Research Skills required by PhD students G4: Present one's skills, personal attributes and experiences through effective CVs, applications and interviews

Check this skill

By the time students complete a PhD, they should be able to answer ‘Yes’ to most of these questions.

• Have you participated in practise job interviews and mock interviews?
• Can you summarise lessons you learned from those experiences?
• Can you give a list of standard interview questions, and have you thought about how you might answer them?
• Can you describe what psychometric testing is and how it is used in recruitment?
• Do you keep your c.v. up-to-date?
• Has your c.v. been reviewed by a career counsellor or a colleague with substantial interview experience?
• Can you tailor your CV to meet a job specification?
• Can you prepare effective CVs to meet academic and non-academic requirements,
• Can you write a relevant and engaging cover letter?
• Do you know how your extra-curricular activities contribute to your employability?
• Have you mapped your skills and experience onto 'person specifications' for jobs of interest to you?
• Can you give examples of how you demonstrate your personal qualities, skills, and abilities?
• Have you researched prospective companies/ Higher Education Institutions?
• Are you aware of the network role in finding job opportunities?

Evidence of this skill

These are examples of documents you can collect. Each implies a piece or work, which may be a good way for you to develop this skill.

• Probation mini-viva.
• Up-to-date cvs, tailored to academic and industrial job opportunities.
• A one page cv to use when 'cold calling' or seeking interviews
• A record of work shadowing
• A record of participation in career days and other career management training opportunities.
• A covering letter for a job application
• Written work set by interview panel
• PowerPoint presentation in support of application
• Evidence having researched prospective companies/Institutions

This page is based upon material produced by The Open University’s research school to support doctoral students.