Group leaders seek motivated, independent postdocs with relevant technical skills, and prefer to recruit candidates directly rather than advertising positions. Be proactive in reaching out to them and make sure your application materials are concise and focus on your most relevant skills.

For the CV

• Highlight relevant information: include the most relevant details – education, research experience, and technical skills – on the first page.
• Describe the significance of your work: use bullet points not only to highlight your technical expertise but also to describe the impact of your work.
• Show versatility: consider including examples from your lab work that show independence, team work and drive.

For the cover letter

• Craft a compelling narrative: consider what points you want to bring across and develop a narrative that elaborate on these points along with your motivation to join their lab.

Do not forget that letters of recommendation from your PhD advisor, postdoc supervisor and/or collaborators are often required. Include their contact information at the end of your CV and inform them in advance when you are actively applying for positions.

Selection committees look for evidence that your research is both exciting and beneficial for the institution.You need to convince them of the potential impact of your work.

Applications for group leader positions in Europe typically require a cover letter, CV, research proposal, recommendation letters, and occasionally a teaching statement. However, keep in mind that requirements and application materials can differ, as various countries offer multiple tracks and entry routes for group leader roles.

For the CV

Generally, a CV for these positions should be factual and descriptive, using a straightforward, tabular format to outline your education, research experience, technical skills, teaching experience, and research outputs. Make sure to read any vacancy-specific guidelines carefully: in recent years, a cultural shift towards a more holistic assessment of research has gained momentum. As a result, a variety of quantitative and qualitative factors, along with narrative sections explaining the impact of a variety of research outputs, can now be requested in the CV.

For the cover letter

Your cover letter should serve as a “movie trailer” for your research statement. Summarise your career achievements to date, highlight the niche you aim to develop as an independent researcher, and explain how your research aligns with the goals of the institution or department.

Hiring managers and recruiters spend little time reviewing application materials during the initial screening, and in large companies, an application tracking system often handles this process. Therefore, make sure your application clearly highlights your work experience, main achievements, and key skills at a glance.  Familiarise yourself with the jargon of your target career area, and tailor the content to match the keywords, acronyms and requirements for each position.

For the CV

• Choose an easy to navigate layout: aim for a two-page CV with clear headings and bullet points. Put the most relevant experience and skills on the first page. 
• Describe your experience with impact: use specific examples and action verbs, focus on the outcomes, and quantify results with numbers whenever possible.
• Think beyond technical expertise: include examples that demonstrate your communication (both oral and written), project management and teamwork skills. 

For the cover letter

• Prepare a formal letter: include the address, date, and heading with the name of the position/job reference number. Fit the content onto one page.
• Aim for your best writing: this is your opportunity to showcase your communication skills. Elaborate further on the aspects of your CV that address the most important requirements for the position, and use a narrative that provides a glimpse of your personality and motivation.