CV advice for MA application

[Appletee]

I need to upload a CV for a Masters application.

I haven’t updated my CV in a long time. I‘ve been very lucky that all the jobs I‘ve had in the past 15 years have fallen into my lap.

So I know I need to include jobs and responsibilities, plus education and grades. For a Master’s application, would I be expected to write a short text to on my CV? I‘ve already written a 700 word personal statement. Is there anything else I should include?

I‘ve been up all night with a sick kid so sorry if this is a stupid question. I‘m running on empty and need to get this finished today.

I do admissions decisions for our MSc programmes.

What do you mean by short text?

I would expect to see your job responsibilities and accomplishments detailed very clearly. And I’d want you to specifically highlight how each job has built experience that will be an asset to the master’s.

I wouldn’t want that paragraph that people sometimes put at the top of a CV about why they are suited for the role. Anything you say there should be clear in the bullets for each job listed or as you say, in your personal statement.

The most important things will be your qualifications (do you meet the minimum and in a related undergraduate degree, usually it’s a 2:1 but exceptions are made) and do you have relevant experience and an idea of where the master’s will take you?

Also really important is the quality of the writing in your personal statement. Are there typos? Words missing? Does it make sense? Have someone else read it for you. I spend like 1 minute looking at the CV, but if the personal statement is badly written or wacky or just totally misses the mark, that can be the difference between a yes or a no.

@mindutopia That’s really helpful, thanks. Yes, by short text I meant the paragraph saying why I am suited to the role (or in this case, the course).

I meet the minimum qualification requirements and have relevant job experience. I‘ve detailed this in my personal statement (work experience is essential for entrance onto the degree) but I‘ll add more info on my CV too.

And I‘ll definitely get it checked over, there will definitely be mistakes in it today!