For college students in the United States preparing for employment or graduate school, writing a CV/Resume is essentially a mandatory process. Some start preparing as early as their sophomore or junior year for internships, and by senior year, nearly all students are exploring career fairs or seeking out professors for graduate school applications with their resumes in hand.
A resume is also necessary for applying to U.S. graduate schools, and although it’s a free format, there’s a certain standard format that exists. This post will detail how to write a U.S.-style resume, which is used not just for university applications but also for employment.
To provide more verified information, I will share the CV writing guide released by the University of Michigan and the resume I used for applying to a doctoral program.
Also, for your reference, I have a post that introduces useful tips on writing Academic SOP and Personal Statement in detail that you’d definitely want to check out.
Table of Contents
CV vs. Resume – are they different?
Although CV (Curriculum Vitae) and Resume are slightly different, with CV focusing on academic content and Resume on career-oriented content, they are used interchangeably to the point that it’s okay to consider them the same. In the application process, these two terms are often used together.
There are some differences in the format and purpose of a CV between the United States and Europe. In Europe, there is a tool provided by the EU known as the [Europass CV]. Since the concepts of a CV and a Resume are not clearly distinguished to the extent that there are differences between countries, it seems reasonable to consider them interchangeable.
However, it’s wise to distinguish between a job and college application in their composition. I will use the term CV for consistency.
The ‘American’ CV
In the U.S., there’s a certain standard format for resumes, and it’s usually best to follow this format. The format is almost identical with only slight layout differences. From a Korean perspective, this format might look somewhat boring and plain.
Do I have to use the American format for CV
I initially wrote my resume in a more visually appealing format than the standard U.S. style. However, there are reasons to use the standard format in fields other than design, which led me to rewrite mine in the standard U.S. format. The reasons are as follows:
Compatibility with Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software
In the United States, many universities and companies use software known as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to efficiently handle a large volume of applications. It’s realistic to assume that these systems are developed with commonly used CV formats in mind. Therefore, submitting a CV that deviates too much from the standard format could lead to the ATS failing to properly extract its content, which in turn might result in your application not being properly evaluated. Since there’s no guarantee that someone will manually correct such issues, it’s generally advisable to follow the widely used format.
Familiarity to Reviewers
The text-based format, which we discussed earlier, focuses on the essentials, which can be a significant advantage from the evaluator’s perspective. They often prefer a ‘familiar’ format that allows them to easily grasp the content, considering they have to review numerous applications. Although a visually more appealing CV might seem attractive, if its format is unfamiliar to the evaluator, it could inadvertently lead to a disadvantage in the evaluation process. Therefore, it’s not recommended to deviate significantly from the standard format.
How to create CV
Writing a CV is a common process for many people, and as such, there are numerous templates available, as well as paid tools that make the writing process easier. I used [Overleaf], a free LaTeX tool, but for those who are not familiar with scripting documents, it might be more efficient to use a paid tool instead of spending a lot of time learning LaTeX. (However, considering that LaTeX is essential for writing theses in graduate school, I suspect most applicants might have some experience with it.)
Paid CV Builders
When you search on Google using keywords like ‘cv builder’, ‘resume template’, and other related terms, you will find various tools. You can choose any one of them, but if I were to specifically recommend, the following companies seem useful. However, these are chosen without much significance, so I recommend you also explore other options.
Use Overleaf (Free)
For graduate school applicants, I recommend using Overleaf as LaTeX is essential in academia, especially in engineering fields.
Here is a LaTeX template for CV on Overleaf. As a matter of fact, this is the template I used for mine.
For graduate school applicants, it seems unnecessary to introduce the detailed usage of Overleaf, so I will omit these details. However, you can find methods for easily modifying content for each university by using variables in the document.
Drafting your CV
The content of the CV, especially the order of items, should be arranged according to the department you are applying to and your background. It’s recommended to include items that complement the content of your Personal Statement and SOP.
Title
The title is usually the applicant’s name. However, some schools have specific requirements for the title. The subtitle varies according to the purpose. For an Academic CV submitted to graduate school, it’s appropriate to include the department and program (Master’s or Ph.D.) you’re applying for. For example, if applying for a Ph.D. in Computer Science, write ‘Applying for Ph.D. in Computer Science.’
Education
In almost every case, the first and foremost section in a CV or resume should be your educational background. This part is straightforward as you simply need to list your qualifications as they are.
Education is almost invariably listed in reverse chronological order. This means you start with the most recent educational qualification first. For example, in my case, I listed my Master’s degree followed by my Bachelor’s degree. Typically, you would only list education from high school onwards, but if you believe it could be beneficial, you might include it. It’s better to omit high school education unless it particularly highlights your strengths as an applicant.
Including your GPA (Grade Point Average) is optional. If your GPA is impressive, it’s advisable to include it; otherwise, it’s not necessary to mention it, as transcripts are usually submitted separately. I chose not to include my GPA as it wasn’t particularly high.
In order of your confidence
Following the educational background, the next sections of a CV for graduate school applicants should be arranged based on what the applicant wants to emphasize. Given the context of graduate school applications, it’s beneficial to start with research-related achievements. Here are some of the possible sections you might include after education:
Publications
Publications in relevant fields can significantly bolster a graduate school application. Even if the publication isn’t in a top-tier journal or if you’re a co-author, it’s still worth highlighting. Decide if this should come before other items based on your own achievements.
Scholarships
Scholarship history is an excellent indicator of a candidate’s excellence. Since grading systems vary across schools, scholarships can more clearly demonstrate a student’s achievements. Unfortunately, I did not have any scholarships to include in my application.
Awards
Any awards received during or after university can aid your application. Unlike in some countries, you usually don’t need to provide proof of these awards. If you have notable awards, definitely include them.
Research Experience (Lab Internships)
Lab internships can be particularly relevant for graduate school applications. They demonstrate your commitment to the field and can serve as a good indicator of your research potential. When listing lab experience, it’s helpful to include the supervisor’s name and the research topic.
Work Experience and Internships
Work experience, including internships, can be viewed positively in graduate applications. Real-world experience can complement academic achievements and is often valued by prospective supervisors and schools. For each position, include the company name, duration, your role, and key accomplishments.
Leadership Activities
While not academically focused, leadership activities, such as being the president of a club, can showcase your personal qualities and are often valued by the admissions committee.
Other Relevant Information
This could include volunteer work, language skills, and even military service, which can be quite distinctive in the context of U.S. applications.
References
Including references is not mandatory, but can be beneficial, especially if they are well-known or particularly relevant to your field. If you have space, it’s advisable to include them. It’s customary to list their position and affiliation.
These sections should be tailored to highlight your strengths and achievements most relevant to the graduate program you are applying for.
Summary
In this post, I have introduced how to write a CV for applying to graduate schools in the United States. Although the American format is somewhat standardized and may seem rigid, this actually makes it easier to write without too much worry about the format. By focusing on the content you want to emphasize, you can complete your CV without much difficulty.
I hope the information provided in this post helps make your CV stand out. It’s important to thoughtfully construct each section and articulate your experiences clearly. I also recommend continuously reviewing and refining your CV with feedback.
I hope the best for your preparation, and I hope it leads to successful results.