Crafting a resume that stands out is essential for landing internships, jobs, scholarships, or graduate school opportunities. Harvard College’s Bullet Point Resume Template for 2025 sets a benchmark for clarity, conciseness, and effectiveness.
This guide will walk you through each section of the template, offering tips and examples to help you create a resume that meets Harvard’s standards while highlighting where this format is most commonly used or required.
Why Follow the Harvard College Resume Template?
The Harvard College Bullet Point Resume Template emphasizes achievements through action-oriented bullet points. This structure ensures your resume is easy to scan while effectively showcasing your skills and accomplishments. Employers, scholarship committees, and graduate programs appreciate this format because it highlights the impact of your experiences rather than just listing responsibilities.
4 Benefits of This Bullet Point CV Format:
- Clarity: Each section is well-defined and easy to read.
- Efficiency: Bullet points streamline content, avoiding lengthy paragraphs.
- Impact-Driven: Emphasizes achievements with measurable outcomes.
- Versatile: Suitable for jobs, internships, scholarships, and graduate applications.
How to Write Each Section of Your Harvard-Style Bullet Point Resume?
1# Personal Information (Header)
Start with your name, contact details, and current address. Keep this section clean and professional.
What to Include:
- Full Name in bold and slightly larger font.
- Current Address (home or campus).
- Professional email (preferably your Harvard email).
- Phone number.
Example:
Jane Doe
123 Harvard Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
janedoe@college.harvard.edu | (123) 456-7890
Tip: Avoid adding social media profiles unless professionally relevant.
2# Education Section
Highlight your academic background, starting with your current degree, followed by study abroad experiences (if applicable) and high school details.
Key Components:
- Institution Name: Harvard University, Study Abroad Program, High School.
- Degree & Concentration: Major and minor (if applicable).
- GPA (Optional): Include only if it’s 3.5 or higher.
- Thesis (Optional): Mention only if relevant to the job or scholarship.
- Relevant Coursework (Optional): Showcase courses related to your field.
Example:
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Bachelor of Arts in Economics. GPA: 3.8/4.0
Expected Graduation: May 2025
Relevant Coursework: Advanced Microeconomics, Behavioral Economics, Data Analytics
Tip: High school details should only be included if you’re a freshman or applying for internships requiring them.
3# Experience Section
This section is the core of your resume, where you present your professional, research, or internship experiences. List roles in reverse chronological order.
Key Elements:
- Organization Name: The company, lab, or institution.
- Location: City, state, or “Remote.”
- Position Title: Your job title.
- Dates: Use “Month Year – Month Year” format (e.g., June 2024 – August 2024).
- Bullet Points: Highlight achievements, not just tasks.
How to Write Bullet Points:
- Start with an Action Verb: Use strong verbs like “led,” “analyzed,” “designed,” or “facilitated.”
- Quantify Achievements: Use numbers to show impact (e.g., “Increased efficiency by 20%”).
- Avoid Personal Pronouns: Keep each point concise and professional.
Example:
Google, Remote
Product Management Intern
June 2024 – August 2024
- Spearheaded user testing for a new app feature, improving functionality by 25% based on user feedback.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams, reducing project turnaround time by 30%.
- Created detailed reports and presentations for senior stakeholders.
Tip: Focus on results rather than responsibilities. Quantifying your work helps recruiters see your impact.
4# Leadership & Activities Section
Highlight leadership roles, club memberships, and volunteer experiences. If leadership is more relevant than work experience, place this section above the Experience section.
Key Elements:
- Organization Name.
- Role or Position Held.
- Location and Dates.
- Bullet points (optional but recommended for significant roles).
Example:
Harvard College Consulting Group, Cambridge, MA
Project Leader
September 2023 – Present
- Led a team of five to conduct market research, increasing a startup’s user acquisition by 15%.
Tip: Emphasize leadership, initiative, and teamwork.
5# Skills & Interests Section (Optional but Recommended)
Showcase your technical skills, language proficiency, and unique interests that could spark interview conversation.
Key Categories:
- Technical: Software (e.g., Excel, Tableau), programming languages (e.g., Python, Java).
- Languages: Specify proficiency (e.g., Fluent in French, Conversational in Spanish).
- Laboratory Skills: For STEM-related roles.
- Interests: Mention hobbies like photography, hiking, or podcasting.
Example:
Skills: Advanced Excel, SQL, Python, Adobe Photoshop
Languages: Fluent in French, Conversational in Japanese
Interests: Marathon Running, Classical Guitar, Creative Writing
Tip: Highlight skills relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Where Can This Bullet Point CV/Resume Be Used?
The Harvard College Bullet Point Resume Template is versatile and widely accepted across various professional and academic platforms. Here’s where it’s commonly demanded:
- Internships: Leading companies like Google, McKinsey, and Goldman Sachs prefer this format.
- Job Applications: Ideal for entry-level roles, especially in consulting, tech, and finance.
- Scholarship Applications: Prestigious scholarships like Rhodes, Fulbright, and Gates-Cambridge.
- Graduate Programs: Required for MBA, law, or master’s applications.
- Research Opportunities: Academic labs and fellowships often request this format.
- Networking: Perfect for career fairs, informational interviews, and alumni connections.
Tip: Always tailor your resume to match the specific role or opportunity.
Formatting Guidelines of Bullet Point Resume for 2025
To maintain professionalism and readability of your Harvard College Bullet Point Resume, follow these formatting standards:
- Font: Use Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman in 10–12-point size.
- Margins: Set margins between 0.5 and 1 inch.
- Length: One page is ideal for undergraduates; two pages if you have extensive experience.
- Consistency: Ensure uniform formatting for dates, headings, and bullet points.
Tip: Always save your resume as a PDF before submitting to prevent formatting issues.
Harvard College Bullet Point Resume Editable Template: https://cdn-careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/161/2024/07/2024-template_bullet.docx.
Official: https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/resources/bullet-point-resume-template/.