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Table of contents

Popular grad school resumes
How to write a grad school resume
Grad school resume examples by experience level
Add a cover letter
Facts about careers with a graduate degree
Key takeaways for your grad school resume
Commonly asked question about resume writing

From aspiring graduate students looking to advance their careers in various industries to those pursuing careers in academia, research and other scholarly pursuits, the path to higher education is one that demands a deep commitment to learning and personal growth.

Mastering a particular field of study, whether it be in the sciences, humanities or any other area of interest, is a challenging and enduring journey that necessitates unwavering commitment and perseverance. Let us help you showcase this commitment on your grad school resume.

It’s important to note that much of academia uses the curriculum vitae or “CV” instead of the traditional resume. Make sure you’re building the right document for the role. For help writing a grad school CV, check out our CV guide. If you’re not sure whether you need a CV vs a resume, take a close look at the application for the role you’re seeking and evaluate the strengths of both document types. If you’re sure that a resume is the right document for your situation, then you’re in the right place.

This guide is designed to help you:

Discover examples of outstanding graduate student resumes.
Learn how to create a compelling resume for grad school.
Learn which formats are best for different stages of your academic journey.
Understand the significance of a cover letter and receive guidance on how to get started with one.

If you’re ready to create a well-structured academic resume quickly, proceed directly to our AI Resume Builder. There, you can choose a template that aligns with your academic goals and utilize our AI-powered resume tool to assist you in presenting your scholarly narrative effectively.

Popular grad school resumes

You’ve got the education, training and analytical skills to write an impressive resume. You just need some inspiration!

Are you looking for a specific job title? Check out our full library of resume examples or find a related job below:

Browse other popular samples

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How to write a grad school resume

Now that you have an idea of what your graduate student resume should look like, it’s time to write a resume that highlights your academic journey, research experience and skills.

Begin by making a resume outline for your academic resume. Your outline should encompass the following:

Your contact information, prominently displayed at the top.
A resume profile introducing your academic aspirations and achievements.
An extensive skills section showcasing your academic and research capabilities with compelling examples.
Your academic and research history, starting with your most recent role.
Your educational background and any relevant certifications in your education section.
Add any additional sections to emphasize other academic accomplishments or qualifications.

Now that you understand what to include in your graduate student resume, let’s get to work!

Step 1

Add your contact information

Your resume’s most crucial function is to grab the attention of potential academic institutions or employers. Your qualifications make them want to get in touch, but to achieve that, you need to provide accurate and clear contact information in your resume’s header.

Here’s what your header should include:

Your name
Your phone number
A professional email address
Your current city and state

If you have a LinkedIn profile, personal website or an online portfolio, you can add links to those in your header as well.

Many applicants incorporate graphics in the header for visual appeal. This is acceptable, but ensure your header remains easy to read and uncluttered since its primary purpose is to clearly display your contact information.

Next, let’s focus on your academic summary or career objective.

Step 2

Summarize your academic journey

If the resume header is your calling card, then the resume profile is your first true introduction. This is your chance to make a strong impression at the beginning of your resume. Typically, a resume profile serves as an introduction to your academic journey through a brief overview of your research experience and significant achievements.

Depending on your academic experience, you have a couple of profile styles to choose from:

Students with experience researching, teaching or working in their graduate field should use a professional summary. This is a short paragraph outlining key information for institutions or employers to understand your academic history. It should touch on your research, experience and academic accomplishments.
If you’re just starting your academic journey, a resume objective might be more suitable. Resume objectives focus more on your goals for the future and your intent to contribute to the field through research and scholarship.

Both resume profiles serve a similar purpose, so choose the one that best highlights your academic strengths.

Professional summary for a graduate student resume:

Experienced graduate student with a solid foundation in [field of study] who has contributed to cutting-edge research and gained proficiency in various research methodologies. Committed to advancing the boundaries of knowledge, as demonstrated through a strong track record of presenting original research at national conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals. Proven dedication to academic excellence and research innovation aligns with your institution’s goal of pioneering cutting-edge research that yields practical applications for [field of study].

Sample objective for a graduate student resume:

Recently admitted PhD student with a master’s degree in [field of study], enthusiastic about embarking on a research journey that contributes to the academic community. Aiming to work closely with renowned faculty members and engage in groundbreaking research projects that address critical issues in the field. Eager to expand academic horizons and make meaningful contributions through research efforts.

Step 3

List your most relevant skills

To create an effective resume, you need a skills section that demonstrates your expertise.

A comprehensive graduate student resume should encompass both hard skills like research methodologies, data analysis and scholarly writing, as well as soft skills such as critical thinking, effective communication and problem-solving.

It’s not a matter of hard skills vs. soft skills; a strong resume acknowledges the importance of both and includes a mix of both types of skills.

Hard and soft skills for a graduate student resume:

Hard Skills

Research methodologies and data analysis
Scholarly writing and publishing
Presentation and public speaking
Grant writing and funding acquisition

Soft Skills

Critical thinking and problem-solving
Effective communication and collaboration
Adaptability and innovation
Time management and organization

Step 4

Detail your academic and research experience

Your experience section is the heart of your graduate student resume. This is where you demonstrate how you’ve applied the skills and knowledge you’ve acquired to real-world academic and research settings. Present your experience in reverse-chronological order and emphasize the contributions you’ve made in each role.

The goal of this section is to make your academic and research experience highlight your ability to make a significant contribution to your academic field.

Consider these strategies to showcase your academic and research history:

Show measurable results. It’s one thing to mention your accomplishments, but when you support your achievements with data, your capabilities shine. Data allows institutions or employers to see the concrete impact of your previous roles.
Show academic progression. List your previous academic roles in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent. This allows the reader to observe your academic growth and relevance to your current academic pursuits.
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

Take care to highlight any technical skills you’ve acquired during your academic journey. Whether it’s specialized research tools, advanced data analysis methods or proficiency in particular academic software, include them when describing your academic and research work.

Graduate student experience example:

Research Assistant, [Your University or Research Institution]
[City, State]
[Month Year – Present or End Date]

Contributed to groundbreaking research projects in the [your field] department, including [specific project], which resulted in [notable outcome].
Assisted in data collection, analysis and interpretation, producing valuable insights for [academic purpose or publication].
Collaborated with esteemed faculty members on grant applications and research proposals, securing [funding amount] for ongoing projects.

Step 5

Highlight your education and credentials

As a graduate student, your education and training are central to your academic journey. Include your degrees, as well as any additional training, coursework or certifications in your education section.

Graduate student education entry example:

Education

Master of Science in [Your Field],
[Your University or College], [City, State] | [Year of Graduation]

Certifications

[Any Relevant Certifications]
[Certifying Body]
Issue Date: [Date of Certification]

Step 6

Add additional sections to your resume

When it comes to creating an engaging resume, there are no strict rules about what you can or cannot include. If you have other qualifications or experiences that you believe are relevant to your academic journey, include them in optional sections. Only include elements that are truly pertinent to your academic goals. Here are some typical optional sections that you might incorporate in your graduate student resume:

Volunteer work: If you’ve volunteered in academic or research-related activities, it demonstrates your commitment to your field. Highlight any volunteer work that aligns with your academic interests.
Foreign languages: If you’re proficient in multiple languages, especially if it’s relevant to your academic work, include them to showcase your communication skills.
Hobbies and interests: If you have hobbies or interests that are pertinent to your academic field, they can provide a well-rounded view of your academic and personal profile.
Projects: Even if you don’t have extensive on-the-job experience, your academic projects can make a big splash on your resume. Include a projects section to showcase your achievements.

Writing tip

Include any additional courses, workshops or training experiences that have contributed to your academic growth. Certifications can go in the certifications section, courses and workshops can be included in the education section, and any other relevant experiences can be placed in their respective sections.

To ensure that your content stands out, choose the right resume template. Select a design that aligns with your academic pursuits and reflects your academic identity.

Templates range from simple resume designs to more creative and stylized creative resumes. For most academic positions, it’s advisable to opt for a clean and professional template.

If you can’t find a template you like in our collection, there are numerous free templates for Microsoft Word and Google Docs. Ensure you choose a template that enhances, rather than distracts from, your academic achievements.

Grad school resume examples by experience level

The layout that you choose for your resume is important because it decides what information employers see first. Make sure to choose a resume format that puts your best foot forward.

Grad students with less academic or relevant experience might find the functional resume format most beneficial thanks to its focus on transferable skills.
Moderately experienced graduate students are most likely to benefit from a combination resume format because it presents a healthy balance between showcasing experience and skills.
Students with significant internship, academic or research experience should consider the chronological resume format, which builds your resume around your relevant experience.

Let’s check out visual examples for each.

Functional resume format: Entry-level graduate student example

Resume entry level example research assistant

Create your resume

What makes this a great entry-level grad school resume?

It’s simple
This resume avoids adding distractions that detract from the candidate’s qualifications by sticking with a basic layout.
It focuses on skills
With little relevant experience, this candidate’s resume focuses on her strengths by emphasizing skills that will transfer to any graduate program.
It’s goal-oriented
Focusing on future goals for growth and development is a great way for inexperienced candidates to showcase their passion within their resume profile.

Combination resume format: Midcareer graduate student resume example

Resume mid career example teaching assistant

Create your resume

Why is this a standout midcareer grad school resume?

It’s creative
This resume uses a creative template that showcases a bit of the applicant’s personality, helping her stand out from the crowd.
Uses active language
Active verbs like “recorded” and “managed” leave a stronger impression than traditional resume cliches like “responsible for.”
Includes languages
The ability to speak multiple languages is a very marketable and lucrative asset. This candidate lists two languages along with her proficiency level in each.

Chronological resume format: Experienced graduate student resume example

Create your resume

What sets this experienced grad school resume apart?

Focuses on experience
This candidate has an impressive history of academic accomplishments. By focusing on experience, he highlights his contributions to previous roles.
Includes a thesis
This candidate holds a master’s degree with a completed research thesis. Including this under education gives potential employers or admissions departments the opportunity to read his best writing.
Includes certifications
Certifications demonstrate a commitment to advancing one’s knowledge and growing as a professional and an academic. This candidate includes a certification section alongside his education.

Add a cover letter

Create your cover letter

A fantastic cover letter is the final piece of the puzzle that seals the deal for a job-winning application.

A great resume isn’t complete without an equally great cover letter. Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for your field of study and highlight any major achievements that you’d like to draw attention to. Our guide on crafting a cover letter will guide you through each step.

For some cover letter inspiration, check out ourcover letter examples and consult our cover letter formatting guide.

If you’re looking for a professionally written cover letter in just a few minutes, try our Cover Letter Builder. This tool generates a fully customizable cover letter based on your information and the specific job, program or department you’re targeting.

Facts about careers with a graduate degree

Wondering what comes next after your graduate degree?

Here are some insights into the current state of various careers that require graduate degrees and their projected futures:

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2022 Americans with master’s degrees earned over $200 per week more than those with bachelor’s degrees based on the data for median wages collected by the BLS. For doctoral degrees, the gulf was even wider with more than $600 additional dollars earned per week.
Furthermore, the unemployment rate for workers with doctoral degrees is less than half of the rate for workers with bachelor’s degrees.

Key takeaways for your grad school resume

Detail your experience

Your academic and research history forms the foundation of your graduate student resume. Clearly outline your previous roles and the tangible contributions you’ve made, using dynamic language and supporting data.
Use active language

Avoid the “laundry list” effect by describing your academic and research experience using action-packed words that showcase your enthusiasm and passion.
Emphasize soft skills

While your hard skills enable you to excel in your field, it’s your strong soft skills that set you apart. Be sure to highlight qualities such as effective communication, adaptability and teamwork on your resume.
Include relevant certifications

In the academic world, various certifications can bolster your credentials. Even if not explicitly required, showcasing any certifications you’ve earned can demonstrate your expertise and commitment.
Choose the right style

A standout graduate student resume is not only formatted to highlight your strengths but also styled to align with your academic identity and the specific role you’re pursuing.
Complement with a cover letter

Don’t miss the opportunity to strengthen your application with a persuasive cover letter that further communicates your suitability for the position.

Commonly asked question about resume writing

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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.