. Also, there are several problems with your opening sentence, “Read, write and speak in clear English prose.” First, people reading your résumé are going to assume you can read English. Second, find a better phrase than “prose.” It may make nonacademic employers think of literature and not of what you mean, which is that you write clearly. Finally, in this section, the phrase “Expertise on human rights, cultural diversity, foreign affairs, and French,” should end with “foreign affairs.” Then add a separate phrase, “Fluent in French.” Return to résumé.
5. Change the title of the Activities section to Leadership. Consulting firms are very interested in people with leadership experience. Return to résumé.
6. You must have more skills than the three you list here. You have almost completed a Ph.D., which means, at a minimum, that you have skills in research and analysis, making presentations, organizing and managing information, and more. List them here. Return to résumé.
7. You need an Experience section at this point, in which, among other things, you include what you did on the International Studies Association Travel Grant and what you’re doing or have been doing at your current institution. If you’ve had other jobs or done nonpaying work that you didn’t include here, please consider adding that information. With each job use bullet points to describe what you did.
What you currently have here can easily fit on one page. However, you may not be saying enough about yourself. Return to résumé.