How to List Publications on a Resume and CV (With Examples)

To help you create a compelling application, we’ve create a step-by-step guide on how to add publications to your application document the right way.

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Publications on a resume vs a CV

If you’re applying for graduate school or an academic position, you need to submit a CV.

A CV is a longer document highlighting your entire academic career. As part of writing a CV, you need to include a list of your publications to show academic committees that you’re qualified to teach or study in your field.When writing a resume, on the other hand, listing your publications is optional.

When applying for a job, your main goal is to demonstrate to the hiring manager your preparedness for the role, so only list relevant publications on your resume.

For example, if you’re a lawyer applying for a job in contract law, you might wish to list a publication you wrote about contract law.
Unlike with resumes, listing your publications when you write an academic CV is expected.

If you’re applying for an academic role, your CV publications are used to evaluate your depth of knowledge in a particular subject. Unless you lack publications altogether, this section should always be included.

To give a brief overview:

How to put publications on a resume

Your goal when applying for a job with a resume is to keep your publications:

• relevant to the job
• brief

1. Decide where to put your publications

Once you’ve decided to include publications on your resume, the next step is to decide where to put them.

Depending on the number of publications you wish to list, you can use a dedicated publications section, or list your publications within your education section.

This choice is similar to the choice you’d make about how to list your relevant coursework or your certifications on your resume:

1. If you have only one or two publications, list them in your education section
2. If you have more than two publications, use a dedicated publications section

Most templates you find online don’t have a publications section, so if you go with the second option, you’ll have to add a “Publications” header to the resume template you choose.

2. Choose a format

While there are no strict rules about formatting publications on a resume, consider referencing a popular style guide in your field.

Whether you choose to use a formal style or an informal one, be consistent with your formatting to show hiring managers that you have good attention to detail.

3. Create a citation

Be sure to include the:

• title of the article, book, or chapter
• name of the journal, website, or conference the publication was featured in
• year it was published

Examples of publications on a resume

Example of publications added to an education section:

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Here’s an example of a resume with a dedicated publications section:

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How to list publications on a CV for academic roles

Your goal when applying for a position or program with an academic CV is to keep your publications:

• relevant to the position or role
• thorough

If you’re still unsure where to place your publications, check out our video by Career Advisor Corissa as she outlines clear steps for how to include them on your academic CV:

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Our Expert:

Corissa Peterson

To expand on Corissa’s tips, here are three steps on how to list your publications:

1. Create a dedicated publications section

Having a separate publications section is an important aspect of CV format.

The publications section is most commonly organized in reverse chronological order. While listing publications chronologically is acceptable, starting with the most recent publication at the top ensures that academic committees see that you’re actively involved in your field.

2. Determine which style guide to use

Unlike resumes, CVs require strict adherence to specific style guides because citing sources is a regular requirement in graduate school and research positions.

However, different specialties have different formatting rules. For example:

• medical journals often use AMA
• academic papers written in the humanities field mostly use MLA
• technical papers tend to use the IEEE style guide

Include your CV publications using the proper style guide to demonstrate your knowledge of citation rules.

3. Add your comprehensive list of publications

Your publications section should run as long as necessary to communicate how much you know about a subject. Depending on the amount of experience you have, your CV publications section may take up a page or longer.

However, leave out publications that are either obsolete due to newer studies, or publications that are irrelevant to the role you’re applying for.

Which publications to include:

• Academic books
• Research papers published in journals
• Research papers waiting to be published
• Scholarly articles
• Conference papers

Examples of publications on a CV

This is an example of a Psychology CV using the APA style:

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And here’s an example of a history CV using the Chicago style:

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More resources for writing a CV

Here are some more resources for you to reference when updating your CV or resume:

• How to write a CV
• How to write a resume education section
• How to make a resume for a job in 2025
• Professional CV maker
• Resume Genius’ free AI resume builder
• CV help
• 400+ CV examples (academic and aon-academic)
• CV examples for students
• Free CV templates to download
• How to list references on your CV
• How to list continuing education on your resume

Frequently asked questions

We’ve taken a look at the most common questions about adding publications to your resume or CV and answered them here:

1. Should I put my publications on my resume?

Including publications on your resume can significantly strengthen your application, but it depends on your industry and career level.

Include publications when applying for:

• Academic or research positions where scholarly work is expected
• Technical roles in fields like engineering, medicine, or data science
• Consulting positions where thought leadership matters
• Senior-level roles where industry expertise is crucial
• Roles where publications are directly relevant to the job requirements

Skip publications when applying for:

• Entry-level positions in non-research fields
• Industries where publications aren’t valued or expected
• Jobs that require other more relevant experience (and you have limited space)

2. What order do publications go on a resume?

Publications should be organized in reverse chronological order (most recent first) and grouped by type for maximum impact and readability. This approach allows hiring managers to quickly see your most current and relevant scholarly work.

Standard ordering structure:

• Peer-reviewed journal articles (most prestigious first)
• Book chapters or books
• Conference proceedings and presentations
• White papers or industry reports
• Other publications (newsletters, blog posts, etc.)

Within each category, list by:

• Publication date (newest first)
• Relevance to the target position
• Prestige of the publication venue

Formatting example:

“Smith, J., Johnson, A., & Brown, K. (2024). Advanced Machine Learning Applications in Healthcare. Journal of Medical Technology, 15(3), 45-62.”

Always use consistent citation formatting (APA, MLA, or Chicago style) throughout your resume, and consider bolding your name in multi-author publications to highlight your contribution.

3. Can you put pending publications on a resume?

Yes, you can include pending publications on your resume, but you must clearly indicate their status to maintain honesty and credibility. Pending publications show ongoing scholarly activity and can be particularly valuable when applying for academic or research positions.

How to indicate pending status:

• “Under Review” for manuscripts submitted to journals
• “In Press” for accepted manuscripts awaiting publication
• “Forthcoming” for accepted works with scheduled publication dates
• “Submitted” for recently submitted manuscripts

Best practices for pending publications:

• Group them separately from published works or clearly mark their status
• Only include submissions to reputable, peer-reviewed venues
• Remove rejected submissions and update the section as statuses change
• Be prepared to discuss the content and status during interviews
• Consider including expected publication dates when available

Example formatting: “Davis, M., & Wilson, R. (Under Review). Climate Change Impacts on Urban Planning. Environmental Policy Journal.”

Avoid including unpublished work that hasn’t been submitted anywhere, as this can appear unprofessional and doesn’t demonstrate the same level of scholarly rigor.

4. Should I include my thesis on my resume?

Including your thesis on your resume can be valuable, especially early in your career or when applying for research-focused positions. Your thesis represents a significant scholarly achievement and demonstrates your ability to conduct independent research, analyze complex problems, and communicate findings effectively.

When to include your thesis:

• Recent graduates with limited professional experience
• Academic or research job applications
• Positions where your thesis topic is directly relevant
• When your thesis received awards, recognition, or led to publications
• Industries that value research and analytical skills

How to format thesis entries:

• Include thesis title, degree type, institution, and year
• Add a brief description if the title isn’t self-explanatory
• Mention any honors, awards, or notable outcomes
• Consider including your advisor’s name for academic positions

Here’s an example:

“Master’s Thesis: ‘Renewable Energy Integration in Smart Grid Systems,’ University of Technology, 2023. Advisor: Dr. Sarah Johnson. Winner of Outstanding Thesis Award.”

When to exclude your thesis:

• Senior professionals with extensive work experience
• Career changes where the thesis isn’t relevant
• Industries that prioritize practical experience over academic research
• When space is limited and professional accomplishments are more impressive

Remember that your thesis represents months or years of dedicated work so if it’s relevant to your career goals, it deserves recognition on your resume alongside your other scholarly achievements.