Key information

Tutor: Emma Francis
Duration: 3 hours
Delivery: Live (Online, Zoom) & Live (In-Person, South Kensington)
ECRI Credit (PGR only): 1 credit 
Audience: Postdocs, Research Fellows, late-stage Research Degree Students

Dates

There are no further sessions taking place this academic year. Course dates for 2026-27 will be available to book from late September.

Maximise your chances of making the shortlist by ensuring your academic CV and cover letter are professional, targeted and well written.

This practical workshop is designed to help early career researchers develop compelling academic CVs and cover letters tailored to research and teaching roles. Whether you're applying for postdoctoral positions, lectureships, or other academic positions, this session will equip you with the tools to make your CV and cover letter stand out. We will cover do’s and don’ts to consider when crafting your academic CV and dedicated time to structure and practise your cover letter, working through examples of what does and does not work.

This course is aimed at Postdocs, Research Fellows and late-stage Research Degree Students. 

Intended Learning Outcomes

After completing this workshop, you will be better able to

  • Recognise the importance of a job description in informing how you tailor your academic CV and Cover letter to each specific role
  • Appreciate the structure and purpose of academic CVs and cover letters in different contexts (e.g., research vs. teaching-focused roles).
  • Identify the standard sections of an academic CV and why they are relevant
  • Articulate your key academic achievements using concrete, evidenced examples 
  • Organise sections of your cover letter
  • Recognise common pitfalls of Academic CVs and Cover letters and how to overcome them
  • Know how to access further support. 

How to book

Book via Inkpath using your Imperial Single-Sign-On.

Please ensure you have read and understood ECRI’s attendance & cancellation policy before booking. 

 

Further Information

Pre-Course Work

To make the most of this course, we encourage participants to:

  • Bring a draft of your academic CV – it doesn’t need to be perfect; a working version is fine.
  • Have a specific academic role in mind – whether it's a job you're actively considering or a type of role you're interested in

Having these materials at hand will help you apply the workshop insights directly to your own context and get the most out of the interactive elements.

Related Courses

If participants are considering applying for a Fellowship, we recommend attending the Fellowship CVs course, which covers CVs for independent fellowships that are not tied to a specific group or institution, as well as funder-specific formats such as the Narrative CV. 

Participation

For in-person:

Please note this course is highly interactive and we expect your full participation throughout.

For online:

Please note this course is highly interactive and we expect your full participation including access to the chat and the microphone/camera.

Please ensure you are able to participate fully and if you require any adjustment, please let us know in advance so that we can make the tutor/facilitator aware.

Other Resources
Netiquette for Online Training
  • It is important that you are fully present and an active participant, to create a safe space for sharing and discussion.
  • For some of our online sessions, you will be required to keep your video cameras on. Please ensure prior to attending that you have a fully functioning camera and microphone. If you have any issues with your equipment, please contact us as soon as possible. If you require your camera to be off as a workplace adjustment, please let us know in advance so that we can make the tutor/facilitator aware.
  • Please ensure that you are in a private space where you can maintain confidentiality and the privacy of the other participants.
  • To maintain confidentiality, all participants are asked to agree to keep what is said within the group and not record or take screenshots/photos without permission. Pictures or quotes from the session should not be posted on social media or elsewhere without the express permission of those involved.
Participant Quotations

What previous participants have said they like about this course:

“Provides a lot of very useful information” and “it was very practical, hands on and informative with plenty of examples and exercises”

Core booking blocks

Inkpath booking system

Guidance and FAQs on course bookings.

Attendance & Cancellation Policy

Information about the attendance and cancellation policy for places on ECRI courses.