How To Write a Professor Resume

If you’re looking for a professor job, you may be expected to submit a type of resume called a curriculum vitae (CV). This often lengthy job search document has a more understated style than the resume. It’s less focused on a hard-hitting summary and achievements and more on letting your various credentials and degrees speak for themselves.

Much of the information on CVs is similar to that on resumes, such as work history and education. For jobs in academia, they can also include sections such as:

  • Board memberships
  • Fellowships
  • Grants
  • Internships
  • Presentations
  • Publications
  • Research interests

Below are tips for creating a great CV and advice for applying for professor positions. Also, see our Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae (CV) article for additional general guidance on CVs and a sample template showing how to structure your different sections and information.

  • Entry-Level
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior-Level
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1. Craft an outstanding profile with a summary of your professor qualifications

When applying for a professor-level position, your application will likely be reviewed thoroughly. That said, crafting a professional summary at the top of your document can help you make a strong first impression on your prospective employer.

The key is to showcase your unique specializations, which align with the university’s needs and provide a concise overview of your educational career.

Profile - Example #1


Film Studies Educator with three years of experience. Develop and deliver a rigorous curriculum while sparking students’ interest in complex film topics and concepts.

Profile - Example #2


Professor of English with three years of experience. Focused on developing students’ intellectual curiosity and engagement with complex English writing and comprehension topics. Help define and inform broader department goals and advocate a wide variety of source texts, course topics, and pedagogical methods.

2. Add a compelling section featuring your professor experience

The CV can have shorter job descriptions than a traditional resume, with fewer quantified achievements, but avoid sharing minimal information about your work history. On the contrary, feel free to include any amount of detail as long as it overlaps with your interest areas. Remember to give just the basics for any teaching experience that doesn’t align with your goal.

Try to put relevant numbers to your career. How many students did you teach? How much did students improve under your instruction? Numbers are an easy way to add quick, easy-to-understand metrics to your career.

Professional Experience - Example #1


Adjunct Professor – Film Studies, University of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY | August 2019 to Present

  • Deliver lectures about films by prominent 20th Century directors, including Alfred Hitchcock and Francis Ford Coppola
  • Engage classes of up to 30 in discussions of film topics such as mise-en-scène, postmodernism, use of music, and contemporary critical analysis
  • Broaden students’ understanding of the evolution of 20th Century American and international film, challenging preconceived notions of significant works
  • Refer students to additional research resources as appropriate
  • Maintain frequent open-office hours to help students address schedule challenges and focus their research efforts

Professional Experience - Example #2


Professor – English 101; English 201; Creative Writing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI | August 2019 to Present

  • Engage students in topics such as English composition, creative freewriting methods, and literary criticism and analysis
  • Discuss texts and essays by authors and scholars such as Jacques Barzun, Peter Elbow, Horace, Donald Murray, Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, and E. B. White
  • Explore novels by major 18th and 19th Century writers, including Samuel Richardson and William Makepeace Thackeray
  • Provide students with tips and tactics for efficient reading and clear comprehension of source materials
  • Teach students to develop and sustain written critical arguments, providing thorough, constructive feedback on graded papers
  • Draw strong link between college curricula and various internships and entry-level career opportunities for students

3. List your education and certifications relevant to professors

While certifications aren’t necessarily required (or more important than your educational history), they can help provide evidence of a professor’s qualifications and demonstrate your commitment to professional development. Certifications can help you stand out from other applicants and show you have achieved a certain level of expertise in your field. They also help ensure that, as a professor, you are up-to-date on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in the field.

One such certification is the Certified Professional Professor (CPP) program for college and university faculty members. The CPP certification recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and service. Applicants must have a minimum of five years of full-time teaching experience at the college or university level and have earned at least two degrees from accredited institutions.

Please note that while certifications can enhance a professor’s career prospects, they are not always required to become a college professor. Academic professors within colleges and universities must complete post-secondary education and training. However, depending on the specific subject, an occupational certification may be necessary.

Education

Template

  • [Degree Name]
  • [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]

Example

  • Master of Fine Arts (MFA), University of California, Berkeley
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), University of San Francisco, CA

Certifications

Template

  • [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]

Example

  • CPP, 2019

4. List your key professorial skills and proficiencies

Many institutions of higher learning use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen candidates by parsing resumes and CVs for specific keywords and industry terms. Your application may be rejected before reaching the hiring manager if your document fails to meet certain requirements. To prevent this, integrate as many relevant keywords as possible from the job posting into your bullet points, summary, and skills section.

Below is a list of potential key terms you may encounter during the job hunt:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Class scheduling Comparative analysis
Constructive feedback Critical analysis
Critical thinking Cross-department collaboration
Curriculum development Higher education
Independent research Mentoring
Public speaking Reporting and documentation
Socratic seminars Student advising

How To Pick the Best Professor Resume Template

For professors, a clear and straightforward CV template is usually best. Opt for a layout that lets the hiring manager quickly review your best career details. Select a traditional font style, and avoid any template with a colorful or elaborate design.

Professor Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

  • Example #1
  • Example #2
  • Example #3

Meera Patel
123 W Adams Ave, Detroit, MI 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected]

Profile

Professor of English with three years of experience. Focused on developing students’ intellectual curiosity and engagement with complex English writing and comprehension topics. Help define and inform broader department goals and advocate a wide variety of source texts, course topics, and pedagogical methods.

Teaching Experience

Professor – English 101; English 201; Creative Writing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI | August 2019 to Present

  • Engage students in topics such as English composition, creative freewriting methods, and literary criticism and analysis
  • Discuss texts and essays by authors and scholars such as Jacques Barzun, Peter Elbow, Horace, Donald Murray, Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, and E. B. White
  • Explore novels by major 18th and 19th Century writers, including Samuel Richardson and William Makepeace Thackeray
  • Provide students with tips and tactics for efficient reading and clear comprehension of source materials
  • Teach students to develop and sustain written critical arguments, providing thorough, constructive feedback on graded papers
  • Draw strong link between college curricula and various internships and entry-level career opportunities for students

Education

Boston College, Boston, MA

Ph.D. – English Language & Literature
Master of Arts – English Studies
Bachelor of Arts – English, Creative Writing

Frequently Asked Questions: Professor Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for professor resumes?-

It’s easy to get stuck when writing the experience section of your CV. You might run out of action verbs to describe your work. We created this list of strong verbs to help you reach the finish line. (Note, the verbs below are in the past tense, but change them to present tense for any duties you hold currently.)

Below, you’ll find a list of action verbs to illustrate your career achievements:

Action Verbs
Analyzed Assayed
Broadened Collaborated
Connected Defined
Delivered Developed
Discussed Educated
Engaged Explored
Focused Guided
Helped Informed
Presented Researched
Taught Wrote
How do you align your resume with a professor job posting?-

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, the median annual wage for postsecondary teachers was $80,840 in May 2022. Overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 8% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. Craft a great CV to catch the eye of the institution you want to work for to get a great job in this space.

What kinds of schools and campus communities have you taught? Has your work been characterized by certain class sizes, student demographics, or teaching philosophies? Consider details like these when looking at professor jobs that interest you. If a posting includes information on the school that overlaps with your background, mention that in your CV’s intro. This extra step will make your CV more relevant to the job opening at hand and help attract the hiring manager’s notice.

What is the best resume format for a professor?-

The combination format, also known as the hybrid format, is often a solid choice for professors for several reasons. It balances experience and skills, emphasizes teaching and academic achievements, and provides a comprehensive view of a professor’s qualifications. This lets you include relevant information about your teaching philosophy, awards, conference presentations, committee involvement, and work history.

Overall, the combination format is versatile and adaptable, making it an excellent choice for a professor. It allows you to showcase your academic and teaching experience. Also, it highlights your specific achievements, skills, and contributions to academia, ultimately increasing the chances of landing a position in your desired field within academia.

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Expert Advice
Include a cover letter with your resume

Once you’re done with your CV, a good way to finalize your application before sending it to your prospective employer is to add a cover letter. This is a great opportunity to speak directly to the hiring manager and explain why you’re the best candidate for the job.

Remember, a cover letter should be fairly succinct. Avoid exceeding more than 400 words — 250 to 300 is ideal. For more information and ideas, view our teacher cover letter examples.

Jacob Meade Headshot

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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