PhD Resume Examples & Writing Tips
Written By Samuel JohnsSenior Content Editor & Certified Professional Resume Writer
Reviewed By Conrad BenzContent Manager & Hiring Manager
Samuel Johns
Senior Content Editor & Certified Professional Resume Writer
Samuel Johns is a Senior Content Editor and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) at Resume Genius. In his 7+ years of experience in the careers space, he has helped hundreds...
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PhD resume template
The template below follows an effective resume format that emphasizes the applicant’s strengths.
[Your Name]
[Your Address], [City, State]
[Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number]
[LinkedIn Profile] (optional)
Professional Summary
An organized and detail-oriented grant writer with 6 years of experience in grant writing and project management. Achieved funding for doctoral research in Urban Studies and for city programs as a New York City Urban Fellow. Looking to use my urban studies expertise, research experience, and communication skills as a grant writer for Cumberland County’s Poverty-Reduction Program.
Skills
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook) and GSuite
- Data analysis: R, JMP
- Network for Good fundraising software
- Agile project management
Relevant Experience
Rutgers University
Doctoral Research Assistant | New York, NY | September 20XX – Present
- Wrote grants for and obtained funding from the Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
- Development, $15,000) and the Ph.D. Fellowship (Inter-American Foundation, $21,000)
- Presented 4 talks (3 solo presenter, 1 panelist) and 3 posters at national and international conferences
- Work independently and with collaborators to solve urban planning problems, resulting in 2 first-author publications
New York City Urban Fellows Program
Urban Studies Fellow | New York, NY | August 20XX – August 20XX
- Performed research (data collection through community surveys, time-series analysis, and cost-benefit analysis) in the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity to create high-impact anti-poverty programs
- Successfully obtained federal grant funding by identifying high-need community areas, setting and managing deadlines, and writing clear and consistent budget proposals and project narratives
- Built rapport with the community through public service programs, such as the Young Men’s Initiative
- Established partnerships with tri-state area regional foundations, corporations, and government entities to perform research, secure funding, and enact public policy
Education
Resume Genius University | Ph.D. in Urban Studies
Expected Graduation Date: May 20XX
How to write your PhD resume
If you’re a PhD looking for jobs outside of academia, you’re not confined to one specific job title.
PhDs can find jobs in many sectors, including:
- consulting
- government
- higher education administration
- technology
- industry labs
- high school education or university education as a lecturer
While some jobs may require a hybrid resume-CV or even an academic CV, most non-academic jobs require a standard resume format.
Follow our 3 tips to write an effective PhD resume:
1. Customize your PhD resume to the job
Where you’re applying determines:
- what sections to include
- what skills to list
- the order of your sections
- the detail with which you discuss your study area and subject-specific skills
In general, consulting firms, government agencies, and higher education administration place greater weight on your leadership skills and other soft skills.
Sectors such as industry labs or tech companies look for problem-solving and research skills on your resume.
Follow the job ad instructions when labeling the different parts of your resume. For example, if the job ad explicitly calls for a record of publication, include a publications section, even though this section is typically reserved for an academic CV.
Our PhD sample resume above is written for a grant writing job at a government office. Notice that the applicant does not discuss her research at length or include a thesis title or publications section.
Instead, this PhD resume speaks to the top skills the employer is looking for in a grant writer, such as:
- research and proposal writing
- business acumen
- an understanding of social issues and how to tackle them
- interpersonal skills
As the job is within the applicant’s field, she places her education section high on her resume to show that she has the appropriate expertise.
If she was instead applying for a data analyst role at a technology company, her education in Urban Studies would be placed below her resume’s work experience.
2. Upsell why people might want to hire PhDs
Unless your target job explicitly calls for a PhD, your PhD and the skills you obtained while in graduate school can separate you as a candidate.
If you lack the required number of years of work experience, highlight your PhD at the top of your resume. Employers often equate your degree to a few years of work experience.
As a PhD, you can emphasize your:
- transferable skills (e.g., communication, research, and interpersonal skills)
- ability to think independently and critically
- high standard of work
- perseverance and dedication
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About the Author
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Samuel Johns is a Senior Content Editor and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) at Resume Genius. In his 7+ years of experience in the careers space, he has helped hundreds of job seekers craft high-quality resumes and cover letters, ace interviews, and land their dream jobs.
Born and raised in County Durham, England, UK, Samuel graduated with a BA in French from the University of Bristol, England, UK.
Samuel’s job-hunt advice has been published in numerous online outlets, including Dollar Sprout, The Enterprisers Project, and Tech Crunch. Feel free to reach out to Samuel through his LinkedIn if you’d like to collaborate.
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