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Early career scientists offer an enormous “value proposition” for industry—but I often have to play Sherlock Holmes helping you to identify, own, and communicate this effectively. As you’ve taught me well, scientists need proof, so while my first statement was not hypothetical, consider it a theorem that only you can prove. Since 2015, I’ve been lucky enough to challenge, support and (given the feedback) occasionally even inspire you in the process. While peer review is sti

Recruiters may lean too heavily on AI or screening software, but most job postings also draw a flood of poorly targeted applications, making quick decisions inevitable. These quick fixes will help make your CV readable, attractive, and immediately clear about why you are a strong fit. Show how your experience matches the role. See more detailed CV and résumé guidance available elsewhere on our blog. 1. Layout One-column layouts are easier on the eye: this means they invite mo

Academic questions What are the university’s most popular courses and areas of academic strength? How does the university rank nationally and internationally in my subject area? What are the graduate employment rates, and does the university offer internship or placement programmes? What is the student-to-staff ratio and average class size? Questions on the expected lifestyle What is the cost of tuition and living expenses, and are there scholarships or financial aid options?

For most professionals, the one-page CV is a myth, as hiring managers and recruiters prioritize depth, specific technical skills, and project accomplishments over strict brevity. While one-page suits early-career[1], two pages are recommended for experienced professionals to showcase, not just list, expertise, making it easier for recruiters to find necessary details. Key Takeaways on the "One-Page" Myth Context Over Length: For tech, two pages (or even three for senior role

Google receives over 3 million job applications per year, or about 9,000 per day![1] Companies with less than 250 employees make up over 99% of commercial entitles in Switzerland and create two-thirds of the jobs in the country.[2] According to Stress in the Workplace, stress-related disorders cost businesses $200 to $300 billion annually.[3] Multitasking can reduce employee productivity by 40%.[4] Teams with a mix of ethnic backgrounds and gender produce better results, enfo

Show up late without alerting the employer, no matter why. They may be polite enough to still interview you, but you’ll be a potential for their blacklist… Dress poorly and don’t pay attention to grooming. This always thrills people who care about their company and want to find a good new colleague. Don’t research their company and don’t know anything about their competitors. They’ll love this, since it will allow them to quickly eliminate you for lack of motivation! Be arrog

Don’t write one at all; see how much time you’ve saved?! Retell your experience as if the recruiter can’t read a CV correctly; a great way to get her on your side by insulting her intelligence, eh? Use boring language and no specifics; you don’t need ChatGPT for this… Claim to be the best at everything: just look at a TikTok influencer for help. Only talk about yourself, not the company or the job — after all, you’re the important one here, right? If, on the other hand, you w