Career skills session on CV preparation during the YSF
As I hope you have seen from the YSF programme, as part of the "Careers Skills” on Saturday 4th July I will be running a session on CV preparation. This will be a short introduction followed by practical exercises when you will be looking at some current job adverts to help you develop and target your CV - look out for another post just before the YSF for more information.
One-to-one CV discussions during the Congress
Perhaps more importantly, I will be offering to look at your curriculum vitae (CV or resumé) and to provide one-to-one discussion and advice. This will take place during the main Congress in Maastricht when I will be at the FEBS stand and will be available to spend about 15 minutes talking to you about your CV. If you wish to take advantage of this opportunity you should bring a copy of your CV with you to the YSF and Congress. A hard copy is helpful as I can write on it and give it back to you, but you can also email a pdf or Word file to keithelliott15@btinternet.com . I will be attending the whole of the YSF which gives me the opportunity to meet you and talk in an informal setting, helping me to get to know you.
Your CV should be relatively short – not more than two or three A4 sheets – although you may also include an appendix with details of your publications etc. It should provide all the relevant information required by a potential employer, listing the skills, experience and attributes you are able to offer - not just a list of your degrees and courses. As science is international the CV should ideally be written in English, although it may be possible to offer advice in a number of other languages if essential. As you may be aware, there are a number of websites to help you with your CV production but many are not aimed at scientists. The following is the one from the Careers Section at UK Biochemical Society that you might find useful: https://www.biochemistry.org/careers-and-education/careers/cvs-personal-statements-and-interviews/cvs/ Although it is obviously aimed primarily at students in the UK it gives some general advice and you may find it useful as a starting point.
If you wish to bring along a CV I will collect it at the YSF and make arrangements for the one-to-one meetings during the main Congress. Please do take up this opportunity - I have had discussions with over 600 YSF participants about their CVs at previous Congresses and the overwhelming response has been very positive, including a lot of feedback about how helpful it was when applying for posts after the YSF.
I look forward to meeting you in Wageningen (and Maastricht). If you have any questions beforehand please email me at keithelliott15@btinternet.com or by clicking on my name at the top of the post and I will see if I can help.
Regards.
Keith Elliott