Format and Layout of Resumes for Graduate Students
When to Use a Resume?
This resource shows the common headings typically included in resumes for doctoral students who are transitioning into industry roles. If you’re applying for positions in industry for which a Ph.D. isn’t necessarily required, then you’ll likely want to use a resume.
For most non-research oriented, non-academic jobs, you will want to use a resume that is one or two pages. When creating your resume put your strengths first as it applies to the role you are applying to.
Unlike CVs that are more comprehensive, “resumes give a strategic, targeted and concise overview of the most relevant skills, achievements and experiences that relate to the particular career or position to which you’re applying” (CV vs. Resume Guide, 2023).
What is the Appropriate Format for a Resume?
Two-page resumes are generally accepted in industry for Master’s and Doctoral students, but with a caveat:
- If you have enough relevant content (research, internships, projects, leadership, technical skills), a second page is fine. Many advanced students simply can’t fit their experience on one page without cutting important material.
- If your second page is filler (lists of coursework, very old jobs, redundant details), employers may see it as lack of focus. In that case, stick to a one-page resume.
- If a Ph.D. is a requirement of the role, or you are being recruited because of your Ph.D., than a two-page resume is fine.
*Depending on your intended reader, your resume will likely go into less detail on the specifics of your research, presentations, publications and teaching topics. Instead, it will highlight the transferable and relevant skills you developed through this work.
Stick to a common font like Arial, Cambria or Calibri. Font size should be between 10- and 12-point, and kept consistent throughout the document. There are many formats you may use, but it is important to be comfortable with your final document.
For further resume tips visit our Career Guide (pg. 6).
You can find our Downloadable/Editable Resume and CV Templates here.
Typical Sections in a Resume
Based on the role and industry you are applying to, you may need to include additional sections and re-arrange your headings. List your professional experience or your degree first, depending on which is most important for a specific position.
Tip: If you go to 2 pages, make sure the most relevant and compelling information is on page 1, since hiring managers often skim only the first page.
Be sure to include:
● Your full name.
● Your personal email address.
● Your phone number where you can be reached.
● Optional items: your street or mailing address, link to portfolio/sample work/LinkedIn profile
This is recommended for recent doctoral graduates who don’t have many years of experience in the industry. This summary shows the hiring manager your significant achievements, relevant skills and the value you can offer the company. It may help the hiring professional see why you may be the right fit for the position.
Be sure to include:
● 2 to 3 sentence description of your work experience.
● Use appropriate terminology for the career field.
● A list of 3 to 4 top skills relevant to the position.
Be sure to include:
● Experiences and projects in reverse chronological order.
● A summary for each position that highlights your responsibilities.
● Keywords and action verbs.
● Bullet points (Impact Statements) to show HOW you applied your skills with
success. These should be specific and highlight a variety of skills.
● Be specific or quantify your achievement when possible.
● Avoid descriptions that repeat
*Remember that teaching and research experience (e.g. academic projects, your thesis, teaching assistantships, etc.) can be included here when you do not have professional work experience. However, these experiences should be presented in a bullet point format answering questions like: Who? What? When? Why? How? How many? How often? Results? Check out our Career Guide (pg. 8).
Be sure to include:
● Education in reverse chronological order.
● School (town), degree, field
● Dates you attended/graduated or expected date of graduation if within the last 5 years.
You can also list your cumulative GPA and honors/awards earned in the education section.
Based on your experience and relevance you can include sections on Leadership, Research, Publications (include only selected publications), Honors and Awards, Volunteer Experiences, Skills, and Language.
For industry roles:
Employers typically value experience more than education. That’s why most resumes for industry jobs put Experience first, especially if you have relevant internships, jobs, or projects.
For early-career candidates (new graduates, Ph.D./MA students with little direct industry experience):
You might put Education first, since that may be your strongest asset at the moment. But as soon as you have meaningful work or applied project experience, that section should move up.
Use Bullet Points to Describe Your Experiences
You articulate your skills through written communication to employers with your resume and cover letter. The key here is to look for specific skills and competencies that employers are looking for in the job description and than to tailor your application materials accordingly. Try to use the exact keywords and skills found in the job description when you are developing your bullet points for your resume.
Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb: e.g. Designed, created, developed, led, etc.
Focus on a skills acquired (technical or transferable): e.g. Edited and refined data, planned and managed project timeline, collaborated with multiple stakeholders for project, etc.
Provide evidence of the skill & be specific where possible: e.g. Applied (lab techniques, e.g., microscopy, PCR, spectroscopy, CAD modeling) to investigate (research question)
Refined research questions through literature reviews and faculty/peer collaboration
Think about:
WHAT did you do?
HOW did you do it?
WHY did you do it? What were the results or impact?
Include data where possible and appropriate:
How many? How much? How often?
- Completed X hours of lab work
- Presented research to X students and faculty
- Conducted X weeks/months of data collection and analysis
- Delivered X poster presentations at public research events
Example Bullet Point Summarizing the Overall Experience
This example highlights related skills from the job description.
“Transformed complex research data into visually compelling presentations (What you did?) using PowerPoint (How you did it?), enhancing accessibility and audience engagement (Why you did it?)”
“Edited and refined research reports and presentation materials (What you did?), ensuring clarity, consistency, and visual appeal (Why you did it?) by applying design principles and optimizing data visualization for diverse audiences (How you did it?)”
Also check out our resource: “How to Add Research Experience to Your Resume or CV”
Works Cited:
CV vs. Resume Guide (2023). Princeton University, Center for Career Development.
Workbook for Finding and Applying to Jobs (2024). Beyond the Professoriate..
Career Guide. Fleishman Center
Career Support & Sources:
As you explore this resource, we encourage you to take advantage of everything available to support your career journey. Below, you’ll find multiple ways to connect with our office for personalized career support and some important reminders to keep in mind as you plan your strategy. Be sure to check them out, and remember, our team is always here to help you move forward with confidence and clarity.
| Reminder | What This Means for You |
|---|---|
| Use Multiple Sources | Information about careers and education can vary depending on where you look. Try checking several websites and resources when researching anything related to your career development (for example: job outlooks, salaries, industry trends, graduate programs, or fellowships, etc.). This will help you get a fuller, more accurate picture of what employers or admissions committees are looking for. |
| Make Sure to Network | Talking directly with people associated with your career goals or the programs/companies you’re interested in can give you the clearest and most useful insights. Reach out to professionals, recruiters, alumni, or current students to learn what really matters in your field (for example: company expectations, hiring timelines, résumé preferences, graduate program requirements, etc.). Even within the same industry or graduate program type, different organizations and admissions committees may value things differently. Listening carefully to their guidance can help you put your best foot forward. |
| Use AI Ethically in Career Development | AI tools can be a great resource for brainstorming, polishing materials, or practicing interview questions (for example: outlining position description details to guide your documents, generating practice questions, etc.). But it works best when you use it thoughtfully and make sure the final work reflects your own skills and voice. Some employers and graduate programs may not allow AI, so always check instructions carefully. Think of AI as a helper, not a replacement, and remember, Career Consultants are happy to guide you on how to use it effectively! |
| Be Aware of Employment Scams | When searching for jobs or internships, it’s important to stay alert for potential scams, especially when exploring positions outside of Binghamton’s Handshake. Common warning signs include requests for personal or financial information upfront, job offers without interviews, or anything that seems “too good to be true.” To learn more about what to watch for, see real examples, and find out how to protect yourself or respond if you encounter a scam, check out Employment Scam Information – Binghamton University. Staying informed helps you pursue opportunities safely and confidently. |
Drop-ins: When classes are in session, Monday-Friday, from 12-4 p.m., you can visit our office to schedule a 20-minute drop-in with our staff.
Appointments: You can schedule your 30-minute career session on Handshake. These are offered all year and can be done virtually and in person.
Online Resources: Visit uConnect, our virtual career center that is always accessible to support your career needs.
