What to know about polishing your application materials for a faculty-job search
There is no such thing as a perfect CV or cover letter. Variability in how candidates choose to present their accomplishments is typical. That said, it’s important to make sure that your application documents show your accomplishments in the best possible light and that you follow any guidelines listed in the job ad. Here are a few factors to consider:
- Your CV is the record of your scholarly accomplishments, and you want it to tell a compelling story. Create something that is easy to change — without a lot of extra tables or distracting bells and whistles. Make it easy to read — with plenty of white space, typical margins (1 inch), and a font that is standard in both style and size (avoid Gothic, Script, or the infamous Comic Sans). Play around with a few different formats and solicit feedback from trusted sources on which ones are preferred in your field.
- Think of a cover letter as a complementary document to a CV: Whereas your CV shows what you have done, your cover letter is about what you will do. In writing your letters, you are projecting yourself into the role of a faculty member and demonstrating your promise as a scholar. Use the cover letter to flesh out your story. Contextualize your professional and scholarly experiences. For example, don’t just describe your dissertation; show how it fits into a research agenda that is in conversation with your field.
Continue reading: "The Job Search: CVs, Cover Letters, and Other Application Documents,” by Jennifer S. Furlong and Stacy M. Hartman
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