Criminologist CV Guide

What to include in a Criminologist CV

So, you have been job hunting, have seen a criminologist job you want to apply for, and are unsure what to include in your CV. Before you start writing, research the organisation and criminologist position so you can customise the information and add the most relevant qualifications, experience and skills. When you do this, you will demonstrate to recruiters and hiring managers that you are the ideal candidate.

The main sections to include in a CV are your contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, key skills, achievements and references. It is often difficult to know where to start with these sections, but breaking your CV down and concentrating on them one at a time can make it easier and more manageable. Let us now look at what you can include in these sections to maximise your chances of success.

Contact information

Let us start with the easy section – your contact information. It should be the first thing recruiters and hiring managers see and positioned at the very top of your CV. It is important to make it easy to read and ensure the information is accurate and up-to-date so prospective employers know how to reach you.

There are some do’s and don’ts regarding what to include in your contact information:

Do include:

• Your full name, i.e. first name and surname.
• Your location, e.g. town, city or county.
• A phone number you regularly check.
• A professional email address, e.g. [email protected].
• LinkedIn profile, own website or portfolio (optional).

Don’t include:

• Your full home address.
• Your age or date of birth.
• Social media profiles (unless they are professional).
• Anything too personal, such as marital status, gender, national insurance number, religion, etc.

The don’ts are irrelevant to your application, and adding this information can lead to bias, discrimination and even privacy risks.

Professional summary

The next section to add to your CV is your professional summary, which you should include after your contact information. You may see various other title names for this section, such as career objective statement, personal statement or professional profile. Regardless of what you name it, it should contain a brief overview of your skills, experience, career goals and achievements.

Recruiters and hiring managers typically go to the top of your CV first. Therefore, you want to ensure your professional summary is engaging, concise and tailored to each criminologist position. A well-written summary should grab their attention, set the tone for the rest of your CV and help them quickly see why you are a perfect fit for the role.

Your professional summary should ideally be no longer than a five-line paragraph, and you should consider the following when writing this crucial introduction to yourself:

• Start with a strong opening and your current job title, experience level and key qualities. For example, “Dedicated criminologist with 5+ years of experience in criminal profiling and research, known for strong analytical skills and attention to detail”. If you are applying for your first job, focus on your transferable skills, education, internships or projects.
• Highlight key skills and concentrate on the abilities most relevant to the role, such as research, data analysis, interviewing or knowledge of criminal justice systems. For example, “Proficient in statistical analysis and crime pattern evaluation, with expertise in leveraging data to prevent and solve crimes”. You can also indicate specific areas of expertise, such as forensic psychology, crime prevention or criminal profiling.
• Showcase achievements by mentioning accomplishments or contributions, like publishing research or assisting in policy development. For example, “Successfully led a team to develop a community-based crime prevention strategy, reducing local crime rates by 15%”.
• Align your aspirations with the job or company to show that you are a good long-term fit and are passionate about contributing to the criminal justice system. For example, “Eager to contribute to advancing criminal justice policies through innovative research and collaboration”.

Combine all the elements into a clear, concise and cohesive summary, for example:

“Dedicated criminologist with an MSc in Criminology and 5+ years of experience in crime analysis and research. Skilled in statistical modelling, forensic interviewing and policy evaluation, with a track record of reducing crime rates through data-driven approaches. Published author in criminal justice journals, passionate about using research to enhance law enforcement strategies. Eager to bring expertise to [Company Name] to support innovative crime prevention initiatives”.

Education

Criminologists require specific qualifications, and prospective employers will look at your CV to see if you are qualified and suitable for the role. The education section, which typically comes after your professional summary, is an opportunity to showcase your academic background and the skills you have developed during your studies. If you are early in your career and have less work experience, this section allows you to show your potential an achievements.

You may see some examples of CVs with the work experience section first, usually where individuals have more relevant work experience and a smaller education section. How to order these sections is at your discretion and will depend on your background. When you add your education, provide details of your most relevant qualifications in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Here are some examples of what you can include:

• Degree or qualification: Clearly state the qualification (e.g., BA, BSc, MA, MSc, GCSEs or A-Levels) and the subject studied. For example, “BSc (Hons) in Criminology”.
• Institution name and location: Include the full name of the university, college or school and the location.
• Dates of study: Indicate the start and finish years (or present if still studying).
• Grades or classification: Mention your degree classification, e.g. First-Class Honours or 2:1. For A-Levels or GCSEs, state your key subjects and grades. Remember to use the new GCSE grading system where applicable.
• Relevant coursework or projects (optional): Include coursework, research or projects if they are particularly relevant to the role.
• Certifications and additional training (optional): If you have completed short courses, training, workshops or certifications, e.g. Data analysis in criminology, you can list them here or in a separate section. Give the course name, location of training and date of completion.
• Academic achievements (optional): If you have any noteworthy academic achievements, such as awards, honours or scholarships, mention them briefly.

Work experience/employment history

The next section to include in your criminologist CV is your work experience, which is also known as employment history. In this section, you should add previous paid or voluntary roles relevant to the job you are applying for.

Including work experience in your CV is crucial because it demonstrates how your past roles have equipped you with the skills and expertise required for the criminologist job, what you have achieved and how you have contributed to previous organisations. It also builds credibility, adds weight to your qualifications, and makes your application stand out.

When you add your work experience to your CV, you should ensure it is structured, impactful, tailored to the role, and in reverse chronological order. Here are some pointers on what to include for each position you have held:

• Job title: Clearly state your official job title, e.g. Crime Analyst, Research Assistant, Criminal Justice Intern, etc.
• Employer/organisation name: Name of the organisation or other place you worked.
• Location: Town, city or county.
• Dates of employment: Clearly indicate employment start and end dates (month/year or present if still employed).
• Responsibilities: Highlight key duties and tasks you performed and key achievements where relevant (aim for three to five bullet points and use action verbs to describe your tasks), e.g.:
  • Conducted qualitative interviews with offenders to gather insights for research on rehabilitation programs.
  • Interpreted crime statistics and created detailed reports to aid law enforcement agencies.
  • Developed strategies and programmes that reduced burglary rates by 20%.
  • Collaborated with policymakers to create or improve laws and regulations related to criminal justice.
  • Prepared reports and academic papers for publication in criminology journals.

If you have held positions outside criminology, emphasise transferable skills like communication, problem-solving or critical thinking.

Key skills and achievements

Next, add your key skills to your CV, i.e. your abilities and expertise that showcase your suitability for the job. Look at each job posting, and you will notice that many organisations list the skills they want in applicants. If you note these, you can include those most relevant to the position and tailor your CV accordingly. Recruiters often scan for specific skills using applicant tracking systems (ATS). Therefore, if yours are clearly listed, it increases the chances of passing initial screenings.

Detailing key skills in your CV is crucial, as it enables prospective employers to immediately see how your skills align with the job requirements, such as data analysis, critical thinking, or report writing. It can distinguish you from other candidates, especially if you highlight unique or specialised skills. When including your skills, include a mix of hard and soft skills:

• Hard skills – are specific, technical, job-specific abilities that are measurable and often require training, education or on-the-job experience. Examples of hard skills for a criminologist might include research methods, data analysis, criminal profiling, legal and forensic basics, policy development, interviewing techniques and report writing.
• Soft skills – are personal attributes and interpersonal skills that are often harder to measure but are crucial for building relationships, adapting to different situations and achieving success in the workplace. Soft skills for a criminologist might include critical and analytical thinking, attention to detail, communication, empathy, teamwork, time management, adaptability and problem-solving.

Here is an example of how to add your skills:

Key skills

• Crime pattern analysis and statistical modelling.
• Knowledge of criminal justice policies.
• Proficient in forensic interviewing techniques.
• Data analysis software (e.g., SPSS, GIS).
• Strong written and verbal communication.

If applying for your first criminologist role and have limited direct experience, focus on transferable, soft skills as above.

You can also add your achievements, incorporate them into your work experience or have a dedicated section; it is your choice. If you add them, ensure they are relevant to the position you are applying for and quantify them where possible. We will look at showcasing your achievements later.

Ensure you present your skills and achievements in a way that captures attention and aligns with the employer’s needs.

Other information

Your CV should focus on the main sections we have covered, such as your qualifications, experience, skills, achievements and attributes. You may also want to include additional information if you feel it is relevant and could increase your chances of an interview. If you add other sections, ensure you have sufficient space on your CV, i.e. no more than two pages.

Here are some examples of additional sections you may want to consider adding where relevant:

• Professional certifications, associations or memberships – include any certifications or memberships relevant to the role, e.g. Certified Crime Analyst (CCA) and Professional Membership with The British Society of Criminology. It demonstrates your commitment to the field and shows you engage with the professional community.
• Volunteer work – highlight any volunteer experience that showcases your commitment to social responsibility or has relevance to criminology. For example, “Participated in community crime prevention initiatives to improve local safety”. You can add this to the work experience section if preferred. If you do include it, detail the name of the organisation, the dates you volunteered and your key duties and contributions.
• Professional development – mention any workshops, seminars, courses, programs or training sessions you have attended or completed that are relevant to criminology.
• Publications and research – list articles, papers or research published related to criminology or your specialism. You could also mention any contributions at conferences, seminars or workshops.
• Languages – list any additional languages spoken and proficiency levels if relevant to the criminology role.
• Interests and hobbies – include extracurricular activities relevant to the job or to demonstrate your passion and interests, e.g. joining forensic clubs, researching, public speaking, practising forensic photography, and reading about forensic psychology, criminal profiling, crime fiction and real-life case studies.

These sections can provide a more comprehensive picture of your qualifications and make your CV stand out to potential employers.

References

The reference section is typically the last one in your CV. It is vital, as it provides potential employers with academic or professional contacts (referees) who can vouch for your qualifications, skills, character and work ethic, offering credibility and validating the information in your application.

If the job posting does not ask for reference details, at the application stage, you can add “references available upon request” under the heading. It can be useful if you lack space on your CV.

If you are required to add reference details to your CV, you want to ensure that you first choose 2-3 professional contacts who can speak to your knowledge, skills and expertise in criminology. It could include former or current employers/supervisors, academic advisors or professors in criminology or related fields, or colleagues or mentors who have observed your work in criminology or related roles.

When you add your referees, it is important to provide accurate and clear information, such as:

• Contact information – for each referee include:
  • Full name.
  • Job title.
  • Organisation/Company name.
  • Email address.
  • Phone number.
  • Office address (if relevant).
• Relationship to you – briefly describe your relationship with each referee, such as how you know them and the duration of your professional association.

Do not forget to ask permission from your referees before adding them to your CV, and let them know about the role you are applying for so they can prepare and tailor their information.

Choosing strong and positive referees can set you apart from other applicants and help you get that all-important interview invite.