The term “Harvard resume” refers to a specific style of resume associated with Harvard University, a leading Ivy League research institution. It’s a popular way of formatting this document due to its traditional layout that features a clear structure, simplicity, and academic credibility.
In this article, we’ll explore what makes a Harvard resume unique and different from more common formats. We’ll also explain who this resume is for and give a complete breakdown of its design and contents to teach you how to make one for yourself. Let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
A Harvard resume represents a specific resume structure that prioritizes education and leadership skills and is promoted by the Harvard Office of Career Services.
Compared to a traditional resume, a Harvard resume omits a resume objective or summary, puts the education section before work experience, has leadership and activities as a mandatory section, and makes the “Skills” section optional.
To get the most out of your Harvard resume, you should prioritize readability with straightforward sentences and action words, quantify your achievements with numbers, and tailor your resume to each new job you apply for.
What Is a Harvard Resume, and Who Is It For?
A Harvard resume refers to a resume format promoted and used by the Harvard Office of Career Services to help its students and alumni secure employment. It offers a classic style with the following features:
Harvard Resume Features
One-page length, emphasizing quality over quantity
Reverse-chronological ordering, which highlights your most recent efforts
Clean and minimal layout with a focus on the content over design
Knowing how to write a Harvard-style resume can help you get ahead of the competition, regardless of your academic background or field of work. Many recruiters love this format because it’s readable, professional, and compatible with the ATS.
While anyone can take advantage of this traditional format, it’s best used by students, recent college graduates, MBAs, and other junior-level professionals with a strong educational background and modest work experience.
Harvard Resume Example
Before we dive into the specifics, let’s take a look at a complete example of a Harvard resume to give you an idea of what the finished document should look like:
Harvard Resume Format Breakdown
Here’s a complete breakdown of the format for a Harvard CV and resume.
#1. Start With Your Contact Information
Your contact information should go at the top of your Harvard resume, detailing the following information:
Required Contact Information
Your name
Email address
Phone number
Home or campus street address
City and state
Including your street address isn’t mandatory unless it’s relevant to the job or the employer asks for it. You should also avoid including sensitive private information or adding your photo to a resume.
Here’s an example of what your contact information should look like:
Contact Information Example
Clair Demarco
clairdemarco@college.harvard.edu
+ 123 456 7890
Cambridge, MA
#2. Emphasize Your Education
The education section is the first main section of a Harvard resume. Traditional resumes usually have work experience as the primary section. However, considering the renown of this Ivy League university, mentioning its name is enough to impress most recruiters, and it should be done as soon as possible.
When writing this section, you first want to specify the university (e.g., whether it’s a resume for Harvard Business School, Harvard Medical School, or an entirely different university). Then, you should list your degree and concentration.
Adding GPA, thesis, and relevant coursework is optional, but it can help your application.
Let’s see that in an example:
Education Section Example
Education
Harvard University
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science. 3.76/4.0
May 2025
Thesis: Scalable Machine Learning Algorithms
Relevant Coursework: Data Structures and Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning
Awards: 1st Place Harvard Hackathon (Spring 2024)
In the same format, you can also add your high school and emphasize if you studied abroad.
#3. List Your Experience
The work experience section follows the education section and should include your role, the organization, dates of employment, and a bullet list of notable accomplishments.
Here’s an example:
Work Experience Section
Experience
Software Engineer Intern NewTech Inc. Boston, MA
June 2024–March 2025
Developed an innovative engagement feature for a web application, boosting user session duration by 17%.
Identified and resolved more than 30 bugs in code to improve application stability and performance.
Assisted 5 engineers in migrating a legacy database to a cloud-based system, ensuring minimal downtime.
#4. Leadership and Activities
The section about leadership skills and extracurricular activities allows candidates to demonstrate their willingness to go the extra mile and highlight their soft skills.
Here’s an example:
Leadership and Activities Section
Leadership & Activities
Club President Harvard Coding Club Cambridge, MA
February 2023–March 2024
Co-led a club of 150+ members, organizing weekly workshops and a 200+ attendee hackathon.
Secured over $2,000 in club funds from tech company sponsors.
Spearheaded outreach campaigns to increase club membership by 23%.
#5. Add Optional Sections
Optional sections include technical abilities, language skills, laboratory work, interests, and more. They should be listed briefly and only if relevant to the role you’re applying for.
Let’s see what that looks like in an example:
Optional Resume Section
Skills & Interests
Programming languages: Python (Expert), Java (Proficient), C++ (Proficient), JavaScript (Proficient), SQL (Advanced)
Language skills: English (Native), Spanish (Upper Intermediate)
Interests: Ethical implications of AI, photography, hiking
Harvard Resume vs. Traditional Resume Format
While a Harvard resume shares many similarities with traditional resume formats (notably, the chronological resume format), it also comes with several key differences, such as:
No resume objective or summary. Most traditional resumes have an introductory paragraph in the form of an objective or summary right after the contact information section. A Harvard resume omits this part and goes straight to the education section.
Education before experience. A Harvard resume places the education section at the top, rather than the work experience, as is common even in academic resume formats. This should come as no surprise, considering it’s one of the best-ranked universities in the world, and attending it is an achievement enough to impress employers.
Inclusion of leadership and activities. This section about leadership skills and extracurricular activities is usually present on a Harvard resume and optional on traditional ones.
Skills are an optional section. While a skills section is mandatory in a traditional resume, a Harvard resume places it toward the end and groups it with other optional details, such as languages, interests, and certifications.
Here’s a brief overview of the main differences between a Harvard and a traditional resume:
Aspect | Harvard Resume | Traditional Resume |
Objective and Summary | Not present | Included at the top of the resume |
Education Section | Included before work experience | Included after work experience |
Leadership and Activities | Must-have section | Optional section |
Skills Section | Optional section | Must-have section |
Harvard Resume Template
Here’s a simple Harvard resume template that you can copy and paste to effortlessly create an Ivy League resume in minutes:
Resume Template
FirstName LastName
email@college.harvard.edu
+ 123 456 7890
Home or Campus Address
Education
Harvard University
Degree, Concentration. (GPA is optional)
Graduation date
Thesis (Optional)
Relevant Coursework, Awards (Optional)
Experience
Position Title
Organization
City, State (or remote)
Month Year–Month Year
Bullet list with notable achievements
Leadership & Activities
Position Title
Organization
City, State
Month Year–Month Year
Bullet list with notable achievements.
Skills & Interests (optional section)
Technical skills
Language skills
Laboratory skills
Interests
Need a different style or industry-specific resume?
Browse our resume templatesHow to Make a Harvard Resume with Resume.co Builder
Making a Harvard resume with our resume builder is quick and easy. You simply input your information in pre-designated spots and use our AI to polish your writing. It also comes with ready-made resume examples and templates to help you make the best document possible.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to using it:
Navigate to our resume builder and choose to start from scratch.
Follow the instructions and begin filling in your resume one section at a time.
Drag and drop the sections to change their order and use the “Additional sections” button to add optional parts.
Go to the “Design” menu to select a resume template and change its style, layout, fonts, and colors.
Review your resume and click on the “Download” button to obtain a submission-ready document.
3 Powerful Tips for Creating Your Harvard-Style Resume
Here are three expert tips that will help you elevate your resume for the Harvard application and job seeking:
Harvard-Style Resume Tips
Prioritize legibility. The main characteristic of a Harvard resume is its simplicity. The layout should be clean and easy to scan, and the writing should be straightforward, without the use of jargon, resume buzzwords, and overly complex phrases and sentences.
Leverage numbers and action verbs. When describing your accomplishments, you should use strong action verbs and power words to make your writing stand out and be more memorable. On the other hand, numbers add measurable value to your efforts and help validate your skills.
Tailor your resume to each job you apply for. While a Harvard resume provides a solid foundation for a strong document, you should still make sure that its contents are relevant to the job that you’re applying for. This will help you present yourself not only as a qualified candidate but also as the ideal person for that specific role.
Create a Cover Letter That Matches Your Harvard Resume
Writing and submitting a cover letter that matches your Harvard resume significantly boosts your chances of impressing recruiters and employers.
The cover letter should be similar in nature to your Harvard resume: brief, to the point, and packed with information. In general, it should have between three and five paragraphs, or 250–400 words.
You can use our cover letter builder to create a professional document with the assistance of AI. It will polish your writing to show your best qualities and help you include a call to action to maximize your chances of getting a callback.
Need a cover letter to complement your Harvard resume?
Create a matching cover letter with our AI builderFinal Thoughts
Harvard resume format is excellent at helping job seekers present their skills and qualifications in a clear and concise manner. Its simple structure is perfect for highlighting a candidate’s academic accomplishments, experience, and leadership prowess.
All of this makes a Harvard resume an excellent choice for students and recent graduates, as well as for various professionals across different fields. The focus on the content helps your resume impress recruiters and pass ATS screening, giving you the best chances of progressing to the next stage in the hiring process.
Harvard Resume FAQ
#1. Should I include my GPA in my Harvard resume?
You should include GPA in your Harvard resume only if it’s strong (e.g., 3.5 or higher). It’s optional, and you should only do so when it can improve your chances of impressing recruiters and employers.
#2. Is the Harvard resume format good for job applications?
Yes, the Harvard resume format is good for most job applications. Recruiters prefer its clean and structured organization, with a reverse-chronological arrangement and bullet points for improved legibility. Additionally, the format is compatible with the ATS, which helps you pass software screening.
#3. Can I use a Harvard resume template if I didn’t attend Harvard?
Yes, you can use a Harvard resume template even if you didn’t attend Harvard. The term “Harvard resume” refers to a specific style and professional resume format that provides a structured approach for highlighting your education, experience, and skills.
#4. What shouldn’t I include in a Harvard resume?
Some of the things you shouldn’t include in a Harvard resume are personal pronouns and sensitive information (e.g., your age, gender, religious, and political affiliations), your photo, and details irrelevant to the job you’re after. You should also avoid including references or even mentioning “References available upon request.”
