Senior Careers Consultant

University of Strathclyde

Careers & Employability Service

A CV is your document so it’s up to you to choose the appropriate style, tone and structure, using the guidance available to you

[Source: Vitae]

• research experience

• publications

• contributions at conferences

• research funding you have won

• any relevant technical skills

Applying for a research and teaching position?

• also give details of any teaching and tutoring experience

[Source: Edinburgh Careers Service]

• the position

• the department/research group

• the institution

Reflect on your:

• experience

• skills and strengths

• achievements

Ensure you are clear about :

• what the role involves

• why you are interested in the role

• what makes you a good fit for it

• why you want to work for that department/research group/university

• past, current and future research interests and experience

• published research and articles

• teaching experience and student supervision

• research methodologies and techniques

• presentations you delivered at conferences

• funding and awards

• professional memberships

• administrative skills

• technical skills/expertise

• part-time jobs

• positions of responsibility

• volunteering

• anything else that you can use to evidence the skills and personal attributes required.....

[Source: jobs.ac.uk]

https://careers.ed.ac.uk/students/postgraduates/phd-students/make-it-happen/write-an-academic-cv

• demonstrate the skills being sought for the job

• show you can successfully manage work and study

• fill any chronological gaps in your history

• peer-reviewed publications

• contributions to books

• book reviews

• can include those accepted for publication but not yet published

• if this section is a bit slim you could include submitted articles to show your intention to publish

• inclusion in conference proceedings

• presentations or posters at conferences -mention if these have been invited presentations

• positions of responsibility that demonstrate some of the skills the employer is looking for that have not been covered elsewhere

• hobbies and interests that say a bit about you, but only very brief details

• Allow enough white space in your margins, and make it easy to read, clear and concise

• Keep sentences and paragraphs short and information concise

• Use bullet point statements

Content

• Incorporate keywords that are used in the job description

• Ensure that your key skills and main points stand out

  • (Most CV reviewers will quickly scan CVs or this may be done by artificial intelligence – AI)

• Tailor your CV specifically to the job description and highlight your skills that match to the job requirements

• Give evidence for your skills. Use the STAR method – ‘Situation, Task, Action, Result’ to outline how you used your skills in a specific scenario

[Source: Vitae]

• Take some time to learn about the role, the criteria for applying, the job description and the recruiting organisation.

Step 2# Prompt (with the use of AI):

• First, introduce yourself: ‘I am a marketing professional applying for a director of marketing and communications role.’

• Remember to insert the job description/person specification.

• Next clearly state what you want: ‘Create a cover letter outlining why I am applying, how I stand out, and demonstrate my understanding of the role.

• Make sure that you avoid ambiguous prompts as these could lead to irrelevant responses.

• The more specific you are, the more likely AI will come up with clear answers.

Step 3# Tailor

• Tailor the document to your skills, experiences, knowledge and motivation.

• Ensure that the information is correct, up-to-date and it is in the right format.

• Ensure the document reflects your 'voice'

• Academic CVs

• Marketing yourself and your PhD

• CV checking appointment (follow instructions for PGR students!)

I will cover:

• key points

• what to emphasise if you are applying for:

  • research positions

  • lecturing positions

• what to do as preparation for writing your CV

• resources to help you reflect

• typical content (sections)

• other sections to consider including

• example CVs

• tips on layout and content

• using AI

• useful resources throughout

Here you will find resources, models, and questions that can help you start your reflections as well as structuring them

And whether a specific format is required:

• Are you applying for a fellowship or postdoc from a specific funder?

• If so, they may want to see your CV in a specific format, so make sure you check.

• One example currently promoted by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI – the national funding agency investing in science and research in the UK) is the ‘narrative CV’: a CV that reflects a broader and more diverse range of skills and experiences rather than ‘traditional’ metrics-based research CVs which prioritise publications.

SOURCE: PostGradual: The PhD Careers Blog