CVs and job applications: getting onto the short-list

Audience: PG research

Date: Tuesday 25 February 2025

Times: 11.00 to 12.30

Programme: GRADskills

Key details: This event plans to be an online MS Teams event. This GRADskills workshop will provide participants with a clearer understanding of the recruitment processes used in academia and in other employment sectors.

Target audience

Research postgraduate students from any discipline, going for any kind of role

Course pre-work

Please bring a copy of your CV to the workshop.

Course mapped to

Vitae's Researcher Development Framework domain: B3 (Professional and career developoment)

Course information

PLEASE NOTE:If you are no longer able to attend, please cancel your place at least two working days before so that we can allow others onto the course.

This session is designed for PhD and PGR students who are or will be in the process of submitting applications to vacancies for after their PhD. Delivered by the University of St Andrews Careers Centre, the aim of the session is to provide an overview of CV writing for both academic and non-academic applications, touching on the key differences between the two, and providing recommendations for the participant’s own CV writing for the future. Open to primarily penultimate and final year PhD students from any degree discipline, but all PhD students welcome.

Audience: PG Research

Participant feedback from AY 23/24:

“The clear explanation about the differences between academic and non-academic CVs.”

“Introduced me to the concept of narrative CVs.”

Aims and objectives

By the end of the session, participants should be able to:

• Recognise the recruitment processes typically used by Higher Education Institutions to recruit academic and research staff.
• Contrast the priorities and some of the key differences for academic and non-academic CV content.
• Analyse job descriptions to best respond to application forms.
• Learn how to craft an accessible, well-formatted CV, with an ability to tailor it to specific roles.
• Provide constructive feedback on another participant’s CV, and receive feedback on your own CV.
• Learn how to construct a cover letter which articulates your motivation and suitability for an advertised role.

Tutors

Dr Philip Ireland

Dr Joshua Crofts

Course provider

IELLI
Email: ielli@st-andrews.ac.uk