Before applying for any academic role start with some basic research to make sure it is a good fit for you. Start by:

• Reading the job description, person specification and any other information provided carefully.
• If you are not familiar with the institution or department already then look more closely at their website, including the ‘about us’ section for the whole institution as well as the faculty, school, department or research centre the role is based in.
• Take a look at the profiles of staff in the department or research centre. This will help you to put any research goals into context and see how your research or teaching interests would fit in.

Reflect on whether the role is what you initially thought it was and if you are excited about applying to it. Do you have the skills and experience that they are looking for? You don’t need everything, and there is no harm in stretching to apply for something you’re not sure you’re ready for as long as you set your expectations accordingly.

You are also advised to reach out to the named contact in the job advert to ask any questions you have. The vast majority of successful applicants have talked to the contact before submitting their application. Think carefully about your questions before you get in touch, but don’t be afraid to contact them. 

You might want to ask about:

• Specific questions you have about the research or teaching you would be undertaking
• Whether they see your intended areas of research as a good fit for their team
• Specific questions about their recruitment process if this is unclear
• What the culture is like in the team
• Specific questions you have about research facilities, equipment or software available
• Institutional priorities or culture

An academic CV follows the same principles and aims as any other CV but there are some important differences in content and format. There are some subject specific expectations and variations, so it may be worth talking to your supervisor or a mentor about expectations in your specific research area.

Length

Although industry CVs should normally be no longer than two sides of A4 in length, academic CVs can be longer, with most early career academics having approximately three to five pages.

Golden Rules

• Have clear and consistent formatting. Headings should be easy to spot, stick to one font style throughout and don’t go smaller than 11pt font.
• Keep it concise. Although academic CVs can be longer than two pages you still want to keep each section focused, relevant and to the point. Use bullet points rather than paragraphs.
• Use numbers, skills and outcomes to demonstrate the value of what you did. Don’t just describe what, include how, why and what you achieved.
• Target it at the job you are applying to. Make sure you cover the skills they ask for in the job description. Tailor it by having the most relevant sections first and giving them the most space.

Essential sections

• Name (your name as the main heading of the document)
• Contact details (email address, phone number and location, your full address is not necessary)
• Education (details of your formal education from your undergraduate degree to your PhD. Include your PhD here even if you are still undertaking it, it would usually include a description or synopsis of your PhD and your supervisor's name(s). If the role you are applying to includes research then emphasise the specific research skills you have used.)
• Experience (should include all of your work experience, some choose to split this into separate sections on: Teaching Experience, Research Experience and Industry Experience)
• Publications (this should include all of your significant publications including and joint publications, laid out like a reference list and most recent to least recent)
• Conferences Attended (If you have presented at lots of conferences then you may opt to change this to Conference presentations
• References (Include full name and contact details of three referees, typically these would include your PhD supervisors and someone who has managed you. You must ask permission before including them.)

Optional sections

CVs should always be targeted to the position you're applying for. Only include these sections if you have something to add to them and they feel relevant to the position you are applying for.

• Awards: details of any funding you have attracted (whether for your Masters/PhD, attendance at conferences, further research etc.)
• Research Skills: research methods/techniques/software used and/or practical experience or fieldwork carried out
• Professional Memberships: memberships of any professional organisations and/or subscriptions to related journals
• Teaching experience: whether tutoring, lecturing, supervising, or leading practical demonstrations. Also include any mentoring or student support roles. Include subjects taught, your responsibilities and the skills you demonstrated
• IT Skills: list the software packages you have experience with and any coding languages you have used. Think through this one carefully as most people forgot items for this section.
• Languages: if you speak more than one language include them all with an indication of your level of fluency. Native Speaker, Fluent, Advanced, Intermediate or Beginner. Or using the Common European Framework of Reference: A1, B2 etc.
• Administrative experience: This should be academic administration and could include: departmental responsibilities, committees, organising events or related to networks or societies you are involved in.
• Knowledge Exchange: impact, outreach, knowledge transfer/exchange and/or public engagement activities or outputs.

Useful resources

Vitae: Researcher CV examples (you will need to create a free account)
Vitae: How to write an effective CV and Cover Letter (you will need to create a free account)
jobs.ac.uk: Academic CV Guidelines
jobs.ac.uk: How to Layout an Academic CV
Individual advice: Get your CV checked by your Faculty Careers Consultant

A cover letter should almost always accompany your CV - together they form a marketing package designed to convince the reader that you have the skills, knowledge and experience required to perform well in the job for which you are applying.

Length

For many academic roles it is acceptable to send a two-page cover letter but do read the instructions carefully as some institutions restrict it to one page.

Contents

• It should be written in the style of a formal letter, addressed to the named contact for the position, with addresses at the top and a signature at the bottom.
• It should state which position you are applying for and where you found it.
• You should have a paragraph detailing your motivation for applying for this specific post and why you want to work for this institution, department or research group.
• You should clearly summarise how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the job description and specification. Refer to the examples and evidence on your CV.
• If the job has an element of self-directed research, then you would also usually include an outline or indication of your future research interests. Some applications require this as a separate document, in which case it wouldn’t be necessary to include it in the cover letter.

Useful resources

Vitae: How to write an effective CV and Cover Letter (you will need to create a free account)
See our advice on cover letters
jobs.ac.uk: CV Cover Letters with Impact
Individual advice: Get your cover letter checked by your Faculty Careers Consultant

Personal statements can fulfil the same purpose as a cover letter, but some institutions require both. Where this is the case make sure to carefully read any instructions given. They may be looking for the statement to cover something specific such as research interests or career plans.

If there is no information given, then it is a good idea to reach out to the named contact on the job advert to ask specifically what they want applicants to include. We would always advise reaching out to the named contact to discuss the role as part of your application research.

Useful resources

Our advice on personal statements
Individual advice: Get your personal statement checked by your Faculty Careers Consultant

There are no significant differences between academic application forms and industry application forms. Some top tips include:

• Read instructions carefully. Not all forms are structured the same way, and some platforms require documents in specific file types.
• If it is possible, read through the whole form before starting to complete it so you know all the sections required.
• Many online sites can time out and lose your work. Save regularly. Write any extended answers on a word document and then copy into the form.
• Proofread carefully! Something as simple as a typo in your email address can spoil your hard work.

Useful resources

Read our advice on completing application forms which covers specific question types.

Individual Advice: Get your application form checked by your Faculty Careers Consultant

Preparing for an academic interview

Interviews are a two-way process – they allow you to find out more about the job and the employer. It allows the recruiter to find out more about what you can offer, assess your ability to do the job, and to see whether there is a good fit between you and the organisation. 

Prepare as you would for any other interview – when you research the institution, pay particular attention to their research/teaching profile and how you and your research/teaching interests align with what they currently have. Does your profile match quite closely with what they do or fill a gap that they currently have?

What to expect 

Academic interview practices are varied, but panel interviews are widely used. The same principles apply to these as to any other face to face interview.

Be prepared to talk about:

• Your research interests going forwards and how they fit with the department you are applying to.
• The research of the academics on the panel. Read their profile on the institution’s website and look up their most recent publications.
• Your PhD research and publications.
  
  

Useful resources

jobs.ac.uk: Succeeding in Academic Interviews
Vitae: Careers in academia (scroll down for interview resources - you will need to create a free account)
Our Preparing for an Interview short course.
Individual advice: Book a practice interview with your Faculty Careers Consultant

You may be asked to give a presentation (perhaps of your research) or a lecture in front of a panel, especially if the presentations of your findings or lecturing skills will be an important part of the job. The interviewers will be assessing you on the structure, delivery and content of your presentation, so equal attention should be paid to all three.

Useful resources:

jobs.ac.uk: Presentation at an interview
Our resources on giving presentations