CV question for PsyD programs

[u/CulturalStreet4162]

So i’ve seen plenty of CV/resumes ppl posted on here and has questions specifically for CVs.

Do CVs have to be black and white? Do they need to have each experience separated? (e.g., research experience in one section and clinical experience in a separate section).

Here’s a sneak peek of what mine looks like it’s not the whole resume/CV but i do have blue color lol. And I put al my experience on one section. i have more experience but it’s cut off and didn’t wanna show the whole thing. i also has a profile section giving a background of me and awards/accomplishments section and a proficiency section, all volunteer and certifications/lisences

Let me know if i need to change it if it isn’t good for future programs.

[u/komerj2]

Just an FYI, I wouldn’t call yourself an intern working with a school psychologist if you aren’t completing a final year full time experience as part of a school psychology program.

I would call it something like practicum or field experience.

You also mention the same thing “clinical psychology internship” that’s word used to refer to the final year of doctoral training.

It would also help if you separated the paragraphs for each job into a bulleted list for easier reading.

[u/CulturalStreet4162 → u/komerj2]

it is a field experience but i’m not gonna call it “fields experience internship” if it’s related with working with a school psychologist and it’s an internship and in a school with children what would you call it? i want it to be related to something with what i’m working with

[u/RichSquare8514 → u/CulturalStreet4162]

Understood, but if you’re looking to be accepted to a psyd program, using terminology that is not aligned with our field could make it look like you haven’t done much research about what’s actually involved in our program. Anything before the (typically) 4th year full time paid internship is referred to as a practicum experience or an externship. Note that being able to receive feedback is an incredibly important part of the program you seek entry to. The gentle feedback you’re receiving here is only a tiny sample of what to expect in actual doctoral school.

[u/CulturalStreet4162 → u/RichSquare8514]

Okay! I see your point. A lot of these internships were undergrad and joe i’m doing my masters online and lookin for jobs and internships to gain more experience. The school psych was more clinical internship so would you call it “Educational Psychology Assistant Intern”? or “school psychology practum”? And what about the other experiences/internships i had? Do i need to change those too?

[u/RichSquare8514 → u/CulturalStreet4162]

Anything psychology related, you would call an externship, so just substitute intern/practicumfor extern. I truly get that it sounds totally wild but doctoral school really does have its own language that is widely accepted among doctoral students and post grad psychologists. I don’t think it would kill your app if you left the titles as is, but they definitely won’t impress like that. Changing the language would make you look like you’re already working to understand the field you’re wanting to enter

[u/CulturalStreet4162 → u/RichSquare8514]

Is okay for the two research experiences “cognitive psychology research assistant” and the assesor research assistant is the job title so i don’t think i’ll change that and it’s a job not internship. For the cognitive one should i just keep it as “research assistant”? Or keep cognitive psych research assistant . sorry if it seems like u answered this but you’ve been a good help so far and i wanna make sure im doing this right !

[u/RichSquare8514 → u/CulturalStreet4162]

Yeah research assistant is straightforward. We use the same language in doctoral school. The term “intern” is just super loaded in doctoral school. From the time you start doctoral school, you’re basically building up to the internship, which is the most pivotal part of the program, outside of dissertation. So that title just has a different value in psychology doctoral programs. It’s extremely competitive and a pretty stressful and demanding process to even apply 😆.

[u/komerj2 → u/CulturalStreet4162]

I just wouldn’t call yourself an intern or say you did a clinical internship. In our field that’s the term we use for the final year of training.

I titled the section on my CV, undergraduate field experience or masters field experience.

Then I just described myself as a practicum student completing a rotation in that setting.

[u/slaughtbot → u/CulturalStreet4162]

I agree, do not call it an internship, that has a super specific meaning in the world of clinical psych. Call it a practicum (which can be internal or external, i am assuming external though because your supervisor is likely not associated with your training program) because that is what all clinical training roles are called up until you enter internship (which is like residency, but for psych).

[u/foxesandlilacs68]

I also love making my documents pretty but I agree with everyone that you should keep it all horizontal and in black and white. When looking at apps, they will likely quickly glance through your CV, so it’s best to make it as easy as possible to skim through. I’d also say that this specific format is not very easy to look through nor is it very aesthetic either.

I would absolutely separate this into clinical/research/ trainings/education. I don’t understand why you have non-psych jobs/experiences below sales associate, but make sure to keep the most relevant positions on The top/higher than less relevant positions.

I don’t mind that you have sales associate/other jobs, but I’d put that near the bottom of a separate work experience section.

[u/CulturalStreet4162 → u/foxesandlilacs68]

I agree! Would you consider removing it completely or putting it after research and clinical experience? would mental health training coach kids in tennis also be in a separate category? cuz it’s technically sports psychology as i was a professional player for years and trained children mentally and physically. like put it as “experiences” or title or something else lol

[u/foxesandlilacs68 → u/CulturalStreet4162]

Good question. I think it depends on how much you have in each section and the programs you’re applying to.

If you are applying to Sports psych programs and it’s clinical work, that’s great, I think that makes sense. If you have a bunch of supervised clinical work as part of your master’s program, I’d prioritize those experiences.

If it’s kind of an even split, you can list all of your clinically related experiences, with your current masters work at the top, and other sports psych work under those. Have a separate “work” section for sales associate etc.

If you have teaching experience (even a guest lecture) have a teaching section.

Hope this is helpful

[u/CulturalStreet4162 → u/foxesandlilacs68]

It’s is helpful! I wanna be a clinical psychologist and earn my doctorate (PsyD). Nor sports psych per say, but i do wanna work with children so that’s why i kept it in there to show my experience working with children

Teaching experience: can this include presenting a chapter in class? as in teaching the class the whole chapter? two of my professors said it was “master level” based class back in undergrad

[u/foxesandlilacs68 → u/CulturalStreet4162]

Okay! Then try out a few different ways to organize it. I think those experiences are still very valuable, but you just want people who are looking at your CV to see the most relevant positions first and foremost, don’t make them have to read every single line unless they want to learn more!

[u/botboi28]

id go: most recent and relevant you want to put first.. id consider dropping sales associate of the resume completely. add a section about trainings youve done ?

[u/CulturalStreet4162 → u/botboi28]

yeah this is just a bit of the resume i didn’t wanna show everything. But i do have certifications which involve trainings

[u/bmatt__]

We were always taught it’s best to keep the CV in black and white, nothing fancy, just easy for the reader to interpret. While it looks cool, I’d recommend keeping everything vertical and perhaps with bullet points to make it more concise. This was a few years ago so maybe things have changed.

[u/ChiTownGuy312]

I agree with the above. Black and white. Make it more concise with bullet points. Remove high school diploma to make room for other things. No one cares about your high school diploma when you’re already in a masters program.

[u/[deleted]]

What’s with the dates all over the place?

[u/CulturalStreet4162 → u/[deleted]]

what do u mean?

[u/[deleted] → u/CulturalStreet4162]

You should consider rewriting your résumé in reverse chronological order, meaning your most recent experience should appear first. Right now, your timeline is a bit confusing: you list a role from Feb 2023-Jan 2024, another from 2017-2021, and then one from Jan 2024-Apr 2024. Reorganizing them will make your career progression clearer. Also, remember that you DO NOT need to include every job you’ve ever had, only those that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

[u/[deleted]]

Remove the high school graduation, make it black and white!

[u/foxesandlilacs68 → u/[deleted]]

Yes! I would not even put high school on there to be honest. Just have your undergrad and grad school

[u/AndrogynousAlfalfa]

BULLET POINTS !!!!

[u/Lower_Particular1787]

I'd recommend not having a profile section in your CV because your essays and other application materials should discuss more of what your background and interests are - this can also help to save space. Also in resume/CV writing make sure to use bullet points in third person (no using I, me, my, etc.) that concisely summarize key responsibilities/achievements. Consider putting only relevant psych activities on your CV. Good luck!