OXFORD

APPLICATION ESSENTIALS
D
COMMENTS ON SIAN MAGELLAN’S CV OPPOSITE
OVERALL:
Looks easy to read.
Text and dates aligned, no full-stops and plenty of ‘white
space’ around text.
Consistent use of headings, capitals and bold text provide
clear signposting.
No jargon or acronyms which may muddle understanding.
Numbers, percentages and values add clarity and give a
sense of scale.
OTHER FORMS OF CV
Some roles may allow for, or invite, a different form of CV.
CREATIVE CVS:
If you are applying for a ‘creative’ role, in advertising or design
for example, they may look favourably upon an infographic
or otherwise visually unusual CV. This allows you to project
something of your style and personality and can demonstrate
your ability and skill communicating information clearly in a
creative and striking way.
ACADEMIC CVS:
There is no upper limit on the number of pages expected in a
CV for an academic post. If applying for a postdoc, fellowship,
lectureship or research assistant post, make sure your CV has:
] Sections for professional memberships, publications, and
conference presentations/posters.
]
experience, teaching experience and any university/college
administration or committee work.
] Details of successful bids for awards, grants and
collaborations.
] Referee details – usually three - ideally academics who both
Martha Jeacle
Legal Recruiting & Associate Development
Manager, Davis Polk and Wardell LLP
"You do not want to leave the impression that you
have not spent enough time working on the CV. Try to
anticipate what the person reading the CV will want
to know and rather than just listing your experiences,
explain how these are relevant to the role you are
applying for. Finally, ask someone to look over your
CV - a friend, career advisor or family member - to
suggest what can be improved, and a fresh pair of
eyes can often spot typos and errors rather than
relying on spellcheck or auto correct."
MORE INFORMATION AND EXAMPLES:
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/cvs
BULLET POINTS
Separate bullet points cover a single idea, skill or activity
Note: Sian has used CAR (p.53) as a structure for her
Experience section.
] CONTEXT: Dates, organization name and positions/role
give sufficient context.
] ACTION: Bullets start with active verbs/skills, aligning
these to left margin for ease of scanning.
] RESULTS: Outcomes included to show how and where
Sian added value.
It can take a number of revisions before you are happy with
your CV, and getting a second opinion can be very helpful.
It might all make perfect sense to you, but you could be
surprised by the things that others may question or not
understand. Ask a friend to check it or meet a Careers Adviser
for feedback (p.4).
checks:
FIRST, ensure that you are putting forward your best case –
that everything included is relevant.
SECOND, always check carefully for errors and typos – many
typo in the CV, cover letter or application form!
FINALLY:
] Hold your CV at arms-length – does it look easy to read?
] Fold it vertically and scan the left side in 10 seconds:
Will the reader get the gist of your application?
Are your strongest skills immediately visible?
] Check for jargon and acronyms, and over-long bullets - edit
vigorously.
] Is it the right length?
Some employers (eg, investment banks) expect just one
page.
Aim for a maximum of two pages, except for an
academic CV.
Save your CV as a PDF to ensure it keeps it beautiful
formatting when you send it.
FINALLY, FINALLY, take sa good break and then proofread -
yes, again! - double checking for errors and typos.
APPLICATIONS OUTSIDE THE UK:
Expectations and conventions for what is acceptable in a CV
varies between countries: eg, a photograph is never included
in a resume for the USA, but is expected on a German CV.
If applying outside the UK, research country-specific current
practice, starting with:
] Our advice on Working in Different Countries (pp.27-29)
] Going Global country reports, free to use via
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/goinglobal.
www.careers.ox.ac.uk 45