At what point is it OK to claim that you review for a journal in a job application? I have just been invited to review a paper submitted to a very good journal in my field, and I accepted the request.

However, I will also submit my last PhD application within the next couple of days. Naturally, I will not be able to submit the review this soon.

I am wondering whether I should include in my CV that I am a reviewer for this specific journal. I am not sure how this would be considered in a PhD application, but I think it would strengthen my profile, given that this will be the second most prestigious journal to which I will have provided a review.

Perhaps the question can be better worded as: at which point it is OK to disclose that you review for a journal, particularly in a job application? Is it as soon as you receive the invitation? As soon as you accept the invitation? As soon as you submit the review? As soon as the review process ends? Or after a significant amount of time has passed?
I am not sure how this would be considered in a PhD application, but I think it would strengthen my profile, given that this will be the second most prestigious journal to which I will have provided a review.


While it doesn't influence the when, I am not sure your premise is correct. There is something important about an editor asking you to review for a journal since it demonstrates that someone (specifically a respected someone) thinks you have a thorough understanding of a field and are capable of independent critical thought. The act of reviewing is not really worth much.

As for when you can disclose it, I think this is a little messy. I would probably wait until the editor sends a decision letter to the author. At that point, you have clearly reviewed for a journal. Prior to that, I might mention that I have agreed to review for Editor X at Journal Y.