How Long Should Your Academic CV Be in 2024? (Research & Teaching)

Navigating the world of academic job applications can feel complex, and one common question pops up again and again: “How long should my CV actually be?” You might have heard the strict one-to-two-page rule for industry jobs, but does that apply to academic roles in research and teaching? Let’s clear up the confusion.

In short: Academic CVs are different. Unlike their concise business counterparts, they often need to be much longer. But how long is too long in 2024? Let’s dive in.

Why Academic CVs Break the Standard Rules

Think of a standard CV as a highlights reel, designed to quickly impress a hiring manager in a corporate setting. An academic Curriculum Vitae (CV), however, is a comprehensive record of your scholarly life and achievements. It needs space to detail:

• Publications (journal articles, book chapters, books)
• Conference presentations and proceedings
• Research projects and grants secured
• Teaching experience (courses taught, curriculum development)
• Supervisory experience
• Professional service (peer review, committee work)
• Awards and honours
• Relevant professional affiliations

Trying to squeeze all that into two pages just isn’t feasible or expected.

The Guideline: Comprehensive and Relevant, Not Arbitrarily Short

For academic CVs in 2024, there’s no strict maximum page limit. The primary goal is to provide a full and accurate picture of your qualifications and contributions relevant to the academic position (whether focused on research, teaching, or a mix).

However, “no limit” doesn’t mean “include absolutely everything without thinking.” Relevance and clarity are still crucial.

Factors Influencing Your Academic CV Length

Several factors determine the appropriate length for your specific CV:

1. Your Career Stage:

   • Early Career (PhD Student, Postdoc): Often 2-5 pages, detailing research, publications (even submitted/in press), presentations, and any teaching experience.
   • Mid-Career (Assistant/Associate Professor): Typically 5-15 pages, reflecting a growing list of publications, grants, teaching portfolio, and service.
   • Senior Career (Full Professor, Established Researcher): Can easily exceed 15-20 pages or more, showcasing a long history of significant contributions.

2. Your Field/Discipline: Publication norms vary. Some humanities fields might expect longer lists of publications and presentations compared to certain STEM fields where grant acquisition might take up more space.

3. The Specific Role:

   • Research-Intensive Positions: Emphasize publications, grants, research projects, and conference activity. Your CV might be longer due to these sections.
   • Teaching-Focused Positions: Highlight teaching experience, course development, pedagogical training, student supervision, and teaching awards. While publications are still important, the emphasis shifts.
   • Mixed Roles: Balance both research and teaching sections appropriately.

4. Institutional Expectations: While less common, occasionally a job posting or department might hint at preferences. Always read the application guidelines carefully.

What NOT to Do

• Don’t Pad: Only include information relevant to your academic profile and the roles you’re targeting.
• Don’t Sacrifice Readability: Use clear headings, bullet points, consistent formatting, and reasonable font sizes (e.g., 10-12pt) and margins. A 20-page CV is useless if it’s impossible to read.
• Don’t Be Vague: Be specific about your contributions, especially on collaborative projects or publications.
• Don’t Include Irrelevant Non-Academic Information: While brief mentions of significant non-academic achievements might be acceptable in some contexts, keep the focus firmly on your scholarly and teaching record.

Keeping it Manageable and Impactful

• Prioritize & Tailor: While the core content remains, slightly adjust the emphasis based on the job description (e.g., bring teaching experience higher for a teaching role).
• Use Clear Structure: Logical sections with clear headings are essential for navigation. Using a well-structured template, like those available on ThePerfectCV, can help organize extensive information effectively.
• Be Consistent: Use the same formatting for similar entries (e.g., publication citations).
• Group Items: List publications, presentations, etc., chronologically (usually reverse chronological) or group them by type.

The Bottom Line

For academic CVs in 2024, forget the rigid page limits of the corporate world. Focus on creating a comprehensive, well-organized, and relevant document that accurately reflects your academic journey and qualifications for the specific role. Length will naturally vary based on your experience and field. Prioritize clarity and impact over brevity.

Ready to structure your academic achievements? ThePerfectCV offers templates designed to handle detailed academic information clearly and professionally. Good luck!