Arts and heritage

Heritage conservator CV: example and template

This example is for conservators of works of art and historic monuments working at conservation studios, museums, construction companies working on historic buildings and heritage protection offices, and for conservation and restoration graduates.

The client wants to know which materials you specialise in, which sites you have worked on, whether you prepare records and treatment proposals and whether you are qualified to run work on listed monuments. We show you how to describe this on your CV.

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Example CV: heritage conservator

All the details in this example are fictional. Treat it as a model of layout and wording, and replace the content with your own experience.

Ewelina Czarnecka

Conservator of works of art

Torun +48 123 456 789 ewelina.czarnecka@example.com

Professional profile

Conservator of works of art specialising in wall paintings and polychrome sculpture, with 10 years of experience at a conservation studio. I carry out research, prepare treatment proposals and records, and lead the team conserving polychrome decoration in churches and tenement houses. I am qualified to run conservation work on listed monuments on my own.

Work experience

Conservator, works manager

03.2019 - present

Conservation studio for works of art, Torun

  • Leading conservation work on polychrome decoration in 6 churches and 3 tenement houses.
  • Stratigraphic research and test windows, analysing results from the laboratory.
  • Treatment proposals for approval by the regional heritage conservator.
  • Written and photographic conservation records.
  • Leading a team of 4 conservators, cost estimates and schedules.

Conservator

09.2015 - 02.2019

Conservation studio for works of art, Torun

  • Conserving polychrome wooden sculpture and altars.
  • Cleaning, consolidation, fills and retouching.
  • Taking part in research and record-keeping.

Education

Master's degree, conservation and restoration of paintings and polychrome sculpture

2009 - 2015

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun

Skills

  • Wall painting conservation
  • Polychrome sculpture conservation
  • Stratigraphic research
  • Treatment proposals
  • Conservation records
  • Team leadership and cost estimates

Qualifications and training

  • Qualifications to run conservation work on monuments
  • Working at height qualification
  • Training in new cleaning methods, 2022

Languages

  • English: B2
  • Italian: A2

Additional information

  • Ready for fieldwork and travel

I hereby consent to the processing of my personal data for the purposes necessary to carry out the recruitment process, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 (GDPR).

How to write a heritage conservator CV

Professional summary

Write what you specialise in, how long you have worked and on which sites. Add your qualifications to run work on monuments and whether you lead work, because this decides which role you can take on a job. Mention research and records.

Paper and leather conservation graduate with placements at a museum and an archive. I cleaned and consolidated documents and prints and prepared photographic records. I am looking for work at the conservation studio of a museum or a library.

Experience: duties and achievements

Describe sites, the type of monuments, materials, the scope of work and your role. Show research, treatment proposals, records and contact with the heritage office. Add the scale: the number of sites, team size, surface area.

Weaker: Conservation work.

Better: Leading conservation work on polychrome decoration in 6 churches and 3 tenement houses.

Weaker: Research.

Better: Stratigraphic research and test windows, analysing results from the laboratory.

Weaker: Records.

Better: Written and photographic conservation records.

Skills worth listing

List specialisms, materials, research methods and types of documents. In your soft skills show patience, accuracy and responsibility, because every mistake on a monument is irreversible.

Professional skills

  • Conservation specialism
  • Research
  • Treatment proposals
  • Records
  • Materials and techniques
  • Cost estimates

Personal skills

  • Patience
  • Accuracy
  • Responsibility
  • Team leadership
  • Working with the authorities

Qualifications and training

List your conservation degree, qualifications to run work on listed monuments, working at height qualification and training in methods. The qualifications are set out in heritage protection law, so describe them precisely.

Conservator CV with no experience

Describe your diploma work and placements at studios, museums and on sites. Give the sites, materials and scope of work.

Start as an assistant at a conservation studio. Practice under an experienced conservator is needed before you can work on monuments on your own.

Tailoring your CV to the job offer

A conservation studio looks for a specialism and site experience, a museum for collection care and work in stable conditions, and a construction company for leading work on a historic building. Move to the top what the job ad is about.

The most common mistakes on a heritage conservator CV

Questions and answers

What should a heritage conservator put on a CV?

Specialism, sites, materials, scope of work, research, records, role in the team, qualifications and education.

What qualifications does a heritage conservator have?

A degree in conservation and restoration of works of art and the practice required by heritage protection law.

Can you become a conservator with no experience?

Yes, as an assistant at a studio. On your CV show your diploma, placements and the sites you have worked on.

Should you name sites on your CV?

Yes, if you can. Names and types of monuments show your experience well.

Create a heritage conservator CV in the builder

In the CV Majster builder you enter your details step by step and see right away what the document looks like. You can copy the wording from this page and adapt it to yourself. The finished CV as a PDF costs a one-off PLN 5, with no subscription, and you see the preview before you pay.

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See also

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