The C.V. Doctor: C.V. For the Humanities

By Mary Morris Heiberger and Julie Miller Vick

This is a very nice, straightforward vita of a candidate who went straight from undergraduate work to graduate school. Our suggestions are relatively minor. If you apply for positions where research is a major requirement, you might also add a short list of research interests.

-- Mary Heiberger and Julia Miller Vick

Career Talk: The C.V. Doctor

Examples:

C.V. for the social sciences
C.V. for education, or other professional school
C.V. for the humanities
C.V. for the fine or creative arts
C.V. for the sciences

JOB CANDIDATE STREET TOWN, STATE ZIP CODE (999) 999-9999 EMAIL: EDUCATIONUniversity of Mississippi, University, Mississippi
	1999²	Ph.D. in English Dissertation: "Living in a World Worth Loving: Domesticity in the Poetry of Robert Hass." Examines Hass's poetry, and some 20th-century American poetry, by analyzing representations of life at home.³ Comprehensive exams in 20th-century American literature, English Romantics and Robert Hass. All exams passed with distinction.
	1994	M.A. in English Thesis, with distinction: "Robert Hass' Kitsch Sensibility"
Louisiana Scholars' College at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Natchitoches, Louisiana
	1990	B.A. in Humanities and Social Thought Thesis, with distinction: "'Certain as the Morning': Morning Imagery in Thomas Wolfe's Look Homeward! Angel"
EXPERIENCE
	1999-2000	Instructor of English, Mississippi University for Women
	1999	Instructor of English as a Second Language, Mississippi State University
	1992-1999	⁴Graduate Instructor, University of Mississippi. Courses taught include: Composition 101/102, Introduction to Literature, Masterworks of British Literature, Masterworks of American Literature, and Masterworks of World Literature.
	1994-Present	Editorial Staff, The Oxford American. Duties include⁵ coordinating editorial and subscription activities, editing, and soliciting manuscripts.
	1995-96	Asst.⁶ to the Director of Freshman English, University of Mississippi. Position required acting as a⁷ liaison between graduate instructors and the Freshman English Program, assigning courses for 50 graduate instructors, and planning workshops and meetings.
	1993-94	Instructor of Composition, The ADVANCE Program, NSU.⁶ Team-taught three dozen 12-to-16-year-old students in a college-level summer program each summer.
AWARDS AND ACTIVITIES⁸
	1998	Graduate School Dissertation Fellowship, University of Mississippi
	1998	Department of English Dissertation Fellowship, University of Mississippi
	1996-97	Outstanding Teacher of Sophomore Literature, University of Mississippi
	1996-97	Outstanding Seminar Paper Award, University of Mississippi
	1994-98	Honors Fellow of the University of Mississippi
	1994-95, 96-98	Composition Program Team Leader
	1994	Graduate Award in English Literature
CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS⁹
	1998	"Grant Writing Workshop," Mississippi Endowment for the Humanities, University of Mississippi, 2 April.
	1992-98	"Fall Workshop for Instructors," University of Mississippi
	1995	"Doing and Being: The Importance of Work in Kate Chopin's At Fault," presented at The International Kate Chopin Conference, 6-8 April, Natchitoches, Louisiana
	1993	"Robert Hass and Kitsch," presented at the Popular Culture Association in the South Conference, 14-16 October, Nashville, Tennessee
	1993	"Foundations, Corporations and Higher Education: A Seminar and Panel Discussion," 5 February 1993, University of Mississippi
PUBLICATIONS
	"The Connells." The Oxford American Feb. 1995: 94-95.
	"The Crime Scene." The Oxford American Oct./Nov. 1995: 6-7.
	"Doing me, or, Rereading on a Desert Island." Second Thoughts. Ed. David Galef. Detroit: Wayne State UP, 1998.
	"Kermit." The Oxford American Dec./Jan. 1995-96: 13.
	"Look Homeward, Thomas." The Oxford American Oct./Nov. 1995: 17-20.
	"A Necessary Place." The Oxford American Aug./Sep. 1995: 8-9.
	"No Ordinary Joe." The Oxford American May/June 1995: 84-7.
REVIEWS AND ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRIES
	"Absalom, Absalom!" The Encyclopedia of the Novel. Ed. Paul Schellinger. Chicago: Fitzroy-Dearborn, 1998.
	"Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times, 1961-1973, by Richard Dallek." The Oxford American 23 (1998 )72.
	"God and the American Writer, by Alfred Kazin." The Oxford American 19 (1997) 62-3.
	"Kate Chopin Unveiled, by Emily Toth." Brightleaf: A Review of Southern Books, Summer 1999.
	"Making Whiteness: The Culture of Segregation in the South, 1890-1940, by Grace Elizabeth Hale." The Oxford American 26 (1999) 84.
	"Missing Women and Others, by June Spence." The Oxford American 24 (1998) 83.
	"Plain and Simple, by James Wilcox." The Oxford American 25 (1999) 78.
	"God of the Rodeo: The Search for Faith, Hope, and a Six-Second Ride in Louisiana's Angola Prison, by Daniel Bergner." The Oxford American 25 (1998) 78.
	"The Late Great Johnny Ace: and the Transition from R&B to Rock 'n' Roll, by James M. Salem." The Oxford American 27 (1999) 112.

REFERENCES¹⁰
	Professor Department University City, State Zip Code (999) 999-9999	Professor Department University City, State Zip Code (999) 999-9999

1.) Border isn't adding a lot. It doesn't come out clearly when it's faxed or copied.

2.) Since dates are important, but not as compelling as other information, we'd suggest you put them on the right, rather than the left. Whatever is at the left-hand margin will get high visual attention. Showcase your main content, not details.

3.) Hiring committees like to know who your adviser is. You can include this information with your dissertation. Names of other committee members are optional. Usually you include them if you feel they have good "name dropping" value.

4.) Information under "Experience" will be easier to read if you put position and university on one line and begin the description on another.

5.) Replace "Duties include" with a verb such as "coordinate."

6.) Don't abbreviate.

7.) Replace "Position required acting as a" with "Acted as a...."

8.) Your awards are impressive, making it appear that you were your department's best student. We wouldn't dilute them by including "Composition Program Team Leader," which looks more like it should go under the "Experience" section. The remaining section can now be called "Awards and Honors."

9.) Include conferences and workshops only if the invitation was competitive or if you were on the program.

10.) References should include e-mail addresses if possible. E-mail is a convenient way for people to make quick checks with their colleagues.