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CVs For PHD Students Booklet MJ May 09
CVs For PHD Students Booklet MJ May 09
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CONTENTS
Introduction .................................................................................................
Academic CV ....................................................................................
INTRODUCTION
This booklet should always be read in conjunction with the Careers Service booklet CVs
and Covering Letters which contains a host of vital information on creating a CV from
scratch and composing covering letters.
This booklet contains specific information useful for PhD students applying for a job in
academia, industry or a job not directly related to their subject.
The CVs in this booklet have been reproduced with the permission of the University of
Manchester and UMIST Careers Service.
Dont forget you can bring your draft CV to the Quick Enquiry Desk where a Career
Consultant will look it over and give you some feedback.
THE FORMAT
ACADEMIC CV
CHRONOLOGICAL CV
This is the traditional CV format. It would work well if applying for jobs outside
academia where a PhD would be useful or essential e.g. a job in industry.
ONE-PAGE CV
SKILLS-BASED CV
This CV is excellent if you are looking to change direction after your PhD e.g.
going for a job in accountancy after a PhD in Molecular Biology. The focus here
is on selling the transferable skills you have gained from your PhD while playing
down the subject specific nature of the research.
A skills based CV is difficult to do well, but is well worth the effort because it has
the potential to prove to an employer that you have the ability and skills to do a
job that you may not have much/any experience in.
REMEMBER
Dont forget to read the accompanying CVs and Covering Letters
booklet for detailed points on the language, style and layout of
CVs.
You will have gained many skills from your research degree. Draw up a list of
these. Dont forget to include skills you have gained outside of your research
area too any work experience, no matter how unrelated it may seem to you, will
give you the opportunity to sell yourself.
The way you market your skills will depend on what sort of job you are applying
for. See the attached CVs for examples. If you are applying for work in
academia, for example, evidence from life outside of your PhD is much less
important than if you are applying for a job unrelated to your research area.
KNOWLEDGE
Subject specific knowledge and how you market it on a CV will depend on what
you are applying for too. Do you need to have a PhD in your subject in order to
apply for this type of work? If so, how do you want to describe it on your CV? If
a PhD in your subject is not a prerequisite for the type of job you want to apply
for, think about the transferable skills you have gained from your research (there
will be lots analytical, problem solving, communication etc.) rather than the
knowledge you have gained from your study. Try and explain your PhD in
laymans terms (ask someone outside of your research area to read your
description and see if he/she understands it).
EXPERIENCE
Again, the way you sell your experience will depend on what you want to
apply for. If you want to apply for a lecturing post, for example, your teaching
and mentoring experience will be as important as your research interests and
bid writing experience; your organisation and budget management skills will
also need to be highlighted. The slant on your experience will be very
different if you are applying for a post outside of your research area where
your teaching and subject specific skills may not be so important. Other
experience, such as temping work, business awareness and extra-curricular
activities may come into play more in these circumstances.
PUBLICATIONS
Be sensible about the publications you list. It is sometimes useful to list your
publications under headings: books, articles in refereed journals, chapters,
conference proceedings, working papers etc.
Always be clear about your input into publications. If you are a co-author,
state the percentage of your authorship.
SAMPLE CVs
The following CVs are samples based on the imaginary candidate Martin Dixon.
Each CV is focused in a particular way.
An Academic CV.
There is no perfect way to write a CV and the following examples are just that
examples to give you an idea of how to create your document. You are strongly
advised to draft a copy and bring it to a Quick Enquiry session and show a Career
Consultant who will be able to give you some feedback. It is also advisable to show
an academic your draft if you are applying for an academic job or a job that is related
to your research area.
These CVs have been written by Manchester and UMIST Careers Service and are
used with their permission.
MARTIN DIXON
Contact Address
Date of Birth
45 Radcliffe Way
Fallowfield
Manchester 14 7DP
E-mail Address
mdixon3@hotmail.com
Telephone Nos.
22 September 1984
Nationality
British
EDUCATION
2006 2009
Highlights that he
has already had
contact with
industry.
A brief outline of
PhD and BSc in
appropriate scientific
language aimed at
the knowledgeable
reader.
2002 2006
Propulsion Technology
Quantum Plasma Studies
2004 2005
1997 2002
split between
Relevant and
Other. This
focuses the reader
on the applicants
suitability
Successfully managed two six-week research projects to refine containment fields for
two experimental fuel matrices, under the direction of Senior Research Manager, Dr
Anneka Hansen. Skills developed included :
Key skills for
work in industry
brought out
Project management delivered required results on time, and within tight budgets
(of 39,000 and 16,000 respectively).
Planning and flexibility agreed detailed project plan with Dr Hansen, which was
reviewed weekly. Used these reviews to modify plan when alternative research
strategy was suggested by a colleague, resulting in enhanced results and budget
saving of 5000.
Negotiation through contacts at the University of Strasbourg, arranged access to
warp plasma test rig, avoiding the need to build a new rig at the Institute.
Summer 2004
2002 2004
POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Department Rep
(4th Year)
Class President
KEY SKILLS
IT Skills
People &
Project
Management
Problem
Solving
Languages
Running
Football
Music
Qualified to grade 5 on the violin; also enjoy many genres of contemporary music.
REFEREES
Dr Benjamin Sisko (Supervisor)
University of Manchester
Zephran Cochrane Building
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 5PT
Tel:
0161-275-5678
E-mail:
bsisko@man.ac.uk
Dr Anneka Hansen
Senior Research Manager
Institute of Propulsion Research
Faraday Road
Dudley DY4 2TD
Tel:
01384 273765
E-mail:
ahansen@ipr.ac.uk
Include
telephone
number and
e-mail where
possible.
ACADEMIC CV
MARTIN DIXON
Home Address
45 Radcliffe Way
Fallowfield
Manchester M14 7DP
University Address
University of Manchester
Zephran Cochrane Building
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 5PT
E-mail Address
mdixon3@hotmail.com
E-mail Address
mdixon@stud.man.ac.uk
Telephone No.
Telephone No.
Date of Birth
22 September 1984
Nationality
British
EDUCATION
2006 2009
A brief outline
of PhD and BSc
in appropriate
scientific
language
aimed at the
knowledgeable
reader.
It is a good idea to
attach an Appendix.
2002 - 2006
Propulsion Technology
Quantum Plasma Studies
2004 2005
1997 2002
RESEARCH INTERESTS
This should bear some relation to the specific post for which you are applying.
My principal research interests lie in the field of in-flight warp core containment, specifically sub-space
distortions and their impact on mono- and tri-phasic organic fuel matrices. I am currently investigating the
capacity of wide-band theta radiation to induce multi-phasic anomalies, and the beneficial shielding effects
of a range of plasma configurations.
My future research plans are to build on the foundations of my PhD to further investigate the fundamental
properties of warp-capable propulsion systems, with a view to contributing to second generation quantum
drives.
In addition, the application of novel propulsion technologies to the process of energy conversion leads to
the prospect of a new family of defence protocols, including quantum torpedoes and electrodynamic arrays
to alter sub-space properties.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Summer 2006
2008
2006 - present
2002 2004
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
The Institute of Interstellar Scientists Member.
The British Astrometrics Society - Secretary of the North West Branch.
PUBLICATIONS
1. Can include journal articles, conference papers and presentations, and work in progress etc.
2. Use the Harvard System.
REFEREES (as other examples academic or research)
MARTIN DIXON
45 Radcliffe Way
Fallowfield
Manchester M14 7DP
Mdixon3@hotmail.com
0161 273 1234
Date of Birth: 22nd September 1984
PERSONAL PROFILE
Numerate graduate with broad IT knowledge, proven leadership skills and experience of
working with demanding external clients seeks a first position in IT Business
Consultancy.
KEY SKILLS
A detailed skills profile outlines evidence of skills essential for a specific job area. Here the candidate is
adapting his experience to the skills necessary in IT Consultancy and thus demonstrating his potential
Communication Skills
Lead a range of community projects, including acting as a figurehead for a voluntary organisation,
articulating the aims of the group to other members of the Manchester Disabled Pupils Forum.
Delivered academic lectures to my department on my research and attended schools in France and
Britain as a visiting speaker for 'Global Links' and 'Researchers in Residence' schemes, presenting
material on international issues and science respectively.
Problem Solving
My ability to analyse a problem, develop suitable strategies and display independent thought has
allowed me to successfully work in four distinct areas of Interstellar Science. Through my own
personal initiative I have developed new techniques in areas novel to our research group. These
results are in the process of being reviewed for publication, and have been presented to my
colleagues and other students in a series of seminars.
EDUCATION
2006 - 2009
2002 2006
2004 2005
1997 2002
WORK EXPERIENCE
2006 - present
Summer 2006
Summer 2004
2000 2004
REFEREES
Dr Benjamin Sisko (Supervisor)
University of Manchester
Zephran Cochrane Building
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 5PT
Tel:
0161-275-5678
E-mail:
bsisko@man.ac.uk
Ms Deanna Troi
Chair, Manchester Disabled Pupils Forum
143 Regent Street
Chorlton
Manchester M21 9ND
Tel:
0161-274-4321
E-mail : dtroi@talk21.com
R:\General\literature\CVs for PhD Students Booklet MJ May 09.doc
FURTHER HELP
If you have found this booklet useful, you may want to pick up or download our other
booklets, from:
www.cardiff.ac.uk/carsv
The Careers Service also runs a series of workshops in conjunction with these
booklets. You can find out more about these on our website.
We offer Career Management Skills (CMS) Workshops in many departments. To
find out if your department hosts these sessions, contact your Department or School
Office.
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ethnic origin, age, sexuality, religion or disability. We are able to offer additional support to students
who may benefit from extra help. Please contact us for further details.
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