The document provides guidance on building an effective curriculum vitae (CV). It discusses the purpose of a CV, what employers seek in candidates, and key sections to include in a CV like work history, skills, education, and personal details. Tips are provided such as targeting each application to the specific job requirements and providing evidence of relevant skills and experience. Example CVs are analyzed and relevant headings are identified to showcase qualifications and fit for different career opportunities in research, industry, and management roles.

1. How to build a great
CV
Sarah Blackford
Academic & science career consultant
www.biosciencecareers.org
s.blackford@lancaster.ac.uk

2.  To get you to interview
 To use as a ‘calling card’
 To apply for funding
 As a record of your experience
What is a CV
for?

3. What do employers want?
 A new employee to fill a gap in their expertise/needs
 A new employee to take the organisation forward
 A new employee to fit into their team
 A new employee who can communicate
 A new employee with the right attitude and enthusiasm

4. Postdoctoral Position in Renal Immunopathology
and Biochemistry
You should have a Ph.D. in biochemistry, cell biology or a related
field, as well as publication record with relation to
immunology/cell biology. You should have expertise in the
development and application of novel and relevant solutions
for proteomic research; understand molecular details of
renal pathology; have profound skills in common mass
spectrometer techniques.
• Ability to work reliably and accurately under pressure; strong
personal commitment·
• Strong sense of responsibility and initiative
• A friendly and collegial manner
• Ability to organise work, set priorities and meet deadlines;
• Rigour and attention to detail

5. International Paint is a global provider of high performance
products for the marine, yacht and protective coatings
markets.
Coatings Technology Centre
Applications are invited from candidates with a good first
degree or PhD in Chemistry.
The work is multi-disciplinary, potentially encompassing
elements of physical, organic and inorganic chemistry. An
interest or background in coatings science would be
beneficial. We aim to attract individuals who demonstrate
enthusiasm, flexibility, initiative and the ability to apply
skills and knowledge to practical problems, whilst also
being able to offer new ideas to the group. In addition, the
successful candidate is likely to be a strong team player
with good communication skills.

6. Scientific Coordinator (m/f)
The Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing is looking for a full-time Scientific
Coordinator.
Your duties will include:
 Preparing reports for the scientific evaluation of the institute in English
 Supporting the project teams and research groups in science administrative
matters
 Overseeing internal and external communications
 Acting as point of contact for national and international scientific organisations,
cooperation partners and sponsors
 Coordinating regional research cooperation
 Liaison with the institute’s core facilities and graduate programme
 Coordinating large equipment requests and trials in conjunction with the
administration
 Coordinating scientific facilities and renovation
Your qualifications:
You have a PhD in biology or an equivalent qualification in the field of life sciences
and practical experience in science management, especially project management.
The ideal candidate is highly organised and an excellent coordinator, motivated
and flexible. You are reliable, efficient and proactive in your work.

7. What do academic
employers want?
 Scientific excellence (technical/innovative/prob solving
 Publications in well-regarded journals
 Experience of applying for and securing research funding
 Experience of successful collaborations
 Experience of supervision and leadership
 Experience of designing and delivering teaching
 International profile
 Experience of managing staff / teams

8. What do non-academic
employers want?
 ?Specific skills and expertise
 ?Particular professional qualifications/experience
 Problem solving skills
 Analytical/critical thinking
 Communication skills
 Project management skills
 Commercial awareness
 Teamwork
 Leadership

9. What have you gained from
your research experience?
Specific research knowledge
Research/Technical skills and techniques
Teaching/supervising ?
Funding and independent activities ?
Communication skills: presenting, writing, negotiating, building relationships
Management skills: managing time, projects, resources, people
Problem-solving skills: designing, conducting experiments, troubleshooting
Research skills: critical analysis of literature, data, conceptual thinking
Fund-raising: seeking and preparing funding applications
Self-motivation: self-starter, able to keep going under pressure
Multi-tasking: able to organise your research, teaching, administration
Networking: collaboration with other groups (within and outside of your
discipline/department), industry, conferencing, organising seminars
AND MORE !!

10. What should you do?
Targeted applications, which
 Show awareness of the job requirements –
match your relevant skills and experience
 Provide evidence which can set you above the
average
 Explain your interest and motivation for this
job/company

11. What to Include on your
CV• Personal Details
(including social media/website)
• ?Career Goal/Key capabilities
• Work History
• Education
• Skills and competencies
• ?Publications, Conferences, Professional
Memberships, Interests
• Referees

12. •Work History
List of work experience post-degree
(during degree if relevant)
•Skills &
Experience
Examples/evidence of:
Research and Technical, Teaching,
Funding, Awards, Organisational,
Communication, Problem solving,
Analytical, Innovation, Enterprise,
Project Management, Supervision,
Leadership, Collaboration,
Initiating projects, Achievements,
Taking responsibility,
Commercial, etc.
Publications, Conferences,
Professional Memberships,
Awards, Interests
•Referees
Names of potential supporters
•Education
PhD, masters, degree
•Personal Details
Name, contact details, email, LinkedIn,
Researchgate, Twitter
BRAINSTORM YOUR LIFE – BREAK IT DOWN INTO SMALL PIECES

13. Postdoctoral Position in Renal Immunopathology
and Biochemistry
You should have a Ph.D. in biochemistry, cell biology or a related
field, as well as publication record with relation to
immunology/cell biology. You should have expertise in the
development and application of novel and relevant solutions
for proteomic research; understand molecular details of
renal pathology; have profound skills in common mass
spectrometer techniques.
• Ability to work reliably and accurately under pressure; strong
personal commitment·
• Strong sense of responsibility and initiative
• A friendly and collegial manner
• Ability to organise work, set priorities and meet deadlines;
• Rigour and attention to detail

14. KEY HEADINGS/SUB-
HEADIINGS
PERSONAL DETAILS
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Brief description in the context of new postdoctoral project – making it relevant
Include or refer to Publications in an appendix
EDUCATION
PhD – thesis title and description of PhD + supervisor
Include Publications or refer to them in an appendix
Masters – in brief
Degree – one line
RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Focus on: molecular knowledge and experience
Focus on: proteomics
Focus on spectrometer technical expertise
SELF MOTIVATION ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS
Examples of taking the lead and responsibility
Examples of being organised and meeting deadlines
COMMUNICATION
Examples of writing and presentational experience

15. International Paint is a global provider of high performance
products for the marine, yacht and protective coatings
markets.
Coatings Technology Centre
Applications are invited from candidates with a good first
degree or PhD in Chemistry.
The work is multi-disciplinary, potentially encompassing
elements of physical, organic and inorganic chemistry. An
interest or background in coatings science would be
beneficial. We aim to attract individuals who demonstrate
enthusiasm, flexibility, initiative and the ability to apply
skills and knowledge to practical problems, whilst also
being able to offer new ideas to the group. In addition, the
successful candidate is likely to be a strong team player
with good communication skills.

16. KEY HEADINGS/SUB-
HEADINGS
PERSONAL DETAILS
WORK EXPERIENCE
Scientific and research related posts
Internships or examples of work experience in business and industry
RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Chemistry knowledge and experience
Examples of applications and achievements
SELF MOTIVATION AND INNOVATION
Examples of leadership and implementing new ideas
COMMUNICATION AND TEAMWORK
Examples of presentations, report writing, external communications
Collaborative work especially partnering with industry
EDUCATION
PhD – general title only
Masters – in brief
Degree – one line

17. Scientific Coordinator (m/f)
The Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing is looking for a full-time Scientific Coordinator.
You will undertake science-related duties such as overseeing the core facilities, assisting with
lab set-up, facilitating communication within the institute and between the institute and
outside bodies and giving public presentations on behalf of the Institute.
Your duties will include:
 Preparing reports for the scientific evaluation of the institute in English
 Supporting the project teams and research groups in science administrative matters
 Overseeing internal and external communications
 Acting as point of contact for national and international scientific organisations,
cooperation partners and sponsors
 Coordinating regional research cooperation
 Liaison with the institute’s core facilities and graduate programme
 Coordinating large equipment requests and trials in conjunction with the administration
 Coordinating scientific facilities and renovation
Your qualifications:
You have a PhD in biology or an equivalent qualification in the field of life sciences and
practical experience in science management, especially project management.
The ideal candidate is highly organised and an excellent coordinator, motivated and flexible.
You are reliable, efficient and proactive in your work.

18. KEY HEADINGS/SUB-
HEADINGS
PERSONAL DETAILS
EDUCATION
PhD – general and comprehendible title only
Masters – in brief
Degree – one line
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Examples of managing projects (PhD, work experience, outside activities)
Examples of meeting deadlines, multi-tasking, leading projects, managing people
ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANISATION
Examples of any organisational and administrative activities undertaken
Committee work, organisation of events and activities, etc
COORDINATION AND LIAISON
Examples of where you have coordinated people or projects, collaborative work
Liaison with external people especially non-scientists and external individuals/organisations
WORK EXPERIENCE
Scientific and research related posts
Administrative posts or other work experience

21. TELLING A SHORT
STORY …
SITUATION
TASK
ACTION
RESULT
As part of our European partnership I took responsibility
for keeping close communication between the research
groups via email and skype. This ensured a successful
coherent collaboration and several high impact
publications.

22. TELLING A SHORT
STORY …
SITUATION
TASK
ACTION
RESULT
As a member of the departmental seminar committee
during my PhD, I took responsibility for scheduling and
advertising the talks. In liaison with the university
timetabling administrators, I successfully promoted the
speakers, attracting consistent audiences of over 100.

23. Content …. What else?
• Length
• Layout
• Organisation
• Order
• Headings, fonts, margins, white space
• Highlighting of most important info
• Consistency

24. N
U
M
B
E
R
S

25. How Long Will an Employer
Spend Reading Your CV?
20-30 Seconds

26. 1. Untargeted/generic
2. Nothing special / standing out to the employer
3. Not Oriented for Results
4. Most important information hidden or spread out
5. Misspellings, Typing Errors, Poor Grammar
6. Irrelevant information
7. Too long
8. Poor covering letter
9. Poor introduction
10. Too modest!
Where do people go
wrong?

27. Covering Letters

28. Covering letters should include:
 What you are applying for and where you
saw the advert
 Why you are applying – refer to research
group/company
 Highlight your Key Points
 Matching Skills and Experience
 Confident Conclusion
 Availability for Interview

29. This is where you should
Write your address and
Date
Employer’s name and
Address here written out
As it appears in the Advert
Job Title
Dear Sir/Madam (or their name as it appears in the ad),
I am applying for the post of XXXX which I saw advertised in the Journal/Newspaper/website on (date).
Explain what you are doing now (e.g establish yourself as a postgraduate/postdoctoral) keen to
develop a career in XXXX.
Use this paragraph to explain why you are interested in the job and the key skills or experience that you
have which make you suitable. Don’t be modest!! Match up the most important skills wanted in the
advert to those that you have.
The 3rd paragraph is to explain your suitability and to say why you are interested in this company, course,
job etc. So find out about them but use your own words.
Finish on a positive note – e.g. I hope you will consider me for this post and I look forward to hearing from
you.
Yours faithfully/ Yours sincerely,
Signature
Name

32. SUMMARY
Applying for jobs is a MATCHING process
You need to know the JOB LANDSCAPE
Find out about EMPLOYERS – who are
they, what are they offering?
Be aware of YOU – who are you, what do
you have to offer?
You have to SELL yourself to the employer
Your CV is a DYNAMIC document that
needs to be targeted to every application.
The aim of your CV is to get you to
INTERVIEW

33. Thank you
and wishing you success
Sarah Blackford
Career consultant
http://biosciencecareers.org
s.blackford@lancaster.ac.uk