Reflections on the Narrative CV Workshop for Early Career Researchers
Last month, I hosted a Narrative CV workshop for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) at the University of Surrey. The aim was to familiarise them with this new CV format that many funders have adopted and to suggest strategies and tools to help them write one.
The Narrative CV format moves away from listing metrics and publications alone. Instead, it encourages individuals to think about the narrative of their career and the contributions they have made in different areas. One of the most rewarding aspects of the workshop was seeing how it created space for discussion and reflection. Some participants shared that taking time to think about their achievements beyond the usual markers does not happen often, and writing a Narrative CV gives them that opportunity. It was also very stimulating to see how people were able to share their experiences, and how others were inspired by them. The workshop created an opportunity to go beyond the usual question “what’s your research about?” and instead shifted the focus toward “who are you as a researcher, and what have you contributed?” There was a strong sense that the Narrative CV format could help researchers to express more fully who they are, what matters to them, and where they want to go, beyond the metrics.
We also talked about the challenges of writing a Narrative CV. For many ECRs, this was a new concept. We are so used to the traditional CV and its emphasis on metrics that it is often difficult to think about telling a ‘story’ of who we are. Some participants commented on how the unfamiliarity of the format made the process feel demanding, as it requires getting used to a new format and finding the time to do so within an already busy schedule. We are all very much aware of this issue. I believe that sharing these challenges helped participants feel they were not alone. Still, seeing people motivated to write a Narrative CV — and hearing from others who had already written one — helped many feel that this was something they, too, could give a go.
To support this process, I introduced a step-by-step tool developed to guide the writing of a Narrative CV. The tool served two important purposes: it broke the process down into manageable stages, and it provided a structure that helped reduce the uncertainty around what to write in each section. Many found this tool particularly helpful, describing it as something they could return to and build on as their careers develop.
Several participants took the opportunity to draft their own Narrative CVs following the session and received individual feedback. The quality of the work they produced was very good. It became clear that the workshop was useful and the participants managed to produce a strong draft they can now tailor for future funding applications.
I hope to continue offering this workshop, not only as an exercise to write a Narrative CV, but also as a way to reflect on who we are as researchers.