How to Create an Impressive CV for Your Grad School

You should always remember the 15-second rule while creating the CV. Considering that every information you share in your CV is important, it should be expressed in its best possible way. Your CV is really important for the one who is reading it because he intends to find out your aspirations and accomplishments. Your CV is your first chance for the other person to know what and where you have been and what you know. So, be sure to summarize your skills and accomplishments that it catches the eye of the reader in a short span of 15 seconds.

Sections that can be included in your CV are:

Contact Information – Your contact information should include your name, address, phone number, and email. Try to avoid salutations such as Mr., Mrs., Ms. unless they denote a professional title of Dr. or Esq.

Educational Qualifications– Do mention the institutions attended, duration of attendance, and the degree conferred. You do not need to list GPA, standardized test information, or honors and awards in this section.

Academic Achievements– Here you can list all the honors and awards which you have achieved in your education.

Other sections that can be added are:

•   Grants Awarded
•   Publications
•   Professional Experience Outside of Academia
•   Professional Affiliations
•   References

Building an impressive CV is a task that takes lots of considerations into account while creating. Here are the top five tips to help you create a perfect CV.

• Put your remarkable accomplishments at the top so that it catches the eyes of the reader in the very first place.
• Outline your skills and area of expertise by briefly adding your potential and aptitude which you want to show.
• Give equal importance to the layout and information shared. Try to use bullets, horizontal lines, one inch both side margins and also try to keep the font size between 10 to 12, so try making it as presentable as possible.
• Do add bonus items to your CV such as awards, professional license, certifications and credentials in your resume.
• If you are affiliated with any professional societies, then try to list them in your CV in addition to the date of initial affiliation or leadership positions held.