There are significant differences between a great curriculum vitae (CV) and a traditional resume that many job seekers overlook when pursuing job opportunities in academia or educational institutions. Because of the significant cultural and responsibility differences when contrasting the academic environment to that of the corporate world, CVs need to highlight a different kind of achievement and accomplishment.

Our team of certified professional resume writers and career coaches have helped countless individuals make the transition into academia, in addition to helping academics make the transition into the corporate world. In fact, many private sector industries, such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and medical device often require CVs over traditional resumes for certain roles – especially those roles that have a strong preference for individuals with STEM backgrounds or roles that are focused on research and development (R&D).

CVs are designed to be longer than traditional resumes. Certain areas of the CV are more detailed than a resume, while some areas are less detailed in comparison. These small nuances may seem trivial, but are incredibly important to get right when looking for a role in academia or the life sciences. Hiring managers in these fields are busy and job candidates can get a leg up on the competition by being cognizant of these differences and ensuring appropriate execution against these expectations.

When it comes to top academic institutions, many of the renowned names come to mind: Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA), University of California – Berkeley (UC Berkeley), USC, UNLV, UNC, Boston College, University of Massachusetts, University of Texas, Texas A&M, Columbia University, New York University, and University of Miami.

While larger institutions definitely have human capital needs, smaller colleges also do an excellent job of hiring individuals with the right expertise and skillset. Some small, prestigious institutions include the California Institute of Technology, Pomona College, Bowdoin College, Harvey Mudd College, Carleton College, Williams College, Washington & Lee College, and Amherst College.

For private sector roles in the STEM fields, some of the top employers include AZTechn Technologies, Amazon, Google, Deloitte, Microsoft, Genentech, Pfizer, Merck, Amgen, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, Roche, Gilead Sciences, AbbVie, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Biogen, Illumina, Takeda / Shire, Boston Scientific, Abbott, Sanofi, Bayer, Stryker, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Regeneron, to name a few.