Can I include in my CV the invitation to a conference I'm not sure to attend?

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Solution 1

I would say no.

I often turn down invitations that could be considered a distinction, i.e. an indication that somebody thinks I am reasonably competent at this research thing:

  • Will you speak on this panel at this research open house?
  • Are you willing to review this paper for this journal?
  • Would you want to do a research internship with us this summer?
  • Do you want to submit an invited paper to this workshop?
  • Can you mentor this undergrad who is doing research in the lab?

All of these things would go on my CV if I actually do them, but not if I turn down the invitation.

An invitation to speak at a conference is no different, in my opinion. It's certainly a nice validation of your work that the conference organizers recognized your ability to contribute. But if you don't actually give the talk, it doesn't go on the CV.

Solution 2

If you put other conferences you plan to attend on your CV, then I think it's fine to include this one (from an ethical viewpoint, which is how I view "can"). You can just remove it if you don't go. In general though, I would be pretty cautious about looking like you're trying too hard to pad your CV. It depends a bit on what you're using it for, but in general having a few more entries on the list of places you've spoken (this is for fields where conferences are not peer-reviewed) isn't going to look especially impressive and could just distract from the good things on your CV.

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Ri49
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Updated on January 29, 2021

Comments

  • Ri49
    Ri49 almost 3 years

    I have seen this question (Unable-to-attend conferences in CV), but the situation is a bit different. In my field, we don't usually submit papers for conferences. Rather, the organizers directly invite a number of persons whom they think interesting to give talks (sometimes participants can contribute talks or posters, but that is not the case here). I received such an invitation, but for a number of reasons am not sure yet whether I will attend.

    Can I still add the invitation to my CV?

    One could of course argue that it is strange to get credit for something (a talk) I might not do. But one could also think that the invitation itself is a distinction and therefore worth mentioning.

  • Ri49
    Ri49 over 9 years
    You're right, I probably would not even consider adding the invitation if I had turned it down. But for the moment it's still undecided, and somehow it feels different (I do have an "Upcoming invitations" section in my CV).
  • Ben Webster
    Ben Webster over 9 years
    Even if your CV is short, CV padding doesn't look good (actually, it's probably more noticeable in a short CV). You should never put something on a CV to fill up space.
  • ff524
    ff524 over 9 years
    Is there any compelling reason you can't wait until it's decided?
  • Ri49
    Ri49 over 9 years
    Yes, an application deadline.
  • ff524
    ff524 over 9 years
    Hmmm, I'd advise against until you've confirmed you will attend. Imagine that it's on your CV, and the person reading your application Googles the conference program and doesn't see your talk on it - it looks bad and you won't have a chance to explain.
  • Ri49
    Ri49 over 9 years
    That is a very good point which I had not considdered. Anyway,as other answers pointed out, it will probably not make a big difference.