You might not have heard of a narrative CV before. No worries. In this blog, we’ll explore what it is, how it differs from the traditional CV, and how you can create one, with a few sample narrative CV extracts to help you get started.

What is a narrative CV?

A narrative CV is a CV for research purposes, whether that’s when applying for funding or chasing a specific research-based role. It is:

• Usually divided into four parts, with structured details of the applicant’s contributions and type: entry-hyperlink id: 4RECVG9dtJRWTXVWTe4aZY reflecting a wide range of scholarly experiences and type: entry-hyperlink id: iLn77cxPnANpfcIRsUiAl

• Formatted to emphasise quality, as you can usually go into more detail within four pages, as opposed to the usual two-page type: entry-hyperlink id: 4ITXa60q3WWavKqh4bpfJf 

How else is it different from a traditional academic curriculum vitae?

The length of a narrative CV is certainly one advantage; also, instead of just providing a list of type: entry-hyperlink id: 75BYpK0yZdOnKzs04fSNT5, you have the space to fully inform the reader what you did and achieved within each section of a narrative CV. This, in turn, allows the reader to see you as a whole person, rather than just a list.

Creating your narrative CV – four key sections

As with many things, there are multiple versions of a narrative CV. Most funding applications will provide a template, so make sure to use it. If that isn’t the case, concentrate on organising your research contributions into these four key areas:

• Knowledge generation

• Development of others

• Impact on the wider research community

• Benefits to broader society

Top tip: Before writing your narrative CV, check out any guidance from the organisation you’re applying to for their latest requirements.

Now, let’s take a closer look at what to include in these four sections:

1. Contributions to generating new knowledge

This section should highlight your skills and contributions to research, technical, and innovation projects that you’ve been involved in. Consider including:

• Published research, including dissertations or theses, policy and conference publications, data sets, patents, designs, products, and evidence syntheses

• Progression of tools, resources, or methods

• Any funding you’ve secured

• New ideas and theories conceptualised

• Awards won or any sort of peer recognition

Top tip: When referencing a publication, use the digital object identifier (DOI) hyperlinked to the article so the reader can access it easily.

2. Contributions to developing others

Showcase how you’ve type: entry-hyperlink id: Chu4mcm9AfnoU9BmxpTYJ and developed colleagues while cultivating productive working partnerships in this part of your narrative CV. Consider including:

• Supervision and mentoring

• type: entry-hyperlink id: 7fIwJQhvdOQWlaGRNx4dN8 and any line management duties

• type: entry-hyperlink id: 1CTgnmjsfKDtcINh6iF6R8 that has strategically directed a team or organisation

• Any teaching you’ve carried out that has focused on developing others

• Collaborations that emphasise those vital working relationships

Top tip: If you’re early on in your career, you can talk about significant contributions you’ve made within a team environment.

3. Contributions to the wider research community

Demonstrate on your narrative CV how your actions have made a difference within the wider research community. Consider including:

• Any committee work beyond your organisation

• Your positions of responsibility and contributions to professional organisations

• Any activities you’ve undertaken that improved research integrity, such as equality, diversion, and inclusion (DEI)

• Your work in organising community events, including workshops and conferences

• Involvement in open research and sharing of skills and knowledge

Top tip: Your contact details, type: entry-hyperlink id: 5vsqC8meaYHBsD78uqLFTo, and type: entry-hyperlink id: 2mvM8mkLQrM5OLkILf9wDG will most likely be required on a separate form so there’s often no need to include these within a narrative CV.

4. Contributions towards a broader societal benefit

Here you want to concentrate on illustrating how your research benefits reach beyond academia into the wider world. Consider including:

• Knowledge exchanges that bring together researchers, users of research, and wider communities 

• Partnerships with industry, businesses, and healthcare

• Responsible research and innovation (RRI)

• Any action taken that ensures your research influences relevant audiences

• Public engagement with research (PER)

Narrative CV section examples

As added guidance, below are examples for each of the typical sections of a narrative CV:

Contributions to generating new knowledge

“I performed data integration using [method A], writing an analysis of the effects of [B and C] on finance outcomes [DOI]. The study, which has been cited XX times over the past X years, was the basis of a series of research community workshops, organised by [name of organisation], which led to a significant award of [£ amount] from [name of funder].”

Contributions to developing others

“I have supervised [the number of] PhD students, affording them many opportunities to visit other laboratories [in X and Y], learn new techniques [such as X], and broaden research horizons. I have supported these researchers with identifying various CPD opportunities which have furthered their goals, with some obtaining significant positions in academia, industry, education, business, and medicine. [Number of] them won awards including [X].”

Contributions to the wider research community

“When I was [job title], I was a member of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity committee, where I initiated / promoted / enhanced [name of activity], which resulted in [description of what change occurred], as evidenced by [description of quantitative and qualitative data].”

Contributions towards society

“Back in [year], I helped organise the first-ever stakeholder engagement day at [name of business] on [public interest topic] that boasted [number of] attendees]. This also included a discussion where campaigners talked about experiences, alongside break-out groups that discussed the priorities of the research. Evidence that was submitted as part of this consultation led to [type of changes] in local policy, which then led to [XX%] decline in the effect of [A] on the affected population group.” 

With these pointers, you should be well on your way to drafting an impressive narrative CV.

Keen to transform your current CV into this type of research CV? Start by checking out TopCV’s free CV review for guidance on what you need to do in order to improve.

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