Another one of the responsibilities of academics is conducting research. Research is the foundation for nearly all graduate programs and you have spent a lot of time and energy focussed on your chosen area of research, becoming an expert in it by the time you graduate. Normally as a tenured or tenure track professor you will have research responsibilities.

If you are a graduate student, it is likely that you have at least thought about the subject of ethics. Students conducting research using human subjects are required to get Human Research Ethics approval prior to beginning their research. Students conducting research with animals must obtain Animal Care Ethics approval. Both forms can be found on the Forms & guidelines page at the Office of Research Services. If you are using research materials that require biosafety, radiation safety or hazardous materials or diving registration, you will need to consult the Occupational Health, Safety and Environment pages on the Office of Research Services webpage. You will need a netlink ID to access the forms.

For those wishing to pursue an academic career, you may also wish to explore the area of Professional Ethics. Aside from the fact that the field of “Ethics” in itself is immense, there is an Ethical Framework to which professors and other academics are expected to adhere.

Related to both teaching and researching responsibilities is the need for effective writing skills. This can be complex, because you will be required to write for a variety of audiences including students, other Professors and professionals, journals and more.

Some students have a passion and a flair for writing that positions them well for academic writing, some write narrative and prose well but struggle with academic writing, still others have difficulty writing effectively at all and international students are often faced with the task of writing academically in a foreign language.

The Writing Centre has services to help students improve and hone their writing skills, the English Language Centre (ESL) can help international students improve their writing in English.

When to use a curriculum vitae (CV)

One of the first steps required when preparing to market yourself as an academic is to create a curriculum vitae or CV. In Canada and the United States, a CV is generally the format used to profile academic and medical careers. A CV provides more detail on education is expected to include a comprehensive listing of professional history including every term of employment, academic credential, publication, contribution or significant achievement. In certain professions, it may even include samples of the person's work and may run to many pages. By contrast, a résumé is far less inclusive.

When to use a Résumé

For professional positions outside of the academy, a résumé is often used instead of a CV. Most of us have written a résumé. Résumés are usually targeted to a specific employer or position and as such are often significantly shorter and more concise than CVs. It takes skill to write an effective résumé. Cooperative Education and Career Services has more information on writing a CV or résumé.

Often overlooked by job-seekers is the difference between a résumé and a CV.

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