Free Harvard Resume Templates & Examples

Harvard Resume Template (Text)

1. Contact Info

Your contact information should be clear, professional, and easy to find at the top of your resume.

Make sure to include:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• City and state (ZIP code is optional)
• LinkedIn profile or personal portfolio (if relevant)

PRO TIP

Avoid including sensitive details such as your Social Security number, age, or religious affiliation on your resume unless explicitly requested by the employer.

2. Resume Profile

A resume profile is a brief section of two to four sentences that highlights your key qualifications and character. It serves as an enticing pitch to hiring managers, capturing their attention and encouraging them to explore your resume further.

This introduction sets the stage for a deeper look into your professional story.

Positioned at the top of your resume, the profile can be presented as either a summary or an objective, each offering distinct insights into your career goals and achievements. Here’s how they differ:

• A resume summary highlights your key experiences, skills, and achievements relevant to the field. This format perfectly suits individuals with established work histories or transferable skills who wish to emphasize their contributions as professionals in their respective industries.
• A resume objective is a forward-looking statement that highlights your career ambitions and desired achievements. It’s particularly helpful for recent grads, professionals transitioning into new fields, or those with limited experience, such as coding bootcamp graduates or individuals moving to marketing roles.

Let’s take a look at an example of each to see how a resume summary and a resume objective differ:

Harvard resume summary example:

Harvard resume objective example:

3. Work Experience

The work experience on your resume is an important aspect of your professional narrative. Employers assess your job history to discern the impact you’ve made within various roles, rather than focusing solely on titles and responsibilities.

Your previous experiences illustrate how you’re well-prepared for the challenges presented in your target role.

The work experience section should contain:

• Job title
• Employer name and location
• Dates of employment (month/year)
• 3–5 bullet points describing your relevant responsibilities and achievements

Tailor your content to align with the specific role you’re pursuing at Harvard. Start each bullet point with an action verb (like “Conducted,” “Facilitated,” “Collaborated”) to create a strong impression of your contributions.

Incorporate quantifiable data where possible. Specific metrics, such as program participation rates or funding increases, provide clear evidence of your impact and help distinguish you from other applicants in a competitive environment.

In general, consider following the format of:

[action verb] + [responsibility] = [result/achievement]

For example:

Note that you can also flip the result/achievement with the responsibility:

Discover more examples of work experience for Harvard graduates further down the page.

4. Skills

The skills section provides a concise overview of your professional abilities as they relate to roles at Harvard. This allows recruiters and hiring managers to quickly assess your qualifications for the position.

Skills can be categorized into three distinct groups:

• Soft skills are interpersonal abilities that influence how well individuals collaborate in a professional setting, such as in healthcare. Qualities like communication, adaptability, problem-solving, and teamwork are important for building trust and ensuring effective collaboration.
• Hard skills are specific, quantifiable abilities that individuals gain through education, training, or direct experience. For a software developer, for example, you might include coding in multiple programming languages, debugging applications, and managing databases.
• Technical skills refer to the specific knowledge and abilities required to perform specialized tasks. In software development, this includes skill with programming languages like JavaScript, familiarity with version control systems such as Git, and experience using integrated development environments (IDEs) like Visual Studio Code.

In general, aim to incorporate a diverse set of relevant skills that align with the job requirements to demonstrate your full professional potential. Find additional skills examples further down the page.

PRO TIP

If you’re an entry-level professional, place your skills section higher on the resume right after your summary. For those with more experience, consider moving this section lower and weave your skills into the descriptions of your work history.

5. Education

Understanding how to list education on your resume is important for presenting your credentials clearly. Begin with your most recent or relevant degree, including both the type of degree and the institution’s name.

If you have recently graduated, consider adding details such as your graduation year, GPA (if it’s 3.5 or above), any honors received, or relevant coursework that showcases your skills.

Harvard resume education section example:

PRO TIP

If you’re progressing from an Associate Degree in Business to a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, or have earned another relevant degree, list them both in reverse-chronological order for clarity.

6. Certifications

Listing certifications on your resume highlights your qualifications and can help bridge the gap if you have limited experience. Although this section may not be standard in every resume, it’s important for many professionals in the field.

Employers often look for specific credentials, particularly for specialized positions such as project management or cybersecurity roles.

Include only certifications that directly support your application. Keep them updated and formatted clearly to improve readability and impact.

Harvard certification examples:

• Harvard Business School Online Certificate in Business Analytics | Harvard University | Expires: 12/2028
• Harvard Data Science Professional Certificate | Harvard University | Expires: 05/2027
• Harvard Leadership Principles Certificate | Harvard University | Expires: 06/2027
• Harvard Digital Marketing Strategy Certificate | Harvard University | Expires: 09/2028

Popular Resume Bullets for Harvard

These examples are pulled from our most-used entries in the resume builder—based on what hiring managers respond to most.

5 Soft Skills for Your Resume or CV

5 Hard Skills for Your Resume or CV