This publication contains examples of CVs, cover letters and personal statements to help you understand content and layout. They are to be used as a guide only and not copied directly.
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Welcome to the Imperial guide to CVs, cover letters and personal statements.
This guide is designed to complement the information on our CVs and resumes, Cover letters and Personal statements webpages. These will take you through the specific purpose of each document, recommended approaches, along with further information and tips. Using the examples in this guide concurrently with the advice on the webpages will help you to create your own quality applications unique to you.
The principles of writing strong CVs, cover letters and personal statements are the same for all students regardless of what you are studying. The example CVs, cover letters and personal statements in this guide are from students across the university, each tailored to a different opportunity, and there will be something valuable to be learnt from each. We recommend you look through the guide at the different CVs and cover letters. Think about what you like, what works well, and what would work for you!
Applying internationally
CVs can differ from country to country. The examples in this guide are tailored for work and further study applications in the UK. While much of the advice will apply to international markets there can be differences.
When applying to opportunities in other countries use GoinGlobal in addition to the advice in this guide. We subscribe to GoinGlobal so you can use it for free! It contains lots of examples of application materials from different countries, as well as advice on job hunting, salaries and interviewing around the world.
A CV (Curriculum Vitae) shows a future employer or supervisor what skills you have learnt from your education, employment, and other achievements. It is designed to increase your chances of securing an interview.
A good CV will be:
• Tailored to the opportunity you are applying for.
• Easy to read. Consider using bullet points that follow a pattern of skill words followed by what you did to gain that skill to allow the reader to find important information quickly.
• Consistently laid out and easy to follow. Start each section with your most recent experience first and work back in reverse chronological order to show your timeline.
• The correct length. Two pages is fine for most industries in the UK however banking and finance roles generally want a one-page CV unless the advert states otherwise.
No matter what your stage of your study you are at, you will have a range of experiences that you can use as a basis to extract skills from. The first step is to understand what skills you are being asked to show so you can tailor your CV. For help with this, visit our reading advertisements webpage. The best way to identify your skills is to reflect. There are some good ideas to get you started on our know your skills webpage, including how to do a skills audit.
Personal profile (optional)
Keep this concise. One to two lines that will help the reader navigate your CV. Highlight your most relevant experience to the role and state your career goal.
Education
Start with your Imperial degree and highlight what skills you’ve learnt. You can include projects here or you can include them in a separate section if they are more relevant to the role.
Most relevant experience
Find a title that allows you to highlight your most relevant experience to the role here. This could be Engineering projects if you’re applying for an Engineering role, Lab experience for lab-based roles or Research experience if you’re applying for a research role.
Other experience sections
Use other sections to show the breadth of your experience and how you meet the skills the reader needs to see. This could include sections such as Leadership, Volunteering, Extra-curriculars, and Work Experience.
Skills
List your technical and language skills here. This section doesn’t need to take up a lot of room and can be combined with other achievements that you want to list like awards, courses or interests if you are running out of space.
Interests
This section shows the reader more about your personality and what you enjoy doing. It doesn’t have to be long and can be combined into other sections if you are running out of space.
Use the example CVs in this book to help you contextualise this information and you can find much more guidance on the CV and Resumes webpage.
Creating or updating a CV when you do not have a lot of experiences can be difficult. Where should you start? What should be included? The example on the opposite page demonstrates lots of the elements that recruiters look for in CVs, so feel free to use this as a starting point to help.
Alongside following the general CV writing rules, here are some tips specifically for people with not a lot of experience to add to their CVs:
• Think about the length of your CV. One page may be enough to fit your experiences on. If you do want to move to a two-page format, make sure you can fill the whole two pages.
• Always tailor the CV for the role you are applying to. Often opportunities like spring weeks, work shadowing and taster experiences do not contain a lot of information about the skills the recruiter is looking for. Use the advert along with the recruiter’s website to help you. The Reading advertisements webage has further tips.
• If you have done any projects within your degree so far, you may want to expand on these to show the reader what you have learnt. You can do this either in your education section or you could include the project within a separate section to help expand your CV. See Alex’s CV for an example of this.
• Include student society, charity, community or work shadowing experience under section titles that are relevant to the role. It doesn’t necessarily have to be paid experience to prove to a recruiter that you have gained useful skills.
The example CV has been tailored to meet the requirements of the advertisement below. Alex used information from both the advertisement and the company’s website to help her choose skills that she thinks will be relevant to the opportunity.
If you are interested in a career in Intellectual Property Law, it’s a great idea to find out as much as you can before you apply. This is a three-day long programme based at our London offices and includes presentations, interactive sessions, and networking.
You will either be a first or second-year student in a STEM degree, with strong transferable skills such as presenting, working in a team, communicating, and analysing data. If you have worked with customers or clients, please tell us about that also.
To apply for this position, please complete the application form, including a one page CV via our website.
To help increase the amount of experience if you don’t have a lot, consider pulling out your university projects. All work experience is useful. Employers value that you have worked before and the transferable skills, especially customer related skills, that you have gained.
Alex Lee
R. 152 Beit Hall, Beit Quad, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BB +44(0)7712345678 | alex.lee00@imperial.ac.uk | LinkedIn: Alex Lee
Education
Imperial College London
BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering 2024 - 2027
• Topics include circuit design, computer architecture, group design project
• Preparation and delivery of presentations for seminars, tutorials, and labs
• Developed skills in C++, Python, MATLAB, and Arduino
Garforth Academy, Leeds 2019 - 2024 A Levels
• Mathematics (A*), Physics (A*), Chemistry (A*)
Imperial College London, Electronic Design Project Spring 2024 – present
• Currently collaborating with 4 students to design an automated device to improve home security for students in halls of residence
• Negotiated and agreed tasks with team to ensure project deadlines will be met
• Developed and presented initial plans to client incorporating all requirements
Imperial College London Careers Service Work Shadowing Scheme Spring 2024
• Shadowed a Fintech Engineering Manager at Yonder in their day- to-day duties
• Consulted with a team of 4 to brainstorm a marketing related problem, helping to identify a new potential customer group and develop a plan to access them
• Information interviewed staff at Yonder to better understand skills needed for a career in fintech services and how to best use remaining time at university
Thorpe Park Hotel, Leeds 2022 - 2024 Restaurant/Bar Supervisor
• Adapted communication style to ensure new staff were trained to a high level after being promoted to supervisor in July 2023
• Liaised with management team including reviewing staff training
• Provided exceptional customer service including dealing with complaints
• Analysed daily takings and followed protocols to balance cash registers nightly
Women in SET (member) 2024 - present
• Attended weekly seminars and discussion groups. Planning to run for committee
Online Learning 2022 and 2023
• French speaking skills (Coursera), Arduino skills (Udemy)
After writing their CV, Alex is interested in building their experiences. They are exploring the Jobs and experience section of the Careers Service website and further clubs/societies from the Student Union
Email: RAske23@imperial.ac.uk
Robert Aske
Tel: +44(0)771234567
LinkedIn: RobertAske
EDUCATION
MEng Design Engineering, Imperial College London 2023-2027
• On track for a 2:1
• Relevant first-year modules include: Introduction to Scientific Computing, Computing Applications, Engineering Mathematics
• Second-year modules will include: GIZMO project, Working in Organisations, and Data Science
• Corporate Finance i-explore module: Building understanding of macroeconomics and financial markets
• Extra-Curricular Horizons Course: Professional Skills for Employability – worked within a multidisciplinary team of five to deliver a business pitch for a new student society
J.P. Morgan Software Engineering Online Virtual Work Experience, Forage
Summer 2024
• Used Perspective, Python and Typescript to display financial data for an online business case study
Data Analytics Internship at Mobility Tech Start-up, Karfu
• Selected for competitive Imperial Exclusive Opportunities SME startup scheme
Summer 2024
• Worked with the founding team to design the specific project outcomes and reported in on a weekly basis
• Gathered, verified, and sorted environment impact data on the production and disposal of ICE and Electric cars, eBikes and eScooters and their batteries.
• Independently undertook additional training in Excel/VBA to develop skillset in this area
• Managed time using scheduling tools to create space for additional learning in schedule (Excel, Forage)
• Developed visualisation of the data to give users a meaningful guide to green choices
First Year Computing Applications Project, Imperial College London
Spring 2024
• Programmed an interactive web application using client-server architecture, incorporating both functional and asynchronous programming features
• Developed front and back-end elements using JavaScript, HTML and CSS languages
• Implemented an effective debugging strategy to identify, analyse and fix code errors and ensure seamless program flow
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Student Ambassador Outreach & University Promotion, Imperial College London
• Discuss university experience and application on panels for prospective students
March 2023 - Present
• Mentor groups of school children on campus tours and tutor on summer outreach schools
• Involved in content creation for university social media posts and the international student brochure
Online Technical Tutor, TechTalk
Summer 2022
• Online tutor for young students, delivering technical courses including Python, JavaScript, and AR/VR
• Built and maintained positive professional relationships with client tutees and senior teaching team
• Effectively communicated ideas and issues to senior team members resulting in significant changes to one course
SKILLS
• Coding: Python, MATLAB, website development in JavaScript, HTML and CSS
• Adobe Suite: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro
• 3D Design: SolidWorks and Fusion 360, including Finite Element Analysis and rendering in KeyShot and Blender
As a market leading data consultancy in the Data & Analytics industry, we actively seek people with inquisitive minds who challenge the status quo, are eager to learn, and are ready to dive into a fast-paced, challenging working environment. Successful candidates will be capable of, and motivated by, working across an entire project lifecycle as part of a globally distributed team. A successful candidate will demonstrate the capability to learn novel technologies, strong interpersonal and relationship management skills, and the drive to take on new responsibilities.
Qualified candidates must:
Be in the process of completing a bachelor’s degree and have a strong academic record in a related business or STEM discipline.
Be able to:
• Show a keen interest in learning about data and new technology
• Work effectively individually, and as part of a project team
• Show responsibility in their work and deliver with quality
• Develop and nurture relationships (such as with clients, technology partners, and colleagues)
• Manage time and commitments in a fast-paced working environment
How has the CV on page eight been adapted to this advert?
• The student has chosen to use modules which demonstrate computational and analytical ability as these are the most relevant to the job role, rather than listing everything they have done.
• They have mentioned additional training in Excel/VBA to draw attention to their capability to learn and show commitment and responsibility to the project. This should be expanded upon in the cover letter.
• Mentioning extracurricular outreach and tutoring skills show an important ability to develop relationships and balance commitments with studying. This is something that the recruiter is looking for.
• Project team experience is mentioned twice in internship and Professional Skills for Employability Horizons course – this shows that the candidate is comfortable delivering work in different environments.
• Their keen interest in learning about data and new technology is shown through online virtual work experience course and the first year Computing Applications project.
• This CV has been tailored for the role – the student has grouped together relevant internship and project experience to show how their responsibilities have developed. This makes it easy for the recruiter to read and score the CV as they are not looking through lots of information before they find what they are looking for.
Mark Adams
75 Greyhound Road, Hammersmith, London, SW6 8NJ
+44(0)7712348647 | mark.adams00@imperial.ac.uk | LinkedIn: Mark Adams
2nd year Physics student at Imperial College London, looking to gain more experience and knowledge in the sustainability and climate industry. Possesses experience of collaboration in group projects as well as Imperial Racing Green and will undertake a dedicated module on climate change.
EDUCATION
Imperial College London
BSc Physics 2023 - 2026
Relevant topics: computational science and problem solving, mechanics and relativity, measurement statistics and mathematical analysis
• Collaborated in team of 5 in labs to compute a simulation of bouncing particles in a 2D container
• Developed a practical analysis of the effectiveness of a water turbine generator
• Evidenced good timekeeping to meet multiple conflicting project and exam deadlines
• Chose Advanced Electronics as optional Y1 module (89%)
• Will be taking part in i-Explore module - Climate Change: Science and Solutions
King John’s School Essex 2017 - 2023
A Levels
• Mathematics (A*), Physics (A*), Chemistry (A*)
9 GCSEs grades 9-8
EXPERIENCE
Imperial College London Horizons Professional Skills for Employability Spring 2023
• Participated in 8-week employability course
• Learnt about creating high quality application documents
• Practised networking skills with classmates
• Collaborated in a team of 5 to design and present a 10-minute presentation on a company
• Conducted research on assigned company to help create content for presentation in a SWOT analysis
Harvester Pub, Benfleet Summer 2022 - 2023 Restaurant/Bar
• Utilised attention to detail when handling customer bookings
• Demonstrated strong customer service skills when showing customers to tables and taking orders
• Endeavoured to listen to customer feedback and complaints and communicated these to managers
INTERESTS AND COURSES
Imperial College Football Team
• Recently joined ICL football team
• Attend multiple training sessions per week
• Participate in group physio and gym workouts to maintain fitness levels
Member of Imperial Racing Green 2023 - present
• Attend weekly society sessions to learn more about motorsport racing industry
• Observe senior members during their work and design process
• Assist with any duties in the run up to testing out the car
Online Learning 2021 and 2022
• German speaking skills (Coursera)
• Effective communication modules (LinkedIn Learning)
Top tips for getting more experience:
• Allow yourself to try new industries, particularly in your early years at university
• Aim to have some experience relevant to your chosen sector by the time you graduate
• Use job searching websites like the ones suggested on our website
• Consider volunteering or creating a project for yourself to work on
• Look at our Careers Service experiential schemes
• Utilise our alumni schemes
• Network with people on LinkedIn for advice on finding opportunities in their industry
Research-focused CV
Birmingham – a.b.1234@gmail.com – 07846384738 – LinkedIn – Github
EDUCATION
MEng Computing (Management and Finance) Imperial College London 2021 – 2026
• Modules: Computing Practical, Computer Architecture, Discrete Mathematics, Logic, Mathematics – Analysis and Algebra
• Awarded prize for being in top 2 highest graded students of the course
• Completing online programming tests set by tutor and using continuous mathematics to solve simple problems in applied Computing lab sessions (online)
• 10/2022 Imperial College Computing Entrance Scholarship:
o Awarded £500 as the 10 best Computing and JMC applications in department
• Year out in 2022-23 due to health condition. Following recovery worked for remainder of year in a technical role for a mental health charity
A-Levels Swanshurst School, Birmingham 2014 – 2021
• Mathematics A*, Physics A*, Chemistry A
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Artificial Intelligence Researcher (Internship) Karfu (online) Jun 2023
• Gathered, verified and sorted environment impact data on the production and disposal of ICE and Electric cars, eBikes and eScooters and their batteries
• Established a measurement for environment impact for each vehicle type and a scale methodology: Average, Better, Worse.
• Created visualisation of the data in terms of Emissions, Plastic Content and Recycling score, to give users a meaningful guide to their green choices.
COMPUTING PROJECTS
3rd Year WACC Compiler 2024
• Worked in pair using Scala to develop a compiler for a while language stack overflow with a single loop
• Set up a GitLab pipeline with integration and unit testing
• Extended compiler for novel refuse collection, achieving ranking 3rd of 27 teams
3rd Year Vegan Chef Web Application 2024
• Collaborated in a team of 4 to develop a web application providing tailored vegan recipe recommendations
• Optimised user experience through focused backend development, iterative user testing and feedback obtained through running a peer focus group
2nd Year Pintos Project 2022
• Worked in a team of 3 utilising git to write parts of OS kernal: call handler, virtual memory system and priority schedular
• Implemented the design of page table, page sharing along with copy-on-write, achieving a 1st class grade
Research-focused CV
VOLUNTEERING
Digital Content Volunteer Better Pathways, Birmingham Feb 2023 – Aug 2023
• Directed social media campaign for a mental health charity to promote a social enterprise offering signage, packing and woodwork services
• Liaised with management team regularly to provide updates and ensuring project alignment with organisational objectives
• Creating impactful content promoting how the initiative can assist small business customers reach CSR goals, resulting in increased engagement by 40%
Coding Club Mentor Birmingham Library Oct 2019 – Aug 2020
• Taught computing using Raspberry Pi and Lego Mindstorm to children aged 8-12
• Transferred to online tutoring using Zoom during lockdown due to Covid-19
• Diversified learning online to include basic Python programming
COMPETITIONS
NASA Space Settlement Contest, awarded by National Space Society 2022-2023
• Honourable Mention Feb 2023
• Second Prize Feb 2022
o Challenged to design Space Settlement capable of providing new home for 10,000 people, which led our team to create RAMA
o My contribution consisted of conceiving design and creating digital model out of it in Maya and creating a website
o Collaborated online with teammates to other sections, bringing new ideas regarding the energy sources and its infrastructure
o Attended the NSS 39th annual International Space Development Conference (ISDC) online
Microsoft STEM Student Challenge 2020 Winner Oct 2019 – May 2020
• Collaborated in team of 5 to design and submit project for national challenge
• Project keyHue - created a tool to help people with dyscalculia learn how to play music
• Projection-mapping application that displays colour on a piano keyboard and corresponding colours on digital sheet music
TECHNICAL SKILLS
• Programming languages: Python (preferred) C++ Haskell Kotlin / Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Web Programming & design: PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, JQuery, HTML 5, CSS 3, Bootstrap 3/4, Laravel
• Other: CISCO Cybersecurity Intro
• Languages: Hindi (native), English (native)
REFERENCES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
Reading job descriptions :
When reading job descriptions, gather as much information as possible to determine the skills and knowledge the position requires. You can then tailor your CV to evidence these giving your application the highest chance of success. For more tips, visit the reading advertisements webpage.
SPAML, one of Europe’s largest financial institutions, is excited to offer an exclusive opportunity for graduates to join our renowned 18-month graduate program within the Risk Management Department at our London HQ. This program will provide exceptional individuals with exposure to every aspect of the Risk Management Department, including direct contact with senior management team and the opportunity to develop a broad and holistic understanding of Bank Risk Management.
Our prestigious 18-month graduate program within the Risk Management Department will allow you to gain in-depth experience in risk management within a large investment bank. You will work under the Global Head of Market and Operational Risk Division, with daily exposure to other parts of the Risk Department and team, including the Head of Risk Management and CRO.
This program aims to equip you with the skills necessary to analyse, measure, monitor and mitigate risks facing the bank.
What you will learn and do:
• Assist in the reporting of market, operational, credit and enterprise-wide risks
• Conduct comprehensive risk analysis to help measure/monitor risks the bank faces and contribute to the development of innovative risk mitigation strategies
• Work with cross-functional teams, including front office, legal and compliance team, to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies
• Stay updated on market trends, industry best practices, and emerging risk management technologies
• Engage in and actively contribute to various projects aimed at enhancing risk management practices within the organization
• Provide support in the development and maintenance of risk-related policies, procedures, and documentation
What we are looking for:
You need to be ambitious, bright, with strong numerical skillset and the ability to problem-solve with a willingness to learn. In addition:
• A strong academic background with a degree from a leading university
• Strong analytical and numerical skills with the ability to think critically and solve complex problems
• Ability to work effectively in a small team in a fast-paced environment
• Take ownership of assigned tasks and projects, seeking opportunities to learn and grow within the risk management field
Some required skills may be clearly stated, whereas for others, you may have to consider what they will be looking for depending on the tasks or work described. Highlighting the required skills described can help you to create a checklist you can work through when tailoring your CV.
39 James Square, London, SW7 1NN, United Kingdom +44 07123 456789 | secheung20@sample.imperial.ac.uk | www.linkedin.com/in/shiencheungexample Eligible for Graduate Worker Route (GWR) visa in UK for two years after graduation
Imperial College London finalist with a proven interest in banking, specifically risk management Experience gained through three finance internships and Imperial Finance Society membership. Strong analytical and programming (including Python and C++) skills.
Imperial College London: MEng Aeronautical Engineering London, Sept 2021-June 2025
• Predicted to graduate with First Class Honours – ranked top 5% in first and second year
• Modules include: Mathematics, High Performance Computing, and Innovation Management
• Global Economics optional co-curricular course to increase international financial awareness
• Achieved Distinction in Imperial Horizons course: ‘Professional Skills for Employability’
• Member of Imperial College London Finance Society
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ChinaGold Asset Management: Summer Analyst, Investment Division Beijing, July 2024-Aug 2024
• Collaborated with a cross-functional team of 8 in a US $3 billion live deal within energy industry
• Supported negotiation of project outline during face to face and online meetings with key stakeholders
• Designed financial model individually to estimate earnings of a convertible bond, which facilitated the adjustment of transaction structure. Upskilled fellow teammates in this development
• Analysed and classified non-performing commodities assets in fast-paced environment
• Proposed solutions to problems on assets recovery and produced business plan as part of a sub-team of five
Blue Sky Securities: Summer Analyst, Corporate Finance Division
Beijing, June 2023-July 2023
• Contributed to the IPO of a high-end laser company, conducting research and analysis
• Collaborated in a team of four and composed the industry section of Due Diligence report
• Provided integrated financial advisory services to a medium-sized sports company based in Jiangsu
• Analysed a major competitor’s finances and identified potential market in sport industry
• Reported weekly in senior management team meeting on findings and latest analytics
• Trouble shot and discussed issues with clients, amended business plans based on market performance
PwC China: Summer Intern, Finance Division Shanghai, June 2022-Aug 2022
• Analysed 25+ transactions across all industry, including 25 million deal with Shanghai Electric
• Researched and identified potential clients for a value stream project, producing a recommendations report
• Liaised regularly with project manager to ascertain client information, and carry out basic audit tasks
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Imperial Professional Project: Project Manager June 2024
• Successfully pitched for £1400 project funding to increase local engagement for Kew Climate Café charity
• Developed 6-month video campaign promoting charity initiatives through social media targeting locals
• Increased hits to charity website by 500 a week, subsequently improving café footfall by 45%
Global Engineering Challenge: Project Leader (team of four) March 2024
• Led a team of four in a one-month project to design a smart mobile hospital, for use in developing countries
• Identified main stakeholders, such as government and healthcare professionals and designed questionnaire
• Set up goals, liaised with team to distribute workload, promoted discussions and collaboration within the team
SKILLS, ACTIVITIES, AND INTERESTS
Languages: Mandarin (Native) and English (Fluent)
IT Skills: Python, MATLAB, C/C++, Excel
Activities and Interests: Volunteered for London Fashion Week (Sept 2023), and cycling
Go to Shi En’s speculative cover letter or CV for banking roles
39 James Square, London, SW7 1NN, United Kingdom +44 07123 456789 secheung20@sample.imperial.ac.uk www.linkedin.com/in/shiencheungexample
Eligible for Graduate Worker Route (GWR) visa in UK for two years after graduation
Imperial College London aeronautics student with strong analytical and design skills gained through engineering projects, and experience of working in multidisciplinary environments in both engineering teams and commercial organisations. Looking for a graduate position within the aeronautics sector
MEng Aeronautical Engineering
Imperial College London 2021-2025
• Predicted to graduate with First Class Honours – ranked top 5% in first and second years
• Modules include: Aerodynamics, Thermodynamics, Advanced Fluid Dynamics, Flight Dynamics & Control, Control Systems, Lightweight Structures, Computing & Numerical Methods, AI for Aerospace Engineers, Materials, Mathematics, Mechatronics and High Performance Computing, and Innovation Management
• Achieved Distinction in Imperial Horizons course: ‘Professional Skills for Employability’
ENGINEERING PROJECTS
Final year project
Imperial College London 2024
• Simulating airflow and heat transfer in unmanned electric drone taxis
• Applying CFD scheme to optimise airflow, reducing oscillations by 85%
• Presenting progress through fortnightly meetings with supervisor and PhD students
Aerodynamicist
RAeS International Design Team Competition
• Designed prototype aeroshell in a team of 3 for electric 2-seater aerobatic aircraft to a criterion
2023
• Modelled aerodynamics using CFD software to develop a better understanding of the flow separation for wings, fins, and fuselage
• Coordinated work through continual communication with team-members ensuring project was successfully delivered within required timescales
• Presented design to panel of industry experts, successfully placing in 3rd place out of 15 teams
Suborbital Aircraft Flight Mechanics
Imperial College London 2023
• Conducted a static and dynamic stability analysis of a hypersonic passenger aircraft within vehicle design sub-team, as part of a group of 25
• Discussed technical details at group meetings, updated supervisors at weekly progress meetings, and delivered final 1.5h presentation and 5-minute pitch to an industrial panel
• Awarded best Teamwork and Communication Prize by industrial panel
Airliner Concept Design
Imperial College London
• Completed design of a long-haul passenger aircraft using CAD, including structural components and the detailed design of a rudder
• Claimed 1st place in best part performance (load/mass metric)
• Produced a 35-page technical group report and a pitch presentation
2022-2023
Profile highlights a few key selling points and is tailored to the relevant sector.
Has expanded on their Engineering Projects to showcase where they have applied their technical skills, whilst also demonstrating soft skills often sought after in engineering roles.
Has
EXPERIENCE
Intern Analyst ChinaGold Asset Management, Beijing July 2023-Aug 2023
• Part of multi-disciplinary team working on a large energy industry investment
• Took part in face to face and online meetings with key stakeholders
• Modelled estimated earnings of bonds using Python, contributing to design of a financial product
• Worked simultaneously on several projects, prioritising and organising workload ensuring delivery within tight time constraints
Intern Analyst Blue Sky Securities, Beijing
June 2022-July 2022
• Conducted research and comparable analysis, contributing to the IPO of a high-end laser company
• Collaborated in a team of four and composed the industry section of Due Diligence report
• Analysed a major competitor’s finance and identified potential market in sport industry
• Discussed effectively with clients and amended business reports
Summer Intern PwC China, Shanghai
June 2021-Aug 2021
• Organised data of recent large financial transactions using Excel for weekly update reports
• Liaised regularly with project manager to ascertain client information
• Researched and identified potential clients for a value stream project, producing a recommendations report
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Project Manager
Imperial Professional Project June 2023
• Successfully pitched for £1400 project funding to increase local engagement for Kew Climate Café charity
• Developed a 6-month video campaign promoting charity initiatives through social media channels targeting locals
• Increased hits to charity website by 500 a week, subsequently improving café footfall by 45%
Project Leader Global Engineering Challenge March 2023
• Led a team of four in a one-month project to design a smart mobile hospital programme, for use in developing countries
• Identified the main stakeholders such as government, healthcare professionals and patients and designed a feasibility questionnaire
• Set up goals, liaised with team to distribute workload, promoted discussions and collaboration within the team
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
• Royal Aeronautical Society – Student Affiliate Membership
SKILLS, ACTIVITIES, AND INTERESTS
Languages: Mandarin (Native) and English (Fluent)
IT Skills: SOLIDWORKS, AutoCAD, MATLAB, C/C++, Python, PHP, HTML/CSS, SQL. Activities and Interests: Volunteer for London Fashion Week (Sept 2022 and 2023), and regularly cycle
Adam Needham
61 Waldemar Avenue, SW6 5LR Tel: 01234 567890 Aneedham19374example@ic ac.uk www.linkedin.com/in/adneedhamexample
Penultimate year Imperial College London student studying biological sciences seeking summer internship in consulting. Possesses prior consulting internship experience in addition to holding senior role within Imperial College London Consulting Society. Career goal is to build a graduate career in management consulting.
2022-25
BSc Biological Sciences, Imperial College London
Predicted degree class: Upper Second (2:1)
• 2024: Proactively undertaking I-Explore Business Strategy module to understand why some companies succeed and others fail, using frameworks and tools for external and internal analysis
2020-2022
Brooke House College, Market Harborough
A Levels: 3 x A in Biology, Mathematics and Physics, Senior Sports Caption, Top of class for Biology
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
2023 - present Sponsorship Manager, Imperial College London Consulting Society
• Member and Sponsorship Manager for Imperial College London Consulting Society
• Collaborated with fellow committee members to construct funding and sponsorship plan
• Liaised and negotiated with a range of sponsors to ensure ongoing financial support
• Networked with new potential sponsors, adapting communication to sell sponsorship deals, successfully increasing donations last year by 24%
• Reported results and learnings at society AGM and to Student Union leadership team
• Developed and ran training session to incoming committee members on behalf of the student union to support new sponsorship officers. Currently providing mentoring to two societies
June – August 2024 Consulting Intern, PwC, London
• Successfully achieved position on competitive consulting internship
• Communicated with senior managers on client briefings and enhanced understanding of frameworks
• Reviewed client financial statements and tested transactional processes for accuracy
• Additionally met with representatives of a social enterprise
• Collaborated in team of five interns to understand and solve the problems facing the enterprise
• Presented our recommendations to the social enterprise representatives and senior PwC managers
Jan – March 2024 Second year tutored dissertation project, Imperial College London
• Researched current uses of AI in supporting urban ecology conservation, producing a 4000-word literature review and report including recommendations for further research areas.
• Liaised with Natural History Museum to understand their Urban Nature project redevelopment and provide implementable ideas related to learnings from literature review
• Delivered 20-minute presentation to classmates and teaching staff, defending findings
TECHNICAL SKILLS
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint and Word)
• Competent in use of SolidWorks, COMSOL, MATLAB, Graphviz, LATEX and C++
• Proficient in Japanese, both spoken and written
INTERESTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
• Active member of Imperial College Sailing Club, with regular attendance at committees (2021)
• Ranked best in year for second year tutored dissertation project
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Flat 2, 108 Lakeside Road, Hammersmith, W14 0DZ | British Citizen
Phone: 09985476256 | email: a.chopra34@imperial.ac.uk | www.linkedin.com/in/acph2022
Bachelor of Medical Biosciences student with a strong background in biomedical research looking to build an academic career in a collaborative health related field to help cure illnesses
Education
2022-2025 BSc Medical Biosciences, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
• Relevant modules: Statistics, Microbiome of Health and Disease, Immunology and Inflammation, Genetics and Genomics, Molecular and Cellular Biology
• Dean’s list for Year 2 (Top 10% of cohort), predicted 1st class honours
• Collaborated with a multi-disciplinary team of five students to present an investigation into the professional ethics of the science of genetics in a 2nd year I-Explore module
Laboratory Experience:
2nd year Lab Pod Project
• Collaborated with a group of six to utilise CRISPR-Cas9 technology to generate a TLR2-KO monocytic cell line for further investigation. Created a poster presentation for display
• Developed a unique hypothesis, created a research plan and worked through problem-solving processes to ensure the project was delivered on time and within budget
• Wrote a mock grant application to apply for resources required to carry out research plan
• Negotiated with other student groups to secure use of limited laboratory resources
1st year Lab Pod Project
• Worked in a team of five to investigate the effect of Bisphenol A treatment on AKT expression on the breast cancer cell line. Completed a full laboratory report
• Followed established protocols for Western Blots, PCR, Cell Cultures and Crystal Violet Assay and accurately recorded results. Ensured all Health and Safety requirements were met
• Delivered a group presentation, defending outcomes to peers and tutors
2018-2022 Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi Public School, India
• 12th Grade: 92% (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, English and Biology)
Research Experience
Oct 2024 – present Research Assistant, Data Science Institute, Imperial College London
• Working in a team of four to conduct a cost-utility analysis of TARGIT-IORT Vs EBRT database for treatment of early breast cancer in the UK using R to analyse large data sets
• Carried out a one-way sensitivity analysis with multiple parameter variations and a budget impact analysis which will form the basis of a presentation to Cancer Research UK at completion of placement
July 2024 – Sep 2024 Research Intern, Imperial College London & Revolo Biotherapeutics
• Collaborative research placement in Imperial College London’s Allergy and Immunotherapy Group in collaboration with Revolo Biotherapeutics
• Investigated the immunomodulatory properties of a novel therapeutic agent IRL201104, derived from M. tuberculosis, and its ability to establish allergic tolerance
Aarti has expanded her Education section, highlighting her lab experience as having these skills will be important for her MRes.
To highlight clearly that she has the skills required, Aarti has used specific titles for her sections and separated out her experiences. This allows the reader to easily find the evidence that she has the key skill sets required.
• Recorded all data in alignment with trial protocols, analysed results using FlowJo and reported back to weekly team meetings through a written report and oral presentation
• Liaised between trial coordinators and researchers to ensure operational elements of the project were in place and all timelines were met
Dec 2022 – June 2024 Part-time Research Assistant, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
• Voluntarily assisted a research project investigating the impact of music on effect of vital signs, anxiety, and pain in the Intensive Care Unit
• Adapted communication style to recruit a range of patients including children and the elderly, administered the music and collected data
• Ran follow up interviews following an approved script and analysed using thematic analysis techniques
July 2023 – Sep 2023 Intern, Directorate of Health Services, Delhi Government, India
• Responsible for monitoring more than 100 patients under home isolation with tuberculosis (TB) through data management and regular telephone contact
• Completed regular reports to meet government mandated information guidelines
• Worked in a team of four to ensure a high standard to all testing conducted on incoming swabs, including PCR and Southern blot techniques to meet ISO 9001 quality standards
Oct 2024 – present Imperial Lawn Tennis Club coach, Imperial College London, UK
• Cooperated with a team of 30 other coaches to ensure all club members have access to free coaching throughout term time. Implement coaching techniques to all levels of ability
Oct 2019 – Sep 2023 Member, coach and junior social secretary, Delhi Tennis Club, India
• Planned, promoted, and executed, along with the board of ten junior members, social events to ensure club members enjoyed and learnt during their time with the club
• Coordinated feedback and club days to ensure junior members’ voices were heard
• Coached small groups of children aged five to seven years old on the basics of tennis
Mar 2020 – Sep 2022 Health Citizen, St Johns Ambulance, India
• Advocated for good health and sanitation practices across Delhi within schools, at public events and through local charities and authorities. Often online due to COVID-19 pandemic
Skill
Computing skills: R Studio, Basic Python coding, MATLAB, Microsoft Office, bespoke database development and usage
Laboratory skills: PCR, DNA sequencing, Southern blot, titration, and basic lab procedures
Languages: Bilingual - Hindi and English, French – Intermediate
Other Certifications: Basic resuscitation, Managing Project Risks and Changes, Maths for artificial intelligence, public speaking, AITA level 3 – tennis coaching
Interests
• Keen tennis player, enjoying playing, watching, coaching and all associated social elements
• Participated in 2023 Careers Mentoring scheme with a Research and Development mentor
• Enjoy trying food from different countries and currently taking a Vietnamese cooking class
• Member of the Imperial Origami society 2022 - 2024
Kyrie Gataki
Flat 18, 108 Yonder Street, Hammersmith, W18 4XQ
Phone: 09985476996 | email: k.gatakiexample@imperial.ac.uk | www.linkedin.com/in/kgatakiexample
Current Master of Public Health student with a strong background in public engagement and coordination, looking to continue a career in coordination to ensure everyone has the best chance of good health at an international level.
Education
2024-2025 Master of Public Health, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
Relevant coursework: Research Methods, Environmental Epidemiology, Health Economics, Global Health Governance, Statistics and Health Impact Assessment
Thesis topic to be confirmed: Collaboration with the NHS to explore inequalities in cancer treatment
2020-2023 B.Sc. (Hons.) Biomedical Science, Harokopio University, Greece
CGPA: 3.7/4.0 (Equivalent to a UK First)
Relevant Courses: Advanced Biostatistics, Introduction to Epidemiology, Statistics and Probability, Principles of Health Management, Advanced Biochemistry, Cancer and Intermediate programming Awards: Dean’s Honor List 2020-2022 and Best Essay 2021
2016-2020 17th High School of Athens, Greece
Certificate of Graduation, General Lyceum, Grade:19 8/11, Excellent in subjects of Chemistry, Maths, Biology and Physics
Public Health Experience
Jan 2024 – Aug 2024 Health Citizens Coordinator, St Johns Ambulance, Athens, Greece
• Collaborated with the management team of five to train and coordinate over 200 voluntary health citizens across Athens, ensuring support of weekly social and sporting events
• Adapted systems for dispersing of volunteers to support local needs in vaccination centres across Athens, coordinating with the national centre regularly
• Liaised with public authorities to schedule event attendance and ensure correct communication with public services such as emergency facilities were in place
• Created new internal and external communication pathways, including a social media presence to boost recruitment and understanding using volunteers’ stories
• Conducted welcome sessions and organised coaching workshops for new Health Citizens
• Developed an understanding of public health issues and concerns around a large diverse city such as Athens and the challenges involved in supporting public health projects
Oct 2023 – Dec 2023
Evaluation of TARGIT-IORT for breast cancer, Imperial College London
• Worked in a team of four to conduct a cost-utility analysis of TARGIT-IORT Vs EBRT for treatment of early breast cancer in the UK using Excel to produce a report
• Carried out a one-way sensitivity analysis with multiple parameter variations and a budget impact analysis which formed the basis of a presentation to Cancer Research UK
• Won funding through Greek Cancer Association future researcher mobility fund
July 2022 – Sept 2022 Intern Caller, Hellenic Hope outreach programme, Greece
• Responsible for monitoring more than 100 patients under home isolation for a range of reasons through data management and regular telephone contact
• Completed regular reports to meet any government mandated information guidelines
Research Projects
Jan 2023 - June 2023 DNA sequencing of Tuberculosis, Harokopio University, Greece
• Part of an international collaboration led by the CRyPTIC consortium aiming to sequence over 10,000 TB genomes to better understand transmission and develop effective cures
• Performed a literature review on Greek TB research over the past 50 years to be included in the international review paper and building on the current TB knowledge
• Followed strict protocols to PCR and DNA sequence over 200 samples and report results
• Analysed output to quality assures correct coding, including calibrating sequencers weekly
• Negotiated with other laboratory uses to ensure access to equipment to meet tight deadlines
Sept - Dec 2020 St Johns COVID-19 response, Annual Report, Greece
• Created a bespoke database to collect and analyse Health Citizens reports from over 300 events covering both qualitative and quantitative feedback, incorporating analysis using R
• Analysed budget for both staffing and equipment to develop a cost benefit analysis
• Wrote report for the annual report receiving praise from the national management board
Volunteering, extracurricular and work experience
Oct 2024 – present Imperial Handball coach, Imperial College London, UK
• Cooperated with a team of 30 other coaches to ensure all club members have access to free coaching throughout term time. Implemented coaching techniques to all levels of ability
Oct 2016 – July 2023 Member, coach and social secretary, Athens Handball Society, Greece
• Planned, promoted, and executed, along with the board of ten members, social events to ensure club members enjoyed and learnt during their time with the club
• Coordinated feedback and club days to ensure members’ voices help shape clubs direction
• Coached small groups of children aged five to seven years old on the basics of handball
Mar 2020 – Dec 2021 Health Citizen, St Johns Ambulance, Greece
• Advocated for good health and sanitation practices across Athens within schools, at public events and through local charities and authorities
Jan 2020 – Dec 2021 Maths Tutor, Self-employed, Greece
• Tutored 16–18-year-old students on a one to one basis to fit with high school curriculum
• Liaised with teachers at 17th High School in Athens to provide pro bono support if needed
Skills
Computing skills: R Studio, MATLAB, Microsoft Office, Chemdraw, SPSS, bespoke database development and usage
Laboratory skills: PCR, DNA sequencing, Southern blot, titration, and basic lab procedures
Languages: Bilingual - Greek and English, French – Intermediate
Other certifications: Basic resuscitation, Managing Project Risks and Changes, Maths for artificial intelligence, public speaking, AITA level 3 – handball coaching
Interests
Very keen handball player, enjoying playing, watching, coaching and all associated social elements. Enjoy trying food from different countries and currently taking a Vietnamese cooking class Member of the Imperial College Origami society
Include technical details about your research achievements.
You can include publications that are ‘in preparation’, ‘submitted’ or ‘under review’.
Experience relating to winning grant money is great to add to your research or academic CV.
15a Devonshire Court, London SE1 7QT, UK + 44 7788 234567; amartin@gmail.com; www.researchgate.com/profile/alainmartin
PhD in silicon nanowires, Department of Materials, Imperial College London 2021-2025
‘Pressure-induced structural phase transformations in silicon nanowires’
Supervisor: Professor Samuel Smith
Planned thesis submission: Sept 2025
• Developed an innovative linear-scaling DFT code UNITEP and co-developed MONOTEP technique with supervisor including troubleshooting, piloting and documentation of process
• Applied tools to simulation of behaviour of silicon nanowires after application of pressure, achieved highest accuracy predictions to date, resulting in published paper
• Initiated ongoing collaboration with University of Manchester, Nanomaterials Research Group, UK resulting in submitted paper and funding for new PhD project
MSc in Theory and Simulations of Materials, Imperial College London, UK 2020-2021
• Distinction
• Co-authored linear-scaling code MIS-TEP on group programming project, created code from scratch within 8 weeks, code successfully agreed with prediction from commercially available code to within the target of 0.01 Angstrom (0.2%)
MEng, Materials Science (1st Class), St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford, UK 2016-2020
• Entrepreneurship course (business plans, raising capital, starting a company)
• Final year project (8 months): Computer modelling of carbon nanotube spectra
PUBLICATIONS
• Martin A., Montani N., Smith S. Modelling anomalies in nanowires, under review at Applied Nanomaterials
• Martin A , Jones P.M., Smith S. 2023, Iridium anomaly in silicon nanowire and bulk crystal transformation sequence, Applied Nanomaterials, vol 24, issue 11, p. 132-1388
AWARDS
• Poster prize awarded at European Association of Nanomaterials conference 2023
• Won 3rd prize for Three Minute Thesis Competition at Imperial College London 2022
• Prize for top examination result on MSc degree at University of Oxford 2021
RESEARCH FUNDING AWARDED
• Awarded EPSRC Studentship for MSc and PhD 2020 – 2025
• Obtained £500 travel grant to attend European Silicon Nanowires Union 2023 - 2024
• Assisted PhD supervisor with a successful collaborative bid for £1 million 2023 EU funding: did literature review and wrote first draft of proposed work plan
CONFERENCES / INVITED TALKS
• European Silicon Nanowires Union 2023 & 2024
• European Association of Nanomaterials 2024
• DYF Conference in Vienna 2023
• EPTHG meeting in Edinburgh 2023
• ESHG meeting (online) 2021
See our guide How to Write an Academic CV for more information on writing CVs for postdocs or fellowship applications. In your research area these acronyms will be understood, but not outside your research area.
• Invited to give a Thomas Giddon Centre lunchtime seminar and posters at 2020 CESSNI local orbital conference (best student poster prize)
SUPERVISION & TEACHING EXPERIENCE
• Graduate Teaching Assistant, MSc, numerical methods for materials science 2021 – ongoing
• Day to day supervision of avg two master’s students’ projects per year 2023 - ongoing
• Lunchtime seminar for new PhD students on X-ray diffraction techniques 2024
• Science Tutor at King’s Academy, Leeds: weekly after school science lessons 2022 - 2024
• Volunteer Maths Tutor on Pimlico Connection scheme, taught Maths to 2020 small groups of pupils in secondary schools in London, assisted with marking
POLICY AND OUTREACH EXPERIENCE
• Contributed to Government policy paper on nanomaterials and the environment 2023
• written by PhD supervisor
• Wrote and presented 3-hour interactive Royal Institute master class on 2022 Nanowires to 5 groups of school students aged 12-14
• Won 3rd prize for Three Minute Thesis Competition at Imperial College London 2022
• Ran a Café Scientifique talk and answered questions from audience 2022
• Spoke at ‘careers in materials research’ event at University of Oxford 2022
LANGUAGES AND TECHNICAL SKILLS
• Experimental: High-resolution lithography; chemical etching; laser beam ablation; VLS growth; electron microscopy; X-Ray diffraction
• Computational: DFT; Gaussian; CFD; C; Python; C++
• French (native); English (fluent)
INTERESTS
• Member of the Imperial College Energy Society, attended regular talks on energy-related topics including geothermal and storage technology
• Member of Imperial 600, the Imperial LGBT+ staff and postgraduate student network
• Participate in wide range of sport activities such as athletics, basketball, yoga and Pilates
REFERENCES
• Professor Samuel Smith (PhD supervisor), Department of Materials, Imperial College London s.smith@imperial.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)207 594 1234
• Dr Nicos Montani (project collaborator), University of Manchester n.montani@manchester.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)312345 6789
Activities like teaching, policy contributions and outreach are also valued in academia.
Less technical than on an academic CV, but still conveying relevant skills.
Highlighting relevant experience for this role on the first page by using a relevant heading. Pulling out specific elements of PhD to show consultancy related skills.
15a Devonshire Court, London SE1 7QT, UK + 44 7788 234567; amartinexample@gmail.com
Materials PhD with strong analytical skills from completing a PhD and communication skills developed through consultancy, policy and outreach experience. High level of interest in the energy sector and keen to have a direct impact on the energy transition in a consultancy role.
PhD in silicon nanowires, Department of Materials, Imperial College London 2021-2025
Planned thesis submission: Sept 2025
• Developed an innovative method to predict behaviour of silicon nanowires under pressure, resulted in highest accuracy predictions to date, work published in an international peer reviewed journal
• Reviewed expert literature in fields related to project
• Wrote code in C and Python to run simulations of proposed model, code now being used by research groups in Manchester and Durham
• Confidently presented work at 6 conferences in the UK and Europe, to audiences of experts in the field, took questions
MSc in Theory and Simulations of Materials, Imperial College London, UK 2020-2021
• Distinction
• Group programming project, in team of 5 created code from scratch within 8 weeks, code successfully agreed with prediction from commercially available code to within the target of 0.2%, featured in student newspaper
MEng, Materials Science (1st Class), St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford, UK 2016-2020
• Entrepreneurship course (business plans, raising capital, starting a company)
• Final year project: Rapidly learned new research field and how to use technical commercial software packages, wrote report, awarded mark of 83%
PhD in silicon nanowires, Department of Materials, Imperial College London 2021-2025
• Initiated, planned and project managed a new project with researchers in University of Manchester, paper submitted for publication
• Co-wrote a strategy paper to secure funding for a funded PhD to continue research
• Collaborated broadly with experts in the field to ensure project included the most innovative and practical approaches based on research informed data
Infotec Consulting, Summer Intern 2020
Analytics-based consultancy specialising in the retail sector
• Analysed raw data and identified promising trends that could be implemented by major online retailer in the future, ideas used in final presentation to client
• Improved search engine optimization, resulting in 10% higher conversion rate to online sales
• Worked on 2 concurrent projects, providing data analytics, online research, written briefings and graphics for presentations
A broad title which is relevant to job description to show a range of experiences and draw the reader’s eye.
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Supervisor 2023 - ongoing
• Supervise 2-3 MSc student projects, developed mentoring and communication skills
• Challenged and supported a range of technical topics to ensure students consider the full range of solutions and options enabling understanding of academic rigour
• Organised regular meetings to ensure training on project management skills
Policy related experience 2023
• Contributed to Government policy paper on nanomaterials and the environment written by supervisor. Researched and analysed large data sets using R to support recommendations
• Developed knowledge of areas of science unrelated to PhD and how they could impact society; improved ability to write for a non-technical audience
Science Outreach
2021-2023
• Developed and presented 3-hour interactive Royal Institute master class on nanowires to 5 groups of school students aged 12-14 in collaboration with Imperial Outreach team
• Ran a Café Scientifique talk and answered questions from audience with wide ranging backgrounds. Invited to talk at ‘careers in materials research’ event at University of Oxford
• Volunteer Maths Tutor on Pimlico Connection scheme, taught Maths to small groups of pupils in secondary schools in London, assisted with marking
LANGUAGE AND IT SKILLS
• Programming languages: C, Python (expert); C++ (intermediate), R
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• French (native); English (fluent)
AWARDS AND PRIZES
• Assisted PhD supervisor with a successful collaborative bid for £1 million 2023
EU funding: did literature review and wrote first draft of proposed work plan
• Prize for top examination result on MSc degree at University of Oxford 2021
INTERESTS
2021-present
• Member of the Imperial College Energy Society, attended regular talks on energy-related topics including geothermal and storage technology
• Member of Imperial 600, the Imperial LGBT+ staff and postgraduate student network
• Active member Acapella Society performing in shows
• Participate in wide range of sport activities such as athletics, basketball, yoga and Pilates
References available on request
Employers are interested in what you do outside of research because it lets them get a better understanding of you.
A cover letter is usually sent with your CV as part of your application. The purpose of a cover letter is to complement your CV by showing that you understand the role and organisation you are applying for, have a strong motivation and will be a good fit for them. Your CV focuses on your skills and experience, but it doesn’t explain why you are applying for the opportunity, so the cover letter is your chance to do this.
Your cover letter should typically be no more than one page for student and graduate level opportunities; however, it can often be up to two pages for other roles above this level. It should be laid out as a professional letter with addresses and a date, and you should be sure to check for spelling or grammatical errors.
It is important to follow the business etiquette for the layout of a professional letter*. This reassures the recruiter that, when you work for them, you will represent them professionally.
*If you are applying in another country, find out what a professional letter looks like there by using GoinGlobal (available on the Careers Service website).
The core content of your letter will be two to three paragraphs of prose. It is best to avoid bullet points and sub-headings in your final version. Each paragraph should have a clear message. You can choose the messages and the order of your paragraphs. For example:
Technical role relating to your degree subject:
Paragraph one: motivation (why this role and company)
• Usually, you have at least one paragraph describing your motivation to work for them
• Be specific, recruiters want to see evidence of your interest in them
• They know if someone does not want that role, they will not do the job well or stay very long
• Try to link your reasons for working for them back to yourself, as this is more authentic
Paragraph two: subject specific technical skills and abilities
• The rest of your cover letter can be organised into one or two more paragraphs evidencing the skills required for the opportunity from the advertised description
• Pick any recent and relevant examples of skills as evidence where possible
• Be specific and describe situations you have used the skills to avoid being generic
• It is OK for there to be overlap between your CV and cover letter; your cover letter elaborates
Paragraph three: transferable/non-technical skills mentioned in the job advert e.g. teamwork
• You can use evidence from inside university and outside university
• If you have limited experience, you can use non-relevant experiences to evidence skills
• Unprofessional language. Your letter should be formal in style but keep to language that you would use in your day-to-day speech. Avoid pretentious language such as: moreover, henceforth, hitherto etc.
• Being negative. Stay positive throughout. Sometimes it’s tempting to mention some gaps in your experience or something you don’t know. However, you don’t need to highlight this in your letter.
• Being vague. Including specific information will make your letter more persuasive. For example, if you worked in a team, say how many people were in it. If you raised money, say how much.
Are you committed to seeking excellence, creativity and innovation? Do GSC’s mission and values excite you? Do you want to work in a positive, vibrant and collaborative environment? We are recruiting for a STEM Futures Learning Co-ordinator to develop and support delivery of activities and experiences for all our audiences including education, family and community. A particular focus of this role will be to develop content for, and to support delivery of the STEM Futures Programme.
We are looking for someone who is motivated to inspire and challenge others with science, has a passion for learning and experience of developing STEM learning content for a range of audiences. The successful candidate will have an enthusiasm for STEM with a high degree of commitment to GSC's mission and values.
If this sounds like you then we would love you to get in touch!
Job requirements: (E = Essential, D = Desirable)
• Degree level education in any STEM subject (E)
• Experience of developing STEM content for learning (D)
• A passion for sharing and engaging people in science (E)
• Strong communication skills (E)
• Ability to work within a team in a hybrid working environment (E)
• Experience of working with external partners (D)
• Experience of working on and managing projects (D)
• Strong computing skills including Microsoft packages (E)
• Demonstrable respect for equality and diversity and the ability to promote equal opportunity practices (E)
Flat 2, 41 South Africa Road White City W12 7RW
Glasgow Science Centre
50 Pacific Quay
Glasgow G51 1EA
Dear Sir/Madam,
15th November 2024
I am writing to apply for the role of STEM Futures Learning Coordinator as advertised on the Big Stem Communicators Network website. I am currently a final year MSci student studying Mathematics at Imperial College London and I have discovered, through my experiences, that I would like to use my knowledge to inspire others about the science around them.
I would like to be the STEM Futures Learning Coordinator as the role encompasses many elements that I know I would enjoy. Through my tutoring role at Mathnasium, I was able to work with year 1012 students, which are similar in age to S3-6 and I very much enjoyed being able to help them better understand the often quite complex teaching content. I frequently had to find creative ways, including developing a simple computer programme to explain probability, to explain the content. Looking at the Futures Learning programme, I am excited about the diverse range of subjects, and teaching methods used. I also very much enjoy collaborating with others to achieve a goal. While working for Gatwick Airport I was responsible for developing a programme to help secondary school students understand the environmental impact of air travel. Firstly, I had to speak with teachers and students so I could pitch the content correctly, then communicate my lesson plans with the online developers and the trainers (who taught the teachers to deliver the session). I see your role as an opportunity to combine these two elements of education and collaboration that I know I enjoy and want to form a large part of my future career.
I have spoken with Stuart Meiklejohn after an interaction on LinkedIn and through this conversation and by researching GSC online, I know I would like to work for you. Your vision and values that focus on engagement, learning and collaboration, align with what I know I enjoy doing. I’ve always put myself forward to get involved in helping the community I am part of, from developing the social media strategy for the Engineering Change society to being an active participant in the social club during my internship. Throughout my degree I have been able to work on many group and laboratory projects with teams from a highly international background and I enjoy how different perspectives always improve the outcomes for a project. For example, as we were building a scale garden in my iexplore global challenge module, one of the contractors suggested including a sensory garden for children with different abilities. Researching this we found that not only would the garden support a wider range of the community, but we could lay it out to also provide added environment diversity and stability for the construction, improving the design for everyone. In a similar way I see by working for you with GSCs focus on inclusivity and accessibility I’ll be able to continue to learn myself and support the impact understanding science has on everybody.
Thank you for this opportunity and I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours faithfully,
Chris McErine
Final year MSci Mathmatics Student at Imperial College London
Dufrain
93 George Street
Edinburgh
EH2 3ES
United Kingdom
Dear Recruitment Manager,
This cover letter is paired with the CV and job description on pages 8 and 9
Robert Aske
36 Pilgrims Square
London
SWZ 8HT
16th November 2024
I am a second year MEng Design Engineering student at Imperial College London, looking to work in the area of data and analytics after I graduate. I am applying for the Data Analyst role as advertised on your website.
I have been reading on your website about the case studies of clients you have worked with, particularly clients from the finance industry, including impressive projects such as helping St James’s Place transfer £69bn of assets to new systems. I have been keen to get experience applying my data analytics skills to finance related topics which is why I have opted to take the Corporate Finance optional I-explore module this year and I feel this would complement my experience at Dufrain. Additionally, I see that you are expanding your client industries into life sciences and technology which includes your previous work with a medical device company, and I think my degree will complement this as it has a focus not only on design, engineering, data, but also applications for medical interventions.
In summer, I succeeded in gaining work experience at the Well-being Tech Lab in the Natural Language Processing team focusing on the extractive question-answering part of the asthma chatbot, specifically enhancing dataset quality for improved user interactions. My duties revolved around optimizing NLP models for asthma-related queries, ensuring precise and accurate user responses. I was responsible for the dataset preparation and training process of the model, collecting and evaluating the information from websites and generating a comprehensive dataset for model training use. My biggest contribution was scripting various data augmentation methods used for our dataset to achieve a large enough dataset of the niche topic for better training performance, I used my computing, data science, research and problem-solving skills as well as my technical knowledge of NLP This project was working to a tight deadline of 8 weeks which required a fast pace of work from everyone whilst communicating on a weekly basis with colleagues to obtain useful insights and with users to receive feedback on areas needing improvement and this helped us to collaborate more effectively. In my role I utilised a project management resource to better manage my time, and to deliver my elements when required by colleagues.
During my first-year computer applications project I collaborated in a team of four to develop an interactive web application. In addition to developing my skills in Javascript and HTML I needed to consider the user experience and report back to the team on ways to make our app more streamlined in this respect. Acting as the user’s ‘champion’ in the process allowed me to consider our project from a novice end user perspective and helped me to consider the future client’s perspective, enabling me to have experience of taking responsibility for decisions in a project and to ensure we provided a high-quality outcome by being user-experience-focused.
In addition to these experiences and my highly collaborative, coursework-based course, I’ve also been dedicating extra time to self-learn Excel and VBA using LinkedIn Learning in case this is of benefit to this opportunity.
I am looking forward to the chance to work in Dufrain, where your organisation says it cares about everyone being able to ‘be themselves, be pioneers at heart, thrive in work, succeed together and do the right thing’.
Yours faithfully,
Robert Aske MEng Design Engineering
Imperial College London
Has a specific and well-researched motivation paragraph.
The student has paid attention to the skills required for the role and has tried to reflect these:
• Mentioning data multiple times
• Giving example of teamwork
• Giving an example of managing own time
• Taking responsibility in a project
• Working with colleagues (relationships)
• Working in a fastpaced environment
• Continuing to selflearn including Excel
When sending a speculative cover letter, the recipient is, by their very nature, not expecting to receive applications as they are not advertising. These letters need to show insight into the organisation and the work, highlight your relevant skills and experience, and may be more concise than a standard cover letter, to maintain the reader’s attention.
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am a final year Aeronautical Engineering student at Imperial College London keen to enquire about working for PLD Space, following my graduation in June.
The innovative strides that PLD Space is making in developing flexible reusable rocket technology for launching small satellites into space resonate deeply with my passion for space exploration. I am particularly impressed by the unique design of your Miura micro-launchers and their modular payload adapter, which positions PLD Space as a leader in adaptability and efficiency within the industry.
My academic journey has provided me with a robust understanding of aerodynamics, thermodynamics, flight dynamics, control systems and lightweight structures, and advanced fluid dynamics. I am predicted to graduate with First Class Honours, consistently ranking within the top 5% of my cohort throughout my studies.
During my final year research project, where I simulated airflow and heat transfer in unmanned electric drone taxis, I honed my skills in computational fluid dynamics. This experience has equipped me with the expertise to optimize propulsion systems and thermal management, directly applicable to PLD Space's mission of advancing space transportation technologies.
My internships in multidisciplinary environments, contributing to investment projects in the energy industry and the IPO of a high-end laser company, have showcased my versatility and adaptability. I excel in building professional relationships quickly, a skill that I believe would contribute significantly to PLD Space's project teams.
I am keen to discuss how my skills and experiences align with PLD Space’s goals and could contribute to your innovative projects. I have attached my CV and would be more than happy to provide a more detailed cover letter upon request.
Thank you for considering my application.
Yours sincerely,
Shi En Cheung
At the end of the letter make sure you state what you would like to happen.
The nature of speculative approaches is that the reader is not expecting to receive it. Make it engaging from the start by showing you have thoroughly researched the organisation and their work. Make links throughout the letter between your relevant skills and experience, and how they fit in with the work you might do in the organisation you are speculatively applying to.
If an organisation is using an application form, you will often be asked to provide a personal statement as part of that. The statement needs to convince a reader that you have the skills and motivation to be successful at what you are applying for. Personal statements are common if you are applying for a Master’s or PhD programme – although it might also be called a “statement of purpose” or a “motivation statement”.
• Check instructions – Are there any specific questions or areas you are asked to cover?
• Research the role or programme – just like a cover letter, you will need to link yourself to the job/ course and organisation. Try to be as specific as you can.
• Reflect on your motivation – why do you want to do this job or specific course? What have you done in the past to evidence this?
Your statement should have a clear structure, with each paragraph addressing a different topic. You could cover the following areas:
• Motivation – why is this job or course the right one for you and why this company or course/ university? How could it help your career aspirations?
• Current studies – how do your current studies relate to the course or job you are applying to? What topics, projects or technical skills have you done that link to what you will be asked to do in the future?
• Work and project experience – talk about previous experiences that you have had during internships, employment or in projects you have done at university. Highlight what you did successfully and link them to what you will be asked to do in the future.
• Extracurricular activities and interests – use these to show your personality and demonstrate transferable skills such as confidence, time-management and teamwork.
For more information on personal statements for further study, see our personal statements webpage.
I would like to apply for the MRes Biomedical Research, general stream at Imperial College London. During my time studying the BSc Medical Biosciences I have experienced a wide range of medically related research and laboratory skills, which has helped me to understand the impact more knowledge in this area can have on peoples health. I have enjoyed many elements of my study and internships and I wish to continue onto do a PhD in this area, I have not been able to narrow down the specific area I would like to create new knowledge in. The general stream of the research programme, where I can undertake two five-month projects, would allow me to do this.
Originally from Delhi, India, I have been involved in health-related projects in both the UK and at home. This has helped me to understand that while the specific problems faced by these two countries are different, research is the answer to many of the issues. For example, during my first internship at the Directorate of Health in Delhi, I helped support patients who were suffering from Tuberculosis and were isolated at home. Through weekly phone calls, I built relationships with my patients, which allowed me to help them to understand what they were going through by explaining complex research findings in different ways. It was the research that gave these patients hope and from this experience I learnt that I want to be part of those research teams, to help deliver new cures and treatments to suffering patients.
While studying in the UK I experienced research from the other side of the bench, undertaking an undergraduate research opportunity (UROP) in a collaborative trial between Imperials Allergy and Immunotherapy Group and Revolo Biotherapeutics. In the laboratory I was part of a team that investigated the link between allergy tolerance and the novel therapeutic agent IRL201104, which is derived from M. tuberculosis. Whilst frustrating at times as we worked to develop a standard protocol, the challenge of troubleshooting why our experiments were not always working was exciting to me. The discovery that the inconsistencies were due to inaccuracies during sample collection was very satisfying and the resulting liaison work that I was able to be part of to help patients and healthcare workers understand the new process again helped to reiterate to me how important research is. This experience also allowed me to build on the laboratory techniques I was able to develop during my BSc as part of our extended laboratory projects (LabPod 1, in my first year, and LabPod 2 in my second year).
I am currently undertaking a six-month project as part of my BSc. This project is data science focused and is helping me to learn another side to research which involves analysing large data sets to find patterns that could support diagnosis. While this is quite different from my previous research experiences. My dataset is of breast cancer patients, and it is exciting to see yet another way research supports new treatment development. I have only been working on this project for a few weeks at present but am enjoying learning new analysis tools, like R, and working with a multidisciplinary group which help me to see problems differently and consider challenges from a range of angles.
My broad background within biomedical research is what attracts me to the general stream of this MRes. I chose the programme after talking to past students about the range of projects they were working on, including cancer, bioinformatics, molecular and circulatory medicine. I would like to undertake multidisciplinary projects that allow me to build my laboratory techniques and my analysis skills and after talking to Dr Wake, who was my mentor from the Careers Services mentoring programme that I was part of, she suggested this programme would allow me to do this. I also realise to advance within academia, I have to learn how to be a professional researcher. The grant writing project and having access to the Attributes and Aspirations online course will support my professional development and are unique to this MRes programme. Having been at Imperial for my undergraduate degree I understand and enjoy the university setting. The quality of the researchers that I have been lucky enough to work with, including Dr Hall who was our LabPod 2 supervisor, has challenged me to become a better student and the multinational nature of Imperial’s students (everyone was from a different country in my LabPod 2 group) makes me feel very comfortable and confident to speak out. By continuing my study at Imperial not only will I be able to take advantage of these things but it will also allow me to focus on my research studies from day one. To help balance my studies I have recently joined Imperial Tennis club as both a player and a coach and I look forward to continuing this during my Master’s study.
I hope the MRes Biomedical Science will begin my journey to becoming a respected researcher in the field and help me to build an international career where I can help patients from across the world improve their prospects through better health.
Here is an example personal statement from Shi En Cheung’s CV used for applying to a slightly different role as a Graduate Data Analyst at an NHS Hospital Foundation Trust. Personal statements may be longer than a page, so this example does not include the ending but gives an indication of what kinds of language and content you might include.
Introduction
Using section headings that correlate with those in the job description is a great way to ensure a logically structured statement and helps the recruiter when they assess your suitability for the role.
I am a final year engineering student at Imperial College with a keen interest in healthcare, writing to apply for the Graduate Data Analyst position within the Information Services team at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (C&WH). With my proven data analysis skills, and experience of communicating complex information to a range of audiences, I am confident I can contribute to the delivery of high-quality and timely information to support the operational needs and the Trust’s mission.
I became interested in the potential effect data can have on a community’s healthcare, when I worked on a co-curricular engineering project challenge, designing a theoretical mobile hospital programme for use in developing countries. Being able to use various sources of data to anticipate patient needs and to plan provision, and how this can really maximise the impact of the medical support available was extremely compelling to me. To explore how data is used in the NHS, I attended a recent networking event where I was able to speak to a Senior Analyst at C&WH. I was fascinated with how data-led insights play such a vital role in the Trust to ensuring resources are optimally used to treat increasing patient demand, brought on partly by the challenges an ageing population brings. I am keen to start a career where I can contribute to society and would love the opportunity to improve lives by using my technical skills in the role of Data Analyst at C&WH.
Throughout my degree, I have gained experience in data extraction, analysis, and visualization on a range of aeronautical projects. In my third year, I worked in a 2-month group project and used Python to analyse a large complex dataset to assess the stability of a hypersonic aircraft design. I was able to ensure the design met an assigned target and was subsequently awarded a project mark of A. Building on this, as an Intern Analyst at ChinaGold, a finance company, I used advanced Excel techniques to process large commercial data sets, and produced a report of investment recommendations, containing explanatory graphs. The report contributed to a client making a substantial new investment, for which I was commended by a Senior Manager. The role of Graduate Data Analyst would give me the opportunity to use my skills of producing reports, dashboards, and datasets, to feed into organisational decision making and business strategy at C&WH.
Link your experiences to the role
By making direct links between her own experiences and the role, Shi En demonstrates both an understanding of the job and reinforces her motivation for it.
A great way to start your opening paragraph is to introduce yourself and express your enthusiasm for the position. You could mention your relevant skills or experiences briefly to grab the reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of your statement. Evidence motivation for the organisation ‘Improving lives’ is an NHS value. By incorporating this into her motivation for the role Shi En shows her research and understanding of their aims.
In addition to my technical expertise, I possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills. On top of my studies, I opted to work in a small team of students for a design competition for the Royal Aeronautical Society, where we were tasked to deliver a design for a small electric aircraft. Having put myself forward to model the wing aerodynamics to optimise performance, I ensured I regularly updated my teammates with my results at team meetings and through a WhatsApp group I created. This allowed them to progress efficiently with the remaining vehicle design, ensuring that we delivered this complex project within the tight deadline. I prepared and delivered a 15-minute presentation of the work ensuring it was accessible to an audience of both technical and lay-people, achieving a prize of 3rd place. My ability to explain complex information tailored to different people would be useful at C&WH when reporting analyses of service and patient data to an audience of varied stakeholders, including clinicians and senior management.
Understanding confidentiality is crucial in healthcare settings like the NHS, where patient data is sensitive and protected by law. As a Graduate Data Analyst, I may handle confidential information such as patient records, medical histories, and treatment plans.
When working at ChinaGold Asset Management, I worked with sensitive financial data, applying strict confidentiality measures while assisting the team to design financial products. This experience showcased my ability to handle sensitive information responsibly, ensuring confidentiality throughout my internship. I am well-equipped to apply these skills effectively as a Data Analyst, contributing to ethical and secure data management practices.
In conclusion, I am eager to apply my data analysis skills to the Graduate Data Analyst role at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. With a background in engineering projects and internships, I possess the technical expertise, communication skills, and confidentiality awareness vital for this position. I am committed to supporting the Trust’s mission by providing actionable insights and strategic recommendations. My enthusiasm for contributing to healthcare excellence makes me a strong candidate. Thank you for considering my application, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to C&WH’s success.
Conclusion
Finish your statement by highlighting some of your key selling points and emphasising your enthusiasm for the role. As well as reinforcing your fit for the position, it will make your statement memorable to the reader.
There’s a lot more to our Careers Service than CVs, cover letters and personal statements. We offer a wide range of support services to help you with every step of the application process and to enhance your employment prospects.
Use our GoinGlobal resource to find out how CVs are different in every country for non-UK applications.
Creating an international CV with GoinGlobal
Our online platform gives you access to our events and one-to-one appointments. We post thousands of jobs and internships each year from organisations keen to attract Imperial students and graduates.
JobsLive Applications and interviews resources
CVs and cover letters are only part of the process to secure an opportunity. You may face a series of selection activities including psychometric tests, assessment centres and interviews. We’ve created webpages and resources to help you with each stage of the process.
Applications and interviews
You can use Student Circus to browse sponsored opportunities in the UK.
Student Circus
With a degree from Imperial the world is your oyster! Many of our graduates seek employment outside of the UK. Use GoinGlobal and our support pages to internationalise your career.
Advice on working abroad
We host a series of events throughout the year, from short introduction talks to more immersive practical workshops, covering a variety of career related topics. We also host several sector specific careers fairs and discussion forums.
What’s on
You can view recordings of various employer talks and events on our careers video library. This can help you to learn more about organisations and different career opportunities. On this webpage you can also view our ‘10 minutes with’ series of short conversations with recruiters from different sectors.
Careers video library
Students at Imperial have free access to this extensive library of online learning and currently our graduates can access material for one year after completion of their studies. You can use LinkedIn Learning to learn new skills such as MATLAB, AutoCAD, ArcGIS, SOLIDWORKS, Python or C amongst many others.
LinkedIn Learning
It can be hard to know what you’d like to do after you graduate. Check out our subject-specific webpages to explore career options possible from your degree programme.
What you can do with your degree
Entrepreneurship gives you the freedom to become your own boss, but it takes dedication and hard work. Fortunately, Imperial is a great place to help test ideas and seek support to pursue your business ideas. Get in touch with the Enterprise and Innovation Lab for more in-depth advice
Starting a business
This is just a small selection of what we offer. Check out the Careers Service website for further details or get in touch with us on careers@imperial.ac.uk if you have a question. You can also follow us on social media to keep up-to-date with news, events and competitions @imperialcareers (X), @ic_careers (Instagram) or imperialcollegecareers (Facebook).
