How to write a CV

Tailor your CV to the job and industry

Your CV shouldn't just list your experience - it should show how your science skills add value.

• Start with the most recent first - Use reverse chronological order.
• Relevance is key - Focus on the courses, projects and jobs that are most relevant to the position.
• Highlight practical experience - Field studies, laboratory work, programming, and analysis are meritorious.

Describe your achievements and results

Employers want to know how you apply your expertise in practice. Describe how you have used your skills to solve problems, run projects and produce results.

Instead of writing "worked on environmental analysis", you could write "performed analysis of water samples and developed a method that reduced the cost of analysis by 25%".

Use active verbs such as analyze, develop, optimize, model, validate, map, evaluate, and implement to show your drive.

Structure your CV for a quick overview

• Clear structure - Combine running text and bullet points to make information easy to scan.
• Adapt the layout to your industry - In some industries, a traditional layout is best, while a more graphic profile may work in biotechnology or environmental consulting, for example.
• No unnecessary details - Keep it short and focus on what is most relevant to the service.

References - provide on request

Do not provide references directly in the CV. Instead, write "References provided upon request."

Always check with your references in advance and inform them of the position you are applying for. Choose people who can provide evidence of your real skills, problem-solving and teamwork abilities.