Graduate Student Resume Sample

Graduate Student Resume with Writing Guide

If you’re a graduate student, you know the difficulty in finding a job with your limited work experience. With a little bit of creativity and elbow grease, though, it can be done.

We’ve written this guide on how to think outside the box and create a resume that will make hiring managers take notice. It may take you an extra five minutes to finish your resume, but it could be worth it if you walk away from that interview with a job offer!

This is your chance. Take charge of your future and turn your graduate school degree into a great new career.

Graduate Student Resume Writing Guide:

1. Don’t hesitate to put your name at the top.
   The one thing that candidates do not like is being asked to put their names near the bottom of the page where it is very difficult to see. Put your name at the top of your resume and make a statement with it!
2. Include your goals in every section.
   This shows that you are an organized individual that has goals and has taken time to think about what they want for themselves.
3. Add a well-rounded education section.
   This can include your major and degree that you hold, any minors or special courses that you have taken, and a list of any volunteer opportunities that you have had. This does not mean that you should add high school courses. You will want to focus on the most recent things that show your interests and abilities.
4. Include keywords in your personal statement.
   This will help your resume to be seen by the right people. When people are looking for a candidate who might have the qualities you are showcasing, put those types of keywords in your personal statement. This should include technical qualifications, soft skills, and any other things that you feel would help your application to get through the hiring manager’s screening process.
5. Add new skills and experiences at every opportunity.
   It might be tempting to just say that you are a great candidate, but it is more impressive to include new and different qualifications that show that you have a broad range of skills and experience.
6. Include volunteer work.
   Volunteer opportunities can show employers that you have the right attitude for the job. It shows them your dedication to your community and any skills that you have acquired from volunteering can help get you hired in the future as well.
7. Include your interests.
   This is a good time to showcase hobbies and things that you are really passionate about. This can make you more interesting and it can make you more memorable to a hiring manager or a hiring agency if they decide to advertise the job opening again in the future.
8. Be specific when listing your duties!
   You want to make sure that you are showcasing your skills, but you don’t want to leave anything out either. Be sure to include everything that was on your position description or anything that you felt was part of your job.
9. Put the most important items at the top of the page.
   This will help you get more attention from hiring managers, especially if they are in a rush to finish their day and need a quick pick-me-up!
   Here is a sample resume for you to use as inspiration:
   Samuel Chen is a recent graduate from Columbia University in New York City with a BA in Environmental Studies and Regional Planning.

Graduate Student Skills:

1. Research skills.
   This is an especially important skill to have if you are seeking a job in a field where you will be working with other people. You should be able to research what they are saying and come up with a point of view that is different enough from your own to be interesting.
2. Communication/ interpersonal skills.
   This is an especially important skill for job interviews or any other type of work interaction that requires speaking with others.
3. Dealing with people
   This is an especially important skill for job interviews or any other type of work interaction that requires dealing with others. You should be able to listen to others and understand their needs and goals.
4. Organization skills
   This is an especially important skill for making sure that everything gets done on time, especially if you are working in a team setting or have multiple tasks that need completed on a daily basis.
5. Time management skills. 

Graduate Student Resume Objective:

A graduate student’s resume objective is the opening sentence or paragraph of a resume. It is usually written in the present tense and is a more persuasive way of describing your experience, skills, and/or qualifications than simply listing them.
Keep paragraphs short and to the point, but include enough information so that you are described accurately. Use your objective to position yourself as one who can be a valuable asset to an organization (your future employer), and one who would be eager to do what is required to achieve success with that organization.

Tips:

1. Keep it short! You don’t need to spend a lot of time on this. Keep it at two to three sentences, and remember to keep it measurable.
2. Use action verbs! Don’t just say that you will do things – make sure that you explain exactly how and when you will do them (in the present tense).
3. Avoid formal language. Remember that your audience is not going to know what you mean by “supporting the shift to effective use of new technologies”. Instead, try “excellent customer service skills” or “proven expertise in technology sales”.
4. Be specific! Don’t just say that you will take initiative – tell me how you will take initiative, and when.

Sample Objective:
By completing this graduate course, I demonstrate a thorough understanding of my areas of research and the ability to communicate these topics clearly and effectively.

Graduate Student Resume Formatting:

The format for your resume will vary depending on what kind of academic background you have or what kind of field you are seeking to find work in.
A college student resume should highlight your major or a common interest that you have.
For example:

• Objective – This graduate course in psychology demonstrates an understanding of my areas of research and the ability to communicate these topics clearly and effectively.
• Objective – Computer programming demonstrates sound judgment skills, knowledge of basic computer operations, and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Key Skills – Project management experience in a highly competitive professional environment demonstrates excellent customer service skills.

Graduate Student Cover Letter:

A graduate student cover letter is basically the introduction to your resume. When writing a cover letter for graduate work, there are two things that you should do: emphasize your skills and research abilities, and explain how you will benefit the company.
This is an example cover letter for a student seeking an internship with a company or organization that will pay her to work on her research skills in a laboratory.

Tips:

1. Use the letter to emphasize your skills and research abilities.
2. Explain how you will benefit the company by doing your work there.
3. Make sure that the letter is short – less than two pages is best.
4. Be specific with everything you write: always elaborate on what you mean, don’t leave out any details, and make sure that every part of your statement has a reason to be there!
5. Be concise with what you say and make it easy for the company to understand what you are trying to say.
6. Make sure that all the information you provide has a purpose. If you say “I am interested in psychology” but then list several specific topics of study – don’t tell me what you want to do, tell me why I should be interested in hiring you.