More tips on updating your vita

Several DOs and DON'Ts in Vita Preparation

DO make your vita a clear and concise summary of your professional qualifications. Like any good writing, every word should count.

DO try to obtain copies of several vitae from individuals who are at your stage of professional development or slightly ahead. One of the best ways to construct a vita is by seeing how others have done it.

DO take the time to create an elegant and inviting format, and be sure to laser print the final product on high quality paper. Style matters, and your vita should appear professional, uncluttered, and friendly to the eye.

DO be sure to check the vita carefully for mistakes and typographical errors. Without exception, it must be absolutely error-free.

DO have your faculty adviser, colleagues, family, and friends look over your vita before you send it out. They will undoubtedly spot weaknesses you have overlooked and may be able to suggest ways of overcoming them.

DON'T give the appearance of padding your vita by including such things as extra-wide margins, high school accomplishments, or excessive detail about your research and teaching experience (e.g., details associated with running an experiment, such as "I contacted participants, scheduled them for sessions...").

DON'T list irrelevant personal information such as height, weight, health, or military status. Listing your age, marital status, or the number of children you have is optional (unfortunately, such information can invite discrimination, particularly against female applicants), and excessive details should be avoided (e.g., names and ages of children). Listing hobbies and outside interests is also optional and should only be done if you feel it will enhance your image as a well-rounded professional.

DON'T list categories that have only item (with one exception: a section entitled "Publication" is acceptable for listing a single publication).

DON'T use category subheadings that are more ambitious than their content (e.g., "Articles, Publications, and Grant Proposals" followed by only one grant proposal). Later in your career, you can add some of these sections (for example, "Professional Activities" might include editorships, memberships in academic or grant-reviewing committees, consulting work, and so on).