A Genre Analysis of Curriculum Vitae (CV) of University Teachers

Abstract

This study examined the generic structure of CVs written by faculty members at the University of Peshawar. The primary objective was to identify a generic move-step structure for CVs, analyze their lexico-grammatical features, and observe any deviations from the established structure. A total of 26 CVs were analysed using Bhatia’s (1993) move analysis model. The analysis revealed that candidates mostly employed and adhered to the identified move-step structure. However, deviations occurred when additional steps were introduced or when a single communicative function was distributed across multiple steps. The study identified a generic structure consisting of five moves and ten steps. Lexico-grammatical features included the frequent use of action verbs, the avoidance of personal pronouns, and a preference for the simple present and simple past tenses. This study aimed to develop a standardized structure that can guide the drafting of academic CVs. The identified structure may also serve as a foundation for future research on CV composition.