Getting published is a huge accomplishment. For some professions, published works are almost as important as job experience or professional certifications. So, if you’re seeking a position in academics, science, or other fields that put an emphasis on published works, by all means be sure to include details on your resume.
Not only will listing publications on a resume show potential employers that you possess writing and research skills, but it will also demonstrate your organizational skills, perseverance, and level of experience. Like a professional certification, publications will also display your knowledge of and dedication to your field.
Not sure how to add publications to your resume? Or where to list them? We have some resume examples that show you how to do exactly this.
So, be sure to go over these examples before you use our online resume builder to put together a champion resume that is sure to put you in the running for the next position you seek.
Who Should List Their Publications on a Resume?
Some professionals who should list their publications on their resume include:
- Deans
- Professors
- Assistant professors
- Book authors
- Bloggers
- Researchers
- Research scientists
- Research assistants
- Laboratory directors
- Marketing professionals
- Public relations professionals
What Kind of Publications Can You Add to Your Resume?
The types of publications that you would generally include on a resume are:
- Books
- Blogs
- Scientific journals
- Magazine articles
- Speaker presentations
- Research papers
- Newspaper features
Where Can You List Publications on Your Resume?
Typically, you would list publications on the resume in their own section, “Publications.” Or, perhaps “Research and Publications.”
This section is generally placed following the education section. However, it depends entirely on you and your situation when it’s time to decide where to put your publications on your resume.
Ordinarily, a resume is a one or two-page document, and if you can fit your publications within the body of the resume, that’s great.
If the position you are applying for puts more weight on publications, and you wish to include as many as possible to help your resume stand out and reflect your ability to assume the role for which you are applying, it is acceptable to have publications listed on a separate page.
Add publications under a heading “Additional Activities” if you have only a few but believe that listing them is relevant to the position you are seeking.
You might even list publications after the skills section, as published works reflect various skills. You can check out some resume examples to see what might work best for you.
Using APA and MLA Style to Add Publications to Your Resume
APA style (developed by the American Psychological Association) is a writing style and format for academic documents such as scholarly journal articles and books in specific fields, such as psychology or engineering.
So, if you’re listing journal articles or books you authored or co-authored, they should be formatted as such:
Publications
- [Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year of publication). Book title: Subtitle. Location: Publisher.]
When listing books, the same format as above is used.
Note: When using APA style, only the first word of the title and not the entire title is capitalized.
MLA (Modern Language Association) style can also be used for resume publications. MLA is used mainly in fields such as literature and the humanities. MLA format looks like this:
Publications
- [Last name], [First initial]. “[Article title].” [Journal name] [Volume number]. Issue number: [Pages]
Book publications in MLA style follow this format:
Publications
- [Author’s name. _Title of Book: Subtitle. _Publisher, Year.]
Example of APA Style Journal Article and Book Listed on a Resume
A journal article listed on a resume in APA style would look like this:
Publications
- Parker, P. & Smith, S. (2018). A comparison of body structures of insects and arachnids. Journal of Insect Life, 147, 160-171.
For book publications, a listing in APA style would look thus:
Publications
- Freud, S. (2019). Cognitive development: a psychological overview. New York City: American Association of University Presses.
Example of MLA Style Journal Article and Book Listed on a Resume
Here is how to list publications on a resume when it comes to journal articles in MLA style:
Publications
- Kent, Clark. “The Origin of Superman.” International Journal of Comic Heroes, vol. 30, no. 2, 2016, pp. 100-106.
If you have books to list on your resume and are using MLA style, your publications would look like this:
Publications
- Campbell, Sebastian. Canine Metabolic Disorders: Obesity-related Metabolic Dysfunction in Dogs. Duke University Press, 2014.
How to Include Blog Publications on Your Resume
For blogs, if you are applying for a position that includes blogging and have experience in that field, then details can essentially be added in the Experience section. For example:
Conservation Blogger
Today’s World
January 2020 – Present
- Research, write, and edit two blogs per day covering species extinction and environmental subjects such as climate change or pollution.
- Publish through a Creative Commons model, leading to re-publication in various social media platforms and online publications.
- Increased readership by 45% over a six-month period.
You can add additional information such as any awards your blogging might have garnered, or if your blogging allowed you to develop specialized skills, such as search engine optimization, site sharing, or bookmarking.
How to Include Presentations and Public Speaking on Your Resume
Being a keynote speaker or presenting a paper at a conference can also be included in a publications list on a resume.
To include a presentation or speech on a resume, you would start with the role you played, followed by the topic or paper title, the name of the conference or forum, and then the location and date of the conference.
Conference Keynote
- Presenter, “The Next Decade in SEO” Digital Search Habits, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, June 2020.
How to Include Research Publications on Your Resume
Did you complete an extensive graduate research project? Oversee research for a professional project? Have you collaborated with a research team in a professional setting to prepare a report?
Including research among, or in addition to, your resume publications shows potential employers your ability to:
- Gather and analyze data
- Apply critical thinking
- Communicate
- Pay attention to detail
- Effectively organize yourself and your material
- Problem-solve
- Work efficiently in a team
- Demonstrate technical knowledge
- Schedule and plan
You can put research into your publications section, add it under a skills section, or list it under your experience if the research was completed in one of your last positions.
Example of Research in the Experience Section of Your Resume
Let’s see an example you can follow to list your research experience on your resume:
Researcher
English Department, University of North Florida
February 2021-December 2021
- Key participant in a research project on the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
- Analyzed his use of imagery and symbolism in selected stories and poems to prepare a paper intended for publication in major literary journals.
- Collaborated with other members of the research team to evaluate selected literary works and gather research from outside sources, including scholarly papers and reviews.
- Analyzed similar works of gothic horror by key authors of the same time period, who employed the use of imagery and symbolism to draw parallels.
- Prepared research findings in a 25-page report.
- Presented findings to heads of the English department.
We hope this post has helped you understand which publications to put on your resume, when, and how to do so.
Remember, use the ResumeGiants builder to help you list your publications correctly.
In addition to our free online resume builder, you’ll also find helpful resume templates that make it quick and easy to produce the type of polished document that will catch the eye of potential employers in any industry.
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