In this highly competitive field, candidates must be able to showcase their skills and the contribution they can make to their future employers. Our CV examples are designed to help you complete a concise and well-formatted psychology research assistant CV to win your next interview and succeed in a rewarding career. To this end, we have put together a psychology research assistant CV template, which offers valuable insights into the format and content of a successful CV for professionals in this field.

Below, our guide covers everything you need to write a psychology research assistant. It includes:

SEARCH ALL CV EXAMPLES

    Psychology research assistant CV sample

    psychology-research-assistant-CV-sample

    Charles Creek

    46 Roman Rd

    Leeds LS2 3ZR

    07912345678

    charles.creek@example-example.co.uk

    Professional summary

    Methodical Psychology Research Assistant with extensive experience supporting and conducting research. Uses cutting-edge methodologies and techniques to produce reliable results in line with detailed specifications.

    Work history

    January 2022 – Current

    Leeds University – Leeds

    Psychology research assistant

    • Collected qualitative and quantitative data with rigorous methodology.
    • Prepared literature reviews with concise summaries.
    • Verified research findings with comprehensive tests and audits.
    • Delivered papers and presentations at the BPS Annual Conference of Cognitive Psychology.

    December 2016 – December 2021

    St Mary’s Hospital – Manchester

    Junior Research Associate

    • Responsible for administering and scoring psychological tests in a busy healthcare setting.
    • Carried out interviews and focus groups with research participants and volunteers.
    • Analysed research data and prepared briefings and working papers for research funding purposes.

    Skills

    • Findings analysis
    • Outstanding communicator
    • Grant proposal writing
    • Writing coursework
    • Literature analysis
    • Human behaviour education

    Education

    2016
    London University London
    MSc Psychological Research Methods

    2014
    University of Birmingham Birmingham
    BSc (Hons) Psychology

    x

    Psychology research assistant CV template

    Psychology research assistant CV format

    Your psychology research assistant CV should use format preferred by recruiters. While there are a range of CV formats online, recruiters definitely prefer the reverse-chronological layout. This means writing your education and experience section, starting with the most recent qualification and job position. Using this format ensures recruiters can see your experience quickly while making interview selections.

    The overall format of a psychology research assistant CV is also easy to complete. It should start with your contact details and move on to a personal statement. Then follows your work history, skills and education sections.

    For entry-level roles, a recruiter may accept a skill-based CV. This places your skills under the personal statement to highlight gained experience from other roles.

    Choose your format now

    How to write a CV for a psychology research assistant

    Learning how to write a CV is an invaluable tool for obtaining a top job in the field. Some basics include using plain English with short, simple sentences. You should also ensure each section is related to the job at hand. Fortunately, it’s pretty simple to do, and our step-by-step guide covers everything your need to get started:

    Adding contact details to your psychology research assistant CV

    The contact details section is the first part to complete, and it’s easy to do. This simply means providing the necessary information for recruiters to get hold of you, right at the top of your CV. So, it’s vital to include the following details in this format:

    • Name – Include your full name
    • Address – Add your full address and postcode
    • Phone number – List a mobile number or home phone, ideally with an answering machine facility just in case
    • Email address – Use a work-appropriate email

    Example of contact section for a psychology research assistant CV

    Mark Cameron
    25 Anyroad
    Anytown
    Any County
    AT77 T88

    01234 678 6789
    markcameron@anymail.com

    Start your psychology research assistant CV with a personal statement

    After your contact details, it’s time to tell the employer a little about yourself. The personal statement section introduces your background, skills, and experience. However, keep it short and concise to ensure you include relevant details for the job.

    Our advice on writing your personal statement section is as follows:

    • Detail what you offer by writing in the third person
    • 3-4 sentences are ample
    • Use positive words such as “organised”, “analytical”, and “methodical.”
    • Include relevant accomplishments if necessary
    • Highlight expertise if applicable, such as “experienced in data collection software”.

    Example of personal statement for a psychology research assistant CV

    A highly skilled research psychologist with experience in healthcare and academic settings. Possesses a strong interest in occupational and cognitive psychology. Proven track of securing funding for various research projects, as well as outstanding analytical and observational skills.

    OR

    Hard-working psychology research assistant with 5 years’ experience undertaking research projects as part of a PhD. Highly proficient in using industry-specific research software packages. Now seeking to advance my career and take on further responsibilities with a role in an academic setting.

    Create my CV

    Tackling work experience on a CV for a psychology research assistant

    As a psychology research assistant, you’ll have extensive experience behind you, and this section is the place to show it off. As one of the more prominent elements of your CV, it’s essential to include relevant details and keep it concise. This section should also be completed in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent or current job.

    When writing about your work history, include the following:

    • Start and end date
    • Job title, employer and location
    • Write 3-6 duties for each job

    It’s natural to want to highlight all your work accomplishments but going into too much detail leaves little room for everything else. So, avoid repeating duties such as everyday tasks and focus on what makes each role unique and the tasks you completed within this. For example, if you have experience in academic research in one job, perhaps mention your knowledge of preparing reports and data in another.

    Example of work experience for a psychology research assistant CV

    Research Fellow | Any University, Edinburgh | December 2019 – Present

    • Managed the department’s flagship research project on employee performance and organisational commitment.
    • Wrote research and funding proposals that resulted in a 40% increase in the annual funds received by the university’s psychology department.
    • Delivered papers and presentations at the BPS Annual Conference of Cognitive Psychology.
    • Assisted senior department members with the supervision of postgraduate student projects.

    Junior Research Associate | Any Hospital, Edinburgh | October 2015 – November 2019

    • Responsible for administering and scoring psychological tests in a busy healthcare setting.
    • Carried out interviews and focus groups with research participants and volunteers.
    • Analysed research data and prepared briefings and working papers for research funding purposes.

    Psychology research assistant CV skills

    Psychology research assistant job roles require candidates to possess a number of skills. Throughout your career, you will have developed a variety of these attributes to list on your CV. However, there are several desired and essential CV skills to include to make your CV stand out, such as:

    Essential skills for a psychology research assistant

    • Excellent written and spoken communication skills
    • Experience with research methods
    • Digital competence
    • Analytical ability
    • Specialist psychology knowledge

    Desirable aptitudes to set you apart

    How to add education to your psychology research assistant CV

    Psychology research assistants require a good standard of education which includes a degree in a related subject. In addition, some employers may require higher qualifications depending on the job role. To highlight your current capabilities, listing your educational history in reverse-chronological order is a simple process.

    Things to include in this section are:

    • School, college, university or training provider
    • Year of qualification
    • Level of qualification, BA (Hons), MA, PhD
    • Subject or course title – you don’t need this for high school courses

    Example education section for a psychology research assistant

    London University | 2008-2009
    MSc Psychological Research Methods

    University of Birmingham | 2004-2008
    BSc (Hons) Psychology

    Bellerbys College, Any College | 1999-2004
    A levels: Biology (A) English (B) Maths (B) Psychology (A)

    Psychology research assistants CV dos and don’ts

    Do

    • Do tailor your psychology research assistant to the job advert Recruiters can spot a generic CV a mile off, so it’s essential to tailor your content to the advertised role. Use keywords and action words throughout to make an impact, and keep your experience and education highlights relevant for the position.
    • Do write a cover letter Cover letters are a great way to delve deeper into your background and experience. They go further than your CV to tell recruiters more information and real-world examples that help them see how you fit better into the role. This professional letter should still be concise, just like your psychology research assistant CV, with one page as the maximum.

    Don’t

    • Don’t forget to check your CV before sending Psychology research assistants must have outstanding written skills, including accurate spelling and grammar. Mistakes on a CV could result in it being dismissed for the role. Before sending your application, proofread thoroughly and ensure everything is formatted correctly.
    • Don’t include irrelevant details Your psychology research assistant should be a maximum of two pages long. So this doesn’t leave room for irrelevant information. For example, you are not required to add details about your age or references. Plus, keep each section relevant to the job, including duties and skills.
    brand-image

    Your psychology research assistant CV questions answered

    What does a psychology research assistant do?

    Some of the typical duties of psychology research assistants are:

    • Collect research and data
    • Analysis and reporting
    • Liaise with colleagues and external partners
    • Contribute to grant applications
    • Fieldwork and travel when required
    • Project management

    How many skills should I include on a psychology research assistant’s CV?

    This job required numerous skills, but there isn’t enough room to include everything. Focus on the most relevant skills, including around five essential skills and five for other attributes. Less is often more in this section.

    Where do I list additional certifications on a psychology research assistant’s CV?

    All professional certifications should be included in your education section. Include relevant awards and qualifications in reverse-chronological order so your highest, most recent achievement is the first thing recruiters see.

    What qualities make a good psychology research assistant?

    Alongside excellent research and analytical skills, psychology research assistants must possess many other qualities to find success in this job. Some examples include:

    • Attention to detail
    • Critical thinking skills
    • Ability to adapt to different scenarios
    • Interpersonal skills

    Where do psychology research assistants work?

    Psychology research assistants are required in various public and private organisations. Most often, this role is undertaken in a research facility or education establishment. However, depending on the project, you may also work in the health, medical, and corporate fields.

    Build my CV

    Create your own psychology research assistant CV

    Now you have all the information on how to write and format a psychology research assistant CV – it’s time to get started. Our CV templates give you a head start with a choice of pre-made layouts for psychology research roles. You can then select pre-written content in our CV builder for your personal statement, skills, and experience – all based on psychology research assistant duties and responsibilities. Need some more inspiration? Take a look at some more CV examples for research and psychology roles.

    Build my CV

    Build CV

    *The names and logos of the companies referred to above are all trademarks of their respective holders. Unless specifically stated otherwise, such references are not intended to imply any affiliation or association with myperfectCV.