How to write a scientific resume

You are a scientist, you are very well educated, you are smart, so writing your own resume should be easy, right? I mean, how hard could it be? Especially if you’ve written your own thesis or dissertation in the past, you may feel like you can save the $ 300 (or whatever it costs, even if it’s a tax deduction!) And just do it yourself. The answer to this may surprise you …

Sometimes you can write your own summary and get it right. Based on my experience as an industry recruiter, where I was viewing hundreds of scientific abstracts every day, there would be maybe 1 or 2 abstracts that were REALLY well written. Then there was the level of summaries that he had to suffer through to discover the actual abilities that the individual possessed. I must confess that there are times when I threw in a summary because it was just too messy and frustrating to read.

Here are some tips:

Step 1: What are the secrets to writing a great resume? First, you need to have a plan. Get a real written example of the position you are applying for. Your resume must fit this position, or your resume will end up looking too general. I know there are times when you are a little lost and you don’t know what kind of job you want. My advice? Discover. Unless you’re a recent graduate, a general resume will only be more painful than helpful.

Step 2: organize your skills. Focus on skills, not research projects. I cannot say this enough. The title of your dissertation is not really as interesting as the fact that you did small molecule scaling in a Department of Medical Chemistry and you have experience with HPLC and NMR. Don’t be afraid to sell your most salable skills!

Step 3: Know what a hiring manager wants to see and give it to them! This is where it gets very difficult, and it’s a bit like playing Russian roulette unless you know the industry, the market forecast, and the recent downshifts / changes within the industry. This is one of the main reasons people use a certified professional resume writer who has experience in the biotech / pharmaceutical industry (there are only a few in the entire country). Getting that key “hiring manager perspective” is invaluable, simply because you may not know that you are doing something wrong in your summary. Have you ever submitted your summary to a prospective employer and it looks like a black hole? There is no feedback; it’s almost as if you’ve never submitted your abstract. The reason this happens is that you may not be compatible with the position, even if you feel you are. It’s amazing what red flags can mean to a hiring manager from just your resume, so you need to be very, very careful in how you write and structure your experience.

Step 4: You are ready to edit! And edit again, and edit again! Don’t you dare hit the “SEND” button in your email until at least 3 friends review your summary. And those friends must be harsh with their comments, not nice! Your friendship may suffer for a week or so (but I sincerely hope not!). However, your resume will be much better, and honestly, this is the only way your resume will improve. This is perhaps the most humiliating part, because it is human nature to feel offended when someone reviews your work. I’m not just talking about grammar either, although this is probably the most popular offense. Your friends should really THINK like a hiring manager, and your resume should reflect your strengths, highlight your true skills, and downplay all the things you want to hide.

Yes, it certainly is easier to just hire a certified professional resume writer to write your resume. It saves you headaches, saves at least 10 hours of your time, and gives you the confidence that you will end up with a legal document that you can be proud of. The downside, of course, is that it will cost you money. However, your resume may be tax deductible, so be sure to check with your financial advisor to see if this applies to you.

But if you don’t have the money, make sure you have good friends around you – the kind that can withstand the rigors of editing!