Content & layout

A well-crafted CV is:

Well-documented

Does the information provide compelling evidence that you are a good fit with the mission and vision of the funding/hiring organization and meet the given evaluation criteria as given in the person specification, job description or funding guidance/ CV template?

Concise

Do not submit any more information than is needed.

Curated

Is all the information you give relevant to the specific opportunity you are applying for?

  • Will evaluators be able to use all information to positively assess your application against their criteria?
  • Remove outdated/irrelevant information (a good  general rule to follow is that information from the last ten years is the most relevant; 5 for early-stage researchers).
Easy to scan
  • Sans serif / min. size 11 font.
  • Left aligned.
  • Add plenty of 'white space' - don't overcrowd your CV with next.
  • Use relevant sub–headings in logical order to signpost key information.
  • Use bullet points (max. 2 lines in length) if adding longer text for example under a job title you might add one to two bullet points outlining key expertise and achievements (see our notes on strong language and STAR descriptions)
  • Use bold, italic and underline sparingly.
Culturally appropriate

Get to know the cultural norms of the country where you are sending your CV. Including personal information such as your nationality, ethnicity, marriage status, birth date and portrait photos are common in some cultures, whilst they are not given in others.

Well-formatted

If you are given a CV template to complete,
it is usually best to use this as your guide and not to change the content or layout too significantly.

If you are following a template,
what is the guidance given around your scope for creativity? Can you change the layout slightly? Could you add a printer-friendly color, some subtle graphics or change elements of the layout slightly to add visual interest?

If you are not following a templated format,
use sub-sections to group and signpost relevant information

Well written

Ensure your spelling and grammar is on point.

You can ask/pay a native speaker to proof read if it is written in a second language.