CVs and Applications

The term "CV" means "curriculum vitae" which literally translates as "course of life". Whether you are applying for an HE or non-HE job you should consider the skills an employer is looking for in a potential employee. Match your skills against those required by the employer. Use the information you have gained from your PDP and skills audit to evidence your specific skills and emphasise these within your CV.

 

The CV should list your most relevant achievements and experiences for the role you are applying for and should match the employer's needs. The CV is an opportunity to sell your highlight your strengths and should be tailored for each position you apply to ensure you clearly demonstrate that you have the required skills. Employers will use your CV to get a feel for your work ethic and personality in ensuring you meet their criteria, you should also pay particular attention to spelling, punctuations, grammar and layout.

 

There is no perfect or universally accepted format for a CV as each person has their own tastes, however, a clear and concise CV will be appreciated. In the UK a CV is generally no longer than two pages while in the USA, Europe and some other parts of the world a CV is only one page. Don't underestimate the time taken to create a professional CV tailored for a specific role. Preparation is essential and you need to ensure you understand the skills you can offer and the skills required by the employer. Once you have identified these you will stand a better opportunity in matching your CV to the role.

 

Types of CV:

Chronological CV - 

Written in reverse chromological order it is the most common and familiar British format for delivering a CV. You should pay particular attention to providing evidence of your skills and how these are relevant to the particular job for which you are applying to.

Vitae - Chronological CV http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/1374/Chronological%20CVs.html

 

Skills-based CV -

Your skills form the central structure of these CVs which can are useful to clearly demonstrate to a potential employer how your skills can be transfered from your research field to the employment sector. The skills-based CV should clearly match your skills to those required in the job specification for a specific role, as such they take a considerable amount of time to compile.  

Vitae - Skills-based CVs http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/1375/Skills-based%20CVs.htmlAcademic CV 

 

Academic CV -

The academic CV although concise and focused on relevant experience should place specific emphasis upon knowledge and academic achievement. This type of CV should only be used for applications to an academic position within HE and should be tailored for each job application. All previous advice on general applications is still relevant however you should place a particular focus on details of research, publications, and funding awards. It is also worth noting that these CVs are generally longer than two sides of A4.

 

NatureJobs Blog - 38 tips on writing an academic CV - http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/2011/09/27/38-tips-on-writing-an-academic-cv

Vitae - Academic CVs http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/1373/Academic-CVs.html

Vitae - Applying for academic jobs http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/1379/Applying%20for%20Academic%20Jobs.html