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The Babb Group’s Dorothy Miraglia, Ph.D., mentors clients new to working in higher education and those with experience looking to expand their work. Miraglia notes that sometimes you need an outside perspective to help you stand out. The Babb Group works with deans and hiring managers and understands the market and keywords they are looking for in a CV. “When a professional writes your CV, they are pulling in strengths that you may see or you may not know how to put your skills into the language an institution is looking for,” Miraglia says.
Why You Need a Professionally-Written CV
You typically need a CV when applying to academic, scientific, and research positions, including faculty, adjunct faculty, and online faculty jobs. While a CV contains much of the job experience from your resume, it highlights your academic, higher education, and teaching experience.
CV stands for curriculum vitae which is Latin for course of life. It’s a more robust document detailing your professional, educational, and academic life than a resume and is typically much longer. Miraglia explains further. “It’s much more than putting your work experience in chronological order. A CV showcases your subject matter expertise, LMS knowledge, personal attributes, research, teaching philosophy, and personality. It’s a space to share how you apply professional skills to a classroom.”
Questions to Ask a Professional CV Writer
If you are considering having a professional write your CV, here are several questions to ask:
What is your experience working with higher education managers? The Babb Group worked with deans and hiring managers to create a CV template specifically for higher ed jobs. It’s not a cookie-cutter template! Mentors work with clients to develop customized CVs showcasing their experience.
Make these 4 Essential Updates to Your CV now. Read more!
How do you think you can help me stand out? Miraglia says it’s essential to find a CV writer who listens and understands how you make a difference in the classroom and bring those qualities and applications to life on paper. The Babb Group spends time with clients to understand their goals and tailor the CV to the person and position.
What format will my CV be delivered? You want a word document so you can continue to edit and update. If a writer only sends a .pdf, then you are tied into asking them to make changes.
What are the investment and ROI? While prices vary depending on the need, Miragalia encourages clients to invest in their first CV. She says, “If you invested in your education and want that first academic job, it’s worth it to invest in a professionally-written CV.” She adds that for many, the first job they land with the CV more than pays for the service. For seasoned instructors who need an update, a professional review of their CV can ensure it meets current market demands and keywords.
Continuous Improvement
Miraglia says a CV is not once and done. Like a resume, you need to update it with each new experience. It’s continually changing to meet industry demands as well. Miraglia coaches clients to tweak their teaching philosophies to include experiences with students as they teach more.
Finally, Miragalia suggests working with a mentor and professional who understands the industry and how to market candidates. She says, “We’re real people. We know what it’s like to be frustrated when getting started. We want you to be successful and help you get to the next level of your career.”
Angela