Let me guess—you’re sitting there with a blank document, a PhD, two decades of academic brilliance… and zero clue where to even start writing your college professor resume.
Sound about right?
Honestly, I hear this all the time. I’ve worked with tenured professors, adjuncts hustling between three campuses, freshly-minted PhDs, and folks making the leap from industry to academia. They all tell me the same thing:
“I know how to write a dissertation, not a resume.”
I get it. Academia has its own language, its own rhythm. But resumes? Those play by a different set of rules—shorter, sharper, and painfully allergic to long-windedness. Like, yes, your 73-page CV was impressive. But that hiring committee’s attention span? Not so much.
But hey, that’s why you’re here—and that’s what I’m here for. So grab your coffee (or tea, or your third Diet Coke of the day—no judgment), and let’s walk through this together.
Whether you’re applying for a full-time tenure-track role, an adjunct spot, or even transitioning into an online teaching gig, this guide will help you craft a resume that actually gets read—and remembered.
College Professor Resume Example: A Professional Writing Guide
Let’s start with what this document is not.
It’s not your academic CV. It’s not a cover letter. And it’s definitely not your entire life story crammed into bullet points.
A college professor resume is your professional highlight reel. It’s a snapshot of your most relevant experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership—all tailored to the job at hand.
We’ll cover:
- How to format it for maximum impact (and ATS-friendliness)
- What to include (and what to skip)
- Examples by discipline (STEM, Humanities, Business, etc.)
- Real phrases that hiring committees love
- Emotional and strategic resume tips from someone who’s read hundreds of these things
And yes, we’ll keep it real and human the whole time.
How to Format a Resume for a College or University Professor
Think of your resume like a syllabus: it needs structure, clarity, and just enough white space to not give anyone a migraine.
Stick with a reverse-chronological format—start with your most recent position and work backward. This keeps things clean, familiar, and easy to scan.
Keep it simple:
- Font: Calibri, Georgia, or Garamond (no Comic Sans, please)
- Size: 10.5–12pt
- Margins: 1 inch all around
- File type: PDF unless told otherwise
Basic Structure:
- Contact Info
- Summary or Objective (choose one)
- Teaching Experience
- Research Experience (if separate)
- Publications & Presentations
- Education & Credentials
- Key Skills
- Optional: Certifications, Committees, Awards, Grants, Fellowships
Pro Tip: Save the fancy formatting for your next keynote slides. Here, clarity wins.
What to Include in a College Professor Resume
Let’s break this down like a well-organized curriculum map.
Resume Summary for a College Professor (Examples)
Your summary is your elevator pitch. In 3–5 lines, tell us who you are and why you’re exactly what that department needs.
Example (Tenured Professor): “Tenured English professor with 15+ years of interdisciplinary teaching, award-winning publications, and experience leading curriculum redesign initiatives aligned with accreditation standards. Passionate about literature, student mentorship, and scholarly contribution.”
Example (New PhD): “Doctoral candidate in Molecular Biology with 3 years of TA and guest lecturing experience, focused on inclusive pedagogy and hands-on lab instruction. Presented at 4 international conferences and published in 2 peer-reviewed journals.”
Make it specific. Make it warm. Make them want to keep reading.
How to Present Teaching Experience in Higher Education
This is your bread and butter.
Don’t just list course titles—explain how you taught and what the impact was.
Instead of: “Taught Biology 101 and 102.”
Try: “Designed and delivered Biology 101 and 102 using flipped classroom techniques and integrated lab simulations. Improved student pass rates by 18% over two semesters.”
Use action verbs: facilitated, developed, mentored, collaborated, redesigned, implemented.
Include course delivery methods (online, hybrid, in-person), tools (Canvas, Moodle, Zoom), and levels (undergrad, grad, continuing ed).
Key Skills to Include in a College Professor Resume
Here’s your skill stack:
- Course development and delivery
- Academic advising and student mentorship
- Interdisciplinary teaching
- Curriculum planning
- Peer-reviewed publications
- Research and grant writing
- Faculty collaboration
- Conference presentations
- Tenure-track faculty experience
- Higher education pedagogy
Listing Research, Publications, and Presentations
Publications belong on every academic resume. Period.
Format like this: Doe, J. (2022). The Role of Narrative in Science Education. Journal of Educational Research, 45(3), 122–138.
Create separate subheadings if needed:
- Peer-reviewed Articles
- Conference Presentations
- Book Chapters
- Grants and Funded Research
Don’t forget ongoing work! Add a “Works in Progress” or “Under Review” section if relevant.
College Professor Resume Samples by Discipline
STEM Professor Resume Example (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
- Taught upper-level Organic Chemistry and supervised 6 student research assistants
- Co-authored 3 NSF grant proposals; secured $250k in lab funding
- Developed new curriculum integrating AI-assisted lab analysis tools
Humanities and Liberal Arts Professor Resume Sample
- Lectured in Modern World History; created experiential learning modules around social justice
- Published 4 essays in peer-reviewed journals; presented at MLA
- Mentored 2 undergrad students through senior thesis projects
Business and Economics College Professor Resume Example
- Taught MBA-level Strategic Management and Organizational Behavior
- Led faculty team on accreditation review process for AACSB
- Consulted with 3 local startups for real-world student projects
Adjunct Professor Resume Sample for Part-Time Faculty
- Delivered English Composition I & II for 3 semesters at community college level
- Adapted asynchronous online modules for ESL learners
- Consistently rated 4.8+/5.0 on student evaluations
Online College Instructor Resume Example
- Facilitated asynchronous courses on Technical Writing for adult learners
- Used Canvas, Zoom, and Slack to foster engagement and track student outcomes
- Designed 6-week accelerated modules with interactive grading rubrics
How to Write a Resume Objective or Summary for Professors
Resume Objective for Entry-Level or Adjunct Professors
“Passionate educator with a Master’s in Sociology and a strong foundation in cultural theory. Seeking to bring community-focused pedagogy and interdisciplinary collaboration to a dynamic faculty team.”
Summary Statement for Tenured or Senior Professors
“Veteran professor with 20+ years in Civil Engineering, leading research on sustainable design. Proven record of grant acquisition ($1M+), peer-reviewed publications, and program-level curriculum innovation.”
Best Action Verbs for College Professor Resume Bullet Points
- Facilitated
- Designed
- Mentored
- Published
- Spearheaded
- Collaborated
- Presented
- Researched
- Implemented
- Curated
How to List Certifications, Degrees & Academic Credentials
Where to Place Your PhD or Doctorate on a Resume
Right after your name (e.g., Jane Smith, PhD) and again in the Education section with dissertation title if relevant.
Fellowships, Grants, and Academic Honors
Create a section for these to highlight:
- Fulbright Fellow
- NSF Research Grant Recipient
- University Teaching Excellence Award
How to Make Your College Professor Resume Stand Out
Demonstrating Research Impact and Citations
Mention metrics like h-index or Google Scholar citations if notable. Or just show relevance: “Article cited in recent World Bank policy paper on gender and education.”
Highlighting Innovative Teaching Practices
Mention if you’ve used:
- Digital escape rooms
- Cross-campus collaborations
- Student-created podcasts
Mentioning Committee Work and Academic Leadership
- Served on hiring committee for 3 tenure-track positions
- Led departmental diversity and inclusion task force
Resume Tips for Entry-Level Professors or Doctoral Candidates
Including Dissertation, Teaching Assistant, or Postdoc Roles
These are valid teaching experiences. Just be clear: “Teaching Assistant, Intro to Philosophy (Fall 2022) – Led weekly discussion sections, graded essays, and held office hours for 40+ students.”
Using Teaching Philosophy to Strengthen Your Resume
You don’t need to write it out here—but mention it: “Approach rooted in anti-racist pedagogy and student-led inquiry.”
ATS-Friendly College Professor Resume Template and Formatting Tips
- Use headings that match the job posting (e.g., “Teaching Experience”)
- Save as PDF unless otherwise specified
- Avoid graphics, columns, or images that confuse ATS
Writing a Compelling Cover Letter for a College Teaching Job
Your cover letter is where you get to tell the story.
Talk about a moment in your classroom that changed how you teach. Talk about the joy of watching students grasp a complex idea. Keep it real. Keep it specific.
And for more help, check out these resume guides:
- Montessori Teacher Resume
- Online Tutor Resume
- Music Teacher Resume
- Physical Education Teacher Resume
- Special Education Teacher Resume
- Math Teacher Resume
- Science Teacher Resume
College Professor Resume FAQs
1: What should I include in a college professor resume?
Include your teaching experience, research work, academic publications, degrees (including PhD), certifications, committee work, conference participation, and curriculum development contributions.
2: How do I write a resume for a college professor with no experience?
Highlight your doctoral research, assistant teaching, guest lectures, and any academic writing or fellowships. Include a strong objective and emphasize your teaching philosophy.
3: What are the most important skills for a college professor resume?
Research expertise, curriculum development, student mentorship, peer collaboration, academic publishing, public speaking, and educational technology.
4: How do I list publications on a college professor resume?
List peer-reviewed articles, books, and conference papers under a dedicated section titled “Publications” using proper academic citation format.
5: What format should a college professor resume follow?
A hybrid format or CV-style layout with distinct sections for teaching, research, publications, and academic credentials is ideal. Prioritize clarity and ATS-readability.
6: What’s the difference between a college professor resume and a CV?
A resume is more concise and tailored to job applications, while a CV includes a full academic history, including all research, publications, and teaching activities.
7: Should I include my teaching philosophy on a college professor resume?
While it doesn’t belong on the resume itself, it’s helpful to reference it in your cover letter or application packet as a supplemental document.
Final Thoughts: You Belong in That Faculty Meeting
Listen, writing about yourself is awkward—even when you’re literally an expert. But you’ve spent years (maybe decades) teaching, guiding, and mentoring. You already have what it takes.
Your job now? Just show it.
Keep it simple. Keep it honest. And above all, don’t undersell yourself.
Want a head start? Download our free college professor resume template. It’s clean, easy, and built to help you feel confident applying.
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