PhD/PsyD CV Help

[PsyDocNess]

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Hi all,

Thank you for your previous help in recommending books. I have ordered a bunch and have just gotten into reading as the semester just ended for me. I wanted to reach out and ask if anyone could recommend any tips for putting together a CV? I have currently found this template (from APA) and was wondering if this was a good template to use nowadays? I have looked at other templates and found ones that include volunteer experience, so I was wondering if I should edit this template to include this? Other templates also include "Selected Professional Seminars/Trainings", should I also include this? I haven't signed up for any CE trainings as I was told that current graduate students would not really need to attend these because credit is only given after licensure.

Also, in terms of Leadership positions, I have held some positions, some being in my (recent) undergrad and some in my PsyD program. I was wondering if it would be good to include the undergraduate positions, seeing as they are less than 3 years old.

I appreciate any and all help or insight that you guys provide.

Thank you!

 

[R. Matey]

Joe Hammer has a really nice CV resource for students.

 

[PsyDuck90]

There’s no 1 right template. What I’ve done over the years is review CVs of professors, colleagues, supervisors, etc. and adapt as necessary. It’s also not uncommon to have different versions of your CV for different scenarios. Applying for a research grant? Research products and prior grants may go above clinical experience, etc.

Rule of thumb I try to stick by is whether the experience is relevant. Was the leader of your college Greek life group? Probably wouldn’t add. Hold a trainee position in an APA division group or other professional group like INS? Include. Attended a free webinar? Probably wouldn’t include. Completed the clinical neuroanatomy course through NAN? Include.

 

[PsyDocNess]

Joe Hammer has a really nice CV resource for students.

Thank you! I'll use this to make my adjustments.

 

[PsyDocNess]

There’s no 1 right template. What I’ve done over the years is review CVs of professors, colleagues, supervisors, etc. and adapt as necessary. It’s also not uncommon to have different versions of your CV for different scenarios. Applying for a research grant? Research products and prior grants may go above clinical experience, etc.

Rule of thumb I try to stick by is whether the experience is relevant. Was the leader of your college Greek life group? Probably wouldn’t add. Hold a trainee position in an APA division group or other professional group like INS? Include. Attended a free webinar? Probably wouldn’t include. Completed the clinical neuroanatomy course through NAN? Include.

Gotcha, thank you for the insight! I've seen so many templates, even ones that are "ATS proof" and have been trying to window-shop which ones would be the best for my experience at the moment.

 

[PsyDuck90]

I don’t think you have to worry about being “ATS proof” at this stage, as practicum sites and the like are not typically using those systems to parse through applications. OP, can you ask more senior students in your program to see their CVs? My program handbook actually had a sample CV, and our director of clinical training was always willing to take a look at our CVs. I would probably reach out to your local network, as sometimes format preferences vary by regions (for instance, I noticed minor stylistic formatting differences of CVs from people in the Chicagoland area compared to the NY metro area).

 

[PsyDocNess]

I don’t think you have to worry about being “ATS proof” at this stage, as practicum sites and the like are not typically using those systems to parse through applications. OP, can you ask more senior students in your program to see their CVs? My program handbook actually had a sample CV, and our director of clinical training was always willing to take a look at our CVs. I would probably reach out to your local network, as sometimes format preferences vary by regions (for instance, I noticed minor stylistic formatting differences of CVs from people in the Chicagoland area compared to the NY metro area).

For sure, I will look into reaching out to the higher cohorts above to see what they have going on. I had just heard that beginning the CV is important so that I am able to add on additional experiences and trainings as they occur rather than trying to scrape my mind later on. Looking through our handbook, there is no sample CV provided, which is something I can bring up to our program director.

Thank you!!

 

[psych.meout]

Eh, it's not really that important at the beginning. No one expects you to do a great job on your CV when you're starting out, that's part of what you're supposed to learn in grad school. Many faculty will have lab meetings specifically for these kinds of things, reviewing each other's CVs, cover letters and essays for internship, etc.