AIBU - quick CV question

[PamplemousseRouge]

Hi everyone,

Sorry this is such a silly AIBU - I'm posting for traffic, hope that's okay!

I'm looking into applying for a Master's course in journalism - I'm particularly interested in the ones offered at City University in London (although I completely understand it's also really competitive..!) I'm hoping to apply to the TV and radio journalism master's either for this September or for September next year.

Most of my experience so far is in print journalism (freelancing, internships and student journalism at university), although I volunteered last year for several months at a hospital radio station as a presenter, and would like to get involved with this again in London, where I've since moved to, as well as looking for work experience with radio stations.

On the course webpage for City's MA Journalism courses, it's explained that applicants have to send in a CV as part of the application process. I was just wondering about the layout of the CV, given that this isn't a CV for a job application but for a Master's application.

At the moment, my CV starts off with a personal profile (short paragraph outlining my skills and interests and reasons for applying to whichever job I'm tailoring the CV to).

This is then followed by a bullet pointed list of key skills that I tailor to the job specification.

I then have my employment history directly underneath this, with dates for each role and several bullet points outlining my main responsibilities for each role.

After my employment history, I've got a section for volunteering commitments and then I finish off with education details.

What I'm wondering is if anyone might be able to give any guidance on how to set out a CV that's submitted as part of a Master's application? From what I've understood, the admissions staff are most interested in evidence of commitment to journalism and possibly any references to skills that would be helpful within journalism.

I'd be really grateful if anyone who's done a similar course (Journalism MA at City or elsewhere) or anyone working as a journalist might be able to offer further guidance on the best format for my CV for the application please?

Thanks everyone :)

I'm a careers advisor in HE so look at lots of CVs for Masters.

Your CV layout sounds good for applying for a job, in the way that you understand abt tailoring it for the role. For a masters make sure your do the same: profile talks about the kind of course and career path you wish to undertake. Next should come your education section. Then with skills concentrate on skills needed in the sector so oral and written communication will obviously be most important!! Also think about study skills such as research.
Follow on with your relevant jobs so thinking volunteer radio etc and then other jobs.

Hope that helps

Thanks so much for your reply mimi! It's so useful to hear from someone specialising in HE CVs, so thanks very much for your advice :)

If anyone else also has any tips or advice, it would be great to hear from you :)

Thanks!

I am in Biology but am familiar with general academic CVs. So this advice may or may not be relevant to you!
They can be quite long but should have specific evidence for everything you've done. The subheadings you mention sound good, don't be afraid to add more subheadings if something doesn't fit in elsewhere. If you've had stuff published, list the publications and dates under a Publications heading (or at least the most important 20 or so if there are loads!) and similarly if you've presented or reported on things give the details. For any key skills you are listing, you should have evidence of when you have used it. Make sure you address all points that are relevant to the masters. It sounds like your CV is already very focused. Make sure it tells the story of what you've done and where you are aiming to go so that your motivation is clear. Get rid of anything that sounds waffly, unsubstantiated or pretentious. Imagine a bunch of students sitting round reading it giggling - this is what really happens in academia!

Thanks care - your points about the key skills and publications are really helpful! (And thanks as well for your heads-up about potential giggling students!! 🙈 Hoping that in this situation being forewarned is being forearmed! )