CVs and Cover Letters for PhDs and Postdocs - A master CV - guide

Sep 16, 2026

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Practical guidance for Cambridge PhD students and postdoctoral staff on preparing CVs and application materials for both academic and non-academic roles. The book explains how to build and update a master CV as a structured evidence bank, what selectors look for, and how to tailor content for research positions, lectureships, postdoc applications, industry work, and roles outside academia. It also covers effective CV layout, persuasive language, and the development of cover letters including speculative applications and work permission considerations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResumes

FormatPDF

Pages43

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

A master CV

Your online presence

Layout, evidence and impact

Comparing academic and non-academic CVs

Preparing applications

What academic selectors look for

Applying for a postdoc position

Applying for a lectureship or tenure track position

Research statements and teaching statements

Junior Research Fellowships

Applying for research positions in industry

Applying for positions outside academia

Cover letters

Speculative applications

Work permission for international students

GET READY TO APPLY PUT TOGETHER YOUR CV WRITE YOUR APPLICATION SAMPLE CVs & FURTHER HELP CVs & COVER LETTERS FOR PhDs & POSTDOCS [www.careers.cam.ac.uk](www.careers.cam.ac.uk) VC 2 Written by Careers Advisers of Cambridge University Careers Service [Designed by](Designed by www.magneticstudio.co.uk)[ www.magneticstudio.co.uk](Designed by www.magneticstudio.co.uk) © Copyright Cambridge University Careers Service 2016 No part of this book may be reproduced by any means including, but not limited to, photocopying, scanning or storing in a retrieval system in any form, without prior written consent of Cambridge University Careers Service. | 4 | A master CV | | --- | --- | | 6 | Your online presence | | 8 | Layout, evidence and impact | | 10
12
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16 | Example of bad layout
Bad layout improved
Use impactful language
Build evidence into your CV | | 18 | Comparing academic and
non-academic CVs | | 20 | Preparing applications for
academic positions | | 20
21
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40
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46 | What academic selectors look for Basic content of an academic CV Applying for a postdoc position (with example CVs)
Applying for a lectureship or tenure track position (with example CVs)
Research statements (with examples) Teaching statements (with example) Junior Research Fellowships | | 50 | Scientists applying for research
positions in industry | | 50 | Basic content of an industry CV | | 56 | Applying for positions outside academia | | 57
57
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60 | Applying for advertised positions
Basic content of a non-academic CV How employers may shortlist-a worked example Translating academic language | | 72 | Cover letters | | 72
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74 | What to do if you are not comfortable writing cover letters
What to do if you are comfortable writing cover letters
Suggestions for academic cover letters | | 78 | Speculative applications | | 82 | Work permission for international students | 3 This book has been written by Careers Advisers at Cambridge University Careers Service to help you prepare your CVs and cover letters, whether you are applying for an academic position or a non-academic position – or both. It is designed primarily for Cambridge PhD students and postdoctoral staff. Undergraduates and Masters students should ask for the edition of CVs and Cover Letters written especially for them, available free from the Careers Service. Each example CV is genuine, only personal details and other identifying information having been changed. Each was successful in getting the applicant through to the interview stage of the selection process and, in many cases, to a job offer. Many thanks to: The PhD students and postdocs who gave us feedback and allowed us to use their CVs. The academics and other employers who provided us with advice (quoted throughout) . Contents CVS AND COVER LETTERS FOR PHDS AND POSTDOCS CVS AND COVER LETTERS FOR PHDS AND POSTDOCS A master CV In an ideal world, we would always have lots of time to prepare every job application, reflect on our past experiences, draft our CV with plenty of evidence of success, get feedback from various sources, reflect again, re-draft, and so on. In reality, there’s seldom lots of time, and it’s amazing how difficult it can be to remember good supporting evidence when the pressure is on, the night before an application is due. Building a CV is an on-going job That’s why you may find it useful to keep a master document covering all of your experiences (academic, professional, and personal) in one place. This serves as a bank from which you can draw relevant content depending on the kind of job you come to apply for. Record achievements when they are fresh If you already have a recent version of your CV, start from there and add new content to this document. Do it when an experience or achievement is fresh in your mind, and be sure to note down key information, particularly quantitative data, that will later he

FAQs

How does the book recommend building a master CV?

Create and maintain one master document covering academic, professional, and personal experiences. Use it as a reference bank to draw relevant content for different application types, and update it regularly when achievements are fresh.

Why is evidence and measurable impact important for a CV?

The guidance emphasizes recording achievements with key information, especially quantitative data, so you can demonstrate success under application pressure and support selection decisions.

What guidance is given for cover letters?

The book discusses what to do depending on comfort level, provides suggestions for academic cover letters, and addresses speculative applications. It also highlights how to align cover letter content with the application context.

Sep 16, 2026

Upload by Himbo