We encourage you to showcase your SPAR experience on your resume, LinkedIn, or other applications, especially if you’re applying to opportunities in the field. However, it's important to present your involvement accurately. Since most people in AI safety are familiar with SPAR, we recommend using clear terms to describe your role, such as:
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We ask you not to describe your role as a "Researcher" or "Research Engineer", as these titles could be misconstrued. There are special cases in which this might be a proper descriptor (e.g., if you’re particularly senior and have a heavy involvement with the project), but if so, we’d ask you to get explicit approval from either us ([email protected]) or your mentor.
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Know that some mentors will be hesitant if you try to claim an affiliation with their organization. We suggest reaching out to your mentor for guidance on how to phrase your association appropriately. Historically, organizations like RAND and GovAI have had stricter policies governing claims of affiliation with both the organization and the respective mentor. Therefore, it’s important to confirm the correct wording with your mentor, especially those at larger organizations.
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If you have not received a certificate of completion, please refrain from listing your SPAR experience in a way that could be construed as having finished the program. If you apply for something before earning your certificate, clearly indicate that you are currently participating in SPAR. Once you receive your certificate, you may describe it as completed.
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