Your resume is critical to your application package when applying to graduate school. It provides admissions committees with a concise overview of your education, work experience, skills, and achievements.
Make sure your resume includes comprehensive information about:
- Your undergraduate and any graduate-level education
- Relevant professional experience
- Pertinent voluntary and extracurricular activities
- Any awards, honors, publications, or other notable achievements
- Relevant skills, certifications, and memberships
Here are the steps for creating a good resume:
Step 1: Plan the structure and layout
Before you start writing your resume, planning its structure and layout is essential. A clear and organized resume makes it easier for admissions committees to quickly find the necessary information. Consider using a simple, professional font such as Arial or Times New Roman, and keep the font size between 10 and 12 points. Use consistent formatting throughout the document, such as bold or italic text for section headings and bullet points for lists.
Example of a resume outline
Check out the following graduate school resume template.
Step 2: Create a heading with your personal information
Start your resume with a heading that includes your personal information. This section should be at the top of the page and include your full name, phone number, email address, and location (city and state). If you have a professional website or LinkedIn profile, consider adding those. Ensure your email address is professional; avoid using casual or humorous email addresses.
Step 3: Detail your education
In the education section, list your academic degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent or current degree. Include the institution’s name, location, degree earned, major, and graduation date (or expected graduation date). If you have a strong GPA (3.5 or above), consider including it.
Example
Master of Science in Biology | Expected May 2024
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA
GPA: 3.8/4.0
Awards and honors
If you have received notable awards, scholarships, or honors during your academic career, create a subsection under the relevant degree to highlight these achievements. This can include dean’s list recognition, departmental awards, or competitive scholarships.
Example
Dean’s List, Fall 2020 – Spring 2022
UCSD Biology Department Outstanding Senior Award, 2022
National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Scholarship, Summer 2021
Step 4: Outline your work experience
In this section, list your relevant work experience in reverse chronological order. Include the company name, location, job title, and dates of employment. Use bullet points to describe your key responsibilities and accomplishments in each role, focusing on skills and experiences most relevant to your graduate school application.
Example
Research Assistant | June 2022 – Present
UCLA Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Los Angeles, CA
- Conduct independent research on the effects of climate change on plant-pollinator interactions
- Analyze data using R and Python, and present findings at weekly lab meetings
- Collaborate with a team of five graduate students and postdoctoral researchers
Step 5: Highlight other relevant skills and achievements
In the following subsections, highlight any additional skills, achievements, or experiences that demonstrate your fit for the graduate program you are applying to.
Publications and presentations
If you have any publications or conference presentations, list them in a separate subsection. Use a standard citation format appropriate for your field, such as MLA or APA.
Example
Smith, J., & Johnson, A. (2022). Effects of habitat fragmentation on bee diversity in southern California. Journal of Insect Conservation, 26(3), 451-460.
Johnson, A., & Smith, J. (2021, November). Pollinator responses to climate change: A meta-analysis. Poster presented at the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
Certifications and memberships
List any relevant certifications or professional memberships you hold. This demonstrates your commitment to your field and engagement with the broader scientific community.
Example
Certified Wildlife Biologist, The Wildlife Society, 2022
Member, Ecological Society of America, 2020 – Present
Languages and technical skills
Highlight any language skills or technical proficiencies relevant to your graduate studies or research. This can include programming languages, statistical software, or laboratory techniques.
Example
Languages: Fluent in English and Spanish
Technical skills: R, Python, ArcGIS, PCR, gel electrophoresis, microscopy
Extracurricular activities
Include any extracurricular activities or volunteer work demonstrating your leadership skills, community engagement, or relevant interests.
Example
President, UCSD Biology Club, 2021 – 2022
Volunteer, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, 2020 – 2022
Step 6: Proofread and save as a PDF
Before finalizing your resume, proofread it carefully for spelling, grammar, or formatting errors. Ask a friend, family member, or mentor to review your resume and provide feedback. Once you have made any necessary revisions, save your resume as a PDF file to ensure the formatting remains consistent across different devices and software.