resume format for phd holders

• • 2+ years of experience in how the AI development lifecycle impacts systems, distributed computing, and cloud-native paradigm
• • Main research focused on how blockchain security could be enhanced by 65% within decentralized infrastructure
• • Other research projects (36+), looking at how future trends could impact network security in AI automated systems
• • Had 16+ publications in the Journal of Computer Science and secured +$16M in grant funding over the last two years
• • Assisted 13+ senior researchers and computer science professors in completing various applications by debugging codes
• • Participated in various other aspects of the software development process, including assessing briefs, writing code, and testing systems to ensure 100% accuracy
• • Built 10 full-stack web applications with Java and Ruby
• • Was tasked to help 5 researchers with the development of for-academia software with a focus on security
• • Analyzed the code specifications and transformations to comply with 100% of all security, accuracy, and client-briefed protocols and parameters
• • Met all mandatory schedule dates within the development process - receiving 98% approval in customer satisfaction

9 PhD Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your PhD resume must highlight your extensive research and expertise in your field of study. Tailor it to showcase how your unique skills are transferable to the job you're applying for. Demonstrate your proficiency in critical thinking and problem-solving through concrete examples of your work. Articulate your ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, as this is key to standing out.

All resume examples in this guide

Traditional

Lecturer in Molecular Engineering and Bioengineering Researcher: Biomedical Engineering, Ph.D. resume example

Electronic Product Design and Engineering Lab Technician, Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering resume example

APTA Certified Physical Therapist, Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science resume example

Data Scientist: Niched In Statistics, Appplied Mathematics, and Machine Learning resume example

Resume Guide

Guide Overview

Additional Resumes

Extra Reads

Writing Your Ph.D. Resume

Resume Header Tips

Ph.D. Resume Summary

Resume Experience Section

Systematizing Your Experience

How to Include Your Degree

Ph.D. in Progress on Resume

Skill Set for Ph.D. Resumes

Certifications on Resume

Additional Sections

Key Takeaways

George C. Jones's 8-year-Odyssey to his doctoral degree in engineering is finally complete. All he has to do now is complete his Ph.D. resume.

Little does George know that within the next three years, he'd apply to 500+ roles and still not be any closer to working in the renewable energy sector.

A little birdie told us why.

Everywhere George applied, he was labeled as an "egghead": book-smart with no real-world experience.

At least that's the story his resume told.

Unfortunately, George's sad "tale" depicts many graduates’ job searches.

By 2030/31, the US is expected to have 221,000 Ph.D. graduates . While this may be fantastic news for the academic community, the job pool is limited.

Swimming into the big blue sea - a.k.a. the "real world" - would require Ph.D. graduates to adapt their resumes to the business or industry requirements.

And listing vague bullets pinpointing your experience just won't do.

Enhancv knows how to translate your skills, knowledge, and achievements to ensure your resume stands out in the vast talent pool.

Because a well-written Ph.D. resume , showing skills, passion, and knowledge, is your ticket to the moon and beyond.

Our exclusive, Ph.D. resume guide will answer some of the following questions for you:

• What are some of the biggest, unintentional mistakes Ph.D. graduates tend to make when writing their resumes?
• Perfecting the top one-third of your resume: how to get recruiters' attention every time?
• 102 of the most popular Ph.D. skills you need to add to your resume right now!
• Lacking much professional experience: how to align your academic background with job expectations?
• Get inspired with more ideas about formatting, writing your resume summary, and including your academic body of work in a way that works.

4 additional Ph.D. resume samples and why they work

Ph.d. bioengineering graduate.

This Ph.D. Bioengineering Graduate has certainly focused her effort on getting that tenure-track position.

Here’s why her resume works.

Within the top one-third of Dr. Taylor’s resume (the headlines, summary, and skills section), you’ll find many relevant keywords for the job advert.

She has also used the summary to qualify and quantify her results to help recruiters better understand her strengths.

The experience section is split into two parts: the first one notes all relevant teaching experience; the second section showcases depth and knowledge of research.

Dr. Taylor has included industry experience and strengths to further define her skill set and show results.

This approach would also be very helpful for any Applicant Tracking System (ATS) reviewing the resume, as it cross-aligns the candidate’s talents with the job requirements.

Ph.D. mechanical engineering

If you’re wondering how to translate your academics into real-life experience, check this example out.

Dr. Aubry’s resume headline highlights his area of expertise and his Ph.D. degree, while his summary qualifies his key academic achievements, contributions, and success.

Dr. Aubry’s skills section focuses more on the technology he is apt at within the specified job requirements.

His roles as a lab technician, contributor, and research assistant also hint to recruiters that he’s results-oriented and can show how his work affected the industry.

Finally, his strengths section cross-aligns soft skills that are important for the role, including mechanical engineering knowledge, cross-disciplinary teamwork, and technical writing.

Apta certified physical therapist

In some industries, a specific certification can be a real game changer to meeting ATS standards.

Dr. Brubaker knows this and that’s why she has used her resume to highlight her American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) certification within various sections (headline, summary, and certification).

Another reason why Dr. Brubaker’s resume works is that it pinpoints her niche of expertise with tangible results.

Her education section not only lists all of her degrees, but she has turned recruiters’ attention to the grant funding her Ph.D. thesis secured (an outcome of the project).

Did you notice how she curated the experience section? Dr. Brubaker started with her more job-oriented responsibilities, followed by a leadership role.

if you’ve participated in any extracurricular activities during your studies, they could indicate various soft skills on your resume, including leadership, initiative, organization, etc.

data scientist, ongoing Ph.D. in statistics

Are you a current Ph.D. student, wondering how to include your ongoing degree on your resume?

Charles Flack’s resume includes some of the best how-to practices.

Charles uses the resume headline and summary’s first section to specify his research niche, which is followed by his ongoing Ph.D. Status.

N.B. Remember that the recruitment process is one of building trust with honesty. If you note in your resume that you’re a Ph.D. graduate (without this being the reality), recruiters will find out.

Continuing with Charles’s resume summary. It goes on to include an array of expertise and soft skills (e.g. leadership, adaptiveness, perfectionism) all within achieved results in academia.

His experience section includes roles in leadership, technical writing, and private tutoring, denoting individual skills and contributions.

The strengths Charles has included are more specific and tie in with data science roles. Those include quantitative problem-solving, deep learning, and iterative process.

21 Ph.D. related resume examples to help you get inspired

• Entry-Level
• Grant Writer
• Lab Technician
• Research Associate
• Research Assistant
• Lab Assistant
• Lab Manager
• Finance Intern
• Data Science Intern
• Entry Level Engineering
• Entry-Level Mechanical Engineer
• Software Engineer Intern
• Nursing Student
• Data Analyst Entry Level

Quick steps to success in writing your Ph.D. resume to get recruiters’ attention

Let's start with a big no-no: your academic CV, the one you used to secure that tenure position, is a No-go. Put simply - it lacks personality .

HRs and the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) need more context to your experience.

Unfortunately, here comes one of the biggest disadvantages you may face, leaving academia. Often, Ph.D. graduates get rejected as they lack practical work experience .

Don't get discouraged. Instead, find a resume format that works for you.

For Ph.D. graduates that have less work experience, we recommend a functional-skill-based format . It will help you highlight your unique skill set and academic excellence.

Also, it'll align your niche area of expertise with the role expectations.

Now that we've settled the formatting debate, let's look at a couple of more quick pointers for your Ph.D. resume.

1. The top one-third of your resume - the resume header and summary - is crucial to getting a high score on the ATS.

That's why you should try to include as many of the advert's relevant requirements within this section.

2. Expand your qualifications and skills within the experience section.

Don't just list plain bullets, but focus on the outcomes of your studies, research, or publications.

How to write your experience bullets:

3. Speaking of impact, detail your accomplishments within your academic work.

Focus on the picture and your research's influence on the scientific field, business/ industry, or communities.

Bonus: Remember to always list all work and academic experience that is relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Your Ph.D. experience can open many doors for you, giving you a front-row seat on the cutting edge of new technologies.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves, here are a couple more bits and pieces to keep in mind when writing your Ph.D. resume.

What recruiters are looking out for in your Ph.D. resume:

• What methodology or technology have you used to prove your research?
• If you've ever led teams, were you able to manage them successfully?
• Would your niche area of expertise contribute to the organizational goals?
• Can you bring to the table more than just theoretical knowledge?
• How fast can you adapt to a non-academic environment and deliver tangible results?

Ph.D. resume's five most important sections:

• Resume header with keywords from the job description
• Resume summary cross-aligning requirements with experience
• Resume experience to expand on the summary
• Education section, listing all diplomas
• Professional achievements in research and publications

Your Ph.D. resume should balance your knowledge with how fast it can be applied in a real-world environment.

That's why you need to be precise about the resume sections you chose to prove your merit.

Mythbusters: Your PhD resume header under the Enhancv microscope

After endless hours of searching different platforms, you've finally found that cancer research position that perfectly matches your profile.

Avoiding all emotional attachment and excitement, you finally decide on the following header:

2 PhD resume header examples

Let’s look at the bright side of things. If the organization would like to get in touch with Dr. Garnett, they'd easily find his contact details .

But on the other hand, he is making one huge mistake: Dr. Garnett isn't taking advantage of the power of the top section of his resume. More specifically - his headline .

This crucial section could provide Ph.D. graduates with an opportunity to include all relevant keywords that could match their profile. And at the same time, tease their professional story.

This may be obvious, but this example works as it shows that Dr. Garnett is not only a Ph.D. graduate, but his specific area of research and interest, which should supposedly match with the role he’s applying for.

A rule of thumb for headers is to never be vague about your research and expertise.

You could list your Ph.D. degree within your resume title so that it’s the first thing recruiters (and the ATS) see.

In the case of Dr. Garnett, his resume title could read “Dr. David Garnett, Ph.D.”.

Our suggestion is to be wary about the organization you’re applying for because if the culture is more informal, this may come off as “pretentious”.

Ph.D. resume summaries: HRs’ favorite instrument for advanced career storytelling

The Ph.D. resume summary is a really useful section for good first impressions and explaining your experience.

The summary can be used to highlight your skills, strengths, and achievements. While telling the story of your professional growth.

We know how important real-world examples are for you.

So, without further ado, here's how Dr. Lucina Collard rewrote her resume summary. And in the end, got the attention of a prestigious software development company.

2 PhD resume summary examples

Dr. Collard may have spent too much time in the lab, as her Ph.D. resume summary just lists what courses she took and her thesis statement.

No results, no outcomes.

In the end, she did decide to include some soft skills and passions, but without actually pointing out the “why” behind her work. This doesn’t make sense at all.

Here’s what her modified resume summary looked like in the end:

This summary works for one simple reason: it qualifies the achievements.

Dr. Collard has noted that within the past 6 years, she has been specializing in the job advert keywords “robotics” and “mechatronics”. The award is also a nice touch to paint the big picture of her experience.

Dr. Collard is apt at achieving results within a dynamic environment. That includes various professionals from different backgrounds.

When talking about her thesis, she goes on to show her familiarity with the process.

Editing Dr. Collard’s summary may seem just like one small step for her, but it’s actually a giant leap to securing an interview.

Making your Ph.D. resume experience section stand out for all the right reasons

When listing their experience section, most Ph.D. graduates are probably making the same mistakes.

The first one: leaving out your academic practice, thinking that recruiters only want to see work experience.

That's not true at all.

Your education would not only prove your technical capabilities, but also your soft skills. But, more on that in the following paragraphs.

The second error: those tricky job titles.

You'd find 1000+ resumes, listing each experience using the given academic titles; e.g. Professor, Lecturer, Post Doctorate Student, Graduate Student, etc.

Robotic vs personalized approach: 1:0.

The ATS, reviewing your resume, is set to recognize keywords that are vital for the job. The faster those appear at the top of your experience, the better.

Instead of listing that you used to be a "Lecturer at XYZ University", go with "Data Science and Machine Learning Lecturer at XYZ University".

Third slip-up: those tricky experience bullets.

Some Ph.D. graduates just list all their courses, research, and publications.

This isn't the way to go.

You should rather align your knowledge with the job description to prove tangible results.

A couple of questions to help:

• What did this course help me learn and achieve that could be applicable to the job I'm applying for?
• How did leading lectures help me to cooperate better within the learning environment?
• What grants did my publications secure for the educational institute?
• What effects did my research have on the big-picture subjects within the field?
• The more you can get into the actuality (and practicality) of your education, the higher your chances are to get your first interview booked.

Let’s look at an example of how your experience can be showcased within your resume as crucial for the job.

Phd resume experience examples.

• • Got PhD in Philosophy
• • Took Philosophy of Mind, Brain, and Behavior Course
• • Took Ethics Course
• • Wrote Diploma on ‘To Be Or Not To Be: The Ethics of The Human Existence In The 21st Century’

This experience section is pretty negligent and robotic. Did you just get a diploma during those three-plus years?

You may be exiting from a leading higher education institution, but putting in the extra effort to your resume shows that you are diligent.

And that you’re actually invested in getting that particular job.

• • Contributed 60+ publications to the university scientific journal, niching within human rights, ethics, and the big why of human existence
• • Peer-reviewed publications for 12+ philosophy colleagues and professionals with a focus on consistency and validity of the thesis
• • Collaborated with 10+ professionals from arts, science, and biotech fields to question and understand the ethics behind their projects
• • Apart from the scientific paper for my final thesis, entitled 'To Be Or Not To Be: The Ethics of The Human Existence In The 21st Century’, published a short video on the university website to help inspire young professionals of philosophy to always stay alert

There’s no ground for comparison between the two examples. But let’s look at some of the basics.

The first experience bullet hints that the professional can write technical papers for their niche.

Next, the candidate showcases an eye for detail, collaboration, and teamwork.

Finally, they have found a way to get their thesis submitted on time and also make it more understandable.

On a side note - did you notice how a better job title could be a complete game-changer?

One bonus tip on better systematizing your Ph.D. experience

General practice is that you'd create one single resume experience section.

But what if while writing your Ph.D. resume, you realize that in the past six years, all your experience is for the same institution?

Here's an idea to spice up your experience section. You can create a couple of experience sections, based on functionality.

Thus highlighting job advert keywords and, at the same time, including more details.

So you could have some of the following headers, under which you could classify your work:

• Research Experience
• Technical Experience
• Analytical Experience
• Leadership Experience
• Mentorship Experience
• Teamwork Experience
• Higher Education Experience

Feel free to align your transferable skills, which would be beneficial for the job you're applying for.

How should you include your degrees within your Ph.D. resume education section?

Here's the advice you've probably been waiting for; introducing…

… "How to write about your degree without sounding like a snob?"

And there are two possible scenarios at play.

The first is that you're applying for a job related to your area of study.

You should list your Ph.D. degree in detail, including research topics, method expertise, and publications.

As you're writing for non-specialized audiences, don't go overboard with the complex terms. Instead, weave keywords from the job requirements within your education section.

In the second case scenario, you're applying for a job that has nothing to do with your degree.

Keep your education section plain and simple with your degree, university/college, dates, and location.

Either way, remember to always list all of your degrees in chronological order, starting with the latest.

This isn't just some made-up rule or HR caprice. Your resume education helps recruiters determine if:

• Your basic training and knowledge would fit the job
• You stayed focused on your coursework and graduated on time
• You would be a good fit for the team. Some companies tend to hire graduates from the same university

Ph.D. in progress: Should you include your potential degree on your resume?

Being transparent on your Ph.D. resume is what builds that fantastic initial relationship with the company you're applying for.

Thus, you have to be very clear and precise, especially in your education section.

If you're still pursuing your Ph.D. degree, shift the focus from the future to what you've achieved so far.

Your education section could answer any of the following questions:

• How applicable your degree is to the job opening?
• Which of the courses you've completed would help the company grow?
• Is your education a stepping stone within your professional experience?
• What is your expected graduation date?

Being on the course to completing your Ph.D. is definitely commendable, but sometimes life happens. And you may be forced to drop out of your Ph.D. education.

Should you then list the degree you didn't complete?

The answer is 100% yes, as your Ph.D.:

• fills gaps within your professional experience
• is valuable experience
• has helped you gain new knowledge

Making it clear to recruiters that your degree is "Incomplete" or that you "Didn't Graduate" is very important.

List your degree, dates, university/college, and status.

If you get to the interview stage, recruiters will ask you why you dropped out. Be prepared to talk about why it wasn't the best option for your career at the time, or hint at the circumstances.

Even if it's hard to believe, HR managers are people - just like you and me - and they are able to show understanding and compassion.

Ph.D. resume: Is there a dream skill set your potential employers would like to see?

Recruiters review your resume to see how your experience aligns with the role, with a big focus on transferrable skills.

Or in other words, what else can you bring to the table to help the business or institution grow?

And transferable skills can be both hard (or technical ) and soft skills .

Your hard skills include the technology you used to complete your studies.

Consider the opportunities you've has to:

• test and measure antennas parameters in an Anechoic chamber
• audit in a lab environment renewable energy sources' efficiency
• develop software, using Python, to patch cybersecurity risks

The list can go and on and on. Your Ph.D. has probably provided you with a pretty solid technical background.

When writing your resume’s separate technical skills section, ever wonder which technology should go first?

Rule of thumb: align the technology within the job description with your expertise.

The more proficient you are at a certain skill, the sooner you should list it.

Wondering what some of the most popular Ph.D. resume hard and technical skills are?

Check out our list, based on some of the most popular industries.

PhD resume technical skills for various roles:

15 hard skills for opportunities in business consulting:

• Knowledge of different business-crucial frameworks, including Benchmarking, Balanced Scorecard, Porter’s Five Forces, The GE-McKinsey Nine-Box Matrix, The BCG Growth-Share Matrix, Core Competencies
• Data Management and Analysis
• Advanced Data Modelling
• Strategy, Planning and Implementation
• Assessing and Managing Risk Using Frameworks
• Statistics and Understanding Correlations
• CRMs: Salesforce, Zendesk, Bitrix24, etc.
• Lead Generation Software: Zendesk Sell, Pipedrive, HubSpot, etc.
• Project Management Software: Jira, Hive, Asana, etc.
• Employer and Customer Satisfaction Surveys
• Proposal Writing
• Scheduling Software: Calendly, Google Calendar, Doodle, etc.
• Revenue Optimization and Sales

15 technical skills for biology, biotech, biochemistry, and medical research:

• Design, conduct, and analyze scientific research
• Tissue Culture
• PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
• Gel Electrophoresis
• Western Blot
• Molecular (Gene) Cloning and various techniques
• Flow Cytometry
• Mass Spectrometry
• Confocal Microscopy
• Cell-Based Assays
• Radioimmunoassays
• Data Analysis in biotechnology, bioinformatics, and medical research
• Laboratory and Equipment

15 engineering technical skills to add to your PhD resume:

• Manufacturing: Forging, Welding, Assembling, etc.
• Quality Control
• Industrial /System Design and Analysis
• Conceptual, Logical, or Physical Data Modeling
• AI and/ or Machine Learning
• Design Tools: AutoCAD, SolidWork, 3dsMax, etc.
• Programming Languages: C++, Python, Java, etc.
• Equipment Diagnosis
• Project Management: Trello, Zoho, Microsoft Project, etc.
• Data Analysis Software: Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, Qlik Sense, etc.
• CNC Programming
• Advanced Physics
• Structural Analysis
• Nanotechnology

15 recommended computer science technologies:

• Programming languages: C++, PHP, Swift, etc.
• Software engineering and development: Atom, GitHub, Chrome DevTools. etc.
• Cloud Platforms
• Data migration and deployment
• Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
• Integrated Environments Management
• Network Maintenance
• Cybersecurity
• Machine learning AI
• Business Intelligence and Statistical Analysis Tools
• SQL Consoles
• SAS Development and Forecasting
• Data Modelling Tools: ER/Studio, Archi, Ludichart, etc.
• Automation Tools

15 academic and research technical skills:

• Technical Literacy
• Presentation and visual: Tableau, Prezi, PPT, etc.
• Learning platforms: Moodle, Classroom, Teams, etc.
• Surveys: Google Forms, MailChimp, Kahoot, etc.
• Data-Processing Software: SPSS, RStudio, NVivo, etc.
• Academic Networks: Google Scholar, Academia.edu., ResearchGate, etc.
• Academic Research and Technical Writing
• Email Writing
• Data and Information Analysis
• Copyright and License
• Videoconferencing: Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, etc.
• Applications for Securing Grants and Funding
• Peer Reviews and Co-Writing Interdisciplinary Technical Papers

Moving on to your PhD resume soft skills

There's still no precise formula for how soft skills are gained and applied in the workplace.

How many times have you seen an advert that requires "a can-do attitude and teamwork"?

Yet soft skills are on all recruiters' must-have checklists.

In the case of Ph.D. applicants, these transferable skills are built thanks to all the healthy habits you've maintained through your education, including your:

• collaboration
• ability to meet deadlines

Soft skills hint to recruiters more about your character and style of work.

Here are some ideas as to which ones you can include within your resume:

37 PhD soft skills to spice up your resume:

• Critical / Logical Thinking
• Problem-Solving
• Time Management
• Brainstorming
• Creativity and Innovation
• Meeting Deadlines
• Working Under Pressure
• Negotiation
• Project Management
• Organization
• Prioritization
• Flexibility
• Independent Work
• Ethical Decision-Making
• Leadership or Mentorship
• Collaboration
• Teaching or Lecturing
• Conduct Meetings
• Supervision
• Feedback and Evaluation
• Motivating Others
• Communicating Ideas
• Presentation
• Constructive Debating
• Leading or Participating in Group Discussions
• Public Speaking
• Accelerated Learning
• Attention to Detail
• Writing Proficiency
• Quantitative Literacy
• Listening and Reflection

When describing your leadership or mentorship soft skills, here are a couple of questions you could answer within your resume to qualify your achievements:

• What actions did you take to maintain a constant and successful team dynamic?

Mix in extracurricular certificates

Back in the day, you earned a couple of extracurricular certificates and wondering if you should include those on your Ph.D. resume.

Again, it's a matter of analyzing how necessary your certification is for the job.

E.g. if AICPA's CPA certificate is listed as obligatory within the job description - and you have earned yours - you know what to do.

Certificates show that you're willing to put in the extra effort to stay relevant. Proving that you're committed, flexible, and a life-long learner.

So, think about the relevancy the certificate would have within your field.

Then, consider including some of these popular certificates:

Top 50 PhD certificates from various institutions for your resume:

• Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) - Certified Professional
• ACRP - Clinical Research Associate Certification
• ACRP - Clinical Research Coordinator Certification
• American Health Information Management Association - Coding Specialist Physician-Based Certification
• Nationally Registered Certified Patient Care Technician
• National Healthcare Association (NHA) - EKG Technician Certification
• NHA - Phlebotomy Technician Certification
• NHA - Clinical Medical Assistant Certification
• American Association of Medical Assistants - Medical Assistant Certification
• Red Cross - Nursing Assistant Certification
• Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc. - Registered Behavior Technician
• American Association of Professional Coders - Certified Professional Coder
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board - Certified Pharmacy Technician
• Society for Clinical Data Management - Clinical Data Manager
• American Medical Writers Association - Medical Writer Certified
• Board of Editors in Life Science - Board-Certified Editor in Life Science
• International Society for Medical Publication Professionals - Certified Medical Publication Professional
• Regulatory Affairs Professional Society - Regulatory Affairs Certification
• Google Project Management Professional
• Society of ​​Petroleum Engineers - Petroleum Engineering Certification
• American Institute of Chemists - National Certification Commission in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Certification
• Coursera - Software Engineering MasterTrack Certificate
• Cisco Certified Network Professional in Service Provider Operations
• CompTIA Security+ Certification
• (ISC)² Certified Information Systems Security Professional
• American Society for Quality (ASQ) - Quality Engineer Certification
• ASQ - Reliability Engineer Certification
• Advanced Certificate Program in CFD-Aircraft Aerodynamics
• Engineer in Training License and Certification
• Society of Broadcast Engineers - Certified Audio Engineer
• Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering - Certified Technical Professional
• International Council on Systems Engineering - Systems Engineering Professional Certification
• American Academy of Project Management - Certified Planning Engineer
• Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Master Specialist Certificate
• iNARTE Electromagnetic Compatibility Designer Engineer Certificate
• American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists - Board Certified Environmental Engineer
• American Public Power Association - Key Accounts Certificate Program
• Global Association of Quality Management - Certified Agile Developer
• Environmental Protection Agency - Operator Certification Program Management
• Institute of Management Accountants - Certified Management Accountant
• National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers - Certified Bookkeeper
• Association of International Certified Professional Accountants - Certified Public Accountant
• Chartered Financial Analyst Institute - Chartered Financial Analyst
• Internal Revenue Service - Enrolled Agent
• The Institute of Internal Auditors - Certified Internal Auditor
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners - Certified Fraud Examiner
• National Association of Sales Professionals - Certified Professional Sales Person
• Institutes of Management Consulting - Certified Management Consultant

PhD resume: let’s get creative with a few more resume sections

When completing your Ph.D. resume, you should always find ways to stand out from the crowd.

That’s why we’ve compiled for you some of the most popular sections which you could add to your resume.

Before doing so, always question each section's relevance to the job you're applying for.

• Publications or Projects - focus on topic, methodology, and impact; include your grant ID code, if your research won any funding
• Academic Awards - once more, consider if those would shine a better light on your expertise
• Conference Presentations - this would showcase your public speaking abilities
• Language Skills - be honest when listing your language proficiency

One final word of warning - your Ph.D. resume offers limited space to showcase your expertise, so try to make the most out of it.

key takeaways

• The extra effort to align your Ph.D. skills with the job you're applying for always gets recruiters' attention.
• Include as many relevant keywords within the header and summary of your Ph.D. resume.
• Have separate sections, detailing how your academic background has helped you attain experience, skills, and certifications.
• List chronologically all degrees you've earned through your education, with an adaptable approach to details.
• Remember that the recruiters or the ATS assessing your resume may not be that scientifically literate. Substitute complex terminology with impact and results.

Looking to build your own PhD resume?

• Resume Examples

Phone Interviews: Sure-Fire Advice on 14 Common Questions (plus 5 questions to ask the interviewer)

What is an enclosure in a cover letter, how to answer "why should we hire you", why we love (and hate) personal resumes, how to write a great linkedin connection message [with examples], can a cover letter be two pages.

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3 PhD Resume Examples Made to Work for 2024 

PhD Student Resume

Phd application resume.

• Write Your PhD Resume

With the role of a PhD student, you’re the intellectual powerhouse driving groundbreaking research and contributing to the advancement of knowledge. Your expertise allows you to dive deep into complex subjects, developing innovative solutions and pushing the boundaries of what’s already known. 

At the same time, you’ll need to balance your responsibilities as a teacher as well, imparting your knowledge to the undergraduates at your institution. Crafting a resume and creating a cover letter that demonstrate your ability to shine in this diverse role is no easy task.

Luckily, we’re here to guide you through the maze of showcasing your academic journey. With our varied PhD application resume examples , you’ll find the ideal resume template to help you craft your own winning resume in no time.

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Thankfully, Liam does a great job highlighting his internship and project achievements and how both are applicable in helping sustainably improve production.

• One strategy you can use to boost the chances of your PhD student resume to clinch an enrolment slot into the health sciences department is by harnessing the achievements from a volunteer project that brought screening services to a marginalized community.

• Therefore, achievements in increasing student participation and engagement accompanied by metrics in improved grades and assessment scores would go a long way to prop your suitability.

Related resume examples

• Research assistant

Adapt Your PhD Resume to the School You’re Applying to

As an aspiring PhD student, your resume is your scholarly calling card, showcasing the intellectual artillery you bring to the academic battlefield. 

This is where you can showcase your skills and express why you’re the right person to join the program. To do this, tailor your skills section to align with the specific requirements of your desired program and department. 

Highlight your expertise in research methodologies, statistical analysis, and any specialized software or equipment you’ve mastered. For the more technically inclined, don’t shy away from showcasing hard skills like Python, Matlab, Java, or Tableau.

You can also include a couple of soft skills because they’re essential for giving lectures and mentoring students. Just remember to reinforce them with demonstrable examples in the experience section later. 

Want some pointers?

15 top PhD skills

• Microsoft Office
• Google Sheets
• Research Methodologies 
• Academic Writing
• Public Speaking
• Lesson Planning
• Grant Proposals
• Grading Essays
• Collaborative Research

Your PhD work experience bullet points

From conducting groundbreaking research to publishing papers, your journey as an academic is about more than just the day-to-day grind. In the experience section of your resume, the real spotlight should be on your transformative contributions. 

If this isn’t your first PhD, highlight achievements from your previous studies like securing research grants, publishing impactful papers, or successfully leading research projects. If you’re moving up from postgraduate studies, highlight the best and most impressive accomplishments from your master’s and bachelor’s degrees. 

Add some numbers to make your accomplishments pop. This could be the number of students mentored, successful experiments and research projects, or the reach of your published work. 

• Highlight the number of your articles or research papers that were published in reputable journals.
• Quantify the success of research projects with metrics such as project scope, budget management, or studies carried out.
• Demonstrate your ability to secure research funding by specifying the number and value of grants obtained.
• Showcase your impact as a mentor or tutor by talking about the number of students you’ve guided or the way they were able to improve their grades through your help.

See what we mean?

• Created engaging course materials using Articulate Storyline, resulting in a 39% increase in student engagement and comprehension
• Managed EHR software to document patient assessments, vital signs, and medication administration, maintaining 99.99% accuracy in recordkeeping
• Partnered with farmers to develop customized crop management plans, resulting in a 31% increase in yields
• Assisted in the development and implementation of assessments, leading to a 33% reduction in student dropout rates

9 active verbs to start your PhD work experience bullet points

• Innovated 
• Collaborated

3 Tips for Writing a PhD Resume With Little Prior Experience

• Mention your involvement in conferences and workshops. This will showcase your ability to engage with and contribute to the broader scholarly community.
• Echo your passion for knowledge throughout your resume, and look into the future. Outline your career objectives , illustrating your commitment to making a lasting impact through your PhD studies.
• Any and all academic achievements look great on a PhD resume, so make sure to add them. Talk about your GPA, awards won, or competitions you’ve participated in to show your drive as a college student.

3 Tips for Writing a PhD Resume for Your Second PhD

• Research is often independent, and academics are sometimes considered lone wolves. That’s why it’s important to emphasize your leadership and collaboration skills explicitly. The school needs to know you can mentor students and collaborate with other colleagues effectively—so turn up the enthusiasm for this area!
• If you’re going for a research role, it’s essential to be at the forefront of your field—following all the latest papers and studies. You can show this by mentioning your participation in research initiatives or the conferences you like to attend. 
• Show that you put just as much effort into your students as you put into your research by sharing student performance and engagement metrics. You can also discuss your favorite lecture and seminar-planning techniques to convey your passion and commitment. 

Absolutely! While not mandatory, a tailored career summary can be a powerful tool. Customize it for the PhD position, mentioning the specific program and academic role. Don’t forget to highlight things like research methodologies, data analysis, and any unique contributions to your academic field.

Choose a clean and professional format that prioritizes your academic achievements and research experience. Use clear headings, bullet points, and a consistent structure, much like you would in a research paper. 

Include skills that align with the specific requirements of the PhD program and your academic discipline. Highlight technical and soft skills relevant to research, teaching, fieldwork, and collaboration.

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Phd/postdoc resume samples

• Best Resume

PhD Resume Example for All Industries in 2023

Transitioning from an academic to an industry position requires taking a strategic approach to your personal branding. You want employers to see you as more than just a researcher, and to do that you need to make your versatility clear upfront. 

By building a professional profile that incorporates a range of skills and industry expertise, you can position yourself as a subject matter expert who can apply your academic training in the field.

But how can you show industry employers exactly what you can offer the company in terms of specific skills and expertise? You’ll be able to find great success in your job search by writing a strong PhD resume!

One of the best ways you can get a professional Ph.D. resume is by consulting some professional resume services. One such professional online resume provider is Resume That Works .

What is a Ph.D. Resume?

A PhD resume is what you’ll want to use for any job that’s not research-oriented or academic. It focuses primarily on your professional experience and skills which is important in cases where the position won’t need a PhD and the hiring manager won’t be able to appreciate your contributions to academia.

Why is a Ph.D. Resume Important?

Ph.D. resumes are important because they can help candidates secure roles in industries other than academia. Candidates who earn Ph.D. degrees traditionally write curriculum vitae, or CV documents, to apply for roles in academia and therefore often need additional guidance in writing effective resumes . With compelling resumes, Ph.D. researcher candidates can gain a significant advantage throughout the application process.

PhD Industry Resume Example

Dont forget to explore our website for plenty of Ph.D. resume examples available on our website. Looking for the best writing resume template? Your search ends here!

• Ph.D. Researcher Resume
• Senior PhD researcher resume sample
• PhD resume for industry
• PhD resume template
• PhD industry resumes
• PhD scientist resume
• PhD application CV

Best Format for Your PhD Resume

A good Ph.D. resume follows this format

• Reverse Chronological (Most recent work experience first)
• Combination (ATS compliant)
• Functional (Non-ATS compliant)

PhD Resume Objective or Resume Summary

Something like this PhD Resume Objective example can definitely fit into your PhD resume with some minor changes. However, our experts recommend that you always write the resume summary from scratch. 

“A Scientific Researcher with a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical science, specializing in R&D, drug discovery, data analysis, and team leadership. Adept at leveraging subject matter expertise in drug development to aid organizations in executing large-scale clinical drug trials and performing laboratory testing for innovative new products”

Ph.D. Resume Experience

Listing your academic accomplishments in this section is a good practice. Hiring managers like to see what you were able to achieve through your academic studies. Something like the following can be used as a PhD resume experience example:

“Conducted an academic research project to assess the impact of e-learning modules and instructional design on adult learning outcomes in small group and large group settings, which included analyzing data on scaffolds and curriculum development approaches”

Perfect PhD Resume Job Description

What makes a job description perfect? It’s the ability of the job description to show the applicants if they are eligible to apply for the said role or not. A job description should be created in a way that applicants with no relevant expertise should understand that the specific role is not for them and that they should look for other jobs instead. 

The perfect Phd job description should describe the nature of the work that you will be performing, the level of experience you must have along with some other experiences that you require.

4 Pro Tips Tips for Creating the Best Ph.D. Resume

Writing a resume is very different from creating other types of content. Creating resumes is not just related to writing content, the template you choose, the color scheme you choose, and choosing what key accomplishments you decide to highlight also greatly contribute to the overall success of a resume. 

It’s not true that a PhD holder is always a great resume creator as well. A professional resume writer who works in collaboration with experienced career experts will surpass an ordinary writer in producing great quality writer resumes almost every time. 

Here are five professional tips from expert resume writers that can help you make your resume look more professional and attractive.

• Create sections throughout your resume’s format

First, format the outline of your resume by creating a few primary sections. Include a section for your education, professional experience, leadership or volunteer experience, skills, awards or scholarships, and any publications you’ve achieved during your tenure as a Ph.D. candidate. While you might ordinarily include other specialized information when writing an academic CV, because you’re drafting a resume, it’s important to keep the document streamlined by prioritizing applicable information.

• Highlight your most relevant experiences, skills, and accomplishments

After formatting your resume, you can begin to insert information into each section. Try to highlight the experiences and accomplishments you’ve had as a Ph.D. candidate that are most relevant to the role for which you’re applying. While writing about your experiences, use language that’s easily understandable so hiring managers outside of your field can understand what you handled in your roles and how your experiences apply to the needs of the job for which you’re competing.

• Tailor your resume to Each Role

As you write about your relevant experiences, skills, and accomplishments, tailor your resume to each specific role that interests you. For instance, if you’re applying for a managerial position, it may be beneficial to highlight your leadership experience. Comparatively, if you’re applying for a position that requires research and analysis skills, you can try to actively underscore those competencies in your resume to show your value to potential employers.

• Review and Proofread for Quality

After writing your resume, review and proofread it to ensure that it’s of high quality. Try to make sure there aren’t any spelling, grammatical or structural errors in your writing. During your review process, it may be helpful for you to seek feedback from others in your Ph.D. program or a mentor figure who can provide insight into what may strengthen your resume and increase your chances of soliciting a hiring manager’s attention.

12 Key Ph.D. Skills Keywords for ATS Optimization

Here is a list of common key skills for Ph. D.s that you should always add to your Ph.D. resume. These Ph.D. skills examples are

• Chemical Engineering
• Chemical Manufacturing
• Cloud Computing
• Cloud Technology
• Cybersecurity
• Data Analytics
• Data Analysis
• Data Science
• Drug Development
• Drug Discovery
• Engineering
• Instructional Design
• IT Infrastructure

In addition to these there are some other skills of a Ph.D. as well that should be added to your resume based on the job description.

ATS Optimized Ph.D. Resume

Nowadays hiring managers to use the Applicant Tracking System to shortlist the right candidate resumes for a manual review. If you are still wondering why you never hear back from most employers then the ATS is the reason for that. The HR managers have strict keyword criteria when it comes to hiring Ph.D.s. 

Not knowing what keywords to highlight and what key skills to include in your Ph.D. resume can throw your resume out of the competition even before the manual review phase begins. All thanks to our vast experience in creating resumes and helping Ph. D.s for more than a decade our experts know what keywords to include to help you go past the ATS. 

Resume That Works!

Need technical resume services that can really work wonders for you? Well, your search for the best is now over. Our resume-writing professionals and career experts are always standing by to assist you when you decide to take the next step in your career. Stop thinking and start acting, now is your time to shine! Place an order right now and enjoy all the benefits that come with a great Ph.D. resume.

What should a PHD on a resume include?

• Contact information.
• Research interests.
• Academic history.
• Research, teaching, and/or relevant work experience.
• Awards and/or honors.
• References/referees.

What is an academic resume?

An academic resume includes a summary of your educational and academic background, as well as teaching or research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors, and affiliations.

What skills does a PhD develop?

Some notable skills that a Ph.D. develops include

• Analysis & Problem-Solving.
• Interpersonal & Leadership Skills.
• Project Management & Organization.
• Research & Information Management.
• Self-Management & Work Habits.
• Written & Oral Communication.

What title goes with PhD?

When you are addressing a person with a doctoral degree, it is considered more polite to use the title Dr. or the academic abbreviation PhD with the person’s name

What makes a strong PhD applicant?

for a strong Ph. D. application, you need academic questions that keep you up at night and the discipline to follow the guidelines. Being enthusiastic and passionate about learning new things and then practically implementing that solution to real-world problems is what makes a Ph.D. applicant strong. 

What is the main aim of PhD?

The core focus of a doctorate is the acquisition of academic skills by drafting a piece of academic work (dissertation)

Written by Simon W

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CV for PhD application example

You’ve wrapped up your degree and are keen to embark on your PhD journey.

But before you can get stuck in, you’ll need to secure your place by putting forward a compelling PhD application and CV.

If you’ve never written an academic-style CV before, the process can be daunting. That’s why I’ve created this step-by-step guide to writing a CV for a PhD application.

I’ve also included a PhD CV example, to give you a better idea of what you need to include. Here’s what I’ll cover in the guide:

Guide contents

PhD application CV example

• Structuring and formatting your CV
• Writing your CV profile
• Detailing your education
• Detailing your relevant experience

CV templates 

As you can see from the CV example above, a PhD CV is structured differently to a traditional CV. Instead of focusing on work experience, academic experience and accomplishments are prioritised.

However, the fundamental CV writing  rules stay the same. Therefore, the candidate has put forward their information in a way which is clear, concise and formatted for easy reading.

PhD application CV structure & format

PhD programmes receive thousands of applications, meaning the university admissions teams are generally very time-strapped.

As such, you need to  structure and format  your CV to make it as easy as possible for them to review.

First impressions count and a cluttered or disorganised application won’t do you any favours.

Instead, you should aim for a clean, well-organised and professional appearance throughout.

Formatting Tips

• Length: While academic CVs are generally longer than standard CVs, it’s still best to aim for a short, relevant and concise document. For PhD applications, a length of one or two A4 pages is ideal. This is more than enough space to highlight your suitability without  overwhelming the reader with irrelevant information or excessive detail.
• Readability: The information on your CV should be laid out logically, with clear section headings for easy navigation. Break up large chunks of text into small, snappy paragraphs and include bullet points where appropriate.
• Design:  Opt for a clear, legible font and stick to it throughout – consistency is important. Ensure your headings are formatted for attention by using bold text or a slightly larger font size.
• Things to avoid:  Steer clear of elaborate designs, fancy fonts, images or logos – they’re simply not needed and might distract from the all-important written content.
• Things to consider: CVs ‘rules’ differ from country to country, so if you’re applying to an international university, take some time to research what’s expected of you.

Structuring your CV

Organise your content into the following sections for ease-of-reading:

• Contact details – These should always be at the very top of your CV.
• Personal statement  – A brief introductory summary of your qualifications, skills and experience in relation to the PhD.
• Core skills – A short and snappy list of your most relevant skills, tailored to the PhD.
• Education –  A detailed breakdown of your relevant qualifications, especially your undergraduate and postgraduate degree(s).
• Career summary/research   experience – An overview of any relevant work or research experience, angled towards your chosen field of study.
• Additional information –   A space to detail any other relevant information which may boost your application.

Quick tip:  While the simple CV format above is usually ideal, academic institutions often have their own preferred structure. Double-check their guidelines before you start writing – their preferences should be prioritised – and use a CV template if you want to speed things up without sacrificing quality.

CV Contact Details

Commence your CV by sharing your basic contact details

• Phone number
• Email address
• Location  – Rather than listing your full address, your town or city, such as ‘Manchester’ or ‘Exeter’, is enough.
• If you have one, add a link to your LinkedIn profile or a portfolio of work.

CV for PhD Personal Statement

Your profile / personal statement  is essentially your first impression on the reader and is a great way to hook their attention.

It should provide a snappy summary of who you are and why your qualifications, skills and ambitions make you a perfect candidate for the PhD.

Tips to consider when creating your personal statement:

• Tailor to the PhD:  Every PhD programme should have a description available, which you can use to tailor your personal statement ( and your CV as a whole). Focus on proving you have the appropriate educational background, skillset and knowledge to carry out the project.
• Prove your enthusiasm: It’s important to put forward your drive and motivation for your field and explain why the specific PhD is so well-matched to your wider interests and ambitions.
• Avoid clichés:  Clichés and generic phrases like “I’m a motivated team player”  and  “gives 110%”  won’t impress the admissions team.
• Keep it short:  A paragraph length of around 8-15 lines is perfect. This is only an introduction – the detail can come later on in your CV.

What to include in your CV for PhD personal statement?

• Your academic background  – Give a brief overview of your undergraduate degree and/or masters and how they’ve brought you towards this PhD.
• Impressive results  – PhD students are normally academically extraordinary, so make sure to point out any impressive results or feedback – whether that’s your degree as a whole or a particularly relevant assignment/project grade.
• Relevant skills  – Use the PhD project description to find out what the university is looking for in candidates. Then, try to incorporate the core skills into your profile.
• Relevant experience – Not everyone will have any relevant research or work experience to their name at this stage, but if you do, make sure to briefly highlight it here.
• Interests, goals & motivations  – Give a brief insight into your motivation for taking on a PhD, why you’re so committed to your specific research topics(s) and what you think you can add. It’s also helpful to summarise how the course will fit into your wider career ambitions/goals.

Core skills section

Next, create a punchy list of core skills, organised into 2 or 3 columns of bullet points.

Use the project description to identify the required skills and knowledge, then use your findings to inform your list.

This will help the busy admissions team to see that the PhD is right for you at a glance.

Education & Qualifications

A PhD CV is  all about academic achievements and qualifications, so this section should make up the bulk of your CV.

Working in reverse chronological order, provide a detailed breakdown of your undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications.

If you have any GCSEs, A-Levels or other academic qualifications that are particularly relevant to the PhD subject, they might be worth listing, too.

Structuring your education

By working to a considered structure, you can ensure your education is easy to navigate and that your key achievements stand out.

For each of your relevant qualifications, break up information into the following sections.

Start by detailing the type of qualification, the title, the achieved grade, the academic institution at which you studied and the year you graduated.

MSc – Environmental Engineering (Distinction)

Middlesex University (2018)

Course content

Next, discuss your thesis or dissertation title (if applicable), the modules you studied and any relevant projects you were involved in.

What you choose to write here should be tailored to the PhD you’re applying for – focus the detail on the most relevant aspects of the qualification.

Thesis: “Identification of the Bacterial Profusion and Variety in Nuclear Waste Disposal”.

Modules: System Analysis in Urban Water Management; Process Engineering in Urban Water Management; Air Quality Control; Waste Management; Ecological Systems Design, and Remote Sensing and Earth Observation.

Project: “Research Study for Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment”

Key achievements (optional)

Finish up with a snappy list of key results,  accomplishments or learning outcomes you achieved.

This might be an impressive grade for a highly relevant assignment, an award you won or a quote of exemplary feedback from a tutor.

Career & Research Experience

Next up is your career & research summary, which should be tailored to the PhD in question.

You could include  relevant research experience here, as well as any related employment (even if temporary or voluntary).

Make sure to be selective with the type of employment you list, though. For example, a part-time waiting on job isn’t worth including, but a laboratory or tutoring job might be. Ultimately, it should be related to your field or have helped you develop relevant skills or knowledge.

When discussing your research roles, make sure to detail the techniques you used, the skills developed and any interesting findings.

Structuring your experience section

Ensure your career & research section is clear, scannable and easy to read by working to the following structure:

Outline the dates of employment/contract, the role title and the organisation or institution you worked for.

Aug 2018 – Sep 2019 Research Intern Hydro Continental, London

Give a brief overview of the position or research project as a whole, discussing the team you worked with (or lead), who you reported to and what the goal of the project was.

“Undertook a short-term assignment pertaining to the Economics of climate change in order to research and drive improvements in energy consumption and emissions; reported to the Executive Engineer.” 

Key responsibilities 

Then use bullet points to pinpoint your duties and responsibilities within the role, making sure to mention any relevant techniques or skills used that could benefit your candidacy. E.g.

• Employed the Marginal Abatement Cost (MAC) curve tool to present carbon emissions abatement options.
• Built partnerships and participated in open discussions with other country modellers and research associates.
• Amassed and processed varied data from multiple sources.

Writing your CV for PhD

Applying for a PhD is a daunting yet exciting time, but a flawless CV can help you achieve your goals.

Remember to tailor your CV to the specific PhD you’re applying for and aim to make a compelling case for your suitability and aligned goals.

Before you send off your CV, try to get a second opinion from a current or previous tutor, trusted family member or friend.

It’s also worth checking the finished document with our quick-and-easy CV Builder , to eliminate the risk of overlooking mistakes.

Best of luck with your PhD application!

Sample PhD Resume Example

Most industries value PhD holders the most out of all the other job seekers. This is due to the fact that PhD recipients have spent several years mastering their profession and are experts in their respective fields.

All resume examples in this guide

Example of a PhD Resume

Patricia B. Butler, PhD ‍ English Professor Laurel, MD [email protected] 443-708-5978

Professional Summary

Expert English Professor with 10+ years of experience and expertise in dramaturgy and literature instruction. Exceptional ability to help students achieve success in learning curriculum material. Promotes reading of dramatic literature to enhance critical thinking and language acuity.

PhD University of Austin, Texas 2009

Bachelor of Arts in Literature University of Illinois 1996

Work Experience

English Professor Cornell University, New York 03/2016 - Present

• Encouraged students ability to think critically and participate in discussions in the courses of drama by implementing a variety of teaching methods and techniques.
• Improved employee attendance record by emphasizing punctuality and preparation for work upon arrival.
• Incorporated discipline into lesson plans as a means of increasing student concentration and participation in class so they would be accountable for their own progress.
• Relationship development
• Creative Problem Solving
• Grammar rules
• English Native
• Hindi fluent
• Arabic fluent

As a PhD holder, many industry positions are going to be available for you. Most PhD students already have a lot of professional experience and transferable skills.

But how can you show industry employers exactly what you can offer the company in terms of specific skills and expertise?

You'll be able to find great success in your job search through writing a strong PhD resume !

We'll be guiding you through writing a successful and effective curriculum vitae that is going to impress any hiring manager!

PhD graduates and students have a lot of resources they can apply to their careers through the academics that they hold. These resources come in the form of academic, professional, and research experiences.

According to GlassDoor the national average salary for PhD students is $32,400 per year in the United States. While some of the best PhD degrees typically earn around $150,000 in their mid-career stage.

Here’s some examples of top salaries for PhD holders:

A PhD in Chemical Engineering pays around $96,000 in their early career, rising to $146,000 at mid-career level. Holders of a PhD in Organic Chemistry start around $83,000 while increasing to $146,000 mid-career. A PhD in Computer Science can earn $118,000 in their early career stage rising to $145,000 in their mid-career stage.

Most careers and companies don't have PhD graduates in their teams, but any organization hiring for a specific job will be more than welcome to hire one.

Your main concern is going to be making a curriculum vitae that's going to knock all other PhD resumes out of the water, and we're here to help with that!

How to make a PhD Resume

Most graduate students have a lot of experience with research experience, the business world, and leadership, but they sometimes might lack the skills to transfer this information onto a resume or curriculum vitae CV.

In order to write a successful PhD resume, you'll need to focus on some important first steps. You'll need to establish a few foundational elements in your resume before you write the content of the application.

It is essential to get the structure and layout of the PhD application right. These elements are what stand between a successful and bad resume.

The layout of the PhD Resume

A successful resume will have an effective design. Your PhD resume should present professional information about your career in a good-looking way.

A proper design and resume layout make the resume much more impactful!

In order to properly showcase each detail of your PhD career to the many employers you'll be sending your resume to, the resume layout will need to have sections.

Sectioning out your resume will make the professional information appear much more pronounced. For instance, your work history will go into the work experience section, while your education will be written in the academic section of the application.

Below are all the sections we'll be covering in this article; we recommend including these sections into your resume layout:

• The Contact Information
• The Professional Summary
• The Job Description (Work Experience Section)
• The Education Section
• The Skills Section
• Other Information Regarding Awards, Honors, and Certificates

The structure of the PhD Resume

It is essential that the resume gives the reader information effectively and in an impactful manner. A proper application has to talk about your relevant skills, accomplishments, work, and academic experiences in a structured way.

While the resume layout determines the look and design of your CV, the structure of your PhD resume is going to affect how the content itself looks and appears on paper.

It is crucial that your application content and text has proper structure; here's how you can do it:

In order to structure text properly, it is essential to apply a resume format. Resume formats can be divided into chronological and functional.

The chronological format is the widely accepted way to structure and format a resume.

In other words, your content will all be written from oldest to newest. Whenever a new professional experience is added to the experience section, it will appear at the top.

Additionally, your application needs to be one or two pages long, written in Times New Roman or Arial font styles with 10 - 12 font sizes.

Start with the contact information of the PhD Resume

Just like properly starting any academic presentations, so does your PhD CV need a strong, informative start.

A great way to begin your writing process is by introducing yourself to the reader. After all, the main reason why you're writing a resume in the first place is for employers to notice your credentials.

This information can be provided to the reader through the contact information section.

After writing your name as the title of the CV, include your job title, physical address, email address, and relevant professional website below.

Example of a header / Example of a bad header for PhD

English Professor

443-708-5978

The contact info header below is incorrectly written because the title isn’t very visible. Your name has to be the title of the application and it has to be a couple of font sizes larger than the rest of the text.

Patricia B. Butler, PhD

1785 Wilson Street

https://multimediamecca.com/

Is a photo required in the PhD Resume?

Many job seekers often find themselves wondering whether or not it is a good idea to include a professional photo in their resumes.

While some companies and positions are more lenient when reading through resumes with professional photos, we don't recommend including pictures in your CV.

80% of US companies would say they would not consider an applicant who had a photo in their resume.

Additionally, a PhD resume is going to be focused heavily on the text and showcasing relevant professional information. The layout of the resume won't have enough space to fit in a photo anyway.

Professional summary for a PhD

More often than not, there will be a lot of other PhD graduate candidates looking to get employment at the same positions you've applied for.

What's even more interesting is that employers receive over a hundred applications every day; this holds especially true for non-academic positions.

Recruiters simply don't have the time or ability to fully read through all of the applicants' resumes. Instead, they'll just skim through applications.

A great way to get around this problem and grab the hiring manager's attention right away is by putting a short, concise section into your resume that discusses relevant information about your expertise.

This part of the application is called the professional summary section, and it briefly talks about your relevant experience, achievements, and skills in regard to the position you're applying for.

Professional Summary Examples

This summary is incomplete, because it lacks the clarity and impactfulness that the one above has, as well as being too wordy. A good summary needs to be clear, logical and to the point!

Expert English Professor with a lot of years learning and teaching in literary studies, drama and literature instruction. Proven skills when it comes to helping students get to achieving success in learning curriculum material. Strong promoter of reading of dramatic literature to enhance critical thinking and language acuity.

Work Experience in the PhD Resume

Now that you've written the introduction for your application in the form of the contact info and summary sections, it's time to get into the process of putting down the most important information for your CV.

The work experience section has to be the highlight of the application because, as a PhD student, you've most likely amassed some professional experience. These experiences need to be discussed and showcased effectively in order to impress the hiring managers.

The work experience section is going to be the largest, most essential part of the CV because it gives the reader a chance to gain insight into your expertise as a PhD professional.

Describe your professional experiences on your PhD Resume

Work experience is very important on a PhD resume; it can make or break your application and the chances of getting considered for a position. If you follow a few expert recommendations, you can create a substantial gap between yourself and the competition and land the job interview.

The position you held most recently should be given priority; write them at the top of the section. Whenever you write a job description, start with the title. Be sure to also include the company name and the length of time you spent with the employer.

Describe your responsibilities and work achievements once you have written the title of your job, company name, and dates of employment.

Examples of professional experiences for PhD

Cornell University

03/2016 - Present

• Increased employees' attendance records from passable to exceptional by emphasizing punctuality and being prepared to start work on arrival.
• Implemented discipline and other measures into lesson plans to encourage students to participate in class and concentrate on their lessons so that they would take responsibility for their own learning.

Education in the PhD Resume

As a PhD postgraduate, you hold an immense amount of experience when it comes to teaching, higher education, and general academic background.

Because of these acquired abilities, a big chunk of your resume needs to be dedicated to showcasing your academic background. In a way, the CV is going to be a combination resume.

If you have a PhD, both the work experience and education sections will be immensely important to write effectively. These sections will give your resume very powerful credibility.

Most high-end jobs nowadays require a degree, so who's a better candidate than a PhD recipient?

Should you start with education or work experience for a PhD Degree?

When it comes to a PhD degree holder that wants to write an effective resume, the layout of the application can often be quite confusing.

You might be wondering which is the better option, starting the resume with the work experience or education sections?

In the case where you have a PhD degree, we recommend making this the highlight of your application. The reader has to see your academic credentials right after the summary section.

Your academic background is what sets you apart from the other candidates, after all.

How to properly list your education in a PhD Resume?

We have gone through a lot of detail talking about the importance of a solid education section, but how should it look exactly?

We're here to give you all the pointers you'll need in order to prepare an effective education section that shows your discipline successfully.

Follow these tips below:

• The last degree you obtained should be the starting point of this section. Including your PhD first and then your master's is a good example.
• Provide the name of the school, the address, the year of attendance, and the degree earned for each educational certificate.
• Unless it is exceptionally high, you shouldn't mention your GPA. Only include GPAs above 3.7.
• With a bullet point or two, list all your relevant coursework relevant to the job you are applying for.

Example of the education section of a PhD Resume

Tarbiat Modares University / Tehran / 2009

Master of Arts

Tarbiat Modares University / Tehran / 2002

• Member of Dean’s list

Bachelor of Arts in Literature

Kathmandu University / Kathmandu / 1996

Skills to put in the PhD Resume

No resume is going to be complete without mentioning a few of your abilities first. This holds especially true if you weren't able to fully present your relevant skills in the other sections of the application.

A great way you can showcase your specific skills in your curriculum vitae is by adding in a skills section.

A skills section is a crucial part of your application because you can highlight the abilities you felt were left out of the other sections and specify that you have these abilities.

The skills section is one of the parts of your application that the reader is going to look at instantly, so you have to make sure that this part of the CV is up to par.

What are the main skills sought for in a PhD Resume?

We've provided a shortlist of skills that any resume with a doctor of philosophy education would be able to incorporate:

• Results-oriented
• Communication expertise
• Project Management
• Computer Proficient
• Domestic and International Experience
• Problem resolution
• Group leadership

Additional Headings for your PhD Resume

Any resume can benefit from additional information, especially if your application has some leftover white space.

A great way to fill out these spaces is by adding additional headings and sections that showcase different ways you can benefit the hiring organization.

Certifications in a PhD Resume

Certifications are an excellent way of adding to your academic and professional background.

Certificates will almost guarantee you a job interview!

Publications

As a Phd graduate, you'll most likely have some form of work history in the form of publications.

Most doctors of philosophy have to write large thesis papers that take months or even years to finish in order to earn their degrees.

These papers are incredibly difficult to write and are very impressive on a resume. Therefore, it is a good idea to dedicate a small section to listing the publications you've worked on.

Summary: Key Points for Writing a Perfect PhD Resume

In order to be successful during a job search, a resume must be comprehensive and well written, as well as be able to fully demonstrate the candidate's abilities.

When creating your resume, remember the following key points:

• Ensure that the name of your resume appears at the top of your resume.
• In your professional summary, highlight your knowledge, experiences, skills, and career goals.
• Work experience must be included in professional resumes. Using bullet points simplifies the reading of job descriptions.
• Skills that are relevant to the job description should be included in your skill section.
• Write the education section above the work experience section.
• Remember to write all of your application sections clearly and concisely, so that there is no confusion for the reader.

Write a Cover Letter That Goes With Your PhD Resume

Providing the recruiter with additional documentation about your skills and experiences is always a plus, especially if we're talking about cover letters.

Cover letters are page-long professional summaries that go into detail about your career goals, work history and skills.

For more information about how a cover letter should look, check out our resume builder by visiting this link !

Frequently Asked Questions for a PhD Resume

Should i put phd on my resume.

If you have a PhD degree, you should definitely include it in your resume. Doctors of philosophy and higher education certificates are highly valued across many different fields.

How do you write PhD on your resume?

Utilize all of the different sections of your resume and describe your work experience, skills, accomplishments, certifications, and educational background.

You should follow the layout instructions and structure guidelines from our resume templates and find additional information and resume samples too.

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