MetaChat - Clueless CV question

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06 January 2009

Clueless CV question Hi guys, I'm applying for a job and I don't really know what to do with my CV!→[More:] OK here's the deal. My CV is standard for academia, which means that it's *long*. It's long because my educational history is long, and I have a couple of pages of publications, all of which are important to mention when I'm applying for academic positions.

Today however, I'm applying for a non-academic position. It's medical writing/PR for a medical school/hospital but they want someone with research experience and advanced degrees. I have done quite a bit of science communication work here and there, much of it volunteer. I really want to emphasize that right upfront, because that's going to be important. However, I'm used to starting off my CV with my employment history. Should I still do that? How should I talk about my volunteer stuff? It's not really something I can put into bullet points, I don't think (maybe I can?) but I really want it in my CV as well as mentioning it in my cover letter.

Anyway, my main question is, should i lead off with my examples of science communication (some of which are tied into my paid jobs) or still with employment history?

(I have pared out a lot more of my resume that would only be of interest to academics and now it's 2 pages. I kept in "selected publications" - rather than them all - because they wanted research experience, and also, it's still science communication even if it is within the scientific community rather than to the public. Do you think that's OK?)

Sorry for the length. I am out of my comfort zone with the non-academia thing.
thank y'all bunnies!

post by: gaspode at: 13:01 | 17 comments

For a non-academic job, I would lead with employment history.

At the very top, though, you could list a bulleted "Summary of Qualifications" that goes something like:

-- XX years of experience with YY kind of work
-- Educational background includes ZZ

That way they'll know to keep reading past your employment history to your dazzling educational background.

Oh, and good luck!

posted by mudpuppie 06 January | 13:07

Oooo good luck, gaspode!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 06 January | 13:08

Ooooh that's good, pups. thank you!
(honestly, I'm not holding out a ton of hope for this job... it's more dipping my toe in the water for applying for stuff like this. but if I could get an interview...)

posted by gaspode 06 January | 13:09

pupps' suggestion is a good one, and is more than I'd come up with.

But I wanted to say, GOOD LUCK! That's very exciting. I know you've been itching for change a little bit, lately... glad to see you taking a step in that direction. :)

posted by BoringPostcards 06 January | 13:14

Like mudpuppie said, a summary section is a great choice; you can even write a "paragraph" (in the resume style of non-sentences) like "Award-winning science communicator, published researcher, academic whirlwind..." and give that paragraph a lean towards the sort of job you're applying for, "...nonpareil writer and exacting editor," etc. Sometimes a paragraph like that does the same as a bullet list but takes up less space on a long resume and gives the reader something to focus on, especially if they're unlikely to read your entire resume, as many interviewers unfortunately are.

Go get 'em, champ!

posted by Hugh Janus 06 January | 13:24

Good luck gaspode! I really liked these two web sites:

Quintessential Careers (especially this)

Job Star (especially this sample and this sample)

posted by halonine 06 January | 14:49

Given that it's a nonacademic job in an academic setting, would it be worth phoning/emailing them and asking if they'd prefer a "business resume" or an "academic vita"?

posted by ROU Xenophobe 06 January | 14:51

they want someone with research experience and advanced degrees

This makes me think that you should leave your CV essentially unchanged. It was a good idea to edit it, but since they want someone who has your background, you should describe your background as you normally would, and I would expect them to know how to read it.

In your cover letter/summary, call out your communiciations experience. And bring or send some writing samples - if you bring, package them nicely in a portfolio which you can leave behind.

Good luck!

posted by Miko 06 January | 15:11

Lead with your work history and just include your volunteer work in that (in chronological order). This is what I do and it seems to work pretty well. Two pages is good for a resume but, unless they have specified that length, you could go one more page if you think it will give a more rounded impression. When you list "selected publications", make sure you note that a full list is available on request, to drive home that there is lots more.

If you're applying for a communication job, obviously make sure your resume is spot-on, because they will be judging your written communication level by it (obviously). Don't use "marketing-speak" like academic whirlwind - that will backfire on you more often than not - just keep the style formal but simple and make sure it not only reads well, but looks good to the eye.

I'm not going to wish you luck, because you don't need it.

posted by dg 06 January | 15:26

The resume I was using for copywriting jobs that wanted advanced degrees went:

* Education
* Employment History
* Publications
* Volunteer History

But that was partly because my degree was in English and from a fancy-pants school, which I knew from experience was the thing most of my interviewers/past bosses found most impressive. I put the volunteer history bit in because I had some grant-writing in there, which helped (I think), and some work for non-profits, which helped when I was applying to non-profits/philanthropies. I just listed organization, dates I volunteered, and title, but I don't see why you couldn't set up the volunteer section much like the employment section, with bullets and such.

I would imagine (like Miko says) that they're used to looking at CVs, if they're an academic medical center. I think you can probably get away with a bit of a hybrid here, rather than the super-short business resume.

posted by occhiblu 06 January | 15:26

Also, yes yes yes your publications count as science communication. Don't downplay those, even if you cut down the number you're including.

posted by occhiblu 06 January | 15:30

My experience is that, if you list volunteer experience separately from employment, it tends to be overlooked. Maybe it's different in the US, but here volunteer work isn't highly regarded and would not be considered as "work experience" by most people.

posted by dg 06 January | 15:34

I called it the Foreword, two or three sentences packed with keywords, action verbs, and superlatives. 4 lines maximum. I figured that if they didn't want to interview me after just reading my foreword, then their job description was inaccurate.

dg: I have worked for companies that viewed volunteer work as a distraction from your real job.

posted by Ardiril 06 January | 15:37

Thank you so much, everyone. You're being really helpful.
(I want to say 'fora' but the internet is telling me that 'forums' is preferred for normal use. Saying fora makes me sound like a wanker, right?)

posted by gaspode 06 January | 15:41

Saying fora makes me sound like a wanker, right?

Only if you start talking about the fora and the flauna.

posted by occhiblu 06 January | 15:52

I'm not the best source of advice on CVs and resumes, but Good Luck! Kick Some Ass!

posted by jason's_planet 06 January | 19:49

Oooh.

posted by ethylene 06 January | 23:34

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