How to Share & Format Your Published Work on a Resume
We sifted through the email inbox to find resume-related questions that often come up during the job search. The common question below deals with publications and how to showcase them on a non-academic resume.
Question:
“Publications are a key part of my background, and as far as I’m concerned, they’re one of the most important items (if not the most important item) on my resume. But I’m not sure how to list them.
I’m not in academia, so I need a resume, not a CV. At the same time, I don’t know where my publications belong. Should I place them under the skills section? Under work history? On a separate page altogether? Help!”
Here’s the answer:
You’re correct to note that academic applications usually require CVs (curriculum vitae) instead of standard resumes.
But if you’re looking for work in a non-academic field and you’re trying to showcase your publications on a one-page resume, this can present a formatting challenge.
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You have a few options, and the one you choose will depend on what “publication” means in your industry and how much weight this credential will hold for potential hiring managers.
- In a separate document:
If your publications can make or break your chances of getting hired, list them on a separate document or separate page and attach that document to your application. Mention the attachment in your cover letter. Title the document with your name followed by “Publications” or “Recent Publications.”Then list each published project by the title of your work, followed by the venue that published you (including the edition if the outlet is a book, and the volume and issue if the outlet is a professional journal) and then the date. If you’ve been published online, list the title, the venue, and the date, and attach a URL. - In their own section on your resume:
If you’d rather not list each individual publication, but you want your reviewer to know that you do, in fact, have formal publications to support your claims of expertise, add a new subheading to your resume titled “Publications.” Insert this subheading between your “Education” and “Work History” section. Choose your five most impressive titles or venues and list them separately. - Included in the body of your resume:
If your publications will only be a minor selling feature to employers in your field, express yourself in paragraph form, as in: “My work has been featured in Knowledge Magazine, The Popular Review, Information Weekly, and the Quarterly Journal.” Insert this paragraph below your work history, or include it in your Accomplishments section. - Included as a stylish add-on:
Use text boxes to distinguish your publications from your other skills and miscellaneous accomplishments. Insert these boxes low on the page, where they’ll provide a visual anchor. This is a stylish move that draws attention to your expertise without upstaging the other accomplishments in your work history.
