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  • How to Write a Graduate School Resume | Template & Example

How to Write a Graduate School Resume | Template & Example

Published on February 7, 2020 by Shona McCombes . Revised on June 1, 2023.

When you apply for graduate school , you’ll usually be asked to submit a resume or CV along with your application. A graduate school resume should give a focused, concise overview of relevant experiences and achievements.

The exact sections you include depend on your experiences and on the focus of the program you’re applying to. Ensure your resume gives full details of:

  • Your college education
  • Relevant work experience
  • Relevant voluntary and extracurricular experience
  • Any awards, honors, publications, or other relevant achievements
  • Any relevant skills, certifications, and memberships

The main difference from a regular resume is that you’ll put more emphasis on your education and academic interests to show that you’re a good candidate for graduate school.

Download the Word templates and adjust them to your own purposes.

Resume template 1 Resume Template 2

Table of contents

Step 1: plan the structure and layout, step 2: create a heading with your personal information, step 2: detail your education, step 3: outline your work experience, step 4: highlight other relevant skills and achievements, step 5: proofread and save as a pdf, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about graduate school resumes.

Before you start writing, you need to decide how you’ll organize the information. Which sections you include, and in which order, depends on your experience and the program you are applying to.

If you’re applying for a research-focused program in the sciences, social sciences or humanities, emphasize your academic skills and achievements. Awards, publications, grants, fellowships, and teaching experience should take center stage. If you don’t have many academic achievements yet, you can focus on your courses, grades, and research interests.

If you’re applying to a professionally-focused program, you’ll probably want to emphasize your work experience and practical skills. Internships, jobs, and voluntary work should all be included.

Keep the layout clean and simple. Make sure all headings are the same size and font, and use text boxes or dividing lines to separate the sections.

Example of a resume outline

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Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

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resume sample for graduate school application

At the very top of your resume, you need to include:

  • Your name (usually in a larger font size)
  • Your address
  • Your email address
  • Your phone number

You can also include a sentence summarizing your background and stating your objective.

  • Don’t write “resume” in the heading – just your name is fine.
  • Do include links to relevant professional or academic profiles, such as LinkedIn, Academia.edu, or ResearchGate.

A graduate school resume should always start with your educational history. For each program you’ve completed (or are soon to complete), always list:

  • The degree (e.g. Bachelor of Arts in English Literature)
  • The college and location
  • The month and year of graduation

If you’re applying for a research-focused program, you can also give the title of your thesis and go into slightly more detail about your studies – for example, by listing 2–3 advanced courses that demonstrate relevant academic skills.

  • Don’t include your high school education.
  • Do include other applicable information such as your minor(s), study abroad programs, and other relevant educational experiences.
  • Awards and honors

If you’ve received any awards, honors, scholarships, or grants, make sure to include these too. If you have several such academic achievements, it’s worth including a separate section on your resume to make sure they stand out.

Next, your resume should give an overview of your professional and voluntary experience. If you have varied experience, you might want to split it up into separate sections:

In a resume for an academic program, you could include headings for teaching experience and research experience.

A professionally-focused resume could be divided into sections for employment, internships, and voluntary work, or headings for managerial and administrative roles.

Each section should be organized in reverse chronological order. For each role, list:

  • Your job title
  • The dates of employment
  • The organization’s name and location
  • A bullet-point list of your main responsibilities

Be concise and specific when describing your work.

  • Don’t attempt to list everything you did in every job.
  • Do pick out some key achievements that show what you learned and how you succeeded.

For example, instead of:

  • Made lesson plans
  • Taught students
  • Graded papers
  • Attended departmental meetings

You could write:

  • Designed lessons in academic writing skills
  • Taught classes of 20–30 undergraduate students
  • Graded practical assignments and coordinated peer feedback sessions
  • Contributed to the evaluation and redevelopment of the curriculum

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The other sections of your resume depend on what you want to emphasize. You can include some of the section headings listed below, or combine them into larger sections.

Publications and presentations

Publishing in academic journals or presenting at conferences is a big selling point on a graduate school resume. List any publications (including co-author credits) or papers you have presented.

You can also include pending publications – that is, articles that have been accepted by a journal but not yet published. Make sure to note what stage the publication is at (e.g. under review, in press).

Certifications and memberships

If you have participated in professional development or other relevant training courses, list your certifications.

Are you a member of any professional bodies or organizations? You can list these too to demonstrate your involvement in an academic or professional community.

Languages and technical skills

If you speak more than one language, list your level of fluency (with certification if applicable).

There’s usually no need to include standard computer skills like Microsoft Word, but do highlight your proficiency in specialist softwares or tools relevant to the program (such as statistical programs and design software).

Extracurricular activities

Don’t include irrelevant hobbies or try to show off how busy you were in college, but do list any community or voluntary activities that demonstrate your skills in things like leadership and communication, or that are directly related to the subject you want to study.

Examples of the kinds of things that are worth including might be:

  • Organizing events
  • Editing a college paper, magazine, or journal
  • Being president of a club
  • Being involved in a community project

Make sure to carefully proofread your resume (and the rest of your application) before you submit. Also, check out Scribbr’s professional proofreading services to see what we can do for you.

To ensure your formatting stays consistent, it’s generally best to save your resume as a PDF file (unless the university specifies another format).

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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A resume for a graduate school application is typically no more than 1–2 pages long.

Note, however, that if you are asked to submit a CV (curriculum vitae), you should give comprehensive details of all your academic experience. An academic CV can be much longer than a normal resume.

Always carefully check the instructions and adhere to any length requirements for each application.

The sections in your graduate school resume depend on two things: your experience, and the focus of the program you’re applying to.

Always start with your education. If you have more than one degree, list the most recent one first.

The title and order of the other sections depend on what you want to emphasize. You might include things like:

  • Professional experience
  • Voluntary and extracurricular activities
  • Publications
  • Skills and certifications

The resume should aim for a balance between two things: giving a snapshot of what you’ve done with your life so far, and showing that you’re a good candidate for graduate study.

No, don’t include your high school courses and grades. The education section should only detail your college education.

If you want to discuss aspects of high school in your graduate school application, you can include this in your personal statement .

A resume is typically shorter than a CV, giving only the most relevant professional and educational highlights.

An academic CV should give full details of your education and career, including lists of publications and presentations, certifications, memberships, grants, and research projects. Because it is more comprehensive, it’s acceptable for an academic CV to be many pages long.

Note that, outside of the US, resume and CV are often used interchangeably.

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McCombes, S. (2023, June 01). How to Write a Graduate School Resume | Template & Example. Scribbr. Retrieved September 9, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/graduate-school/resume/

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Graduate School Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Graduate School Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Frank Hackett

  • Resume Examples
  • Resume Text Examples

How To Write a Graduate School Resume

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Graduate School Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Graduate School Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Christine Li (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Your Street, Philadelphia, PA 12345

A Psychology Graduate specializing in behavioral analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, and developmental psychology. Adept at executing complex research initiatives and collaborating with diverse academic teams.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Psychology Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, September 2017 – May 2021 GPA: 3.8/4.0

  • Vice President, Temple Student Psychology Association, 2019-2021
  • Member, Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, 2017-2021
  • Dean’s List 2017-2021
  • Magna Cum Laude

Professional Experience

Research Assistant, Dr. William Stern, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA September 2020 – May 2021

  • Conducted research on a variety of psychology topics and trends, including emotionally-focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques
  • Coordinated with a team of scholars to conduct a research project analyzing the psychological effects of poverty in food desert areas, including conducting interviews, developing surveys, and evaluating statistical trends

Academic Projects

Psychology Research Projects, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA September 2017 – May 2021

  • Wrote a 25-page research paper for the Psychology capstone course analyzing the cultural experience of Chinese American immigrants in urban and rural areas and the relationship between institutionalized racism and anxiety
  • Developed a 10-page research paper evaluating the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to treat depression symptoms
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Development Psychology
  • Emotionally-Focused Therapy
  • Behavioral Analysis
  • Trauma Intervention
  • Academic Research
  • Relationship Building
  • Team Collaboration
  • Written Communication

Luis Rodriguez (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Your Street, New York, NY 12345

A Speech Pathology Graduate specializing in speech-language therapy, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), American Sign Language (ASL), and team leadership. A proven track record of mentoring students within the Speech-Language program and providing ESL tutoring services.

Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Speech-Language-Hearing Science Columbia University, New York, NY September 2017 – May 2021 GPA: 3.75/4.0

  • Member, American Sign Language Club, 2018-2021
  • Member, National Honors Society, 2017-2021
  • Dean’s List, 2017-2021
  • Summa Cum Laude

Speech-Language-Hearing Writing Tutor, Columbia University, New York, NY September 2020 – May 2021

  • Coordinated with students weekly to identify weaknesses, resolved questions with speech, language, and hearing science course material, and developed strategies for academic success
  • Resolved concerns regarding paper structure, prompts, revisions, and MLA and APA citation formatting

Classroom Assistant, Columbia University, New York, NY September 2019 – September 2020

  • Supported a professor in the execution of two English preparatory courses for incoming first-year students
  • Taught two thirty-minute sessions five days a week based on the needs of the students and focused on improving writing abilities and critical thinking skills

Volunteerism Experience

Volunteer Teaching Assistant, Brooklyn Literacy Center, New York, NY June 2020 – Present

  • Supported one instructor in facilitating a three-hour class for ESL students, conducted evaluations to identify academic weaknesses, and assisted with implementing lesson plans and activities
  • Speech-Language-Hearing Therapy
  • American Sign Language
  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Lesson Plan Implementation
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Sandra Carlisle (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Your Street, San Francisco, CA 12345

An Economics Graduate specializing in statistical analysis, accounting, financial analysis, risk management, and ROI analysis. Experience in conducting economic research to evaluate statistical trends and inform financial decision making for businesses.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Economics University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA September 2017 – May 2021 GPA: 3.6.5/4.0

  • Member, UC Berkeley Economics Club, 2017-2021
  • Dean’s List, 2018-2019

Internship, Anderson Financial Firm, San Francisco, CA April 2020 – April 2021

  • Performed statistical analysis on economic and financial trends for a financial investment firm, which included evaluating potential ROI of startup businesses
  • Supported a team of Financial Analysts and Economists in evaluating business models, analyzing risk, and forecasting financial outlook to inform investment decisions
  • Attended meetings with the Finance team and assisted with the preparation of financial presentations and reports

Economic & Financial Research Projects, UC Berkeley, Berkeley CA September 2017 – May 2021

  • Wrote a 20-page research essay using quantitative and qualitative analysis to investigate the potential long-term financial outlook of hospitality businesses in the Covid-19 era
  • Coordinated with a team of students to conduct a financial research project analyzing the scalability and sustainability of hypothetical business models
  • Financial Analysis
  • Risk Management
  • Quantitative Analysis
  • Qualitative Analysis
  • ROI Analysis
  • Team Leadership

Ted Johnson (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Your Street, Boston, MA 12345

A recent Social Work Graduate specializing in psychotherapy, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), public health, and client relations. A strong background in working with non-profit agencies to execute community outreach initiatives.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Social Work Boston University, Massachusetts, MA September 2017 – May 2021 GPA: 3.6/4.0

  • Member, Student Diversity Council, 2018-2021
  • Dean’s List, 2017-2018, 2020-2021

Internship, Boston Community Resource Center, Boston, MA June 2020 – April 2021

  • Collaborated with a team of social workers at a non-profit organization to provide resources, housing, and food to the homeless population
  • Interfaced with clients to provide information on available resources, including mental health services, job fairs, employment opportunities, and rehab centers
  • Fielded phone inquiries, gathered client information, and updated case files in coordination with the social services team

Volunteer, St. Margaret’s Homeless Shelter, Boston, MA December 2018 – Present

  • Provided operational support for a homeless shelter with over 250+ clients per day, assisted with meal preparation, and distributed hygiene supplies
  • Communicated with clients to discuss needs, provided emotional support, and delivered referrals on available resources to improve quality of life and daily functioning
  • Substance Abuse
  • Child Welfare
  • Psychotherapy
  • Public Health
  • Client Relations
  • Community Outreach
  • Emotional Intelligence

To stand out from the competition for graduate programs, you’ll need to craft an accomplishment-driven document that showcases your most compelling academic achievements. Providing descriptions of specific research projects and internships is one way to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise. Many universities also place a great deal of weight on associations you were involved in and your volunteer efforts. We’ll provide expert tips to help you translate your academic background and experience into a powerful resume.

1. Summarize your graduate school qualifications in a dynamic profile

When applying to graduate school, develop a professional summary at the top of your resume that encapsulates your key skills and academic expertise. Even if you lack hands-on experience in the field, this section will allow you to make a strong case for why you should be considered for graduate programs.

For example, showcasing emotional intelligence and client relations skills you may have acquired through volunteerism could resonate with the university if you intend to pursue a field of study in health care. Pay close attention to what qualities the program is looking for in its candidates and consider how your academic career aligns with the university’s values.

Professional Profile - Example #1

A speech pathology graduate specializing in speech-language therapy, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), American Sign Language (ASL), and team leadership. A proven track record of mentoring students within the speech-language program and providing English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring services.

Professional Profile - Example #2

An economics graduate specializing in statistical analysis, accounting, financial analysis, risk management, and return on investment (ROI) analysis. Experience in conducting economic research to evaluate statistical trends and inform financial decision-making for businesses.

2. Create a powerful list of your graduate school experience

Crafting a professional experience section can be difficult for graduate students due to a lack of hands-on experience within your field. If you’ve completed an internship or research fellowship, feature this experience as the flagship of your resume. But if you haven’t had this type of opportunity, don’t panic. Leveraging your academic projects can also be highly impactful in demonstrating your qualifications for graduate programs.

Professional Experience Example

  • Supported a team of financial analysts and economists in evaluating business models, analyzing risk, and forecasting financial outlook to inform investment decisions
  • Attended meetings with the finance team and assisted with the preparation of financial presentations and reports

Academic Projects Example

Psychology Research Projects, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA May 2021 – June 2022

  • Wrote a 25-page research paper for the psychology capstone course analyzing the cultural experience of Chinese American immigrants in urban and rural areas and the relationship between institutionalized racism and anxiety

3. Include graduate school-related education and certifications

When applying for graduate school programs, feature your education, coursework, and academic achievements prominently on your document. Depending on your field of study, you may also want to consider pursuing a certification to strengthen your application. For example, if you were pursuing a graduate degree in economics or finance, you could obtain a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification after completing the FINRA exam. This shows universities you’ve been proactive in expanding your knowledge and expertise while pursuing graduate programs.

  • [Degree Name]
  • [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Speech-Language Pathology
  • Columbia University, New York, NY September 2019 – June 2023

Certifications

  • [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), 2023

4. List key graduate school skills and proficiencies

When building your resume for your graduate school application, create a robust skills section highlighting a mix of both hard and soft skills. Universities use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter out unqualified candidates. Include as many relevant keywords as possible to maximize your chances of advancing to the next phase of the application process. Before you apply, carefully evaluate the graduate program you’re pursuing and ensure you include all the necessary coursework and skills in your document. Below are some potential keywords to use during the application process:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Academic research Accounting
Actuarial science Biology
Business modeling Calculus
Cell-based assays Cognitive behavioral therapy
Curriculum development Drug development
Economics Engineering
Finance Financial analysis
Kinesiology Nursing theory
Pharmaceutical science Psychology
Public health Social sciences
Social work Statistics
Teaching Team leadership
Written communication  

Featuring key academic projects and educational achievements is essential for building a strong graduate school application. Be sure to include all of your relevant degrees, academic associations, GPAs, and coursework. For example, as a speech pathologist student, you may want to include your knowledge of ASL. If you were an engineering graduate, highlight projects where you collaborated with student teams to create prototypes.

How To Pick the Best Graduate Resume Template

It’s best to select a well-organized, straightforward template when applying for graduate school applications. Although flashy colors and graphics may be visually appealing, these types of modern templates often distract the reader from your content. When in doubt, prioritize structure and organization over style.

Frequently Asked Questions: Graduate School Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for graduate school resumes -.

It’s easy to run short on action verbs when describing your internships, research fellowships, and academic projects. In many instances, there are only a limited number of verbs you can use to convey your academic experience accurately. Differentiating your word choice sends a message to the reader that you’ve put time and effort into your graduate school application. We’ve compiled a list of verbs to build your resume:

Action Verbs
Analyze Build
Calculate Collaborate
Conduct Construct
Coordinate Create
Deliver Design
Develop Diagnose
Evaluate Execute
Implement Led
Manage Plan
Provide Resolve
Respond Support
Taught Test

How do you align your resume with a job description? -

The top graduate school programs are highly competitive. Numerous factors come into play, including your undergraduate program, GRE scores, internship experience, and letters of recommendation. To maximize your chances, carefully tailor your resume to the program you’re applying for. However, determining what key terms to include can be challenging on a graduate school resume, as not all programs will provide you with a robust description to build off of. Integrate as many key terms and courses from your field as possible in this situation.

What is the best graduate school resume format? -

The ideal graduate school format varies depending on your field of study and professional experience. If you’ve completed an internship, a reverse chronological approach is the best option. Other candidates may opt to feature their education and academic projects directly below their opening summary. Ultimately, choose a format that allows you to feature your most compelling qualifications and academic achievements towards the top of your resume.

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Most graduate programs require some form of cover letter from applicants. To garner interest from universities, highlight how your background and personal values align with the programs you’re targeting. Avoid crafting generic cover letters. They won’t generate results. Be thoughtful in your messaging and display a genuine passion for your field of study. For more information, visit our recent graduate school cover letter page.

Frank Hackett

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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7 Grad School Resume Examples [& Templates]

Stephen Greet

Grad School

Grad School

Best for senior and mid-level candidates

There’s plenty of room in our elegant resume template to add your professional experience while impressing recruiters with a sleek design.

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Like this template? Customize this resume and make it your own with the help of our Al-powered suggestions, accent colors, and modern fonts.

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Resume Image

As a graduate student, you’ve dedicated years to the pursuit of knowledge and the betterment of the world. And if that weren’t enough, you’re paying the bills and building your expertise along the way.

But even though you can tackle research and jobs with a cool head, writing an effective cover letter and grad school resume can feel like a shot in the dark. How are you supposed to know what to include, and how can you showcase all your skills without going over a page?

We’ve created seven grad school resume samples based on the best resume practices for grad students . These examples have helped scholars make a resume to get job interviews at prestigious universities, private corporations, and federal laboratories across the country.

Grad School Resume

or download as PDF

Grad school resume example with 6 years of experience

Why this resume works

  • We’d recommend using a  resume outline  to structure your thoughts initially—just jot down everything you can think of. Then go through and narrow it down so it contains only the essentials.
  • Then you can  format your resume  so it’s easy to read and pleasing to look at. Don’t forget to keep your section headers distinct with a different font and color.
  • You can include metrics about any rates you improved (like efficiency or time saved), the amount of grant money you helped earn, your GPA, how many publications you produced, or the number of people you worked with or assisted.

Graduate School Resume

Graduate school resume example with internship experience

  • If the institution caters to a specific subject like history then mention how you’ve used your skills to truly pursue excellence in this field via projects, internships, etc. Decided to study when everyone else was partying? Don’t be shy! Showcase your academic brilliance by adding a high GPA of at least 3.75.

Grad School Application Resume

Grad school application resume example with dog walking and intern experience

  • Whether it be scoring an internship at a big company like NVIDIA or even using your skills to create various solutions, ensure you highlight the best parts! Let the university recruiters know your desire and ambition to contribute to society by pursuing higher studies there!

Biology Grad School Resume

Biology grad school resume example with 6 years of experience

  • An objective is best if you’re changing careers or have only a few years of experience in your field. If you have over 10 years of experience, use a  resume summary  instead.
  • Make sure your objective is personalized for every job application by including the specific job title, company, and relevant skills each time you submit your resume.
  • For example, what areas of research are you familiar with? How did you assist with experiments, and what were the results of your research? Did you improve lab processes in any way, and if so, how?

Nursing Grad School Resume

Nursing grad school resume example with 5 years of experience

  • Quantifiable metrics can include patient satisfaction, the number of successful procedures you performed, how accurately you filled out paperwork, and number of patients you cared for per shift.
  • Before you submit your application, always  check your resume  so it’s completely free of errors, like present tense verbs, missed commas, and typos. You’d be surprised by what you can miss on the first few revisions!

Psychology Grad School Resume

Psychology grad school resume example with 8 years of experience

  • Hiring managers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to streamline the initial stages of applicant cuts. The ATS catches keywords in your resume and matches them to skills preselected by recruiters. If you don’t include enough skills in your resume, you’ll be eliminated. So, read the job description to add similar skills in a dedicated skills section.
  • We recommend adding six to eight skills in your skills section to demonstrate your technical capabilities.
  • Getting a job in psychology isn’t easy, so if you’ve got any special licenses or certifications, add an optional “certifications” section to your resume to show off your credentials.

SLP Grad School Resume

SLP grad school resume example with 4 years of experience

  • While you can certainly list those skills in your skills section, it’s best to include them both in your skills section  and  in your work experience bullets.
  • Explain how you used those skills to make a positive impact on your patients and in your workplace. Always think of the “how” questions and try to answer them in your resume for the strongest effect.
  • Including your interests can make you more personable to the hiring manager, which is vital when the hiring team considers who they’ll interview!

Related resume guides

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Charlotte Grainger

Graduate School resume examples & templates

Graduate School resume examples & templates

You’ve been bitten by the academic bug. Your bachelor’s degree may be over but you’re not ready to end your education there. Now that you’ve whet your appetite, you’re ready to take things a step further. Yes, graduate school is calling your name. Since you’ve made your mind up, it’s time to start the application process. To get things moving, you’re going to need a graduate school resume that ticks all of the boxes. So, how do you get started?

Entry-level Graduate School Resume Example

Your graduate school resume will differ from standardized resumes. However, the sections that you include — and much of the content — will be similar. Chances are, you’re scratching your head wondering where to start. If it’s your first time writing a document of this nature, it’s no wonder you’re confused. You’ve come to the right place. 

Here at Resume.io, we have everything you need to create impressive applications. We provide expert-backed resume guides and resume examples for 350+ professions. Let us guide the way when you’re writing your next application. In the following guide, and the accompanying resume example, we will delve into these core topics: 

  • Why you should go to graduate school
  • How to write a graduate school resume (tips and tricks)
  • The best layout for a graduate school resume
  • Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
  • Professional resume layout and design hints.

Why should you go to graduate school?

Looking to get ahead in your career? Going to graduate school can have a major impact here. Candidates with master’s degrees earn between 5.5 and 30% more than those with undergraduate degrees, according to information from the National Research University - Higher School of Economics (HSE) . 

Deciding to take your education further is all about investing in your future. This path shows employers that you have more than a surface-level interest in your chosen field. You may also find that you can enter the working world in a higher position than you would otherwise get. If you have passion for your subject, continuing to study is a wise move.

Thinking of applying to graduate school?

The competition for places may be tough. Between fall 2019 and fall 2020 , applications to graduate school rose significantly by 7.3%. If you’re looking to get ahead of the pack, you need to make sure that every part of your graduate school application is on point. 

While you will have more space to make your case in your cover letter, your resume does much of the heavy lifting. Making sure that it includes the right information is the first step in this process. Luckily, our guide will take you through the simple steps. 

Want to work alongside your master’s degree? You’re not alone. A massive 87% of master’s students in the United States also have a full or part-time job. While it may be hard to balance your work life and studies, this option allows you to fund your education.

How to write a graduate school resume

As a fully-fledged academic, you will be au fait with the writing process. Much like any essay, your graduate school resume follows a static structure. You introduce the subject matter, back up your argument, and then close with a strong conclusion. With that in mind, you should include the following elements in this application document: 

  • The resume header
  • The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
  • The employment history section
  • The resume skills section
  • The education section

Make sure you understand the assignment. Applying to multiple graduate programs? A one-size-fits-all approach is not the way to go. When you’re writing your graduate school resume, you need to tailor it to the program at hand. Before you put figurative pen to paper, you need to have fully researched the syllabus. The aim of the game is to ensure that your application aligns closely with the requirements of the postgraduate degree. 

Be mindful of the language you use in your graduate school resume. While this should be an academic document, you need to steer clear of jargon or impenetrable language. The course director or tutor will likely be the one reading your resume. They may understand your lingo. However, the wider departmental team members could also take a cursory glance at it. For that reason, ensure that your cover letter is in plain English.

Following the above advice could mean that you’re a shoe in the door. If you want more information on how to write a resume , take a sneak peek at our comprehensive guide.

Optimize your resume for the ATS! 

Before the course director gets to see your resume, it may have to beat the bots. The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a type of software that filters applications. The system uses predetermined keywords to determine which resumes are the “best match”. Only the creme de la creme of resumes ends up being seen by an actual human being. 

Want to give yourself a competitive edge? There’s a simple answer. Refer back to the program specification and pick out keywords from the list. Using these specific phrases throughout your resume may increase your chances of success. 

Choosing the best resume format for a graduate school

When you’re writing your graduate school resume, the most obvious choice is a reverse chronological approach. That means that you start with your most recent education and experience at the top of your page. As you move down the page, work your way back in time. This resume format gives the course leader a clear view of your expertise. At a quick glance, they can determine whether you meet the course criteria or fall short of the mark.

Of course, since you’ve been studying for the majority of your adult life, you may lack real-world work experience. If that’s the case, you can use the functional structure instead. This approach puts more emphasis on your skills than your experience. It may allow you to place your education front and center. Take a look at our resume formatting guide here. 

Looking for some more inspiration? Check out other related education resume samples:  

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Resume summary example

Your resume summary is a blurb at the top of the document — a short introduction to you as an academic. It’s the most freeform part of your resume. Here, you have three-to-four lines where you can wax lyrical about your education thus far. You don’t have to cram the details in here. You will have more space in your statement of purpose (i.e. cover letter). 

Every word matters. Since you only have a few sentences to play with, you should be selective about what you share here. What is it that sets you apart from other academics? Perhaps you took part in a high-profile research study. Maybe you studied under a leader in the field. Whatever it is that makes you stand out for all the right reasons, lead with it. 

Since you’re trying to keep things short and sweet, you can omit any sentence openers such as “I,” “I am,” and “I have”. Get straight to the point instead. You may need to write and rewrite this section of your resume before you perfect it. Luckily, it is worth the effort.

Self-motivated recent graduate, prepared to continue advanced studies focused on Medieval English Literature. Exceptional research and writing skills, adept at analyzing and interpreting primary sources and contributing novel insights to literary criticism. Studied with well-respected academics while completing bachelor's degree.

Employment history sample

With most resumes, the employment section is the most pertinent. However, with an academic application, it sits lower down on the priority list. As we have already covered, you should use the reverse chronological order when listing your work experience. 

Be selective about what you include here. Consider how each role pertains to the educational program. For example, if you are applying to a sustainability law course, you should list your work with a climate change charity. On the other hand, your part-time job at Starbucks may not be impressive. You might want to leave it out entirely. 

Research Assistant, Stockton University, Department of English, Pomona, NJ October 2021 - December 2022

  • Collaborated closely with professor to research medieval French literature.
  • Conducted literature reviews and compiled relevant books and articles.
  • Proofread and fact-checked manuscripts for submission to journals.
  • Graded student assignments, including exams and 10-page essays.  

Reference Department Assistant, Stockton University Library, Stockton, NJ October 2018 - December 2022

  • Processed and shelved academic journals, bulletins, and other material.
  • Assisted patrons in using library catalog and specialized research databases.
  • Submitted, received, and distributed interlibrary loan requests.
  • Maintained special collections and rotating displays.

Assistant Manager, Mrs. Fields' Cookies, Mays Landing, NJ June 2017 - August 2019

  • Held responsibility for managing opening and closing procedures.
  • Balanced cash drawers, resolved discrepancies, and updated daily sales records.
  • Provided high-quality service to customers in fast-paced environment.
  • Adhered to all food and workplace safety regulations, policies, and procedures.

CV skills example

As a graduate, you should have some powerful skills that you will want to share on your CV. Make sure that the talents you share are directly applicable to the course you have chosen. For example, you may want to shout about your research, analytical, and time management skills. All of the above will serve you well when it comes to your studies.

  • Microsoft Office Word
  • Literary Criticism
  • Medieval Literature
  • Research & Analysis
  • Academic Writing
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Exam Grading
  • Effective Time Management
  • Project Organization
  • Public Speaking

Graduate school resume education example

The education section of your graduate school resume is arguably the most important. Since you are applying to a degree program, the course leader will want to know that you have the right academic background. Before you get started, carefully read the course specification to make sure that you meet the requirements set out by the college. 

You should list your prior education in reverse chronological order. Begin with your most recent qualifications and work your way back in time. Include the course name, school or college, and the years you attended. Underneath this vital information, you can add bullet points that shed some light on your educational experiences. Make sure that each nugget of information adds real value to your academic application. 

Bachelor of Arts in English, Stockton University Pomona, NJ September 2018 - December 2022

Relevant Courses: Medieval English Literature I & II; Major Author: Chaucer; Independent Study: Margery Kempe; Major Author: Milton; Early French Literature

Capstone Project: Wolfram's Parzival: Picking up the Thread

  • Magna Cum Laude
  • Program Distinction
  • Editor, Stockton Student Literary Journal
  • Contributor, Student Newspaper

Resume layout and design

Flashy designs and a rainbow array of colors won’t do you any favors when you’re creating this document! Your graduate school resume is a professional document. You want the course leader to take you seriously. When you’re designing this application, keep things clean and crisp. That means using clear, plain text and a black-and-white style.

If you’re not a whiz when it comes to design, you might need some extra help. We’ve got you covered. Using one of our field-tested resume templates takes all of the hard work out of this process. That way, you can focus on what matters — the content of your resume! 

The average graduate student loan debt balance is $102,913

Key takeaways 

  • A well-written graduate school resume will help you get into the program of your choice. Use our resume example as inspiration when it comes to creating yours.
  • Choose your language wisely. Avoid using highbrow academic phrases as you may turn off the reader.
  • Ensure that the style of your resume is plain and simple. There’s no space for flashy designs or colors when it comes to this document.
  • Make sure you thoroughly proofread the resume before you submit it!

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

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  •       Resources       Building a Standout Graduate School Resume

Building a Standout Graduate School Resume

Examples and advice on curriculum vitae & grad school resumes.

Graduate school often requires a resume or curriculum vitae for admission. Understand the difference and see examples of how to create a standout graduate school resume or CV.

Nearly all graduate programs require a grad school application resume. Prospective students need to craft a curriculum vitae (CV) or an academic resume showing their educational background, employment history, research experience, internships, volunteer work, and academic achievements.

A resume for applying to graduate school needs to make a strong impression quickly. According to research from Glassdoor , recruiters look at a resume for just six seconds before deciding whether to reject an applicant. The guide below offers future graduate students help with creating a CV or resume. Students can peruse templates, advice from experts, and other resources to create a standout resume that should impress an admissions committee and lead to a positive decision.

Graduate School Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae

Most graduate schools request a CV or a graduate school resume as part of the admissions process. While fundamental differences exist between a CV and a resume, both can help an admissions officer understand an applicant's background, experience, and knowledge. Therefore, using a good curriculum vitae template or following excellent grad school resume examples can boost a prospective student's chances of admission.

Why do graduate schools want CVs?

Graduate school admissions offices usually want to see a CV for the same reason human resources officers want to see a resume. This easy-to-read document helps them understand who an applicant is and whether or not they might make a good candidate to accept into the school or workplace.

What do grad programs usually request?

Most graduate programs in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences request CVs; admissions committees in these disciplines want to know about a prospective student's academic and research abilities. Alternatively, business schools and law schools may request a resume since these programs focus more on career preparation for executive-level work.

How are CVs and resumes similar?

Both CVs and resumes contain a brief written history of an individual's accomplishments, experiences, and skills. Both act as marketing documents that help an individual land an interview with a potential employer or university program. Both also provide key contact information.

How are CVs and resumes different?

A CV usually includes a longer, more detailed account of a person's academic history and research background, while a resume focuses on their employment history and applied achievements. A CV may consist of 2-3 pages of information -- even for an entry-level candidate -- whereas a resume rarely runs more than a single page.

The following table provides more details about the differences and similarities between a CV and a resume.

 

2+ pages

1-2 pages, depending on academic experience

Covers a student's complete academic history; more detailed than a resume

Covers a student's professional history and skill set; more concise than a CV

Used to highlight academic accomplishments, such as academic research, honors or awards, fellowships, and scientific positions

Used to highlight nonacademic accomplishments that relate to the graduate program

Ten Characteristics of a Standout Graduate School Resume or CV

For a graduate student's resume or CV to stand out, it must catch the interest of the admissions team. The following checklist can help keep a resume or CV on track.

  • Keep It Focused: A resume should highlight career achievements and academic work. Avoid including irrelevant experiences and save most descriptors for cover letters and interviews. Bullet points can help sharpen a resume's focus.
  • Include Internships and Volunteer Work: A resume can include more than paid employment. Internships and volunteer work that demonstrate skills and talents needed for the prospective program or job can boost a resume's content.
  • Mention Academic Accomplishments: A CV or resume can include a student's GPA, a list of academic awards, or even a sample of coursework. However, make sure included information is relevant to the target program.
  • Employ an Easy-to-follow Format: Every so often, a creative new resume format appears online. However, many managers and admissions officers find these formats confusing since they are accustomed to reading resumes in one of four or five standard styles.
  • Error-free Text: Admissions committees facing a stack of resumes often use errors as a way to sift through the pile. A well-proofed resume should contain no spelling errors, and it needs to demonstrate consistency in spacing and alignment.
  • Include Technical Competencies: Listing relevant technical skills, such as proficiency with programming languages or operating systems, can help make a resume stand out. Specific examples should support any claim of technical competency.
  • Call Out Awards, Grants, and Honors: Many potential graduate students have received awards, written successful grant proposals, and/or achieved an academic honor. Resumes can include this information -- either in a separate section or embedded in the standard education or employment sections.
  • Use Professional Styles: An easy-to-read style often trumps a creative presentation. Students should write resumes and CVs using 12-point font, bolded headlines, bullet points, and Times New Roman or another serif font.
  • Makes Use of Strong Verbs: As in all writing, verbs form the basis of powerful expression. The best resumes rely on verbs instead of adjectives to demonstrate a robust educational and professional background.
  • Flows Logically: An admissions team wants to see that a candidate can organize information in a systematic and logical way. Doing so on a resume can set a candidate apart as a clear and organized individual.

Templates of Successful Grad School Resumes and CVs

Writing a resume or CV can feel daunting, especially when you are trying to stuff years of education and research into one or two pages. Thankfully, you can organize your information logically by using a template. Look over the following examples of academic resumes and CVs from various institutions.

  • Resume Template Library

Completed Examples

  • Sample CV for Master of Environmental Studies
  • Sample Resume for Master of Liberal Arts
  • Template for a CV in Sciences and Engineering
  • Template for a CV in the Humanities
  • Sample CV for Students in Policy-related Programs
  • Sample CV for Students in Teaching-related Programs

Need to write your statement of purpose?

Use this guide to learn what academic departments look for, how to structure a winning statement, and what our expert has to say on the matter.

Writing a Successful Grad School Statement of Purpose

Expert FAQ: Additional Answers About CV and Grad School Resume Building

Erin lewis, career liaison.

Erin Lewis

Erin Lewis has worked in the Center for Career and Professional Development at Clarion University for the past 12 years and currently serves as a career liaison to education and training, arts and communication, and human services. As a professional staff member who specializes in resume writing, Erin trains and supervises the peer resume review team at Clarion University and has developed a resume assessment rubric for use with multiple courses.

Erin has an interest and specialty in online career services. She created virtual delivery of services through the university's online learning platform, which includes topics on the basics of resume writing, applicant tracking system resumes, keywords on resumes, and customizing resumes for a job search. Erin also created video resume reviews for students who are unable to meet in person for resume consultations.

What problems do you see grad students running into a lot when they are building out their resume?

A common problem for graduate students who are just building a resume is becoming overwhelmed. They have acquired many skills and experiences and don't know where to begin, what to include, or how much to include.

What advice do you give grad students who are building a resume but might not have a lot of job experience?

When I work with graduate students who might not have a lot of job experience, I first work with the individuals to assess and inventory their skill sets. From talking with employers, we know that a high value is placed on candidates who possess communication, critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, information technology application, and leadership skills; professionalism; and career management and global/intercultural fluency.

Candidates who can provide evidence on their resume of how they have gained these skills and applied them in a multitude of settings can be just as successful as candidates with work experience. Job experience is beneficial, but students should never discount the skill sets they have gained from clubs and organizations, volunteerism, classroom projects, or study abroad experiences.

Using the right words to articulate your skills on a resume clearly and concisely is extremely important. Incorporating industry-specific keywords and highlighting your KASE (knowledge, achievements, skills, and experiences) is critical to stand out in today's competitive job market!

Should grad students include a line about their references in their resume?

A line about references really depends on each application. If you are applying to a position that has already requested your references, it is not necessary to include any phrase on the resume regarding references -- simply include them in your application materials.

If you are attending a career fair or similar networking event, a line regarding references available upon request is acceptable but often unnecessary.

What kind of licensure or certifications should grad students list?

Every resume should be customized and tailored for each specific application. Your first priority is to include any licensure or certifications that the position description lists as required. Your second priority is to include what is preferred, followed by any additional licensure or certifications that will help to differentiate you from the competition!

Keep in mind MORE does not always mean BETTER. Employers, on average, spend 6-8 seconds on your resume. Include what is most relevant and keep descriptions clear and to the point.

Should someone's resume look different if they are an undergrad student vs. a working professional?

Every resume is as unique as the person who is writing it! Even students who sit in the same classes together are going to have varying experiences to include on their resumes. This means that while the basics of resume writing are the same for all individuals, working professionals may have different section headings and a different content order compared to a traditional undergraduate student. Additionally, working professionals will most likely have more work experience and content to include on their resume.

If you are a working professional looking to revise your resume, consider listing your work experience section first -- employers typically place a high value on this section. Additionally, any other relevant skills and experiences that relate to the position you are applying for should emphasize abilities and qualifications that match the job description. Remember, one of the most critical actions you can take with your resume is to tailor it to the company or position to which you are applying.

Should students always include a cover letter? Or just when it is indicated in an application description?

A cover letter is almost always important, even when it isn't specifically indicated in an application description. If you email your resume to a particular individual, the body of the email becomes your cover letter. If you upload your resume into an online database and there is no space for a cover letter, it is best to copy and paste your cover letter into the comment box of the application.

Be cautious with your writing communication. Your correspondence with potential employers should always be professional -- whether via email or online forms.

What is the best format to send a resume in?

The best format in which to send a resume is how the employer requests it. Be sure to read the job posting for specific application instructions. If there is no request for a specific type of document format, save the file as a PDF and send it as an attachment.

The name of your resume file matters! If you use a file name such as "resume" or "new_resume," you won't stand out and your file can be difficult to sort. It can also give the impression that you don't really care about the job enough to pay attention to details. Instead of a generic file name, use a format such as "Firstname_lastname_resume" to make it easier for an employer to find your documents.

When you are emailing your job documents, be sure to use a clear subject, such as "First Name Last Name Application." Carefully proofread all of your documents and correspondence to avoid errors.

Additional Resources for CV and Resume Help for Grad School

The list below includes a selection of articles from various websites related to job searching, resume writing, and bridging the gap between graduate school and the work world. Some websites target the general population, while others specifically focus on the academic community.

  • CareerOneStop : Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, this site offers extensive job search resources. Students can find a wealth of articles on writing resumes, crafting cover letters, and acing interviews.
  • How to Write a Curriculum Vitae : Published by the American Academy of Family Physicians, this guide provides a template for graduate students to use when creating a CV for jobs. The article includes a list of headings along with formatting tips.
  • How To Write Your Human-voiced Resume : Published in Forbes, this article offers a new take on creating a resume using storytelling, person-to-person language, and anecdotal evidence for career claims. The advice in this article could also help a student write a cover letter.
  • Resume Builder : Resume Builder helps users craft an effective resume using its online tool. The site also offers templates, examples, formats, and tips for writing both resumes and cover letters.
  • Resume Help : This site provides a variety of resources for job seekers, including a free tool that lets users put data into a professional resume template and then export the result to Microsoft Word or to a PDF.
  • Succeeding in Grad School : PhDs.org is a data-based site that helps doctoral students choose a program and achieve success. It published this list of 10 articles discussing success in grad school, including advice on finding a job.
  • Tips, Ideas, and Advice for Making the Most of Graduate School from GoGrad : This site offers extensive resources for graduate students across a variety of subjects, including how to write a winning personal statement and how to write a successful statement of purpose.
  • Versatile PhD : A total of 62 higher education institutions participate in the Versatile PhD -- a site that helps doctoral students create a bridge to professional careers. Users can use the site's tools to identify career options, participate in events, and learn about career searches.
  • What Predicts Grad School Success : This article from the American Psychological Association looks at the various factors that research shows are keys to finishing a graduate program, including curiosity, conscientiousness, native intelligence, and emotional intelligence. 
  • Writing the Curriculum Vitae : One of the internet's most extensive and authoritative resources for academic writing, the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University published this comprehensive article on writing a curriculum vitae.
  • • Developed and implemented machine learning models that improved data processing speed by 30%, contributing to project efficiency.
  • • Conducted data analysis on large datasets, identifying key trends that influenced decision-making processes for senior management.
  • • Collaborated with a cross-functional team to create predictive models for customer behavior, increasing customer retention by 15%.
  • • Presented data insights and model results to stakeholders, resulting in the adoption of new data-driven strategies across departments.
  • • Automated data collection processes using Python, reducing manual data entry tasks by 25 hours per week.
  • • Participated in the design and execution of A/B testing for new product features, leading to a 10% increase in user engagement.
  • • Assisted in the development of a neural network model for image recognition, improving accuracy by 20% over previous models.
  • • Conducted literature reviews and data collection for research projects, ensuring comprehensive and up-to-date information.
  • • Collaborated with senior researchers to publish findings in a peer-reviewed journal, contributing to the academic community.
  • • Presented research findings at academic conferences, enhancing the visibility and impact of our work.
  • • Utilized Python and R for statistical analysis, supporting ongoing research projects with accurate data interpretations.
  • • Developed lesson plans and educational materials to support student learning in mathematics and science.
  • • Organized and led weekly study sessions, improving student performance by 20% on average.

5 Grad School Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Graduate school plays a crucial role in advancing your knowledge and expertise in your chosen field. When crafting your resume, focus on highlighting relevant coursework, research projects, and any teaching or mentoring experience. It's also beneficial to incorporate strong analytical abilities, effective communication skills, and proficiency in specialized software or tools pertinent to your discipline. Lastly, make sure to mention any awards or recognitions you've received, along with your contributions to collaborative projects, to emphasize the impact you can make in your future endeavors.

All resume examples in this guide

resume sample for graduate school application

Resume Guide

How to format a grad school resume

How to write your grad school resume experience

How to list your hard skills and soft skills on your resume.

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

How to write your grad school resume summary or objective

Additional sections for a grad school resume, key takeaways.

Grad School resume example

One would think that being accepted to grad school would be easier than finding a job in the current job market. But the truth is, certain establishments seem almost impossible to enroll in. For example, Stanford University Graduate School of Business’s 2023 MBA course accepted only 8.42% of applicants .

This is why if you’re considering further academic training, you must effectively highlight your determination, goal-oriented attitude, and how the course will enhance your career prospects.

In our guide on how to create a carefully thought-out grad school resume, we’ll demonstrate:

  • How to choose a resume layout that best suits your expertise and properly format it
  • What recruiters are searching for in a perfect candidate and how to reflect it in your own resume
  • Which grad school skills are most in demand and how to showcase them on your application
  • How to foolproof your resume by making it compliant with ATS (Applicant Tracking System) tools
  • How to frame your education and certification section so that it relates to your desired course
  • What the hallmarks of a convincing resume objective or summary are.
  • How to use our real grad school resume examples to inform your writing process.

Before we continue, take a look at other guides we have on related topics:

  • Student Ambassador resume
  • SLP Grad School resume
  • Academic resume
  • College resume  
  • MBA application resume  
  • Grad school resume  

How to format a grad school resume

Grad school competition is tough. You must convince faculty committee members that pursuing a postgraduate degree isn’t a spontaneous decision on your part. That’s why when building your application, you must clearly and succinctly convey the scope of your knowledge, as well as your future career plans.

The first step towards crafting a stellar grad school resume is choosing an appropriate resume format . Below, we’ll review the three most popular layouts and the types of candidates they best represent.

Reverse-chronological resume format

If you’re a professional with extensive work experience in your particular academic field, select the reverse-chronological resume format . This template will perfectly showcase your research abilities and in-depth subject matter knowledge. Plus, the layout is preferred by admission officers because it’s easy to scan through and clearly demonstrates your academic career progression.

One of the format’s advantages is that you get to curate the experience section by picking which roles to add and bring emphasis to. However, keep in mind that oftentimes being overly selective or not arranging your experience section properly can emphasize existing career gaps. To avoid this, don’t forget to include extra details that explain the gaps in other sections of your resume, such as going on a sabbatical leave  or being a stay-at-home parent .

Hybrid (combination) resume format

On the other hand, if you’ve managed to gain some hands-on professional experience before going back to school, then the hybrid resume format  is your best option. The layout offers a fair overview of both your experience and expertise without placing a special emphasis on one over the other.

Some might argue that the lack of stress on a particular resume section is counterproductive. However, depending on the academic field, this can be a good way to demonstrate you have both the knowledge and practical experience to do the job — especially if you’re aiming for an entry-level position after you graduate. Remember to list any transferable skills  or supplementary knowledge you have to offer.

Functional resume format

Finally, if you lack any practical professional history in your respective field, pick the functional resume format . This layout draws attention to your academic qualifications, professional training, and acquired skills. Make sure you frame your education section accordingly and list all your degrees and certificates in order of relevance.

If you do have some hands-on experience, such as pertinent internships, volunteering gigs, or just shadowing other professionals , add them to your resume.

Run your grad school resume through our AI-powered resume checker to gain actionable insights on 16 essential points for free, as well as tips on how to improve your application.

Is your resume good enough?

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Further format writing tips

Once you choose an appropriate professional template , it’s time to work on design and formatting. Here are some tips and rules to take into consideration:

  • Arrange your work history in reverse chronological order: Faculty committee members have a very limited time to go over individual applications. So, it’s recommended you place your most recent roles near the top of the resume to emphasize your current expertise level.
  • Optimize your resume header to reflect your qualifications: Many dismiss the resume header  as a simple personal information section. However, if you want to make your resume stand out, you must be more strategic during the writing process. So, apart from your name, address, and contact information , attach a link to your portfolio  and list any industry-recognized credentials you have, such as CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse).
  • Ensure you build an ATS-friendly resume :  Focus on a clear and simple resume layout  to ensure readability by both ATS and recruiters. Make sure you integrate resume keywords from the job description naturally within your resume which will also impress recruiters.
  • Select a simple design and resume font :  Being in academia doesn’t mean your resume has to look like a research paper. Each field has its traditions and trends, so consider these when choosing a clean, stylish design. Ensure readability by selecting a serif or sans-serif font like Raleway or Rubik.
  • Add more information about your expertise in the education section:  For your application, it's recommended to include more details about your education. The faculty committee needs to assess how your current knowledge overlaps with the graduate program and evaluate the long-term benefits to your career.
  • Create a single-page resume : While your grad school resume must outline all relevant work and life experiences, it’s important to note that this should be done in a very focused and concise way. If you want to elaborate further on any of the information you’ve added to your application, detail it in your grad school cover letter .
  • Check submission requirements before saving:  Unless stated otherwise, preserve the design and layout of your resume by saving it as a PDF file . Also, confirm that you’ve adhered to any document naming conventions listed in the ad.

Next, divide your grad school resume into sections. Remember to leave enough space for the following key segments:

The top sections on a grad school resume

  • Personal information section : Provide recruiters with your basic contact details to help them reach you easily.
  • Education history section : Showcase your academic qualifications as these are essential to demonstrate your readiness for advanced studies.
  • Research experience section : Bring attention to your experience in conducting research to display your ability to contribute to scholarly discourse.
  • Publications section : Highlight your research papers or scholarly articles you’ve published to demonstrate your contributions to your field.
  • References section : Exhibit support from your respective community by listing the contacts of other field-recognized peers who willingly vouch for your competence and character.

Below you’ll find quintessential points you must cover in each of the segments you add to your application:

What recruiters want to see on your resume

  • Strong academic performance : Your grades are a clear indicator of your academic abilities and dedication to your studies, which are critical for grad school.
  • Relevant research experience : This shows that you’re familiar with research methodologies and have experience in critical analysis, which is essential for grad school.
  • Published work : If you have any published work, it showcases your ability to conduct thorough research and contribute to your academic field.
  • Clear career objectives : This shows that you have a clear direction for your future and that further education is a necessary step towards achieving those goals.
  • Quality references : These can vouch for your hard work, dedication, and capabilities, further strengthening your application.

The experience section  of your resume is where you provide a summary of relevant past roles, career achievements, and acquired skills, such as operating specific industry equipment and tools.

Regardless of your academic specialty and experience, faculty committees want to see your understanding of key industry organizations and trends. Avoid the "laundry list" approach; instead, highlight your achievements. This will demonstrate your skills and emphasize your ability to set and achieve goals.

Here’s how to structure your grad school resume experience entries:

  • Provide the name of your previous employer and your job title:  Some organizations have many subsidiaries and sister companies, which often operate under the same brand name. So, always make sure to state the organization’s full name and your job title, as they provide context about your professional development and range of skills.
  • Summarize your employer’s business operations in one sentence: Speaking of listing a company’s legal name, make sure you outline its business operations and how your position was related.
  • Add a link to the website of the organization: Link to the company’s website to let faculty members get a better understanding of your past employer's mission, goals, and overall performance.
  • Cite the start and end date of your employment, as well as where you’re located:  You don’t have to provide exact dates. Listing the month and year is more than enough. Also, even if you’re working remotely, do include the location of the branch you’re associated with.
  • Recount your academic and career achievements as bullet points: Your experience entries should include between three and five bullet points that describe the scope of your knowledge and abilities. Remember to begin each bullet point with an action verb  to emphasize the significance of your accomplishments.
  • Build a targeted resume : Align your skills and achievements with the course requirements to showcase what makes you the perfect candidate to secure a spot in the postgraduate program. It’ll also demonstrate your professional development within your respective field.

With all this in mind, have a look at the following example:

  • • Fixed and patched data visualization features.
  • • Employed Python, Java, and Liquibase in day-to-day tasks.
  • • Reduced error margins by 4.5% by developing custom features.

The main issue that sticks out is the mismatch between the time the applicant spent as an intern and the “achievements” listed. A month isn’t enough to completely familiarize yourself with a complex database project and its documentation.

In addition, the bullet points don’t actually showcase what the candidate is capable of achieving. One mentions a list of tools, but not how they’ve been applied in practice. By contrast, the other two bullet points are vague because they don’t offer enough information for the accomplishments to really stand out.

A more enhanced version of the above example would be:

  • • Assisted in fixing and patching 10+ data visualization features to address client concerns, thus increasing customer satisfaction by 35%.
  • • Boosted data aggregation speed with Python and Liquibase by 10 seconds, which resulted in a 60% raise in positive feedback from clients, as well as a 20% raise in new clients.
  • • Developed a custom feature with Java and R to audit and clean aggregated information for a client conducting business with military organizations, thus reducing error margin by 4.5%.

This entry will impress admissions officers because the candidate clearly states which programming languages they’re proficient in. By sharing specific measurable data, the applicant has also explained how their work has impacted the company’s business relationships.

How to quantify the impact on your resume

While we’re on the topic of data, let’s discuss why numbers in your resume  matter.

Including measurable data in your resume is important as it provides much-needed context to properly describe your work performance. Without numbers, achievements may seem less significant. Always add data to support your accomplishments effectively wherever possible.

Here are some ways to reference numbers on your grad school resume:

  • Include your GPA : This quantifiable data demonstrates academic excellence and shows commitment to your studies.
  • Mention the scholarships or grants received : It not only highlights achievement but also shows your financial management skills.
  • List quantifiable results of any organizational initiatives : This shows your ability to create an impact in a business context.
  • Exceptional test scores : If you've taken business-related exams, the results can prove your proficiency in business concepts.
  • Number of internships completed : This shows your proactive efforts to gain real-world business experience, which is important to recruiters.
  • Meticulously detail your involvement in business projects : In addition to showcasing your hands-on experience, this highlights your business acumen and strategic planning skills.
  • Specify budgets you’ve managed : This gives a sense of your financial management skills, crucial in business roles.
  • Quantify your leadership roles : Detailing the number of individuals you led or projects you managed highlights your leadership and team management skills.

The work you do early will help you have a really polished piece of work to put forward. We get a ton of applications every year. The ones that are polished get a better review than others.

Bill Mahoney, Associate Dean for Student and Postdoctoral Affairs at the University of Washington’s graduate school

How do I write a grad school resume with no experience?

If you’re applying directly after completing your undergraduate course, building a grad school resume without work experience  can be difficult.

But don’t lose hope yet!

Corporate experience isn't the only way to demonstrate your expertise. Focus your resume on scholarly accomplishments and relevant knowledge. Admissions officers look for excellent project management skills, financial responsibility, and the ability to fully benefit from the program.

After all, higher education institutions are very competitive when it comes to research, innovation, and development. Consequently, their reputation is on the line.

So, before you start crafting your resume, research the respective institution’s faculty to determine its:

  • Current academic focus and mission
  • Ongoing projects, including funding and sponsors.
  • Missed research opportunities.

Then, align your expertise and skills with the findings of your research. Here are some ideas on what type of experience you can add:

  • Internships:  Even if most of what you’ve done during your internship is shadowing other professionals, adding such experience to your resume demonstrates you have a realistic view of current industry issues and trends.
  • Volunteering on relevant projects: Based on your field of choice, volunteering can be a good way to showcase your dedication to your profession.
  • Cross-institutional programs and year abroad experience: These underscore your ability to work with diverse teams and handle complex projects that often have large budgets and strict time constrictions.
  • Additional training and certifications: Detail qualifications you’ve acquired outside formal education. This type of training won’t only stress your active involvement with your respective industry but also point to the type of professional specialization you’re seeking.

Also, hold on to your strongest pieces of writing and share them with a professor you might ask for a recommendation letter. Tell the professor you’d like to use this piece of writing as part of your grad school application and ask them what you should work on to make it better. Faculty can give great advice.

Celia Marshik, Dean of the graduate school at Stony Brook University—SUNY

Another small and frequently overlooked segment on a grad school resume is the skills section . Many candidates who don’t have much prior practical experience tend to overfill their skills section in an attempt to match all of the course requirements.

However, this approach is both obvious and ineffective. The main reason for this is that in most cases the crammed skills section doesn’t match the experience and expertise described in the rest of the resume. So, to avoid falling into this trap, let’s review how skills are usually categorized.

Hard vs soft skills

Irrespective of the industry or the academic field, there are generally two types of competencies - technical  and social skills.

The first type, also known as hard skills , covers field-specific abilities, such as business principles, understanding of data science algorithms, or operating production equipment. What you add to your grad school resume will vary based on which abilities are considered as core skills  within your field.

Conversely, the second represents the candidate’s level of emotional intelligence. That’s why they are also called soft skills . These include skills, such as empathy, problem-solving, and leadership abilities.

As you can see, you can add many skills and overcrowd the section as a result. That’s why you must apply a little strategy when building your resume. To get noticed by the admissions office, you have to:

  • Review the graduate program requirements
  • Go over your resume to verify which skills you’ve already covered in other segments, such as the experience and education sections
  • Make a note of the abilities you haven’t covered yet.
  • Add no more than 10 competencies.

Faculty committee members prefer candidates with a well-rounded profile as being a graduate student means you must have a strong subject matter foundation, and the social skills to collaborate with peers and present research insights.

Many PhD students use ImaginePhD  and myIDP  to match their skills to a suitable career path. However, if you have plenty of practical experience, but don’t know how to relate your work history to the course requirements, you can use the tools inversely.

Below you’ll find further suggestions and ideas on skills you can add to your resume:

Best hard skills for your grad school resume

  • Research analysis
  • Data interpretation
  • Statistical analysis
  • Project management
  • Data visualization
  • Machine learning
  • Academic writing
  • R programming
  • Experimental design
  • Qualitative research methods
  • Biostatistics
  • Lab techniques
  • Public speaking
  • Grant writing

Best soft skills for your grad school resume

  • Communication
  • Critical thinking
  • Time management
  • Problem-solving
  • Adaptability
  • Conflict resolution
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Active listening
  • Negotiation
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Decision making
  • Positive attitude
  • Self-discipline
  • Cultural sensitivity

Next, we’ll look at what makes an excellent education section and how you can build yours to stand out!

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

Taking into account the purpose of the application, describing your academic background in detail is pivotal. Oftentimes university programs overlap, however, the more you delve into specializing in a certain field, the more the courses will differ. As such, the admissions office must verify that you have the necessary foundation to enroll in the program.

Formal education

First, we’ll take a look at how to properly frame your education section :

  • State the name of your degree and the issuing institution.
  • Provide the start and end date of your studies by listing the month and year. If you’re yet to complete your degree , cite the date you expect to graduate.
  • Indicate your GPA , if it’s above 3.5 to demonstrate your dedication to your field and your great academic skills.
  • Mention one or two pieces of coursework  that directly relate to the specialization you wish to pursue.
  • Reference relevant majors and minors  that align with the grad course’s subject matter.
  • Disclose any academic recognition, such as being listed on the Dean’s list  or graduating cum laude .

Use the following example as a reference when building your education section:

  • • Published a paper on Reviewing Predictive Modeling in Healthcare: Data Mining, Patient Privacy, and Ethics in World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews.
  • • Majored in Database Management, Predictive Modelling, and Data Mining Ethics.

Depending on your field of choice, you may need to provide further proof of training as some undergraduate courses provide only a very limited foundational knowledge on which students are encouraged to build on their own.

Certificates

By showcasing your certifications on your resume , admission office members will get a better idea of what your particular academic interest is. In addition, it’ll help them to determine whether the offered course is a good fit for the career plans you’ve outlined in your resume.

All you have to do to list your certificates is:

  • Cite the qualifications you’ve obtained
  • Name the accrediting institution.
  • State the date you acquired the certificate and the expiration date if applicable..

Below you’ll find the current most popular certifications among grad school students.

Best certifications for your grad school resume

  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
  • Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect
  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

The final segment for a grad school application is the resume profile . This is a short paragraph underneath the resume header that highlights your core skills and top career achievements.

There are two types of profiles depending on the amount of practical experience you have in the respective industry or academic field. They are:

  • Resume objective :  This type is best used by recent college grads and career changers . It aims to align the candidate’s current skill set and accomplishments with the institution’s mission and ongoing projects. Applicants must state what they seek to gain from the course and how they plan to progress further in their careers.
  • Resume summary :  By contrast, the summary is more appropriate for tenured professionals who seek to expand their expertise by pursuing an additional academic specialization. Their profile focuses on explaining how the offered course will benefit their career and how they’ll apply the knowledge after completing the program. Candidates should emphasize one or two pertinent career achievements, as well as the abilities they want to add to their current skill set.

Let’s illustrate with a few examples.

Have a look at the poor attempt below:

This resume objective won’t draw the attention of faculty committee members because they don’t mention any significant accomplishments after a year of being a Data Science Intern. It also doesn’t explain how the listed skills have been applied in practice.

Plus, the candidate uses first-person pronouns  which may make them look conceited and egocentric. Instead, the applicant should omit the pronouns and use a first-person narrative style to make the paragraph easier to read.

To illustrate, consider the following grad school resume objective:

Now, have a look at the following resume summary. Do you think the candidate will get noticed for the right reasons?

In this case, the grad school graduate is a tenured specialist. However, nothing in the resume profile supports their claims, apart from the names of notable companies within the industry. Moreover, the applicant mentions a few of their hard skills, but none are linked to pertinent career accomplishments.

Last but not least, the paragraph includes several abbreviations. Given that the application will be reviewed by admission officers responsible for managing hundreds of courses, they may not be familiar with every single qualification. That’s why you should write out the full name of your credentials.

Here’s an enhanced version of the grad school resume summary from above:

If you feel your application isn’t as comprehensive as it could be, you can always supplement your grad school resume with extra sections. But remember to do so only if you have sufficient space to properly present the information without overcrowding your application.

These should cover information that doesn’t necessarily fit the mold of the other sections but offers a better overview of your skills and expertise.

What extra segments you add will depend on your experience. Some of them include:

  • Research papers and publications :   If you’ve done extensive research on a course-relevant topic and have authored a few papers, build a short bibliography of your work with links to each of your projects . These will demonstrate your academic focus and the depth of your subject matter expertise.  
  • Memberships in relevant associations and research institutions : Showcasing active involvement with respective academic and corporate communities emphasizes your knowledge of current trends, as well as your ability to network.
  • Contributions to open source projects: If you’re striving for a placement in Software Engineering or Data Science, this can underscore your ability to write documentation, support complex projects, and work cross-functionally.
  • Language skills : These are crucial in both academic and corporate settings—especially if you’re pursuing a social sciences or a language-related career.  

In summary, to build an effective and outstanding grad school resume, you must:

  • Choose a suitable resume format that best reflects your expertise and skill set.
  • Remember to link your portfolio in the resume header.
  • Be selective about past roles you recount and arrange them in reverse chronological order.
  • Quantify your achievements to highlight the significance of your contributions to your respective academic field.
  • Place an emphasis on your education and certification section by providing a more detailed overview of your research, publications, and presentations.
  • Craft a strong resume profile that aligns with the institution’s mission and ongoing projects.
  • Limit your application to a single page and reserve any additional information for your grad school cover letter.

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resume sample for graduate school application

Most graduate school applications ask you to submit a resume. But what defines a graduate school resume? How is it different from one you use to apply to jobs? These questions can make writing your grad school resume overwhelming, but it isn’t as complicated as it might seem.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to write a resume for graduate school: why you need a resume for grad school, how a graduate school resume differs from a typical job resume, everything you should include in your grad school resume, and how to make your resume really stand out.

Why Do You Need a Resume for Graduate School?

You’re applying to school not a job, so why do you need to submit a resume for most grad school applications? Basically, your graduate school resume serves the same purpose as resumes submitted for jobs: It helps schools learn more about you and your qualifications.

Like many companies, grad programs receive a lot of applications, so they need a quick and clear way to see why you’d be a good fit for their program. Your grad school resume is where you get the opportunity to show them this. By looking at your education and work experience, grad schools can see what you already know and how you’ve already proved yourself, which can help decide if you’d be a good fit for their program. In the next sections, we’ll walk you through exactly what you should include in your grad school resume and how you can show you’re a well-qualified candidate.

How Is a Graduate School Resume Different From a Work Resume?

Grad school resumes and work resumes have many similarities, but there are differences between the two. If you’ve written resumes to apply for jobs, you can’t just copy those straight into your grad school application. Below are the main ways grad school resumes differ from work resumes.

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Focus More on Education

You’re applying to an educational program, so it makes sense that your grad school resume will focus more on your education than a standard work resume. In a work resume, you’d usually only devote a line or two to education to explain where you went to school and what degree you received.

Your graduate school resume should include more information such as your GPA, the title of your undergrad thesis (if you completed one), any awards you received, classes you took that are relevant to the program you’re applying to, as well as relevant skills you learned in school. Some grad schools will specify what education information they’d like you to include in your resume, but, in general, you want your resume to give them a good idea of your academic achievements and why they qualify you for the program.

Can Include Internships and Volunteer Experience

When you use a resume to apply for a job, some companies only want you to include actual jobs you had under your “Experience” section, but most grad programs allow and encourage you to include internships and volunteer work on your resume.

This can be a great benefit because you can often gain important skills and experience at these places, even if you weren’t paid or working there full-time. It can be particularly useful for younger people applying to grad school who may not have had a lot of paid jobs yet to include on their resume. So go ahead and include all those great internships and volunteer experiences you had on your grad school resume.

Usually Have Fewer Length Restrictions

Many jobs will only accept resumes that are only up to a page long, but most grad school programs accept resumes that are multiple pages. This gives you more freedom to include other experiences, such as internships and volunteer work, as mentioned above, since you’re not restricted to one page.

This doesn’t mean your resume should be the size of a novel (generally it shouldn’t be more than 2-3 pages), and it also doesn’t mean your resume has to be more than a page, but it can be nice to know you have more flexibility in regards to length than standard job resumes.

body_resume

What Should Your Grad School Resume Include?

Every resume is unique, but there’s certain information that many grad school resumes include. Not all of the sections listed below may apply to you or your grad school program, but reading through the list will help you make sure you don’t forget any key information.

At the very top of your resume, you should include a nicely-formatted header with some basic information about yourself, the same way you would with a resume for a job. The first line should have just your name, and the second line should have your contact information, such as your phone number, address, and email. The purpose of the header is to make it easy for schools to know who you are and how to contact you.

Education should be the first main section of your resume so that grad schools can quickly see that you meet the academic requirements for the program. In this section, be sure to list the school you attended, dates of attendance, and the degree(s) you earned.

You may also want to include other information such as:

  • Graduation honors you received
  • The title of your thesis (if you wrote one)
  • Awards or scholarships
  • Study abroad programs you attended
  • A short list of any classes you took that are particularly relevant to the degree program (particularly if you degree itself isn’t that strongly related to it)
  • Work Experience

This will likely be the longest section on your resume, and it will include the jobs and internships you’ve had. You may also want to include volunteer experience here if you have any and if the program hasn’t specified that you need to include it in another section.

You can order this section chronologically (with your most recent position at the top), by putting the most relevant jobs first, or by organizing your experiences by category (such as “Research Experience” and “Communication Experience”). For each work experience, you should first list where you worked, your job title, and when you worked there. Below that, use bullet points to list your main duties and accomplishments for each position (see tips 2 and 3 in the next section for more advice on how to do this).

  • Publications

If you authored or coauthored academic or professional publications such as academic papers, books, book chapters or reports, put them in their own section. For each publication, include the title of the work, where and when it was published, and any other coauthors.

  • Skills and Certifications

If you received any certificates in addition to your degree and/or you have skills that are relevant to the degree program, list them in their own section.

Examples of things to include are:

  • Foreign language skills
  • Computer systems you’re proficient in
  • Relevant certifications you’ve received
  • Awards you’ve received that weren’t listed in your Education section

Extracurricular Activities

This is an optional section, and you may choose not to include it due to space and/or relevance. However, some people choose to list certain extracurricular activities if they feel they are relevant to the grad program and/or show an important part of their personality. Don’t go on and on about your great acapella group if you’re applying to a PhD program in microbiology, but it’s fine to list groups or activities you participated in if they relate to the program.

Other extracurriculars, even if they don’t relate to the degree program, may also be included if you feel they help show your strengths and interests. For example, if you tutored other students as an undergrad and think that will help show you can teach well as a graduate assistant, you can include that.  Additionally, if there’s an extracurricular you devoted a lot of time to, you can also include it to show your work ethic and commitment to a program.

body_grading

Below are our five best tips for creating a stand-out graduate school resume. Read through each of these before you begin and as you write your resume.

#1: Pay Attention to Program Requirements

Before you begin putting your resume together, you should look carefully any instructions or requirements the program you’re applying to has.  Some programs want you to include only experience relevant to the program, others want to list all your work experiences. Some have length restrictions, and some have specific information they want included on your resume, such as test scores.

It’s very important to read through these instructions carefully before you begin so that you include everything you need to. It’s also a good idea to double-check the instructions after you’ve finished your resume to make sure you didn’t leave anything out.

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#2: Highlight Your Accomplishments

The most important purpose of a grad school resume is to show what you’ve done and why the person reading it should want to accept you. This means you’ll need to do a bit of showing off so that schools know how great you are.  Ways to show your accomplishments include stating the duties you did at the position and how you helped the organization/company.

Include numbers when you can to make your accomplishments more concrete. For example, writing “I managed a staff of 13 employees and increased the company’s revenue by 130% over six months” sounds a lot more impressive than “I managed employees and increased the company’s revenue.”

#3: Be Concise

Even if there are no limits on how many pages your resume can be, you’ll still want to keep things clear and concise. Admissions officers look over a lot of resumes during application time, so you want to make it easy for them to see why you’d be a great fit.

As mentioned above, you want to highlight your accomplishments in your resume, and that should take up the majority of the space. Don’t give a lot of unnecessary information; just stick to key points that show what you did and how you did it well.

Short, simple sentences that begin with an action verb are a great way to go.  For example, this method of writing is too wordy: “I worked as an intern for a local museum which had a lot of exhibits on natural history, specifically endangered species in the area. I spent most of my time cataloging specimens, but I’d also sometimes give tours to museum visitors. During my last few months I helped lead the testing of a lot of our specimens for arsenic levels because that’s a concern a lot of older museums have to deal with.”

It’s much easier to see the important information when the information is shortened and put into bullet points, like this:

  • Cataloged over 200 museum specimens
  • Gave tours and explained exhibits to museum visitors
  • Helped lead an arsenic-testing program that ensured specimens were well-preserved and safe for visitors

#4: Proofread!

You’ve put in all this work to craft a great resume, so  don’t trip at the finish line by not proofreading your resume!  Before you submit it, check your resume over carefully, looking for any spelling or grammatical errors. You just spent all this time showing the school how intelligent and qualified you are; don’t mar their image of you with a careless mistake!

It can help to wait a day or two before doing your final proofread so that you’re looking at your resume with fresh eyes. You can also ask a friend or family member to look over your resume as well to see if they catch anything you might have missed.

#5: Submit Your Resume as a PDF

Your final step should be to convert your resume to a PDF and submit it in that format (as long as the program doesn’t have any instructions telling you otherwise). Submitting your resume as a PDF makes it looks more professional and prevents any weird formatting issues from occurring when the school opens the file.

Review: Key Tips for Writing Your Graduate School Resume

Resumes for graduate schools are important because they give the school a clear and concise way to get to know you and your accomplishments. Grad school resumes have many similarities to regular job resumes, but they tend to focus more on education, often let you include volunteer work and internships, and may not have as strict length requirements.

The six main sections your graduate school resume should include (if applicable) are:

  • Extracurriculars (optional)

While you’re writing your resume for graduate school, keep these five tips in mind to help it stand out:

  • Pay attention to program requirements
  • Highlight your accomplishments
  • Submit as a PDF

What’s Next?

Now that you know how to write a resume for graduate school, do you want to see some great examples of some? Check out our samples of great grad school resumes to help you get started on your own.

If you’re planning on attending grad school, you’ll probably have to take the GRE.  Check out our guide to learn exactly when you should take the GRE  in order to get your best score!

Want more information on the GRE? Check out our guide to everything you need to know about the GRE , including how long it is, what it covers, and how you should prepare.

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resume sample for graduate school application

Author: Christine Sarikas

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries. View all posts by Christine Sarikas

resume sample for graduate school application

Northeastern University Graduate Programs

5 Expert Tips for Writing a Stand-Out Grad School Resumé

5 Expert Tips for Writing a Stand-Out Grad School Resumé

Congratulations on making a great investment in your future by applying to graduate school. The application is complete , you’ve gathered your recommendations , you’ve written your statement of purpose , and now you’re working on developing another important component—your resumé.

Your grad school resumé is an integral piece of the admissions process, says Jared Pierce, former associate director of enrollment quality assurance at Northeastern University. Pierce says that resumés help admissions counselors decide whether a prospective student is a good fit for the program by allowing them to assess the student and his or her strengths, work experience, skills, education, and interests.

Your grad school resumé is similar in many ways to a resumé you’d submit as part of a job application: You should use crisp language to describe your experiences, present a clean and organized layout to make it easy to read, and make sure it’s free from typos and grammar errors. But they’re different, too: Grad school resumés should emphasize your education, work and volunteer experience, and specific skills relevant to the particular program you’re applying to.

“[Admissions teams are] interested in a student’s background and how it’s relevant to the program they want to enroll in,” Pierce says. “If a student is enrolling in a communications program, for example, the admissions team is looking to see whether they’re coming from a social media background or a marketing background, and how that experience applies to what they’re looking for in grad school.”

Attention to detail is paramount when creating your resumé for grad school. Here’s a look at what should be included on your resumé, plus five tips to help you craft one that’s memorable and impactful.

What to include in a resumé for graduate school

In general, your grad school resumé will be similar to a resumé you’d create when applying for a job. Keep in mind, however, that this document should be tailored to your desired program of study in order to show the admissions team that you’re a good fit.

Your graduate school resumé should include:

  • A header, including basic information like your name and email address
  • Your education histor y , including your undergraduate degree and institution
  • Relevant experiences, such as current or previous professional roles, internships, and leadership experience
  • Research and publications, including any research projects, articles, or other publications you’ve contributed to through your academic or professional career
  • Skills and certifications, especially those closely related to your field of study
  • Volunteering and extracurricular activities, if applicable to your program of interest

If you’re unsure whether a particular experience or skill should be included on your resumé, ask yourself how it relates to the program or institution that you’re applying to. If it doesn’t speak directly to your interests and strengths, it’s likely unnecessary to include.

Writing your grad school resumé: 5 tips for success

1. tailor your resumé to the program..

When graduate schools review your resumé, they’re weighing the relevancy of your previous experience and education with the program you’re applying to. In other words, they want to see a correlation between what you’ve done and where you’re going.

Pierce recommends reviewing the homepage of the program you’re interested in before writing your resumé. Some programs require two or three years of work experience or a portfolio, so make sure you qualify for the program you’re applying to.

If you’re interested in the Master of Science in Cybersecurity program, for example, review the program’s webpage and make note of its requirements, objectives, core courses, and any relevant keywords it uses. Then make sure you check those boxes as you write your resumé.

2. Highlight all relevant experience.

While some prospective students apply to grad school from the field, others apply to programs upon completion of their undergraduate degree. For this reason, not all students will have professional experience to list on their resumé—and that’s OK, Pierce says.

“It’s a misnomer that if you don’t have professional experience, you can’t write a resumé,” he says. “There are other types of experience that are just as important and useful, so make sure you highlight everything that is relevant.”

Other than professional experience, admissions committees are interested in volunteer work and internships you’ve completed. This experience is just as relevant. For all experience—professional or otherwise—it’s important to showcase the duties you performed in those roles, and both the hard and soft skills you learned. This might include leading teams or projects, honing communication skills, or becoming proficient in specific software or programs.

3. Showcase your skills.

Your resumé should include a skills section that highlights technologies, skills, and other competencies relevant to the graduate program you’re applying to, Pierce says.

If you’re applying to the Master of Science in Computer Science program, for example, your resumé should list the programming languages you know (e.g., Python, C++, Ruby on Rails), computer applications you’ve used, and software or systems that you’re experienced in.

4. Include professional achievements.

In addition to your experience and skills, admissions committees are interested in the professional certifications you earned, professional training you’ve completed, professional organizations of which you’re a member, and any instances in which you’ve been published.

Prospective students interested in the Master of Science in Project Management program, for example, should list any PMP certifications they’ve earned, while students interested in a Master of Science in Human Resource Management should note their membership to the Society for Human Resource Management, Pierce says. These achievements and memberships add another dimension to your resumé, showcasing your efforts outside your job, volunteer work, or internships to further your career and broaden your experience.

5. Keep it clean.

Your grad school resumé should be succinct, only rarely exceeding one page, Pierce says. It should go without saying, too, that your resumé should be clean, well formatted, easy to read, and free of typos or grammatical errors.

“We’re looking for a well-organized resumé that shows that care has been taken in creating it,” Pierce says. “Don’t just list out your experience in bullet points; tell us what duties you performed and how it correlates to the program you’re applying to. Your resumé is a reflection of you—we want to see that it’s polished and detailed, and understand what your background is like and what your experiences have been.”

Grad school resumé support

Applying to graduate school can be both exciting and stressful. Luckily, admissions teams and enrollment coaches are available to help you along the way and make the process as smooth as possible. If you have questions as you’re preparing your application and related materials, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. At the end of the day, admissions teams want to ensure that you’re a good fit for their program and, in effect, that their program is a good fit for you. 

At Northeastern, there are various resources and experts you can leverage for support throughout the application process. Don’t hesitate to contact faculty members in your program of interest with specific questions about the degree program. With more general questions about the application process, paying for your degree , and program requirements, you can speak with an enrollment coach or attend one of our prospective student events .

Need More Application Help?

Join one of our application workshops to get your questions answered.

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in July 2023 and has since been updated for relevance and accuracy. 

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About shayna joubert, related articles.

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How To Request a Grad School Recommendation Letter

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5 Tips to Get the Most out of Grad School

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Graduate School Resume: Templates & Formats for Successful Admissions

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How to write a great resume for a graduate school application?

What to include in a graduate school resume, tips for writing the best resume for master’s programs.

  • How to pick the right graduate school application resume template?

Graduate school resume sample

The application process for graduate school is not a simple one; you will need to prepare the necessary documents (e.g., your bachelor’s degree statement, transcript, recommendation letters) and you might need to take the GRE or GMAT or certain language proficiency examinations.

Graduate school entrance is also extremely competitive as you may be competing with students from different countries for a spot. With all the paperwork you need to prepare, you might overlook the importance of your graduate school resume.

A graduate school resume is a document that provides more information on your suitability for the program that you’ve applied for. It is similar to a job search resume in many ways but also contains major differences because of its purpose. We will discuss the essence of a great grad school CV in this article.

Step 1: Research on the desired school and major.  

The first step when writing a resume for a graduate school application is researching your desired school and program. Different schools and programs may have different requirements that you need to fulfill to be considered by the admission committee.

💡 Tips: It’s a good idea to build a graduate school list consisting of your dream schools and safety schools and outline the admission requirements to ensure that you don’t miss any documents and to increase your application efficiency.

Step  2: Choose the right graduate school resume format .

As similar as they are, a job search resume will ultimately differ from a graduate school resume, with the former being focused more on your relevant skills and experience. The latter, though, will mainly focus more on your educational background and accomplishments.

There are three options to choose from for your graduate resume format: chronological, functional (or skill-based), and combination (hybrid version of the chronological and functional format).

However, as mentioned prior, with a grad school CV, you are aiming to highlight your educational background and accomplishments. Thus, it would be better for you to choose a format that doesn’t focus much on employable skills.

Step  3: Look up graduate school resume templates &  examples online as references.

These online references may not exactly suit your situation, but you can refer to the way they word their details, the way their grad school CVs are structured, etc., and adopt it as your own.

⚠ Reminder: Do not simply copy and paste the contents as they may contain some mistakes and/or may not apply to you.

Step  4: Tailor your grad school CV according to the school and major.

Chances are, you are going to apply to more than one school and major. Your grad school CV should not be a “one-size fit all” CV. Different schools and programs will focus on different aspects of your academic background and achievements; to increase your chances of moving on to the next step of the application, ensure that you tailor your master’s degree resume accordingly.

Step  5: Proofread .

After you’ve finished writing your CV for grad school, the final step would be to proofread your entire resume to ensure that your graduate school resume is error-free.

A master’s degree resume with careless mistakes will not inspire confidence in the recruiting committee, so ensure that you don’t jeopardize your chances by skipping over this crucial step.

1. Resume H eader

Your graduate school resume should begin with a resume header, where the admission committee can quickly and briefly know who you are. Here, you should put your name, your contact info, and your resume title.

2. Resume Objective

Unlike a typical resume objective, a graduate school resume objective should highlight how your experiences can help you succeed in a highly selective master’s program.

To do this, your resume objective should convince the admission committee how your qualities (experience, skills, etc.) can contribute to your academic success if you were to be admitted to the program.

Graduate school resume objective examples:

  • Goal-oriented and analytical financial analyst seeking to further deepen my knowledge and skills through MIT’s Master of Finance program. 
  • Creative and innovative marketing manager with eight years of experience in television advertising. Seeking to gain further knowledge and skills in digital marketing in Stanford University’s Master of Business Administration Program with a focus in marketing.

3. Education

This is a section within your graduate application resume that the admission committee would put a lot of weight on. They would be most likely to look at this section first, your previous educational institution, your major, and your academic performance will shape the committee’s perception of you.

Here, you should include your previous:

  • Educational institution
  • Year of graduation
  • Honors, awards, and extracurricular activities (if applicable)

Graduate program resume education examples:

📍 In progress

M.S.E. in Computer Science (in progress) | Princeton University

📍 Before starting (i.e., when applying)

B.S. in Finance | University of California-Los Angeles Graduation: June 2019 GPA: 4.1/4.3

📍 Incomplete (i.e., change of schools, programs)

New York University 2017-2018: Completed 18 credits towards M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education

4. Work Experience

In most job search resumes; work experience is one of the most crucial aspects for recruiters. In the case of a graduate school resume, however, this is not the case. Still, you shouldn’t forego not including your previous work experience, especially if they relate to the program that you’re applying to.

Although not all graduate programs require prior work experience, there are some (such as MBAs) that will require applicants to possess a certain length of work experience before their candidacy be considered to advance to the next step of the admission process.

💡 Tips: I f you have taken some academic time off, and you have relevant work experience before, including it in your grad school CV can help illustrate your qualifications.

Here, you should include:

  • Organizations or employers' names
  • State of the organizations
  • Titles you’ve previously held
  • Employment period
  • Brief description of your responsibilities and achievements (if applicable)

Graduate school resume work experience examples:

Software Developer  ABC Tech Inc.  Jan. 2017 – Dec. 2019

  • Tested, troubleshot, and debugged new features in company developed applications.
  • Implemented new features to existing software using Python, Java, and C++.
  • Reviewed and provided technical designs to assist other developers.

The skills for your graduate school resume will differ slightly from a normal job search skills section; it won’t be as comprehensive as a normal resume as the main focus of a grad school CV will still be your academic history.

However, like a typical resume, you should still list out your relevant skills and abilities. Some programs might require you to possess a specific set of skills for you to achieve academic success (e.g., language, leadership skills, research).

Your graduate school resume skills can also indicate to the committee if you would be able to complete the extensive projects that are usually a part of graduate programs. 

6. Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities don’t only serve a social purpose, it can also help you develop skills that can be useful in your everyday and professional life. They can also add more flair to your graduate application resume and highlight your capabilities for the admission committee to see.

Here, you should include the name of the organization you were a part of, membership dates and any roles (leadership or representative,) and the responsibilities you held.

Graduate school CV extracurricular activities examples:

Debate and Speech Club  Vice-President  2012 – 2014

  • Co-organized club activities (i.e., inter-school debate competitions, public speaking workshops, bake sale) and meeting agendas
  • Worked closely with the club president to oversee the training and development of new club members every semester

7. Awards & Honors

If you’ve received an award and honors such as fellowship, scholarship, or any academic and industry-related ones, you should add it to your graduate application resume.

These accolades can boost your candidacy by showcasing your academic talents and abilities and in turn, can help convince the admission committee of your potential and ability to succeed if you were to be admitted into the program.

Graduate program resume awards and honors examples: 

B.A. in Business Administration University of California-Los Angeles

  • Graduation: June 2017
  • GPA: 4.1/4.3
  • Awards & Honors: Winner of The Global Case Competition at Harvard (2017), Dean’s List (2018)

8. Hobbies & Interest

Your hobbies and interests that align with the program are a great way to showcase your passion and enthusiasm. Relevant hobbies and interests demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the program context and can also indicate your skills to the committee.

  • Focus on the skills you’ve honed from pursuing your hobbies and interests instead of your roles.
  • Be honest, specific on your descriptions, and why your interests make you a better candidate than other applicants.

Cake provides the best graduate school   resume templates & examples for talents to demonstrate your qualifications. Let us help you land the dream with a strong graduate school resume (free download)!

Create Resume

✅ Tip 1: Customize the graduate school resume for the school.

Different schools will have different requirements or may focus on different aspects of your master’s degree resume. Ensure that you customize your grad school CV for every school and program you apply to for better results.

✅ Tip 2: Highlight what makes you unique.

With how competitive the selection process will be, you want to ensure that you stand out from other applicants to increase your chances of landing a spot.

To do so, you would want to identify what makes you unique as a graduate school candidate and clearly highlight and showcase them in your grad school CV to impress the admission committee.

✅ Tip 3: Quantify results in your graduate school resume .

Describe your academic achievements in your graduate school resume quantitatively (in the form of numbers) instead of in a qualitative form. This can highlight your accomplishments and make them seem more apparent and more convincing.

✅ Tip 4: Adopt resume action words (verbs).

Action verbs can help the admission committee to form a clearer picture of who you are as a candidate. Using proper action verbs in your graduate school resume can help you stand out from other candidates.

✅ Tip 5: Position your education section before your work experience section.

Unlike a job search resume, your education section would be of bigger weight in your graduate application resume. Your prior educational achievements and experience can help the admission committee estimate your capabilities for academic success in your applied program.

Ensure that you position your education section before your work experience section in your master’s degree resume.

Pick the right graduate school application resume template

🔍 how long should a graduate school application resume be.

As with job search resumes, keep your graduate school application resume within two pages long (unless you've had a significant number of related accolades, research papers, awards, etc.). Any longer than that will make your graduate school resume seem to be verbose.

🔍 What is the best font to use in a resume for graduate school admission ?

Keep your grad school CV as professional and clean as possible. Choosing the wrong font can entirely ruin your graduate school resume.

You can either stick to the classic fonts (i.e., Times New Roman, Arial) to play it safe, or you can choose other fonts that are easy-to-read but won’t stand out too much such as Roboto, Cambria, Verdana, Lato, or Helvetica.

🔍 What format should a resume for graduate school applications be in, Word or PDF?

Chances are, you can find plenty of great graduate school resume template in Word but this doesn’t mean you should submit it in .doc or .docx format. When Word formats are viewed on different devices or different Word versions, it may mess up your graduate school resume format.

Unless specified otherwise, submit your graduate school resume in PDF form as it will stay the same no matter the device.

Aylah Kellet

Detail-oriented market development manager specializing in the tech industry

+1- 513-234-1235  [email protected] linkedin.com/in/aylahkellet

Professional Summary

Graduated magna cum laude majoring in business administration with a minor in marketing. Aspiring to pursue an MBA degree from the prestigious Cornell University to expand my knowledge on all aspects of business, especially marketing management.

Work Experience

Market Developer Manager  Green Hill Tech.  Nov. 2018 – Present

  • In charge of communications between the HQ and the European market.
  • Increased profit and the volume sold of laptops by 15%.
  • Assisted in creating promotional campaigns for the European market.

Marketing Intern  Glendale Tech Inc.  Jan. 2015 – Oct. 2016

  • Assisted in building social media campaigns for the East European markets.
  • Researched and provided suggestions to increase campaign effectiveness for the Polish market.

Extracurricular Activities

Vice President  Debate-speech Club  July 2015 – May 2018

  • Co-organized club activities (i.e., inter-school debate competitions, public speaking workshops, bake sale) and weekly meeting agendas with the club president. 
  • Worked closely with the club president to oversee the training and development of new club members every semester.

Member  Toastmasters  July 2014 – June 2017

  • Mentored and trained junior members in public speaking and leadership skills.
  • Regularly gave juniors feedback on speech.

June 2018  B.B.A. in Business Administration University of California-Los Angeles

Awards & Honors

Honors: Magna cum laude (GPA: 4.1/4.3)

Award: Winner of The Global Case Competition at Harvard (2017), Dean’s List (2016, 2017)

  • Polish (fluent)
  • Hebrew (fluent)
  • Market Research
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Google Analytics
  • Time Management
  • Multitasking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Critical Thinking
  • Problem Solving

Hobbies & Interests

  • Graphic design
  • Video games
  • Creative writing
  • Arts & crafts
  • Learning languages

--- Originally written by Patricia Rosita ---

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6 Tips for Perfecting Your Resume for Graduate School Application

resume sample for graduate school application

Most graduate programs require applicants to send in a variety of documents, including a resume. While you likely have already written several resumes in your adult life, don’t expect to simply dust off your latest version and send it in.

In order to make the best impression on the reviewers who will be reviewing your application, it’s best to start from scratch and customize your resume for the program you’re applying to. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to crafting a solid resume for graduate school.

The difference between a resume and CV for grad school

You might be surprised to learn that “resume” and “curriculum vitae” (or “CV”) are not interchangeable terms in the United States, although in Europe they are often used as synonyms. A resume focuses on your professional and extracurricular experience, whereas a CV focuses on your academic achievements. (Both documents should include contact information, education, work experience, relevant professional skills and language proficiencies.)

A good resume is concise, easily scannable and specific to the job for which you’re applying. The vast majority of graduate school applicants will probably have no trouble getting their resume to fit on one page. A CV, however, goes into far more depth and detail, which means it should be “as long as needed,” since it includes things like research projects, fellowships or grants, teaching experiences, publications, conferences, presentations and references.

How to write a resume for graduate school

Before you sit down to write, take some time to gather all the information you need. It’s imperative that all the dates, names, titles and other data included are accurate. And remember: the best graduate school resume examples are ones that start from scratch and are tailored to the specific program and school to which you’re applying.

If it’s been a few years since you’ve been in school, take some time to refresh your memory on what you achieved during your time as an undergrad. Review your transcripts, papers, publications, essays and projects and take notes on things you want to include. Once you’ve done that, continue on to the first step below.

1. Start with a simple template

Although it may be tempting to try out a creative format in hopes of standing out in the crowd, resist the urge to make your resume overly designed. For the purpose of this document, the content is much more important than fancy graphics or an elaborate layout. Reviewers want to see a resume that’s proofed, easy to read, well-organized and full of relevant information.

You can find a grad school resume template to get yourself started. Microsoft Word offers dozens of options to download for free. Don’t stress if you don’t find one that’s perfect, you can always customize it to accommodate other sections or information as needed. Whichever template you choose, it should include:

  • 11- or 12-point font size 
  • Bold headlines 
  • Bulleted lists 
  • A serif font (e.g., Times New Roman, Georgia or Garamond)

2. Craft a clear and compelling objective

Your graduate school resume objective is a short statement at the very beginning of the document that describes what you hope to gain from attending grad school and why you’re qualified to enroll. In just two sentences (or less), you must describe yourself, your strengths and/or relevant work experience, and what you want to accomplish in the program.

An example of a solid resume objective might be:

“An innovative educator with eight years of classroom experience seeking to join the Educational Leadership program in order to develop the skills needed to increase their impact by pursuing a position in school administration.”

3. Write in detail about your previous education

Include all the schools you have attended in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. Be sure to list the full name of the institution, city and state, exact title of the major and the degree you earned, and your graduation date. Any impressive test scores, Dean’s list awards or other relevant achievements can also be listed in this section.

4. Highlight work and life experience

Graduate school applicants come from all walks of life. You might have a wealth of professional experience or practically none. Either way, your grad school resume should illustrate how the responsibilities and tasks you’ve taken on in the past make you a good fit for the program.

Be sure to include your current and previous jobs. While you may be tempted to leave off past employment that’s unrelated or may not seem “good enough,” this could backfire and lead to questions about transparency or gaps in a resume.

In addition to employment, you can include things like:

  • Internships 
  • Extracurriculars 
  • Tutoring or mentoring 
  • Study abroad experience 
  • Professional or academic affiliations/clubs
  • Volunteer work (only include longer-term commitments — not one-time events)

In each entry, include two or three bullet points that cover your duties and accomplishments. Be sure to use action verbs and mention specific achievements where possible. For example,   “Responsible for overseeing purchasing team and managing department budget” is much less illustrative than “Supervised six direct report employees on the purchasing team and managed a $200,000 annual budget”.

Pro-tip: Carefully read through the program page and identify important words and phrases. Incorporate these terms throughout your resume, where applicable.

5. Include a list of relevant skills

This section of your graduate school resume is a great opportunity to illustrate your strengths. Don’t forget to mention hard and soft skills, as both are important for  success in graduate school . Make sure they are all relevant to the work you want to accomplish in the program.

Some examples of hard (technical) skills include:

  • Mastery of computer programs and software 
  • Language proficiency 
  • Coding ability  
  • Analytics 
  • Project management skills 
  • Grant writing (or other specific writing tasks)

A few examples of soft (transferable) skills include: 

  • Teamwork 
  • Conflict resolution 
  • Leadership 
  • Communication 
  • Problem solving 
  • Reliability

6. Make sure it’s clean and error-free

One of the biggest mistakes you can make on your resume for grad school is submitting something that contains typos, sloppy formatting or other such errors. This can imply to admissions committees that you are lazy or don’t pay attention to detail. Luckily there are many ways you can avoid this scenario.

Once you’re happy with the content of your resume, run the document through spell check and review it carefully one last time. Then, slowly read the entire document out loud. You’d be surprised at how many mistakes or improvements you’ll discover using this method.

You should also consider asking someone you trust to proofread it for typos that you may have missed. When it comes to an important document like this, having several pairs of eyes on it is a prudent idea.

Pro tip: If you don’t have someone available to proofread your resume, copy and paste text from your document into a program like what is available on Grammarly.com  for a comprehensive and free review of spelling and grammar.

Make a great first impression

Now that you have this actionable advice for creating an impressive resume for graduate school, you can begin working on this important part of the application process. As you continue collecting all of the other necessary materials, you’re likely curious about the financial side of things.

To better understand your options, check out our article “ How to Pay for Grad School: 6 Things to Consider .” 

Curious about what else you need to create a top-notch graduate school application? Review the requirements for Creighton University by visiting our  How to Apply page .

Considering grad school?

Regardless of where you are in your journey, our admissions advisors are ready to help you take the next step.

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Resumes and cvs.

Depending on the type of job, you will need to create a curriculum vitae (CV) or a resume. Both documents put your qualification in writing, but they are used for different audiences and use a different format.

When to use a Resume

In the United States, most employers use resumes for non-academic positions, which are one or two page summaries of your experience, education, and skills.  Employers rarely spend more than a few minutes reviewing a resume, and successful resumes are concise with enough white space on the page to make it easy to scan. 

For more information on developing your resume, please visit Cornell Career Services’ Career Development Toolkit . Students often find it helpful to review resumes from graduate students who got their first job outside of academe.

When to use a Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A CV is a longer synopsis of your educational and academic background as well as teaching and research experience, publications, awards, presentations, honors, and additional details. CVs are used when applying for academic, scientific, or research positions. International employers often use CVs as well.

A CV is a comprehensive statement emphasizing:

  • professional qualifications
  • accomplishments
  • special qualifications

A CV can vary from two pages to several pages. Professionals seeking academic positions and non-academic positions in science, higher education, research, and health care typically use a CV. It is also used to seek a fellowship or grant and is expected for some positions overseas. Consult with faculty members in your field to determine what is expected and appropriate for your field.

Guidelines for Preparing a CV

  • The order of topics in a CV format is flexible.
  • Arrange sections to highlight strengths for the position you are seeking.
  • Elaborate on accomplishments and skills within categories.
  • List items within each category chronologically, the most recent appearing first.
  • Include additional headings when appropriate to reflect certifications/licensures, workshops/training, languages, book reviews, etc.
  • Present information in an easily accessible and attractive style.
  • Faculty advisors are the most knowledgeable resource for determining what constitutes effective content in your discipline.
  • For formatting assistance and to see more examples of  CVs, visit the Cornell Career Services Library in 103 Barnes Hall. The following books also may help:  How to Prepare Your Curriculum Vitae  and  The Curriculum Vitae Handbook .
  • Non-academic samples from the University of California, San Francisco
  • Academic samples from the University of California, San Francisco
  • Samples from Columbia University
  • Samples from University of Pennsylvania
  • Chronicle of Higher Education’s CV Doctor

Electronic Version of CV

When sending electronic versions, attach a file or cut and paste the CV into the text of the email message. State your objectives and career interests in the first few lines since they may be the only items seen on a screen. Other tips:

  • Use language and acronyms recognized in your field.
  • Avoid using bold, italics, underlining, lines, or graphics. Use all caps for emphasis.
  • Put your name at the top followed by address and each phone number on a separate line.

Many employers use websites for applicants to apply for positions. Although each form may be different, some elements may be similar. Save parts of your CV in a format that can be cut and pasted for each individual web-based form, such as saving a bulleted list of work experience.

Transforming Your CV into a Resume

You may need both a CV and a resume for your job search. Sending the appropriate document (CV or resume) tells employers that you can distinguish the differences between the academic and non-academic environments and that you can adapt your skills to either environment. Most employers in industry prefer a resume. When rearranging your CV to make it a resume:

  • Do not exceed two pages.
  • Re-evaluate your experience. Think creatively about how your academic experience can be translated into the necessary skills for a non-academic environment. Consider skills of project management, leadership, teamwork, effective communication, and meeting deadlines. 
  • Choose action verbs to describe your experience.
  • Put your strengths first. List your professional experience or your degree first, depending on which is most important for a specific position.  
  • Include a well-written job objective; state the type of position and work setting you are seeking, skills or abilities you possess, and long-term goals. Be sure that your resume supports your job objective.
  • Emphasize skills and accomplishments.
  • List relevant presentations, publications, and papers, but not all. 
  • Have someone proofread it.
  • Book a Coaching Appointment
  • Create a Resume, Cover Letter, or CV
  • Choose a Career Field
  • Search for a Job/Internship
  • Build a Professional Brand
  • Pursue Funding Opportunities
  • Negotiate an Offer
  • Network with Professionals/Find a Mentor
  • Prepare for an Interview
  • Prepare for Graduate School
  • Collaborate with CPD
  • Earn Academic Credit for an Internship
  • Undergraduate Students
  • Graduate Students
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Parents and Families
  • Transfer Students
  • Prospective Students
  • Affinity and Identity Resources
  • Accounting, Business Management, Consulting, and Finance
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  • Entertainment, TV and Film
  • Engineering
  • Fine Arts and Performing Arts
  • Marketing, Communications, PR and Media
  • Education, Counseling, and Human Services
  • Health Professions and Research
  • Energy, Environment, and Sustainability
  • Computer Science, Data, Gaming, and Technology
  • Non-Profit and Social Impact
  • Legal Professions, Government, and Public Policy
  • Career Fairs and CPD Career Weeks
  • Career Treks
  • Casual Career Conversations
  • Meet the Team

A photograph of a man and women sitting at a table eating lunch and chatting. Both people are wearing professional attire and appear to be at a networking event.

Sample Resumes

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Here are many sample resumes written by our career coaches to help you get started with yours. Read more than one sample and do your own research on resume trends for your industry.

Undergraduate Resume Samples

  • Undergraduate Accounting Resume
  • Undergraduate Acting Resume
  • Undergraduate Arts Administration Resume
  • Undergraduate Business Management Resume
  • Undergraduate Civil Engineering Resume
  • Undergraduate Communications Resume
  • Undergraduate Computer Science Resume
  • Undergraduate Consulting Resume
  • Undergraduate Dance Resume
  • Undergraduate Electrical Engineering Resume
  • Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Resume
  • Undergraduate Environmental Science Resume
  • Undergraduate Film Acting Resume
  • Undergraduate Film & TV Resume
  • Undergraduate Finance Resume
  • Undergraduate Graphic Design Resume
  • Undergraduate Information Systems & Business Analytics Resume
  • Undergraduate Marketing Resume
  • Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Resume
  • Undergraduate Music Resume
  • Undergraduate Non-Profit Resume
  • Undergraduate Pre-Health Resume
  • Undergraduate Pre-Law Resume
  • Undergraduate Production Resume
  • Undergraduate Public Policy Resume
  • Undergraduate Sports Management Resume
  • Undergraduate Science Resume
  • Undergraduate Screenwriting Resume
  • Undergraduate Technology Resume
  • Undergraduate Theatre Resume
  • Undergraduate Visual Arts Resume

Graduate Resume Samples

  • Graduate Counseling Resume
  • Graduate Film & TV Resume
  • Graduate Higher Education Resume
  • Graduate Mechanical Engineering Resume
  • Graduate School Psychology Resume
  • Graduate Teaching (K-12) Resume
  • MBA Executive Masters Resume

IMAGES

  1. How to Write a Grad School Resume (With Examples & Template) (2022)

    resume sample for graduate school application

  2. 7 Grad School Resume Examples + Complete Guide

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  3. Fresh Graduate Resume Sample in 2024

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  4. Grad School Resume Examples + Template for 2024

    resume sample for graduate school application

  5. FREE 9+ Sample Graduate School Resume Templates in PDF

    resume sample for graduate school application

  6. Grad School Resume Examples + Template for 2024

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VIDEO

  1. How to Apply to Graduate Positions and Improve your Chances of Success

  2. How to prepare a Resume for Graduate school application?

  3. From Application to Acceptance; Tips on how to Apply for Graduate School Admission

  4. Best Graduate Student CV Format 2024 #resumeformat #shortsvideo

  5. Graduate School Application: Tips, Strategies, Insights and Advice

  6. Resume Format For College Students With NO Experience

COMMENTS

  1. Grad School Resume Examples and Guide

    Here's an example of a well-written graduate school resume objective: Undergraduate Economics student (3.8 GPA) with proven leadership and research skills. Six months of international internship experience with the UNHCR. Seeking admission into New York University's Master's program in Economics with a specialization in Development Economics.

  2. How to Write a Graduate School Resume

    Step 2: Create a heading with your personal information. At the very top of your resume, you need to include: Your name (usually in a larger font size) Your address. Your email address. Your phone number. You can also include a sentence summarizing your background and stating your objective.

  3. 4 Successful Graduate School Resume and CV Examples

    Harvard. This PDF focuses on how to write resumes if you're a current master's student (but can certainly be used for those applying to graduate school, too). The four samples are on pages 5-8. Each resume contains helpful introductory information explaining the purpose of the resume and how it's organized.

  4. How To Write a Graduate School Resume (With Example)

    How to write a graduate school resume. Here are some steps you can take to write a detailed graduate school resume: 1. Consult the application directions. The institutions to which you're applying may provide specific directions for formatting and submitting your resume. You can consult the instructions posted in the application guidelines to ...

  5. Grad School Resume Examples + Template for 2024

    Sample Resume for Graduate School Application—Work Experience. Store Cashier & Clerk January 2017-December 2017 Bernard's Bothersome Britches, New York, NY. Key Responsibilities: Assisted in daily operation of a successful and busy midtown clothing shop.

  6. Graduate School Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

    123 Your Street, San Francisco, CA 12345. An Economics Graduate specializing in statistical analysis, accounting, financial analysis, risk management, and ROI analysis. Experience in conducting economic research to evaluate statistical trends and inform financial decision making for businesses. Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Economics.

  7. Grad School Resume Examples, Templates & How-to

    Sample Resume For Graduate School Application—Work Experience Good Example. School Psychologist Intern. Latino Youth High School. 2018-2019. Helped to assess student behavior in classrooms and worked with school psychologist to signal when intervention was needed through behavior and academic performance.

  8. 7 Grad School Resume Examples [& Templates]

    Build a resume with one of our eye-catching, recruiter-friendly templates. • Work in real-time with immediate feedback and tips from our AI-powered experience. • Leverage thousands of pre-written, job-specific bullet points. • Edit your resume in-line like a Google Doc or let us walk you through each section at a time.

  9. Graduate School Resume Examples & Templates (2024)

    Resume layout and design. Flashy designs and a rainbow array of colors won't do you any favors when you're creating this document! Your graduate school resume is a professional document. You want the course leader to take you seriously. When you're designing this application, keep things clean and crisp.

  10. Building a Standout Graduate School Resume or Curriculum Vitae

    Nearly all graduate programs require a grad school application resume. Prospective students need to craft a curriculum vitae (CV) or an academic resume showing their educational background, employment history, research experience, internships, volunteer work, and academic achievements. A resume for applying to graduate school needs to make a ...

  11. How to Write a Resume for Graduate School

    Include the following elements in your resume for graduate school: Personal contact information: This includes your full name, home address, phone number, and email address. Put this at the very top of your resume, either in the left corner or center. Education: Include any programs you have completed and which degrees you have earned.

  12. 10 Tips for Writing a Successful Graduate School Resume

    Display your awards. In a graduate school resume, you're encouraged to display your honors and awards in a designated section. Include any specific scholarships, fellowships, grants or awards that you've received over the years. This can help admissions committees get a better idea of your dedication to excellence and how your high-level ...

  13. 4 Stellar Resume and CV Templates for Graduate School

    Below, we give you four tips on how to customize your graduate school resume template or graduate school CV template. #1: Delete Irrelevant Sections. Our templates include all of the most common sections and headings used for graduate school resumes and CVs; however, you likely won't need every section listed.

  14. How To Write a Graduate Student Resume (With Example)

    How to write a graduate student resume. Here are some steps you can follow to write a resume as a graduate student: 1. Choose a format. There are a few types of resume formats to choose from, but the most common is typically a chronological resume. This format prioritizes professional experience and lists previous jobs in reverse-chronological ...

  15. 5 Grad School Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

    5 Grad School Resume Examples & Guide for 2024. Graduate school plays a crucial role in advancing your knowledge and expertise in your chosen field. When crafting your resume, focus on highlighting relevant coursework, research projects, and any teaching or mentoring experience. It's also beneficial to incorporate strong analytical abilities ...

  16. How to Write a Resume for Graduate School: 5 Expert Tips

    Work Experience. Publications. Skills and Certifications. Extracurriculars (optional) While you're writing your resume for graduate school, keep these five tips in mind to help it stand out: Pay attention to program requirements. Highlight your accomplishments. Be concise. Proofread.

  17. How to Write a Grad School Resumé: 5 Expert Tips

    Writing your grad school resumé: 5 tips for success. 1. Tailor your resumé to the program. When graduate schools review your resumé, they're weighing the relevancy of your previous experience and education with the program you're applying to. In other words, they want to see a correlation between what you've done and where you're going.

  18. Graduate School Resume: Templates & Formats for Successful Admissions

    Step 1: Research on the desired school and major. The first step when writing a resume for a graduate school application is researching your desired school and program. Different schools and programs may have different requirements that you need to fulfill to be considered by the admission committee. 💡 Tips: It's a good idea to build a ...

  19. Graduate School Resume: Examples, Templates and Tips

    Use action words. Elevate your experience with words like "researched," "published" and "presented" instead of generic resume phrases like "responsible for.". This transforms your resume from a list of tasks into a dynamic summary of your academic and research contributions. Writing tip.

  20. Graduate Resume Examples & Academic Grad CV Samples

    Here's how to write a graduate CV personal statement: Start with who you are and what your education is. Use the name of your target company and the position you're targeting. Add 2-3 of your key skills. Make an offer: explain what you hope to achieve for your prospective employer.

  21. Grad School Resume Tips

    Incorporate these terms throughout your resume, where applicable. 5. Include a list of relevant skills. This section of your graduate school resume is a great opportunity to illustrate your strengths. Don't forget to mention hard and soft skills, as both are important for success in graduate school. Make sure they are all relevant to the work ...

  22. Resumes and CVs : Graduate School

    When to use a Curriculum Vitae (CV) A CV is a longer synopsis of your educational and academic background as well as teaching and research experience, publications, awards, presentations, honors, and additional details. CVs are used when applying for academic, scientific, or research positions. International employers often use CVs as well.

  23. Sample Resumes

    Here are many sample resumes written by our career coaches to help you get started with yours. Read more than one sample and do your own research on resume trends for your industry. ... Graduate School Psychology Resume; Graduate Teaching (K-12) Resume; MBA Executive Masters Resume; MBA Resume; Contact & Location. Phone. 310.338.2871. Email ...