Résumés and CVs for Graduate Students Graduate students applying for positions outside academia often convert their CVs to résumés, which are preferred in industry and nonprofit settings. Though the CV and résumé have similarities, it’s important to understand when and how to use each document.
CV
Résumé
Length
2+ pages
1–2 pages
What to include
Detailed overview of academic credentials and scholarly accomplishments
Summary of relevant skills, education, and experience
When to use
Academic research and teaching positions, postdocs
Most positions in industry and nonprofits
Positions requiring academic research, teaching, and publications Grants, fellowships, and some administrative positions in colleges and universities
CONVERTING A CV TO A RÉSUMÉ Because graduate students may not have relevant industry experience, they must communicate how their experiences enable them to perform the required duties of a position. When developing your résumé, focus on translating your research and teaching experience into terms that will be recognizable to employers in your field. If your background is not an exact match, identify the skills you’ve acquired that are transferable to that particular position. Research the employer and industry and carefully read the job description. This will help you identify the skills sought and the key words and terminology of the field so you can tailor your résumé accordingly.
Think about all your experiences, including advanced coursework, research, projects, leadership, volunteering, paid positions, and teaching. Note the transferable skills you developed in each, such as supervision, quantitative analytics, budgeting, or design. When evaluating your research, focus on your process and impact rather than on specific research findings. Highlight your “soft” skills—leadership, collaboration, project management, and effective communication—which are highly valued by employers.
The chart below highlights just a few key transferable skills common to most graduate students. Skill employers seek
People with this skill can
You use this skill when you
Analytical thinking
§ Solve a problem by breaking it into parts and developing a logical solution § Evaluate information to find patterns § Visualize and articulate better ways to perform a task
§ Perform academic research (analyze texts or data, review literature, conduct and improve experiments, synthesize findings) § Plan a budget for a student organization
Communication
§ Work with others to complete a project § Present information clearly to people from a range of backgrounds
§ Collaborate with others on a research project § Teach complex concepts to beginners in the field § Present research in writing and at conferences
Leadership
§ Motivate diverse people toward a common goal § Delegate tasks to group members based on talents
§ Lead productive class discussions § Manage organization of a graduate student conference 19