7 Graduate Student CV Samples That Don't Suck

Graduate school teaches you how to think. It doesn't teach you how to sell that thinking.

Most graduate student CVs are a problem. They’re a chronological list of publications, presentations, and TA roles. It’s accurate, but it’s flat. It doesn’t tell a story.

Recruiters don’t hire lists. They hire people who solve problems. Your CV needs to prove you’re a problem-solver, not just a credential-holder.

Forget the soul-crushing templates that force your work into boring boxes. Filling out forms is for machines. We’re going to look at actual examples that show you how to frame your story. This guide breaks down several graduate student cv sample resources and shows you what works. Whether you're targeting academia or industry, these examples will help you turn your achievements into a narrative that gets you hired.

For those in hyper-competitive fields, storytelling is even more critical. You can find specialized guidance in this resource for investment banking resume and cover letter advice. Let's start.

1. StoryCV: Your Digital Resume Writer

StoryCV isn't a template library. It’s a digital resume writer. It helps you translate complex research and academic projects into language that industry understands. It focuses on the story behind your experience, not just the bullet points.

Instead of making you fill in boxes, StoryCV interviews you. The process uncovers the context, challenges, and impact of your work. The result is a CV that tells a coherent story of what you can do. It’s an excellent starting point for a strong graduate student CV sample that reflects your actual journey.

Why It Works for Grad Students

StoryCV bridges the gap between your academic experience and what hiring managers want. It pushes you beyond listing publications and helps you frame them as accomplishments with real outcomes.

• Impact-Focused Narrative: The guided interview asks the so what? of your work. This is critical for translating a complex thesis or TA duties into skills that matter to recruiters.
• Human-Voiced Content: StoryCV writes content optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that doesn't sound like a robot. Your CV passes the software scan and still connects with the human who reads it next.
• Editorial Judgment at Software Speed: You get a polished, well-written draft in minutes. It avoids the high cost and long waits of traditional resume writing services.

Key Features

The platform is radically simple. No distracting design tools. Just focus on the content.

• Guided Writing: The core feature walks you through each role, extracting key details and turning them into quantified, powerful bullet points.
• Try Before You Buy: Write one full role for free. See the quality for yourself before you commit.
• Privacy First: Strong data privacy and security. Your career data is sensitive and should be treated that way.

Pricing

Simple. Start for free and write one complete role. The "Full Story" plan gives you unlimited access for a subscription (currently listed at $39/month for founding users). It’s an accessible alternative to expensive, one-off resume writers.

Website: https://story.cv

2. Harvard Griffin GSAS CV & Cover Letter Guide

Harvard’s career center offers a masterclass in CVs from a trusted source. It’s for grad students who need discipline-specific examples, not generic advice. The resources are free and provide downloadable PDF guides, making this a top-tier place to find a strong graduate student CV sample.

The guides clearly distinguish between an academic CV and an industry resume. This is a critical distinction, especially in the U.S. market. It helps you tailor your story to the right audience.

What Makes It Stand Out

The strength here is academic rigor. Unlike generic template sites, Harvard provides detailed guides with annotated examples for master's and PhD students. It shows you how to convert research experience into impact-driven statements—perfect for transitioning to non-academic roles.

Here’s a snapshot of a CV for a PhD in History targeting an academic position. Notice the emphasis on publications and teaching.

Dr. Jane Doe
123 University Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138 | j.doe@email.com | (123) 456-7890

Education
- Ph.D. in History, Harvard University, 2024
- Dissertation: "Trade Routes and Cultural Exchange in the 15th-Century Mediterranean"
- Advisor: Dr. John Smith
- M.A. in History, Harvard University, 2020
- B.A. in History, summa cum laude, University of Chicago, 2018

Publications
- Peer-Reviewed Article: "Venetian Glass and its Influence on Ottoman Art," Journal of Medieval Studies, Vol. 45, No. 2 (2023), pp. 112-135.
- Book Chapter: "Mapping the Mercator: Cartography and Power in Renaissance Europe," in The World on Paper, ed. Emily White (Cambridge University Press, 2022).

Conference Presentations
- "The Grain Economy of the Black Sea," Annual Meeting of the American Historical Association, New York, NY, January 2024.
- "Genoese Forts in the Aegean," Renaissance Society of America Conference, Dublin, Ireland, April 2023.

Teaching Experience
- Teaching Fellow, Harvard University, Department of History
- The World of the Renaissance (Fall 2023)
- Early Modern Europe (Spring 2023)

Pros & Cons

• Pros: High-trust academic source, excellent guidance on academic-to-industry transitions, and regularly updated content. Free access.
• Cons: Examples lean heavily toward traditional academic formats. Fewer creative or tech-focused layouts.

Website: Harvard Griffin GSAS CV & Cover Letter Guide

3. MIT CAPD Sample Resumes and Cover Letters

MIT’s CAPD provides a powerful, STEM-focused library for graduate students aiming for industry. It’s ideal for translating complex technical research into results-driven language that resonates with recruiters. The collection offers a clear, U.S.-market-ready graduate student CV sample for anyone needing to highlight quantitative achievements.

This resource is no-nonsense and practical. MIT’s examples are geared toward industry applications, emphasizing skills, projects, and measurable outcomes.

What Makes It Stand Out

The samples are clean, scannable, and show how to present technical skills without overwhelming the reader. It demonstrates how to structure a one-page resume that packs in dense technical information—a critical skill for PhD and master's students targeting competitive industry jobs where brevity is key.

This example shows a PhD candidate in Computer Science targeting a Research Scientist role in industry. Note the shift from publications to projects and skills.

Alex Chen
Cambridge, MA 02139 | alex.chen@email.com | LinkedIn Profile URL | GitHub Profile URL

Education
- Ph.D. Candidate in Computer Science, MIT, Expected 2025
- Research Focus: Natural Language Processing, Reinforcement Learning
- B.S. in Computer Science, Stanford University, 2020

Skills
- Languages: Python (Expert), C++, Java, SQL
- Frameworks: PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, Hugging Face
- Tools: AWS, Docker, Git, SLURM

Research & Project Experience
- Graduate Researcher, MIT CSAIL (2020-Present)
- Developed a novel attention mechanism for transformer models, improving summarization task accuracy by 12% on the CNN/DailyMail dataset.
- Implemented a distributed training pipeline on AWS, reducing model training time from 72 hours to 18 hours.
- Published findings in top-tier conferences (NeurIPS, ACL).

• Software Engineering Intern, Google (Summer 2023)
• Contributed to the Google Search query understanding team.
• Designed and deployed an A/B test for a new ranking algorithm, resulting in a 0.5% increase in user click-through rate.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Credible source with excellent STEM and technical examples. Strong focus on industry-relevant outcomes.
• Cons: Content leans more toward one-page resume formats than multi-page academic CVs.

Website: MIT CAPD Sample Resumes and Cover Letters

4. Overleaf - LaTeX CV/Resume Template Gallery

For graduate students in STEM and other technical fields, Overleaf offers a path to a polished CV that standard word processors can’t match. Its gallery is filled with LaTeX templates designed for academic rigor. This is where you find a graduate student CV sample built for precision.

Overleaf solves a major problem for academics: how to create a document that is both clean and information-dense. The collaborative features also allow students to easily share drafts with advisors or peers for feedback.

What Makes It Stand Out

Overleaf specializes in LaTeX, the gold standard for scientific documents. Templates like AltaCV are widely respected in academia for their modern design. The platform removes the friction of a local LaTeX setup with a browser-based solution.

Its best feature is version control. For a CV that evolves with every publication and grant, being able to track changes is invaluable. It ensures your master document is always up-to-date and tailored for each application.

Key Features & Offerings

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Creates exceptionally professional and clean academic CVs. Version history is perfect for advisor review. Many high-quality templates are free.
• Cons: LaTeX has a steep learning curve. The free tier has limits on collaborators and compile time.

Website: Overleaf CV Template Gallery

5. Novorésumé - Student/Graduate Resume & CV Builder

Novorésumé bridges the gap between basic templates and a full-service builder. It’s great for graduate students who need a modern, ATS-friendly design without knowing design principles. It provides a strong starting point for a graduate student CV sample with a clean, contemporary aesthetic.

This platform helps users create visually appealing documents easily. Its builder enforces good formatting practices, which is useful for students who aren't sure about layout rules.

What Makes It Stand Out

Novorésumé's advantage is its user-friendly builder combined with up-to-date advice. It focuses on the practical application of building a U.S.-market-ready resume that stands out visually and passes through automated screening systems.

The builder integrates content guidance with design. It prevents common formatting errors and helps you focus on the content. The structured layouts prompt you to include key skills effectively.

Key Features & Offerings

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Modern, ATS-friendly templates. The builder is intuitive for non-designers.
• Cons: The free version is limited to a single page, which is not suitable for a comprehensive academic CV.

Website: Novorésumé

6. VisualCV - Graduate Student CV Examples and Builder

VisualCV merges inspiration with action. It offers a hub of examples alongside an online builder. It’s for grad students who want to see a strong graduate student CV sample and immediately start creating their own in a modern, trackable format. The platform is especially useful for managing multiple applications for both academic and industry roles.

VisualCV bridges the gap between static templates and dynamic, shareable documents. You can create a hosted online CV with a unique link, perfect for adding to an email signature or LinkedIn profile.

What Makes It Stand Out

The platform is practical. It combines a library of examples with an intuitive builder, allowing you to create, publish, share, and track your CV's performance. The analytics feature on its Pro plan shows you who viewed your document and when.

The most valuable feature is the hosted online CV link. This bypasses email attachment limits and provides a professional, accessible portfolio. It’s an effective way to showcase your credentials during networking.

Key Features & Offerings

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Combines examples with a practical builder. Hosted online CV links are great for modern networking.
• Cons: The most useful features like unlimited documents and analytics require a Pro subscription.

Website: VisualCV Graduate Student Examples

7. Etsy - Graduate/Student CV Template Marketplace

For a polished, modern design without the hassle, Etsy is an unexpected goldmine. It’s a marketplace for professionally designed, downloadable CV templates. This is the ideal resource for finding a graduate student CV sample that balances aesthetic appeal with functional design.

Etsy provides a huge variety of styles from independent designers. You can find a template that matches your personal brand and target industry. Most templates are compatible with Word, Google Docs, and Pages, making them highly accessible.

What Makes It Stand Out

The key here is the blend of professional design, customizability, and affordability. Unlike free templates that are overused, Etsy templates offer a unique look for a one-time fee. Many sellers also bundle their templates with cover letter designs, icon packs, and writing guides.

The most powerful feature is the ability to filter by style and read seller reviews. This social proof helps you vet the quality and ATS-friendliness of a template before buying. A well-reviewed template often means the designer has considered common formatting pitfalls, saving you time.

Key Features & Offerings

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Highly affordable one-time purchases. Enormous variety to match different industries. Seller reviews provide quality assurance.
• Cons: Quality varies by seller. Some templates may need formatting adjustments to meet strict academic CV conventions.

Website: Etsy Graduate CV Templates

Stop Building, Start Writing

The common thread isn't the template. It's the story. A winning CV doesn't just list your publications and TA roles. It communicates the value behind them.

Your audience dictates everything. An academic committee and a tech recruiter want different things. The academic CV highlights intellectual contribution; the industry resume showcases problem-solving.

Quantify your impact. "Taught lab section" is a task. "Guided 30 students through a semester-long project, resulting in a 15% improvement in final exam scores" is an accomplishment. Find the numbers that prove your value.

How to Choose Your Next Step

Your choice depends on where you're stuck.

1. If you need structure and inspiration, start with Harvard or MIT. Their samples provide a solid, trusted blueprint.
2. If you need a specific format for academia, Overleaf is your best bet. It offers precise control for research-intensive fields.
3. If you just need the writing done, use a digital writer. A tool like StoryCV helps you find the right words to tell your story.

The fundamental challenge is always the writing. Translating your complex grad school experience into a clear narrative is the real work. Builders give you boxes. Templates give you a layout. None of them help you find the words.

That’s what separates a generic graduate student cv sample from a document that gets you an interview. Stop being a list of bullet points. Start being the solution to a hiring manager's problem.

Tired of staring at a blank page? The real work isn't formatting; it's finding your story. StoryCV interviews you about your experience and writes a CV that sounds like a human, not a template. See how your story can get you hired at StoryCV.