Key takeaways
- Four published template variants — pick the one closest to your stage.
- One page, single column, dates right-aligned.
- Wharton applicants name concentrations explicitly.
- Quantify outcomes in every bullet, especially for finance/consulting.
- GPA only if 3.5+ (major GPA optionally cited).
Format rules at a glance
- Length
- 1 page
- Templates published
- 4 (UG, Grad, Wharton, Consulting/Finance)
- Wharton concentration
- Named explicitly
- GPA
- Include if ≥3.5
- Photo
- Never
Introduction
Penn Career Services distributes four template variants rather than a single canonical layout — undergraduate, graduate, Wharton, and consulting/finance-specific. All four share the same one-page, single-column skeleton and the same bullet discipline; the differences are which sections appear and the relative emphasis on quantitative work vs. leadership.
This template gives you the shared Penn skeleton, with sections that adapt to your stage and target industry.
Penn resume format
- Length: one page through graduate school.
- Font: Times New Roman, Garamond, Arial, or Calibri at 10–12 pt.
- Margins: 0.5"–1".
- Photo: never.
- Layout: single column, dates right-aligned.
Personal summary
Penn's samples skip summary sections by default. Career changers can include a 1–2 line profile under contact info.
Experience section
Penn teaches a strong-verb + scope + result bullet, with a particular emphasis on quantifiable outcomes for finance, consulting, and Wharton applicants.
- Open with an action verb.
- Quantify dollar amounts, percentages, team size, time, or volume — Penn's Wharton samples rarely have a bullet without a number.
- Cap each bullet at two lines.
- For Wharton/finance applicants, foreground deal size, AUM, model accuracy, or P&L impact.
Education and certifications
Education leads the resume through graduation.
- University of Pennsylvania, then degree (e.g. BA in Economics, BS in Engineering, BS in Economics from the Wharton School), then graduation date.
- For Wharton, name the concentration(s) explicitly (Finance, Statistics, OIDD, etc.).
- Include GPA if 3.5+; major GPA may be cited separately if materially higher.
- Dual-degree (M&T, Huntsman, Vagelos) entries get a sub-line.
Skills guidance
Skills sit at the bottom of the page. Group by Technical, Languages, and Certifications. For finance/consulting applicants, name the modelling tools (Excel power-user features, SQL, Python, Bloomberg, Tableau) and certifications in progress (Series 7, CFA Level I).
Mistakes to avoid
- Omitting concentration for Wharton degrees. Recruiters expect to see Finance/STAT/etc.
- Bullets without numbers for finance/consulting tracks.
- Including a photo.
- Mixing CV and resume conventions (publications, references, two pages).
Frequently asked questions about the Penn resume format
Wharton applicants name their concentration(s), emphasize quantitative outcomes, and often list Series 7 or CFA progress. College of Arts & Sciences applicants follow the same skeleton but emphasize transferable skills and research.
Yes — dual-degree programs get their own sub-line under Education, with both degrees and graduation dates noted.
If the club is materially relevant to the target role and you held a leadership position, treat it as an Experience entry with bullets.
Career coaching and hiring-side experience, written into practical resume and job-search advice.
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Source · careerservices.upenn.edu