A doctoral degree can open up a variety of job prospects both inside and outside of academia. Completing one is a notable academic achievement. Those who have earned a doctorate have the option of applying for postdoctoral (postdoc) research scholarships. Understanding how to create an excellent postdoc CV will help you land the postdoctoral job you’re after if you’re applying for it. In this piece, we define a postdoc CV, go over how to build one, and offer a template and sample to use as a manual.
What exactly is a postdoc CV?
Candidates who are applying for postdoctoral scholarships and equivalent positions must present a formal document called a postdoc CV. A doctorate in an applicable field is necessary for these professions. In universities and other educational institutions, a postdoctoral research position is frequently the first step toward a career in academia. While some fellowships are solely open to applicants who have not yet received their doctorate and who have at least three years of relevant work experience, experience at the undergraduate and master’s levels may be acceptable. Typically, a postdoc CV would be sent along with other application materials like cover letters and references.
Writing a Postdoc CV: A How-To
The procedures listed below describe how to create a resume for a postdoctoral research position or comparable position:
1. Research the job
It’s an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with the postdoctoral job you wish to apply for before you draft your postdoc CV. Investigate the primary responsibilities, particular demands, hiring organizations, and related organizations, such as financing bodies. These specifics can help you customize your resume and raise your chances of landing the job. Examine the job description and make note of the required and preferred qualifications.
Discover the research fields, important academic members, preferred candidates, and internal culture of the hiring organization. The institute’s web page, social media accounts, and publications are all good places to find information. Analyze how well your experience, education, and credentials match the demands of the position. If you don’t have a certain credential, think about emphasizing a related qualification or transferable talents.
2. Compose a summary.
Write your professional summary in the first section of your postdoc CV after supplying your contact information and other personal information at the top of the page. This succinct paragraph summarizes your qualifications for the job and shows why you’d be a great fit. The opportunity to include the data you obtained while investigating the position is presented with the opportunity to write your professional summary. Think about including a minimum of one desired and one necessary condition from the job description.
Your research interests, the subject of your thesis, and the grade you earned for your doctoral studies are all important information to present in your summary. Your postdoc CV might be improved by highlighting any research experience and stating your career objectives. Your summary should not exceed five lines.
3. List your credentials.
Your credentials are usually more important than any prior employment experience because postdoc opportunities, like research fellowships, are often reserved for applicants who are just beginning their academic careers. List any additional appropriate degrees you have earned, along with your doctorate, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees. If you have at least three years of experience, think about replacing this part with your job experience information because emphasizing your work history can help your resume stand out.
Indicate the title, the graduation date, the name, and location of the educational institution you attended for each qualification. You can list any pertinent certificates you may have below your academic credentials. Add the title, the name of the hosting organization, and the completion or expiration year. In this section, list the contents in reverse-chronological sequence.
4. Talk about your experience.
If you have at least three years of experience, you should replace this area with your set of qualifications. Otherwise, you should include any professional experience you have here. To adapt your postdoc CV to the role, you might use the position description and the knowledge you found through research. Make a chronological list of all of your prior employment. Add the job title, your employment dates, the name of the company, and its address for each entry.
Give a list of your major duties and noteworthy accomplishments for each role in a bulleted list format. Describe aspects of your prior work that correspond to these qualities based on the demands of the job for which you are applying. For instance, you might highlight your unique abilities that are pertinent to the postdoc position or outline research you have done in a related field. Think about including five bullet points for the position you are currently in and three for any former roles when you list your work experience in reverse chronological order.
5. List your expertise
Include information about your soft and hard skills in the final portion of your resume. By incorporating important competencies from the job description, you can modify your list to fit the position for which you’re applying. Include any skills you have that a postdoctoral researcher might need, like skills in quantitative research
Skills in qualitative research
- Time management and organization
- Commitment and persistence
- Outstanding written communication skills
- Self-motivation and initiative
- Ability to work autonomously
- Information technology and Statistical analysis
- Adaptation and flexibility
- Networking and verbal communication
- Giving presentations
Resume example for postdoctoral positions
You can use the postdoc CV sample provided below as a model while applying for postdoctoral jobs:
The example model is only for illustrative reasons; additional formatting may be necessary to comply with acceptable standards.
[First name] [Last name], [if appropriate, degree or qualification]
[Telephone number], [Email address], and [City]
Professional Summary:
[Two to three lines highlighting your amount of experience, pertinent abilities, credentials, and accomplishments as an entry-level expert.]
Education
[Degree] | [Graduation date]
[Name of the Institution]
Optional
[Name of the Certification], [Host Organization] – [Year of Completion or Expiration Date]
Experience
[List 5 experience elements related to the most recent role. List 3 is for past positions.]
[Title of Position] | [Dates of Employment]
[Name of the Company] | [City]
(Powerful verb) plus what you did (additional detail) with a justification, result, or measurable results
- [Job responsibility]
- [Job responsibility]
- [Job responsibility]
- [Job responsibility]
Title of Position | Dates of Employment
[Name of the Company] | [City]
(Powerful verb) plus what you did (in more detail) plus a justification, result, or measurable results
[Job responsibility]
[Job responsibility]
Skills
Skills, Skills, Skills, Skills, Skills, Skills
Example of a Postdoc CV
A sample postdoc CV for a postdoctoral research position is provided here.
Joseph Peter, Ph.D.
111-222-3344 | josephpeter@email.co.uk | Scotland
Professional Summary
Doctoral candidate in Celtic and Anglo-Saxon studies seeking additional postdoctoral research fellowship to advance an academic career. authored a thesis about the exchange of languages in early England during the Anglo-Saxon period. Strong networking and presentational skills, and devoted to the development of early medieval studies.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Distinction) in Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Studies | 2021
University of Scotland
Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Studies Master of Arts (Distinction) | 2018
University of Scotland
Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic (2:1) Bachelor of Arts | 2017
Northern Ireland University
Experience
Research Associate | September 2022-Present
The University of Scotland | Scotland
- studying the culture of Anglo-Saxons in the British Isles
- conducting seminar presentations on research
- communicating with research assistants and other researchers
- giving lectures to college students
- carrying out statistical analysis
Research Associate | November 2018–August 2022
The University of Scotland | Scotland
- helped scholars to locate sources
- entered data and conducted analysis
- presented lectures to students
Skills
Presentation| Networking| Statistical analysis| Old English and Celtic language proficiency| Quantitative and qualitative research| Academic writing, | Presentation skills.
What are the salaries and responsibilities of a postdoc?
Examining the average yearly wage of postdocs can aid in determining their annual compensation. The annual postdoctoral income averages £37,530. In various towns, the average postdoc income may differ slightly.
Do postdoctoral salaries vary by institution?
The postdoctoral salary you receive will depend on your field of research. For instance, hospital trusts may include intriguing and better-paying jobs for prospective doctors or medical researchers. A variety of public organization trusts pay postdoctoral fellows higher than average incomes. The following universities, hospitals, and other trusts have the highest of these:
- Annual salary at Manchester University: £52,447
- North Midlands University Hospitals: £50,042 annually
- Southampton University Hospital: £48,843 annually
While these jobs are probably related to biomedical sciences, medicine, or surgery, other universities house a wider spectrum of postdoctoral researchers. The following organizations that aren’t directly connected to hospital trusts pay a few of the highest postdoctoral salaries:
- University of London Birkbeck: £41,399 annually
- Imperial College, London: £40,919 annually
What variables affect the pay of postdoctoral researchers?
The pay for postdoctoral researchers might fluctuate greatly between institutions. This typically relies on the kind of activity you are engaged in and the resources the organization has available. The applicant’s level of experience may also be a factor. Postdocs with more experience or those working in particularly cutting-edge fields of study or research may earn more money.
An important step toward becoming a full-time professor is typically holding a postdoctoral research job. This implies that the majority of postdoctoral posts might be transitory or fixed-term. Even while it’s not a requirement for all academic positions, postdoctoral experience may serve as a vital component of your career and offer a route from Ph.D. study to a full-time academic job.
What is the work of a postdoctoral researcher?
You would be in charge of performing research as a postdoc, typically working as a co-researcher on an ongoing project. Your job description can also call for some teaching and oversight of other students who are seeking masters or doctoral degrees. You might also assist your colleagues in writing grant and funding request applications and in publishing the results of your research.
A postdoctoral researcher typically does not hold a position as a full-time academic employee. Although they are a valuable element of the academic staff, their position does not guarantee them advancement in their field. A variety of postdoc funding programs are available, some of which may be run by organizations with direct ties to particular academic institutions, through which you may submit applications for postdoctoral posts. Here are some potential duties that a postdoctoral researcher might have once they begin working:
- Participating in, directing, and when necessary, attending departmental meetings
- Working as a research student to improve research skills
- Helping to produce research documentation for publication
- Putting together technical documents, records, and reports
- Giving new research team members the required training
- Supporting and organizing research projects
- Making sure that research resources are used effectively and efficiently
- Placing supply orders and keeping supply stocks
- Arranging lab inventory lists
- Directing outside partnerships with research organizations
- Delivering findings at internal meetings
- Obtaining data and interpreting outcomes while cooperating and working alone
What postdoctoral skills are necessary?
A postdoctoral researcher may acquire a variety of crucial abilities to thrive in their position and earn a respectable postdoctoral research income. These abilities are often necessary for all postdoc specializations and disciplines. Here are three crucial postdoctoral competencies to concentrate on:
Analytical and research abilities
For someone to be successful in a postdoctoral role, research abilities can be crucial. The kind of organization you work for and your area of specialization can affect how these talents change. They could be able to carry out literature reviews or offer academic peers criticism, for instance. Working with scholarly journals is crucial to becoming recognized as an academic in numerous fields. Your postdoctoral wage can be increased by taking up editing work for reputable journals. Therefore, thorough familiarity with research mythologies and methods for result analysis is crucial.
Outstanding written communication abilities
Practical work, writing, reporting, and disseminating the findings are all components of research. A larger audience will find it simpler to read and comprehend your research if you can articulate your results in a way that is straightforward and brief. You might obtain funds from other organizations or assist in writing submissions for financing for particular projects as a postdoctoral researcher.
Writing proposals for your research endeavors or assisting other academics in your organization is something you can anticipate. Although a postdoctoral researcher is not a personal assistant or an administrative assistant, you might occasionally assist others in creating various kinds of paperwork. The ability to concisely summarize your results or the results of other researchers might be vital as a co-researcher on a project.
Excellent verbal skills
You might wish to verbally brief others on your results in addition to writing about them, or even deliver your study findings at gatherings and conferences. If you are confident and at ease with speaking to huge audiences, doing this will be simpler. At a university, you might also engage in instructional activities as a postdoc researcher by giving classes or supervising teams of undergrads. Having effective verbal communication abilities could make it simpler for you to supervise and instruct people.
Interpersonal abilities
The journey from a Ph.D. to a full-time university research position for many persons involves working as a postdoc. If you work as a postdoc, finding and landing your next employment can take up a significant portion of your time. Excellent social and networking skills are necessary for this procedure, as is networking and leaving a good first impression on your coworkers. For instance, showing that you are engaged with what somebody is saying can be done by practicing active listening.
You might also become active in departmental administration and leadership as a postdoc researcher. Working with a diverse group of individuals with various specialties and skill sets might be a part of this. In a research study where each participant has a set responsibility, working constructively and jointly with others is crucial. You might also mentor and instruct less seasoned academics. You must engage with others and create solid interpersonal bonds to complete these tasks.
Critical reasoning
To conclude, critical thinking includes analyzing numerous viewpoints, facts, or arguments. The vast majority of postdoctoral researchers use data from research and clinical trials in their work. It’s crucial to be able to analyze and evaluate this material impartially. Understanding and being aware of data bias factors that could affect your results is another benefit of critical thinking. Additionally crucial for problem-solving is this ability. When looking for solutions, it might be useful to understand how trends and information points relate to one another.
Time management and organizational abilities
Postdoctoral researchers frequently engage in lengthy or brief research initiatives and work on extensive research endeavors. They might also carry out several important tasks at once. To complete these essential responsibilities, it can be helpful to develop good time-management abilities. In a similar vein, postdoctoral researchers might execute their work more precisely and dependably by possessing great organizational skills. Your career in the division you work in may advance if you can demonstrate these abilities. Success in your current position will probably lead to greater and more lucrative job prospects.
Conclusion
In conclusion, writing a postdoc CV requires careful attention to detail and a clear understanding of the specific requirements and expectations of the academic and research community. By following the guidelines and tips outlined in this article, you can create a compelling postdoc CV that highlights your qualifications, research experience, and contributions to the field. Remember to tailor your postdoc CV to each specific postdoc position, emphasizing relevant skills and accomplishments. Additionally, seeking feedback from mentors, colleagues, or career advisors can provide valuable insights and help you refine your postdoc CV further. With a well-crafted postdoc CV, you can showcase your expertise, demonstrate your potential for independent research, and increase your chances of securing a rewarding postdoc position.
Frequently Asked Questions about Postdoc CVs
- What should be included in a postdoc CV?
A postdoc CV typically includes sections such as personal information, educational background, research experience, publications, presentations, grants and scholarships, teaching experience, professional memberships, and references.
- How long should a postdoc CV be?
A postdoc CV is typically longer than a standard resume, ranging from 2 to 4 pages. However, it’s important to prioritize relevant information and maintain a concise and clear format.
- Should I include a summary or objective statement in my postdoc CV?
While not mandatory, including a summary or objective statement at the beginning of your CV can provide a brief overview of your research interests, expertise, and career goals. This can help capture the attention of potential employers.
- How can I highlight my research experience effectively in a postdoc CV?
When describing your research experience, focus on specific projects, methodologies, and outcomes. Highlight any significant contributions, publications, or presentations related to your research. Use action verbs and quantify your achievements whenever possible.
- Should I customize my postdoc CV for each application?
Yes, it is highly recommended to tailor your postdoc CV for each application. Research the specific requirements and preferences of the institution or research group you’re applying to, and emphasize the qualifications, skills, and experiences that align with their expectations.
Remember that the specific questions and expectations regarding postdoc CVs may vary depending on the institution or research field. It’s always a good idea to review the application guidelines and seek advice from mentors or career advisors to ensure your postdoc CV meets the necessary standards and effectively represents your qualifications.