A 30-minute sprint presentation on how to write a CV and covering letter for different types of jobs, with a focus on PhD students and researchers. Presented at the Naturejobs Careers Expo, 4th Oct 2018.

1. How to build a great CV
for academia and beyond
Sarah Blackford
Academic careers adviser
www.biosciencecareers.org
Sarah Blackford
Career Consultancy
www.biosciencecareers.org

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

4. C
O
M
P
E
T
I
O
N
F
O
R
J
O
B
S

5. To get you to an interview
What is a CV for?

6. The Employer’s perspective

7. What do academic employers want?
• Research and technical skills
• Problem solving, analytical, project management
• Publications in well-regarded journals
• Experience of applying for and securing research
funding
• Delivery of high quality research projects on time
and within budget
• Experience of successful collaborations
• Experience of designing and delivering teaching
• International experience

8. What do non-academic employers want?
SKILLS and EXPERTISE
 Specific skills and experience
 Writing skills
 Project management skills
 Communication skills
 Commercial awareness
 Teamwork
 Leadership
 Particular professional qualifications/experience

9. TWO EXAMPLES

10. POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH SCIENTIST
The post holder will be responsible for acquiring seed traits in Brassica diversity
collections by phenotypic analyses. They will prepare high quality RNA from various
seed tissues at specific developmental time-points for RNA-seq and be involved in
identifying network components regulating seed development. They will use
Associative Transcriptomics to identify alleles linked to increased seed number
and/or size and conduct molecular analysis of target gene function utilizing natural
variation, TILLING and CRISPR mutants.
The successful candidate will have a PhD in biology or plant genetics and experience
of experimental design and conducting large scale experiments with crops and/or
brassica species. Molecular biology skills including molecular characterization of
target genes, analyzing gene expression, knowledge of next generation DNA and
RNA sequencing is essential. Experience of statistical analysis and basic
bioinformatics is desirable.
The successful candidate is expected to be an active participant in the research
group and to coordinate with the external project partners, so a record of successful
time and project management is essential. The post will require collaboration with
internal and external stakeholders, and the ability to travel within the UK.

11. Public Engagement Co-ordinator
We would like to recruit a Public Engagement Co-ordinator who will be pivotal to
our success. You will be working with a community of people both within and
beyond the University. The role is central to developing and implementing our
strategy, building capacity, developing partnerships and creating and organising
innovative and engaging public events and activities.
Key attributes of the successful applicant include:
 Experience in public engagement
 People-focused with outstanding communication, interpersonal and
relationship-building skills
 Experience of supporting academics and researchers to engage with diverse
communities
 A background in creating and organising events for a wide range of audiences
 Ability to develop strong working relationships with external partners,
including community groups, funders and event attendees

12. PhD
Non-subject
careers
Increasing need
for transferable
skills
and general
knowledge
Decreasing need
for specific
subject
knowledge and
skills
SKILLS
vs
K
N
O
W
L
E
D
G
E
Subject-related
careers
Academic
research

13. 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

14. Other experiences?
WORK EXPERIENCE (e.g paid work, internship, placement)
VOLUNTARY WORK (e.g community, organising something)
COMMITTEES (e.g representing your student community)
MEMBERSHIPS (e.g clubs and societies)
TRAINING COURSES (e.g technical, project management)

15. What should you do?
Target your applications in order to:
 Show awareness of the job requirements –
match your relevant skills and experience
 Explain your interest and motivation for this
job/company
 Provide evidence which can set you above the
average

16. Read through the specifications carefully and underline the key
words.
Try to work out which are essential and which are desirable criteria
Identify thing that you can match directly
Things that you’ll have to think about in terms of transferable skills
Things for which you have no experience or skills
How to read a job description
(hint: think of it like an exam …)

17. “On average, if a man meets 60% of the
essential criteria [or less], he’ll put in an
application for the job. If a woman meets
80% of the essential criteria, she
considers this is not enough, and doesn’t
put in an application.”
Interesting statistic:

18. The essential and desirable criteria for a job is a wish
list created by somebody else.
It’s unlikely that candidates will have all of the
essential criteria on the wish list.
If you look like you can easily develop into the role,
you still have a good chance (transferable skills)
Remember ….

19. EMPLOYERS WANT …

20. =
https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk

21. Types of CV Format
CHRONOLOGICAL
TARGETED

22. CHRONOLOGICAL CVs
Types of CV Format• A good starting point for your basic
CV
• List your work experience and
education by reverse date
• Communicates that you are
experienced and established in one
career area

23. TARGETED CVs
• Organises information according to the
knowledge and experience needed for
The Job
• Focuses on a clear, specific job target:
E.g. ACADEMIC CV; INDUSTRY CV
• Matches appropriate capabilities and
supporting accomplishments

24. What to Include on your CV
• Personal Details
(including social media/website)
• ?Career Goal/Key capabilities
• Employment/Research History
• Education
• Skills and competencies
• ?Publications, Conference papers,
Professional Memberships, Awards,
Achievements, Interests
• Referees

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

26. Use the same language
WHAT ACADEMIA SAYS:
Publications
Impact
Drosophila/PCR
Research work
Move research forward
Collaboration
Technology transfer
Papers & Presentations
WHAT BUSINESS SAYS:
Productivity/success
Output, results
Technology/cutting edge
Project management
Progress projects
Teamwork, cooperation
Technology application
Communication

27. POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH SCIENTIST
The post holder will be responsible for acquiring seed traits in Brassica diversity
collections by phenotypic analyses. They will prepare high quality RNA from various
seed tissues at specific developmental time-points for RNA-seq and be involved in
identifying network components regulating seed development. They will use
Associative Transcriptomics to identify alleles linked to increased seed number
and/or size and conduct molecular analysis of target gene function utilizing natural
variation, TILLING and CRISPR mutants.
The successful candidate will have a PhD in biology or plant genetics and experience
of experimental design and conducting large scale experiments with crops and/or
brassica species. Molecular biology skills including molecular characterization of
target genes, analyzing gene expression, knowledge of next generation DNA and
RNA sequencing is essential. Experience of statistical analysis and basic
bioinformatics is desirable.
The successful candidate is expected to be an active participant in the research
group and to coordinate with the external project partners, so a record of successful
time and project management is essential. The post will require collaboration with
internal and external stakeholders, and the ability to travel within the UK.

28. Targeted CV - academia

29. Public Engagement Co-odinator
We would like to recruit a Public Engagement Co-ordinator who will be pivotal to
our success. You will be working with a community of people both within and
beyond the University. The role is central to developing and implementing our
strategy, building capacity, developing partnerships and creating and organising
innovative and engaging public events and activities.
Key attributes of the successful applicant include:
 Experience in public engagement
 People-focused with outstanding communication, interpersonal and
relationship-building skills
 Experience of supporting academics and researchers to engage with diverse
communities
 A background in creating and organising events for a wide range of audiences
 Ability to develop strong working relationships with external partners,
including community groups, funders and event attendees

30. Targeted CV - communications

31. ANOTHER EXAMPLE
Clara Goodman is a postdoc with expertise in
biofilms who has changed her academic CV to suit
an application for a biofilm scientist in industry

32. Targeted CV - academia

33. Targeted CV - industry

34. COVER LETTERS

35. 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 the Key Points on your CV
Matching Skills and Experience
 Confident Conclusion
Availability for Interview

36. Cover letter - academia
What she’s
applying for
and why
Confident
conclusion
Key points and
how they are
relevant to the
employer

37. Cover letter - industry
What she’s
applying for
and whyKey points and
how they are
relevant to the
employer
Confident
conclusion

38.  CV rules vary in different countries and for different
employers:
e.g. - German companies like a photo.
- French companies like a one-page CV.
- Some countries prefer a chronological CV.
 Sometimes you have to complete an on-line
application instead of a CV – follow the rules!
 Networking and connecting with the employer
before your application is a recommended job-
seeking strategy.
 Writing a speculative CV – see above + use a
named person + be specific.
CV HEALTH WARNING

39.  Applying for jobs is a MATCHING process
 Find out about EMPLOYERS – who are they, what
are they offering?
 Be aware of YOU – what do you have to offer –
experience, skills, enthusiasm?
 You have to SELL yourself to the employer – what do
they want?
 You should TARGET your CV to every application.
 Always send a COVER LETTER.
 If you are sending out dozens of CVs with no results,
review your strategy, review your CV, get
professional advice!
SUMMARY

40. CV talk slides (+ others) are available at SLIDESHARE

41. Wishing you Success!
Sarah Blackford
www.biosciencecareers.org
s.blackford@lancaster.ac.uk
www.linkedin.com/in/sarahblackford
Sarah Blackford
Career Consultancy
www.biosciencecareers.org