This article is published in the October 2021 issue.

CRA’s CV Database Initiative Turns Three

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The CRA CV Database is now open for applications for the 2021-22 recruiting season. It can be accessed through https://cra.org/cv-database/. Candidates will be able to upload their resumes, research and teaching statements, job objectives and other preferences, and a link to a short presentation video. Recruiters will be able to search this information and are encouraged to contact candidates starting mid-November.

Please encourage all of your finishing PhD students looking for academic or industrial/government laboratory research positions to post and complete their applications soon, before the computing research recruiting season begins.

Background: As a first step to address recent recruiting challenges in the computing research community, the Computing Research Association (CRA) launched the CV Database initiative in Fall 2018. This initiative provides a database of candidates for academic and industrial/government laboratory research positions. It is searchable by most CRA member institutions.

During its third year the CV Database received 204 completed applications (out of 303 started). In comparison with previous years, the number of applications completed steadily rose. The CV Database was actively queried by the CRA membership, who downloaded a total of 187 CVs.

Recruiting continues to be one of the computing research community challenges. Thus, CRA plans to strengthen the CV Database initiative and take additional actions in 2021-22.

What’s new this year? The CRA CV Database will add signaling mechanisms to improve the situation:

  • In January 2020, a Best Practices memo was shared with applicants, including tips for remote interviewing via video conferencing.
  • In March 2020, a “Still looking” checkbox was added and filled out by candidates to let recruiters know if they were still actively searching for positions. CRA will continue using this feature, which will be available for use in the Spring.
  • An online submission form will be provided to applicants to share their CV Database success stories, some of which may be featured on the CV Database website.

Next Steps: In mid-November 2021, recruiter access to the CV Database will be made available to all CRA academic members. Additionally, industrial and government laboratory CRA member institutions that sponsor Grad Cohort 2021 at the silver level and above will receive access.

We hope that your PhD students and your Faculty Recruiting Committee find this service valuable. For further information visit: https://cra.org/cv-database/#Info.

Questions should be directed to cvdatabase@cra.org.