Detail and Evidence - Preparing an academic CV often involves assembling a detailed record of your educational background, research outputs, teaching experience, grants, and professional service activities. You may need to include publications, conference presentations, and details of supervisory roles. The process typically requires careful curation of achievements to demonstrate your contributions to your field, as well as your potential to secure funding or support future research directions.

Tailored Supporting Material - Beyond the CV itself, you may also prepare accompanying statements, research proposals, or teaching philosophies. These documents should be tailored to align with each institution’s or funder’s strategic priorities and selection criteria. Depending on the opportunity, there might be a need to address broader impact, interdisciplinary work, or engagement with policy and public audiences, all of which can vary considerably by programme and year.

Combining Story and Evidence - When preparing for fellowship or scholarship applications, you usually need to combine a strong personal narrative with clear evidence of academic or professional excellence. The CV serves as the factual foundation, detailing achievements, leadership activities, and sometimes community contributions. Supporting statements often require you to articulate future plans, research goals, and reasons for selecting a particular institution or funding body.

Adapting to Changing Priorities - It is common to draft multiple versions of personal statements and project proposals, responding to changing selection criteria and shifting institutional priorities. Applicants may also need to demonstrate alignment with broader values, such as commitment to diversity or societal impact. As funders regularly update their focus areas, keeping materials current and flexible is key to success.

Defining Your Offering - Preparing a capability statement CV involves defining the core services or expertise you offer, supported by concise evidence of past performance. This document often combines elements of a traditional CV with a marketing perspective, highlighting competencies, project outcomes, and client impact. You may need to adjust the emphasis depending on whether the document will be used for tenders, consultancy proposals, or direct client engagement.

Maintaining Relevance - The preparation process typically involves gathering project summaries, testimonials, and case study examples to illustrate your value. It is important to maintain a clear, professional layout and ensure content can be adapted for different bids or presentations. As client requirements and procurement criteria shift over time, regularly reviewing and refining these documents helps maintain relevance and competitiveness.

Presenting Credibility - Expert witness CVs generally require a thorough, evidence-based presentation of qualifications, professional history, and case experience. The process may include compiling a comprehensive summary or professional statement that explains your specialist expertise clearly to a legal audience. You might also need to include a detailed record of past court appearances, types of evidence given, and areas of recognised authority.

Meeting Legal Standards - In addition to technical content, it is important to ensure the document is formatted simply, to meet court or legal practice expectations. Supporting notes may include terms of engagement, availability, and indemnity details. As legal standards and client expectations evolve, regularly updating these materials ensures they remain credible and fit for purpose in different jurisdictions and case types.

Crafting a Public Narrative - Preparing a media profile CV often involves distilling your key achievements, expertise, and narrative into a concise, engaging format suitable for journalists and public audiences. The process may require you to highlight notable projects, speaking engagements, and recognisable professional milestones that demonstrate credibility and authority.

Staying Current and Adaptable - Because media requests and trends change rapidly, this type of CV is often updated regularly to reflect new developments and areas of focus. You might also need to prepare shorter biographies, key message summaries, and talking points to accompany the CV. The goal is to ensure your profile is consistent, clear, and adaptable for different media opportunities and platforms.