The curriculum vitae, commonly referred to as a CV, Vita, or Vitae, is a detailed biographical description of one's  educational and work background. It differs from a resume, a one-page description of one's work experience and educational background not only in length but also in detail. The origin of the term curriculum vitae is Latin and means "the course of one's life or career." As such, a CV includes detailed information regarding one's academic coursework, professional experience, publications, and so on.

The curriculum vitae, long in use among professionals  in higher education, has gained currency among under-graduates applying for admission to graduate and professional schools, as well as among applicants for selected areas of employment such as those in research, teaching,  and management. Moreover, because of the growing tendency to use brief application forms--often only two pages long--some graduate and professional programs actually encourage applicants to enclose a CV with their applications. For these reasons, the curriculum vitae is often referred to as an "academic resume."

As you prepare your CV, it is important to use the critical-thinking skills you have learned as a result of your education or training. Few individuals realize that the critical-thinking skills they acquire as they pursue an academic degree are transferable to other aspects of their lives. Take the skill of analysis, for example. Upon graduation, one can assume that an individual has acquired analytical skills such as problem solving and decision making. The biology major, for example, will have honed analytical skills by studying courses in the discipline, performing experiments in the laboratory, writing reports based on observations, and using data to reconsider the conditions under which those observations occurred. These very skills are transferable as the biology graduate begins the process of writing a CV and reexamining his or her life and academic career.

The process of writing a curriculum vitae can be an exhilarating experience because it generates a heightened degree of pride in your accomplishments as well as an increased awareness of your skills. Begin the process with enthusiasm and a desire to share information about yourself. If you approach this process with anxiety or uncertainty about its efficacy, writing a curriculum vitae will not be a pleasurable experience.

How to Prepare Your Curriculum Vitae?

1. Describe your feelings as you begin this process.

2. List your strengths and the context in which you displayed each strength.

3. It is essential that you confront any uneasiness, discomfort, or negative feelings you have about your educational background and work experience. Write these feelings down and then set them aside. Do not dwell on them.

4. Now, ask yourself why you are writing your curriculum vitae.