Resume Writing Tips for Professor & Head

Introduction

In academia, a strong resume is integral to advancing your career, especially when applying for senior roles such as department head or program director. Unlike traditional CVs that focus heavily on publications and research, resumes for such leadership roles must balance scholarly accomplishments with managerial experience. A well-crafted resume highlights your ability to lead teams, innovate curricula, secure funding, and contribute strategically to your institution’s goals. Moreover, with many recruitment systems using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), optimizing your resume for these technologies ensures your application is noticed.

1. Resume Summary

Start your resume with a concise, impactful summary that encapsulates your academic background, leadership skills, and areas of expertise. This section sets the tone for recruiters and hiring committees, showcasing your unique qualifications and fit for the professor & head role. Use action-oriented language and quantifiable achievements to make it compelling.

Example: Experienced Professor and Department Head with over 12 years of academic leadership, driving curriculum development and research initiatives that increased student enrollment by 25% and secured $2M+ in grant funding.

2. Key Skills

Listing your key skills helps both ATS and human readers quickly identify your core competencies. For professors and heads, emphasize a blend of academic, managerial, and interpersonal skills relevant to the job.

• Academic Leadership
• Curriculum Development
• Research Management
• Grant Writing & Fundraising
• Faculty Recruitment & Mentorship
• Budget Planning & Administration
• Strategic Planning
• Conflict Resolution
• Data Analysis & Academic Assessment
• Public Speaking & Presentation

3. Achievements vs. Responsibilities

While outlining your experience, distinguish between duties you performed and the measurable impact you made. Committees want evidence of how your leadership transformed your department or institution rather than a generic task list. Use bullet points starting with action verbs and quantify wherever possible.

Example:

• Increased departmental research funding by 40% within two years through targeted grant applications and industry partnerships.
• Implemented a new interdisciplinary curriculum that boosted student retention rates by 15%.

4. Tailor to Job

Customize your resume to reflect the specific requirements and language of the job description. Emphasize competencies and experiences that match the position, sprinkling relevant keywords throughout (e.g., academic administration, faculty development, accreditation processes) to improve ATS ranking and appeal to the hiring panel.

5. Tools/Technologies

• Learning Management Systems (e.g., Blackboard, Canvas)
• Academic Databases (e.g., Scopus, JSTOR)
• Reference Management Software (EndNote, Zotero)
• Data Analysis Tools (SPSS, R, MATLAB)
• Grant Management Platforms (e.g., InfoEd, Cayuse)
• Project Management Tools (Trello, Asana)
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Video Conferencing (Zoom, Microsoft Teams)
• Curriculum Mapping Software (e.g., CurricUNET)
• Faculty Evaluation Systems (e.g., Digital Measures)

6. Metrics

• Percentage increase in student enrollment or retention
• Amount of research funding or grants secured (in USD)
• Improvement in departmental ranking or accreditation scores
• Number of faculty recruited or mentored
• Budget managed ($ amount)

7. Education

• List highest degree first — Ph.D. or equivalent in relevant discipline
• Include relevant certifications, leadership training, or administrative qualifications

8. Format

• Use clear headings, bullet points, and consistent fonts for readability
• Keep resume to two pages - concise but comprehensive

9. Concise

Be direct and to the point. Avoid jargon or overly complex language. Your resume should quickly convey your value.

10. Bonus

• Include a dedicated section for leadership roles and committee memberships
• Incorporate keywords from the academic institution’s mission and values

Examples

• Developed and led a cross-departmental research consortium, increasing interfaculty publications by 30% within one year.
• Streamlined departmental operations, reducing administrative overhead by 20% and improving faculty satisfaction scores.

Conclusion

A compelling resume for a professor and head role must showcase your leadership, impact, and analytical skills clearly and concisely. By focusing on measurable achievements, tailoring your content to the job description, and using a clean, ATS-optimized format, you significantly increase your chances of standing out. Remember, your resume is your personal marketing document—it should reflect not just your academic excellence but also your ability to inspire teams, make data-driven decisions, and contribute to institutional success.