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Original poster

CV for masters app – any advice?

2 replies

Molambulus · 15/09/2024 17:12

Hi, posting here for traffic! (Academic commons room quiet today!) I'm putting together a masters application and have been asked to include 'relevant' work history and a CV.

Are there any conventions I should be aware of here? In my normal CV I focus on quantifiable achievements (‘Secured x number of sales for y’, etc.) and you know, generally try and big myself up; is this style appropriate here? Or should I focus more on lists of duties (to just show in a matter-of-fact way the range of experience gained).

Also unsure, how 'relevant' would work experience be expected to be? (There's a separate section to highlight 'relevant' work experience, separate from the CV.) My instinct is include anything vaguely relevant (more is more). But again, don't know if this is appropriate?

Any thoughts or insight much appreciated!!

OP posts:
MaterCogitaVera · 15/09/2024 23:05

I would probably lean toward the “responsibilities undertaken and and skills acquired” approach to the CV, rather than the “sales achieved and growth facilitated” approach. Think of it this way: they aren’t thinking about employing you to grow their business; they’re thinking about how successful you’d be as a student. So focus on highlighting things that will show your ability to learn, meet deadlines, multitask, research, organise and present information, and so on, alongside anything that relates to the content of the masters.

For the relevant experience section, I’d say it’s fine to add things that aren’t 100% in the same area as the masters, as long as the work had elements or particular responsibilities which were relevant. I wouldn’t be inclined to try and shoehorn stuff in for the sake of it, though. (Although if it’s a degree that includes a professional qualification (some masters degrees in things like speech therapy can lead to professional certification, for example), I’d be more likely to err on the side of including experience that is only tangentially relevant.)

Good luck with the application!

Original poster
Molambulus · 15/09/2024 23:23

MaterCogitaVera · 15/09/2024 23:05

I would probably lean toward the “responsibilities undertaken and and skills acquired” approach to the CV, rather than the “sales achieved and growth facilitated” approach. Think of it this way: they aren’t thinking about employing you to grow their business; they’re thinking about how successful you’d be as a student. So focus on highlighting things that will show your ability to learn, meet deadlines, multitask, research, organise and present information, and so on, alongside anything that relates to the content of the masters.

For the relevant experience section, I’d say it’s fine to add things that aren’t 100% in the same area as the masters, as long as the work had elements or particular responsibilities which were relevant. I wouldn’t be inclined to try and shoehorn stuff in for the sake of it, though. (Although if it’s a degree that includes a professional qualification (some masters degrees in things like speech therapy can lead to professional certification, for example), I’d be more likely to err on the side of including experience that is only tangentially relevant.)

Good luck with the application!

That’s really helpful, thank you! :)

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