Great Biologist Resume Tips [+ Examples & Templates]
A nature lover; a science lover. The environment around you just seems extremely fascinating. Perhaps, a biologist is a career that interests you. A biologist studies everything about organisms – from collecting field samples and measurements to analysing and interpreting these data.
Biologists do not necessarily have to work in laboratories! In fact, job positions for a biologist vary incredibly: you could obtain an academia position, like a professor, or a government position conducting census projects!
But, reality is, there are many other applicants as curious as you are in the world of nature. So, now the question becomes: how do you stand out?
With an impressive biologist resume.
You'll learn:
How to build a great biologist resume?
Tip #1: Adopt an ATS-friendly biologist resume format.
Make sure that your biologist resume has an ATS-friendly format.
Hiring managers usually use an automated system to select those that can proceed to the interview stage.
Tip #2: Refer to online biologist resume templates and examples.
Looking for professional biologist resume examples online can be an inspiration for job seekers. Take note of their skills, their working experience, and anything that looks strong on their resume. This way you would know what to expect in the industry!
Tip #3: Tailor your biologist resume for the job position and adopt keywords from the job description.
Pay close attention to what it is that recruiters are looking for. Then, modify your biologist resume accordingly. This shows that you intend to apply for that job position at that company in particular.
Besides, a biologist resume is often mistaken as a biologist CV. The latter aims to obtain an academic position whereas a biologist resume is often used to secure a more typical job.
💡Tip: Make sure that you customize your biologist resume and/or biology CV based on the job advertisement.
Tip #4: Quantify results.
Adding numbers to quantify your skills for a biology resume makes a huge difference. They create concrete evidence of how resilient and creative you are!
Tip #5: Craft a captivating biologist resume headline.
Hiring managers only spend a couple of minutes scanning resumes. Starting your biologist resume with an outstanding headline can increase your chance to be called in for an interview.
What is a good objective for a biologist resume?
A career objective, or also sometimes called a resume objective, is an important feature for your biologist resume. It gives a sense of purpose, a sense of direction and this helps captivate hiring managers.
Some crucial features to include on career objectives for biologist resume are:
- Personal traits
- Relevant experience
- Career goals
Examples of Objectives on Biologist Resumes:
- Seeking a co-op position in biology labs specializing in immunology; special interests include the research and development of vaccines.
- To obtain a full-time position as a biology professor in highly prestigious universities; over 10 years of teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level.
- To secure at an entry-level position in the research department of the National Bureau of Forensics.
👍 Tip: You could also refer to biology resume objective examples online for reference.
How to write a professional summary for a biologist resume?
A professional biologist resume summary is a brief outline that describes you. Your skills, your relevant experience, your unique traits; basically anything that stands you apart from other candidates.
If you are wondering on what to include for your biologist resume summary, here are some guidelines:
1. Awards
Include any award or certification that you have been granted onto your biologist resume summary.
2. Skills for biology resume
Soft skills and hard skills are equally as important for your biologist resume. Some soft skills that are notable are communication skills and team working, whereas proficiency in software languages are more recognizable for the latter!
3. Other achievements
This feature can be a little tricky. Achievements irrelevant to biology can be included; although, do note that you need to be selective on what to include onto your biologist resume. You do not want to shift too far from the career objective on your biologist resume!
4. Educational background
Include any relevant degrees if you are a fresher. This is often seen in an entry-level biology resume, or a biology resume with no experience. However, if you have hands-on experience in the field, focus more on stressing your skills for biology resume.
Summary for an Entry-Level Biology Resume:
Senior year biology degree student passionate about fungi and plants. Excellent leadership skills with multiple experiences in directing projects. Granted most-influential vice-president of Fungi Club 2019 at the National University of Grainland.
Summary for a Professional Biology Resume:
- Fervent high school biology teacher with over 10 years of experience of teaching in both local and international schools. Capable of creating a conducive learning environment through creative and engaging lesson plans.
- Certified biologist researcher with 12+ years of experience in international DNA laboratories. Exceptionally skilled in collecting samples and producing error free lab reports.
💡 Tip: If you have a long list of skills relevant to the field of biology, consider crafting a separate biology skills resume section!
What skills should a biologist have for a resume?
The skills section is one of the most important sections on your biologist resume. It differentiates you from other competent candidates and acts as a screening factor to secure an interview opportunity. This is why paying great detail to writing this section becomes overlooked by job seekers.
There are several ways of how to list out your skills for biology resume, and each format has their own pros and cons. Read on to know which format suits best for your biology resume.
- Bullet lists
The regular bullet list format is the easiest and most direct way to show your set of skills. This allows recruiting managers to notice your biology skills on your resume straight away, within seconds. Although bullet lists tend to be short in general, they tend to be unclear.
- Expanded bullet lists
As the name suggests, this is an expanded version of the previous format. Each bullet point is further given an additional description, thus adding validation to your skill set. However, as this requires more space, remember to keep only the most valuable skills for your biology CV.
- Integrated with work experience
This format is similar to the reverse chronological resume, where each skill set has its own corresponding working experience. This is by far the most professional biologist resume format for the skills section, adding credibility and enhancing your competence all at once. Note that extra time and effort are required to use this type of format. It is not recommended for a biology resume with no experience.
- Categorized skills section
The categorized skills section for your biologist resume categorizes a wide range of various skills. This is very useful for those that have an immense amount of working experience, or for jobs that require a broad range of skills. A drawback to this format is that it might get complicated in organizing the details.
When writing a strong resume skills section for your biologist resume, consider including the following elements:
- Technical skills:
Hard skills are abilities, generally more practical, that are needed to perform specific tasks. They are often related to mathematical and scientific tasks. Adding technical skills onto your biologist resume will boost your STEM background. - Soft skills:
Soft skills are equally as important. They include interpersonal people skills, communication skills, time management, among many others. Apart from looking for the biologist job description for resume, hiring managers will always look for an applicant with excellent soft skills. - Lab skills:
Whether you are crafting your biologist resume for different job applications, lab skills are mandatory. A molecular biology resume, a marine biologist resume, or even a wildlife biologist resume requires at least basic lab skills. More specific lab skills can be added correspondingly to each biologist resume.
Refer to the example below for a molecular biology lab skills on resume.
Examples of Molecular Biology Skills for Resume:
Hard skills
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- Expression cloning
- Gel electrophoresis
- Macromolecule blotting and probing
- Arrays (DNA and protein array)
Soft skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong teamwork
- Leadership skills
- Public speaking
- Language skills
How to write a biologist CV with no experience?
Imagine this paradox: to get a job, you must have some experience, but to have some experience, you need a job. This is why most freshers worry that their entry-level biology resume is not competent enough compared to seniors that have spent years in the field.
Worry not; there is still a way through this job hunting competition. It is the relevant experience that matters.
Read on to figure out how your biology resume with no experience can have the edge over competitors.
#Advice 1: Choose the right biologist resume format.
For an entry-level biology resume, follow the reverse-chronological order, where you list out the most recent achievements first. For example, freshers could craft a specific biology skills resume as they would not have many years of work experience to showcase.
#Advice 2: Adopt a career objective.
A career objective for your biologist resume should include your purpose of applying to the job position. Start your resume objective with who you are and strongly state what it is you are looking for from the job.
#Advice 3: Highlight your education.
Especially since you have no experience, this education section could be your main strength. The education section of an entry-level biology resume should include more than the name of your school and the years attended. You can also add your major, GPA (if deemed satisfactory), clubs and organizations, and relevant courses.
#Advice 4: Include your portfolio/side project/personal website.
Further show recruiters what you have and who you really are by including your personal website. Relevant projects or even external activities can show your true personality too.
#Advice 5: Write a sincere biologist cover letter.
To end your biologist resume, you could add a cover letter for biology jobs. A great cover letter is a medium to express who you are – and thus, why hiring managers should recruit you. Remember, your biologist cover letter should not repeat the same content from your resume.
Biologist Resume Sample
Stevie Lin
Qualified biologist with over 10 years of experience in the research scope of immunology
[email protected]
linkedin.com/in/stevielin
(+886)-987-654-321
Professional Summary
Skilled biologist with professional track record in the areas of immunology and virology. Knowledgeable in field sampling and producing accurate lab results. Experienced in teaching at the undergraduate level for immunology-related courses.
Work Experience
Isodyne Inc.
Lab Assistant
2002 - 2004
- Developed curriculum content, including lab experiments.
- Assisted professors in conducting laboratory experiments and grading papers.
- Prepared necessary instruments such as HPLC, LC-MS, NMR.
National University of Grainland
Associate Professor
2009 - Present
- Conduct courses particularly in the area of immunology for undergraduate students.
- Researched lab interest includes the function of cytokines and B cells.
Education
2000 - 2004, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
University of Wellington
- Overall GPA 3.91
- Honours and Dean’s List Award three years consecutively
2006 - 2008, Master of Science in Biology
University of Grainland
- Master research topic specializing in virology and immunology
- Chemistry, Biology, and Everything in BetweenFounder of Student Organization
- Led weekly off-campus conferences highlighting topics in the areas of chemistry and biology for high school students.
Skills
Hard skills
- Data entry
- Field sampling experience
- Experimental design
- Teaching experience at undergraduate level
- Lab skills
- Statistical analysis with R
Soft skills
- Critical thinking
- Teamwork
- Excellent communication skills
- Experienced in project-based tasks
- Detail-oriented
--- Originally written by Felicia Diparahardja ---
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