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Example CVs

This is an example of a high quality science CV. All the course modules are included,
also laboratory experience gained on your degree course and course projects. If you
were applying for jobs outside the environmental field (e.g. finance) you would
probably omit most of your modules (except those including mathematical or
computing skills) . Also see Environmental and Biodiversity Careers and
Covering Letters

Alfred Russel Wallace

22 Temple Road, Folkestone, Kent CT17 3YU

Email: arw999@yahoo.co.uk Mobile: 0339005678 Tel:

0167534768

PROFILE

I am passionate about conservation and the environment.

My three years of study and my summer practical field
work experience have strongly confirmed biodiversity
conservation as the career choice for me. I am now
looking forward to a career focused on my passion for the
environment, presenting opportunities to work with similar
minded people.

Electronics/IT CV
Law vacation CV

EDUCATION

Environmental CV
Actuarial CV

Legal training contract CV

Mini-pupillage CV
Pupillage CV

Postgraduate CVs

CV for Postgrad. Study

MSc Computing CV

Use a sensible email address.

Something like
RavingLoony@hotmilk.com
may not make the best
impression!

A profile or career
objective isn't essential as
much of this information
would be included in a
My reliability, communication skills, responsibility and
covering letter. It can be a
friendly nature are assets I would bring to the work. I have useful summary particularly if
experience in project management and strong
you are sending your CV to
organizational and administrative skills with the ability to
recruitment agencies where a
work independently and use my own initiative. I also have letter may become detached.
the ability to prioritise whilst under pressure meeting tight You can also call this a career
deadlines. I have specific experience in research, data
aim, profile or personal
collection and analysis.
statement.
I am able to work in a multi-cultural team and adapt to
new cultures. My previous positions have involved working
and living in remote areas often under difficult conditions
with significant physical fieldwork.

Pharmacy CVs

A large font size for the

name makes it stand out and
easier to find in a pile of CVs

2013-2016 THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT

Biodiversity Conservation BSc (Hons)

st
nd
Final Year
1 Year subjects 2 Year
Ecology &
Animals and
included:
Conservation;
People 81%
Biodiversity
Biodiversity
Lifes Systems Economic and
Law;
Environmental
and Processes
Systems 59%
61%

The use of tables to list

modules looks smart,
suggests an organised
person, and makes the CV
easier to read. You can add

MA Humanities CV
MBA CV
PhD CV

CV Templates

COVERING LETTERS

APPLICATION FORMS
INTERVIEWS

SELECTION CENTRES
APTITUDE TESTS

CHOOSING A CAREER

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
HOME

Economic and
Environmental
Systems 63%
Environmental
Sciences 69%
Survey and
Monitoring for
Biodiversity
54%

Environmental
Sciences 68%
People and
Plants 66%
Skills for
Wildlife
Conservation
and
Management
62%

Communities,
Conservation,
Conflict &
Change;
Sustainable
Resource
Use;
Survey and
Monitoring
for
Biodiversity.

your module marks here if

they are good!
Modules and practical
skills are listed as every
environmental course is
slightly different.

If you were going for a nonscience job (e.g. banking,

you could leave these out.

Practical skills gained so far during my degree:

My course has included individual and team projects, field
reports, commentaries, management plans and statistical
analyses. I have learned data collection methods including
focal and scan sampling methods, transects and
behavioural observations.
Research Project. Field research in a tropical forest in
the Peruvian Amazon has allowed me to develop both
theoretical and practical skills including developing a
research proposal, finding appropriate methods,
conducting research, analysing results, interpreting
results, writing up a full research project and giving an oral
presentation on my findings. I gained a knowledge of
biological field techniques with specific experience
including wildlife tracking using GPS telemetry, wildlife
collaring and wildlife health monitoring.
2006-2013 Folkestone High School
A-levels: History B, Biology B, English C

GCSEs: 8 including Maths and English at grades A to C

Projects are very important

if you are going for research
work as they are the nearest
thing you will have done to
real science work. You could
sell the skills you had gained
here:
ability to work
independently
manage your time
solve problems
working in a team (for
group projects)

Page 2
RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

July 2012 Sept 2012 Kenya for 3 months.

I have organised work experience during my summer
holidays which has involved conducting scientific research,
animal care and a variety of physically demanding
activities, all of which have contributed to my personal
development.
Voluntary work for Save The Elephants: taking part in
daily research work in the field. Data collection and entry
on the computer. Tracking and monitoring of the elephant
population. Participation in the fixing of GPS collars on
selected elephants.
2013-14 Blean Woods RSPB Nature Reserve
Rough Common, Canterbury
Voluntary work on Saturdays, clearing rhododendron
bushes, coppicing and preparing environments for the
Heath Fritillary butterfly

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

Summer 2013 Next Retail (Sales Assistant)

The job entailed working on the busy sales floor, taking
deliveries, stock control and dealing with customers with
high quality customer care.

September 2011-February 2012 Sales Adviser

in the Cookware Department, BHS.
Duties involved stock taking, ordering of relevant stock
from warehouse, arranging stock, displaying sales items,
customer assistance and advice, arranging special orders
and deliveries, as well as answering telephone enquiries. I
was also responsible for my own particular sections of the
department and had to ensure they met with the approval
of my department store managers.

Here experience is divided

into relevant experience
and other experience. This
is not essential, but means
that the selector reads about
your relevant experience first

Fonts are largely down to

personal preference, but
choose something clear and
easy to read. My own
preference is for the "Sans"
fonts. Lucida Sans or Verdana
in 10 points for the body text
is a good choice (don't use
Comic Sans!). This CV is set
in Verdana. Subheadings
such as Education and Work
Experience can be slightly
larger: say 12 or 14 points.
Although these are not all
science jobs, transferable
skills are mentioned here.
For example, people skills,
teamworking skills,
communication skills - all
valuable evidence that you
could employ these in a
science setting. This is a good
place to use Action Verbs
If you have done a lot of
jobs, you can summarise
the more routine jobs,
rather than filling your CV
with lots of irrelevant
information.

Other jobs have also included: voluntary care in

Folkestone Hospital and assisting in teaching infants at a
Primary School.

All of my work experiences have involved working within a

team-based culture. This involved planning, organisation,
co-ordination and commitment e.g., in retail, this ensured
daily sales targets were met, a fair distribution of tasks
and effective communication amongst all staff members.

SKILLS

Teamwork

Communication

Practical
conservation skills

Computing skills

I have successfully undertaken

various team projects within both
academic and non-academic
environments.
I was also a member of the
editorial team for a school science
newspaper.
As a sales adviser at BHS, I had to
demonstrate knowledge of the
different types of items sold and
their uses, to be able to respond
effectively to customer queries.
My degree course greatly enhanced
my written and verbal
communication skills due to the
many presentations, assignments,
posters, essays and projects
required.
I have a full clean driving
licence with 4 wheel drive
experience.
NPTC Agricultural Tractor
Operation Certificate
I undertook a small mammal
identification course at Kent
Wildlife Trust
Chainsaw certificate
First Aid Certificate
PADI Diving Certificate
Competent using Microsoft
Word, Excel, Access,
PowerPoint
GIS mapping using Arcview
Cybertracker for the use of
tracking animals, birds, and
insects.

INTERESTS

My peers nominated me as course representative for

my degree course.
At university I was a member of the Badminton
Society which I attended weekly and successfully
encouraged friends to join.
I have travelled to Peru, Kenya, Europe, the USA and
Asia.

REFEREES

Charles Darwin (Lecturer in

Biodiversity)
Durrell Institute
University of Kent
Canterbury
Kent CT2 7NJ
cd9999@kent.ac.uk

John Audubon, Manager

BHS
High Street
Folkestone CT17 5RU
jja@bhs.com

A nice summary of skills

obtained via work experience,

Again more evidence of

relevant skills, focusing on
some of the core
competencies needed in
science jobs

Computing skills are

important to mention: be
specific about which
programs you have used.

Try to show a broad variety

of interests and focus more
on social and active rather
than solitary and passive
interests. Serious
commitment to at least one
activity can be viewed
favourably, as will evidence
of getting on well with other
people e.g. in team sports.
Independent or challenging
holidays or foreign travel can
also look good.

Again, sell your transferable

skills here: evidence of
leadership, responsibility, and
communicating.
Normally you would give one
academic referee (tutor or
project supervisor) and one
employment referee. See our
references page

Further Help

Postgraduate Applications and Interviews

Interview Reports A selection of reports completed by students after they
have been to interview is on the web. These give details of questions asked,
tests administered and tips for candidates.
Other Practice Interviews Interviews for postgraduate study and other areas
as well as general interviews. You will be asked common questions found in
these interviews and given tips on how to answer them.
Pharmaceutical Careers Links including recruitment agencies for
science jobs
Bioscience Careers Page
Forensic Science Careers Page
Physics Careers Page
Chemistry Careers Page
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