Careers Centre

HDR students

Tailoring your resume for the role you want

One size does not fit all when promoting the value of your higher degree to potential employers with your resume.

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Resources

What position is right for you?

Consider what kind of position you want to target:

  • Academic
  • Research position in industry
  • Non-academic positions in industry, government, and NFP sector

Selection criteria

Consider the selection criteria in the job description.  What is of most interest to the employer and how can you address this?

What you should emphasise

Where should the emphasis be, for example, on academic, technical or transferable skills?  This will determine the length and structure of your resume.

  • Academic qualifications – level of achievement and subject specific knowledge
  • Research interests – past, present and future. Consider a “Research Profile” as opposed to a “Career Objective” section.
  • Research reputation and impact – publications, citations, conferences, public engagement. If a very long track record consider an appendix for less relevant content or organise into sub headings around relevance
  • Your ability to apply for and attract funding – include grants, scholarships, prizes and awards (make clear what they were awarded for if that’s not clear in the title)
  • Teaching experience – lecturing, tutoring, mentoring, supervision & any formal teacher training
  • Administrative experience – marking, course coordination, program management, committees, outreach like Open Days
  • Technical skills and subject specific knowledge
  • The academic language and terminology of the discipline, but don’t abbreviate (spell it out before using acronyms)
  • There is no set length for an academic resume but still follow the principles of tailoring your content for relevance and conciseness

  • Relevant research experience, technical skills & publications (summarised)
  • Any commercial applications or industry research partnerships
  • Quantifiable outcomes and where possible translate the language of your research field to equivalent terms in your target industry
  •  Interests or extra-curricular activities can make you appear well-rounded

  • Relevant transferable skills – focus on what you do, not what you know
  • Demonstratable knowledge of the industry/commercial awareness
  • Key words in job advertisement - use the language of the industry to describe your skills set
  • If a full time HDR student, include that as a “job” in your experience section
  • Focus on outcomes as a general indicator of achievement orientation.  Quantify and qualify  eg: “3 refereed articles in leading international science journal” rather than a detailed publications list
  • Depending on the length of your work history consider dividing into “Relevant/Industry Experience” and “Other Employment”
  • Join an industry relevant professional association to include on your resume. Membership will demonstrate your commitment & interest in the new profession you are entering
  •  Keep your non-academic resume between 1-4 pages in the Australian context.

Career support for HDR students

We offer a range of tailored services, workshops and events to support Higher Degree Research students with career planning and decision making, job search and professional skills development.

Explore career support for HDR students
Explore career support for HDR students

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Group of female students studying at New Engineering Building Link