How to write a

CV

for Biology students

Seven
steps
2
to a
great
CV

Identify the skills and

experience that the employer is
looking for. They are the criteria
against which your CV will be
assessed, and should be listed on
the job description, website or job
advert. If you cannot find them,
ask the recruiter.
Think of examples from your
work, volunteering, study,
interests, travel or home life that
prove you have these job
requirements. Try to choose examples that show you using the
skills in a way which is similar
to how they would be used in the
role.
Decide which sections you need
in your CV, then decide on section
titles and order. Refer to pages 2,
3 and 4 for guidelines on format.

A CV isnt a list of everything you

have ever done; it is a marketing
document.
It should focus on those skills and
experiences most relevant to your
target employer. Your mission is
to ensure that, after a 20 second
scan, the employer can pick out
evidence that you have exactly
the skills and experience they are

looking for.

Incorporate your examples

into the most relevant
section(s) of your CV.
Make sure you have provided
evidence for every job
requirement.

Triple check ALL spelling

and grammar and ask
someone else to check this too.
Many employers will regard even
one error as an
indication of poor motivation
for the job, and reject you on that
basis.

6
7

Run through our checklist on

page 4.
Write a covering letter to
accompany your CV,
referring to guidelines in our
Covering Letter Helpsheet.

Tips for wording your examples

Imagine you are a recruiter seeking a student strong at teamwork. Below is an excerpt from the CVs of
Candidate A and B. Who would you choose?
Candidate A: Demonstrated strong teamworking skills during stock-taking at STL Retail.
Candidate B: Teamwork supported team of four to achieve full stock-take of STL Retail in 16 hours
by: arriving early to receive briefing on behalf of team; taking on extra tasks for a colleague who had to
go home sick; and organising night out to keep us motivated.
The second example is more persuasive. You can achieve this by:

Placing the skill word at the start to make it easy for the employer to pick out after a quick scan;
Allocating maximum space to how you applied this skill;
Using Action Words (below) to convey achievement and impact;
Adding quantifiables (e.g. numbers, timescales) to make your examples more concrete;
Including a tangible outcome (in this case a completed stock-take) or testimony (e.g. grade,
increased responsibility or hours) to prove the impact of your contribution.

Language

Action words describe dynamic activity. Using action words in your CV and
covering letter will help you to convey achievement, ability and impact.
Examples you could use are in the box below. Passive phrases like I was
involved in and I was required to have the opposite effect, so avoid these.

achieved analysed arranged budgeted co-ordinated created demonstrated designed

developed enhanced evaluated identified improved increased initiated led liaised
managed organised negotiated planned prepared prioritised produced researched

Guidelines on format
Your CV is your document. In the UK, there are no
official rules on format. The example CV on the next
page is only one way of formatting a CV.
Whatever the format, CVs must be specific to the
job you are applying for, like this one has been
tailored to the job advert on the right. Read the job
advert and the CV to give you some ideas about
how to write your CV to show you are are a suitable
candidate.
If you are following an academic career path or
applying for a job outside the UK, alternative CV
formats may be more appropriate. This may also be
the case if you are changing your career.
Call QM Careers on 0207 882 8533 to book a
place on our CV Clinic, or book a CV feedback
appointment.

Example job advert

Marine Planner (Evidence & Analysis)
Organisation: Poseidon Planning
Starting salary: 22,745 pa
Based: Cambridge with significant travel in UK
If youre passionate about marine and coastal issues and
keen to use your skills to help secure a sustainable future for
the seas around England, join us in this exciting role.
About the role: You will support developmental work
focussed on evidence and analysis, monitoring and
reporting on plans, research, and take the technical lead on
at least one topic or sector.
About you: Were looking for someone who is educated
to degree level in a relevant subject and keen to develop
their knowledge and skills as part of a team that contributes
significantly to the development and implementation of
marine planning in England. You will have strong skills
in analysis, be a clear communicator and should have
experience of working with evidence applied to marine or
coastal issues.
To apply, send an email with your CV and a covering letter.

CV example targeted to job advert above

You do not have to include a profile.

Amanda has used it to emphasise
some of her most recent experience.
If you do include one, keep it brief
and achievement focused.

PROFILE
Passion for marine & coastal issues Sea Champion for the Marine Conservation
Society since 2007.
Analytical skills collected and identified samples of phyla during fieldwork for
invertebrates module.

For most students and graduates

Education comes before your work
history. However, if you have a lot
of relevant industry experience, you
might choose to swap these sections.

Highlight the components of your

degree most relevant to the job.
Add specific and tangible outcomes
or testimonies where possible.

Clear communicator working at a hotel reception desk, answering telephones and

meeting customer needs in a professional manner.
EDUCATION
2010 2013
BSc Biology

Queen Mary, University of London
My degree is a broad-based study of biological sciences with an emphasis on the
marine environment and ecology.
Relevant modules: Conservation and the environment, Ecology and environmental
techniques, Aquatic ecosystems: structure and function.

Minimum space taken up by school

as this is now less relevant than
university.

If you dont have experience in

the field, just group all of your
experience together under a header
such as Work Experience or Work
History.

Application of evidence to marine issues- collected and identified samples during

the fieldwork on marine invertebrates. Applied theory to establish behavioural
characteristics of phyla, achieving a mark of 71%.
Monitoring during the residential element of the Populations, communities and
ecosystems module I was responsible for designing and recording observations.

2002 2009

Dorothy Stinger School, Brighton

A Levels: Biology (A), Chemistry (B), Spanish (B)

AS Level: Environmental Science (A)
10 GCSEs: including Mathematics (A*) and English (B)
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
May 2007 - Sept 2012
Sea Champion

Marine Conservation Society
Voluntary work assisting in the marine coservation activities of the local branch of the
society.

This experience wasnt paid or in a

work environment and only lasted
a few weeks, but is still a useful
showcase for one of the skills the
employer is seeking.

Presentations - gave a 20 minute talk to the local society based on my assignment

for the Fish biology and fisheries module.
Gathering data and monitoring - accurately identified and collected data on
rubbish collected during four Beach Cleans.

Summer 2007
3 week Work Experience

SEA LIFE, Brighton
Assisting aquarists with food preparation, feeding fish and invertebrates, as well as
cleaning the displays.
Technical skills testing water conditions and making minor adjustments to
temperature and pH.
Highly motivated - some tasks were very messy but I was keen to get my hands
dirty.

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

Oct 2010 - present

Part-time receptionist
Holiday Inn, Sutton

Working under pressure Working in a team of three people with a flexible

approach and aptitude for front of house co-ordination. Awarded training of
new recruits for the past 6 months, as a result.
Attention to detail Maintaining and updating the customer database for
bookings, cancellations and special requirements.

Start with the most recent activity

and work backwards.
Shows initiative and that you
can turn your part-time job from
something you just do to earn
cash to evidence of skills valuable to
future employers.

OTHER SKILLS
IT: Intermediate level Word, Excel, Access and Powerpoint
Languages: Conversational and a good written standard of Spanish.
LEISURE ACTIVITIES
Cooking: Enjoy baking, sold cupcakes to raise 80 for the Marine Conservation
Society in 2009.
Travel: Hostelling in Spain for one month, to improve spoken Spanish.
Sport: Recently taken up Zumba to get fit.
REFEREES
Prof Fabio Torini
Personal Tutor
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End, London E1 4N

Ms Sharon Shaw
Holiday Inn
Gibson Road
Sutton
Surrey, SM1 2RF

You dont have to include this, but

some employers like to know what you
do in your spare time. Keep it brief!
If your travel has been challenging,
you may be able to use it as a source
of evidence for your skills.
Ask your referees before you list
their details. If you are not able
to disclose names, you can state
References available on request..

CV Checklist

Finished?
Look at your CV as if you were the recruiter. After a quick scan, can you pick
out evidence of each of the job requirements?
Is your CV two pages in length? (Some UK employers request a one-page CV,
and academic CVs can be longer, but most UK CVs are two pages in length.)
To ensure your CV is easy to read, is there about the same amount of text on
both pages, and have you avoided large chunks of text?
Have you used formatting tools (e.g. bold, italics, capitals and spacing) consistently?
Have you asked your Careers team for feedback on your CV and covering letter?
(Please take a list of job requirements with you.)
October 2012 QM Careers

See our Competencies and skills and Cover

letter leaflets for related information.

www.careers.qmul.ac.uk
020 7882 8533
Room WG3, Queens Building, Mile End