How to communicate your skills to a non-academic audience?
Effectively communicating your skills beyond academia is essential for expanding your career opportunities. While academic achievements and research expertise are highly valuable, translating these into language that resonates with employers in industry, government, and other sectors requires a strategic approach.
Hovedinnhold
Whether you're applying for a position in academia or exploring opportunities beyond it, your CV is your first impression — and it should be tailored to the audience you're addressing. Here’s how to design a CV that highlights your strengths and gets you noticed.
1. Know Your Audience
Academic CVs emphasize research, publications, teaching, and service to the academic community.
Non-academic CVs focus on transferable skills, achievements, and impact — especially in relation to business, public sector, or NGO environments.
Tip: Read the job description carefully and mirror the language used to describe qualifications and responsibilities.
2. Structure and Length
Academic CVs can be several pages long and include detailed lists of publications, conferences, and teaching experience.
Non-academic CVs should be concise — ideally 1–2 pages — and results-oriented.
Tip: Use clear headings (e.g., Professional Experience, Skills, Education, Selected Achievements) and bullet points for readability.
3. Highlight Transferable Skills
Researchers possess a wealth of skills that are highly valued outside academia:
- Project management
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Communication and presentation
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Collaboration across disciplines and cultures
Tip: Frame your experience in terms of outcomes and impact. For example:"Led a cross-functional team to deliver a research project on time and under budget, resulting in a policy briefing for a government agency."
If you need inspiration to identify your generic skills, visit VITAE, the EU Competence framework for researchers or Nor-Cam.
4. Tailor Your Language
Avoid jargon and technical terms that may not be familiar to non-academic employers. Instead, use accessible language that conveys your expertise in a relatable way.
Tip: Replace “Principal Investigator” with “Project Lead” or “Team Coordinator” when applying outside academia.
5. Include a Personal Profile or Summary
A short paragraph at the top of your CV can help frame your experience and career goals. This is especially useful for non-academic roles.
Example:"PhD-trained researcher with 5+ years of experience in data-driven analysis, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communication. Passionate about applying research insights to real-world challenges."
6. Proofread and Get Feedback
Errors can undermine your credibility. Ask a colleague, friend, or career advisor to review your CV before submitting.
Need Support?
At UiB Ferd Career Centre, we offer CV workshops, one-on-one guidance, and tailored feedback to help you present your skills effectively — no matter where your career is headed.