Top 9 Tips To Bolster Your CV as a Graduate Student

Here are some time-tested tips to bear in mind when you write and format your CV in APA^® Style (Greenbaum, 2018) and impress your potential employer.

Native English writers from Tutors India offer dissertation writing services, preparing coursework, coding and developing algorithms, and more. When you come close to completing your graduation, you need to ponder about your writing your Curriculum Vitae (CV). A CV (the Latin word implies a life course) that showcases you and your portfolio in good light and puts you ahead of the pack during a job interview. In this blog, writers give you tips to write a CV (Merriam-Webster, 2018) that moves to the top of the heap. So how do you go about enhancing your portfolio? Here are some tips that stand the test of time; read on to find out more. Visit us at www.tutorsindia.com

a) Exhaustive Info

Your Ph.D. or academic course is for a long duration. The hours that you put in, milestones that you reach, and the projects that you complete—all need to highlight in a CV. This stage is pivotal for your professional and academic advancement. How you finish your Ph.D. reflects a lot about you and your capabilities. “…and the CV of a Ph.D. scholar has to be a thorough profile that highlights professional and academic activities along with their milestones”, says Ganesan, CEO of Tutors India. So anything pertaining to your caliber or work is certainly a great fit.

Typically, the length of a CV is limitless in contrast to a resume that is 1 – 2 pages; a CV talks elaborates achievements, academics, teaching, research, journals, internships, scholarships, positions and affiliation with academic and professional institutions/bodies such as APA (American Psychological Association).

“In our academic and scientific publication services, we request specifically for CVs as they talk in depth about the candidate. This gives us a better picture to gauge their abilities,” remarked Radhika Ganesan, MD of Pepgra Healthcare, a leading clinical research organization in Asia.

b) Customize the info

You must change the CV according to the corporate environment that you intend to join and hence you must make the necessary edits instead of just keeping a single copy with you. It is imperative, that you make those changes before you apply for that position. For example, if you are applying for a clinical research position, then showcase your clinical research capabilities or analytical skills for a statistician job position. The same principle applies to your teaching skills; mention awards, accolades, ownership, etc. Ask “What kind of a perception am I creating in the mind of my potential employer?” Hence, a CV must be customized for every individual; it is imperative that you write it right.

c) Eschew trivial info

Long CV equals a long academic tenure; reveal areas that set you apart from other candidates by not citing trivial aspects such as coursework; however, you may write about relevant capabilities in language, analytics, research, etc. You may want to avoid stating less important activities such as events, symposiums, and other conference-related activities. Reveal the status of your papers: in the review, successful, peer review, or rejected. Simply stated, do not fill your CV will trivial information.

d) State Volunteering Info

Your commitment to a specific field or community must be revealed to your potential employer; do not take this section lightly as it speaks volumes about your attitude and disposition. Mentoring interns, working in a bistro, assisting hurricane victims, helping in a public library tells about you. Don’t refrain from showcasing such activities.

e) Minimize Personal Info

Paycheck, resignations, marital status, children—these are some of the personal details you must not write in your CV and will not hold you in good stead; but you must highlight areas that prove your drive, motivation, ownership, ethics, and work integrity.

f) Proofreading The Info

There is nothing worse than potential employers spotting typos and mechanical errors in your writing. It shows that you are not a capable candidate. Allow fresh eyes to critique your document after you have finished with all the changes; your CV must be A1  and must not fall short of this benchmark.  List out your professional, academic, and personal references and give them a copy so that they can provide a letter of recommendation is required.

g) Convenient to Read The Info

Ensure that you refrain from verbosity, jargon, graphics, and passive voice; you must use active voice and bear in mind the APA Style® writing guidelines. Use typefaces such as Arial and Times New Roman without strange formatting. Simplicity and readability should be your guideposts in writing a CV. Talk to Tutors India experts on referencing style requirements.

h) Enclose a Covering Letter

According to experts at Tutors India, a covering letter helps the reader relate to the specific elements of a CV for a particular job; therefore, enclose a covering letter along with your CV. This helps potential hirers ascertain the right job for you. Review our CV services web page.

i) Update The Info

Your curriculum vitae is a function piece of record and therefore you must append new information and material pertaining to your academic life; include all achievements pertaining to all courses in every term (semester) of study. You may not have a clue as what to write in your initial years of study but take this as an opportunity to think through and understand what you want to do in the future to become a phenomenal candidate.

The following CV of a graduate student was written by the team at Tutors India. Click to zoom the image. (Attached low-quality images; refer pdf in the folder for quality one)

Helpful Hints

• Always update your portfolio
• Maintain versions and note the dates
• Use consistent style
• Proofread to weed out typos
• Showcase your knowledge of computer programs
• Let subject-matter experts review profile
• Print on top grade paper
• Update your certification details
• Use action verbs to highlight your roles and performance

Your CV to-do list

1. Contact details and name: Mention your official and residential contact numbers, physical address and e-mails.
2. Academics: Mention your university degrees, location, and duration of the study.
3. PhD thesis title.
4. Mention state and certificate numbers of the licenses and certifications.
5. Apprenticeship
6. Work summary.
7. Manuscript or journal publications.
8. Mention presentation subjects and topics.
9. Mention awards, accolades, fellowships, and scholarships.
10. Professional organization memberships.
11. Participations, unpaid assistance or service assistance.
12. Mention research and teaching experience; state any medical or clinical experience.