Getting your CV out there!

As jobseekers we all know the importance of having a good CV and this site is full of useful advice on how to write one. But it’s also important to let as many people as possible see your CV so they can give you constructive feedback and help you improve it.

In this week’s Chronicle, Gene Fant Jr has written a short piece on why it’s important to let others take a look at your CV. For the full article please click here.

Especially when starting out in a particular field it can be difficult to know how to ‘sell’ your knowledge, experience and skills, so talk to someone who has done your job for years or, even better, someone who has experience on hiring committees and sees hundreds of CVs, good and bad.

Obviously you have to be careful that those you consult will treat your CV confidentially, but approaching professors or senior researchers in your field should ensure this. If you are still doing your PhD, your supervisor is an obvious choice.

But once you have got your doctorate, some people can feel isolated and without a support network while jobseeking. That’s why it is important to build up your own network of contacts at every opportunity. You’ll soon find a group of academics whose opinion you can value and trust.