
Write the Perfect Resume in 9 Simple Steps (With Examples)
Sometimes, a good resume isn’t enough. Find out how to make a perfect resume that proves you’re the best candidate for the job.
You’ve spent years deepening your knowledge in a narrowing field. Getting all that expertise onto a page or two of a science resume is easier than you think. Find out how.
Black-rimmed glasses, lab coat, pocket protector.
Possibly a calculator in hand, panels of dials and gauges in the background.
Doesn’t sound like you?
Then why make your science resume as bad a representation?
Let the facts speak for themselves.
Use measurable and quantified achievements to show what you have to offer.
Because numbers don’t lie.
In this guide:
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Just starting your career in science or looking to get into technical writing? See our guides for these and many more:
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Jennifer Young
Computer Scientist
Personal Info
Phone: 508-816-4618
E-mail: jenifer.young@reslab.com
linkedin.com/in/jenniferayoung
Summary
Dedicated computer scientist with 4+ years of experience working in microprocessor design and microcode creation. Seeking to bring System72 its first in-house CPU ahead of schedule and under budget. At MVW, laid the groundwork for projects work $11 million, shaved 11% off HT execution, and currently hold the tracking algorithm accuracy record.
Experience
Computer Scientist
MVW Systems
2017–2019
Computer Scientist
Orange Silicon
2015–2017
Education
BSc Computer Science, MIT
2011–2015
Professional Organizations
Software
Key Skills
That was the what, now for the how—read on for expert science CV writing tips:
Even at arm’s length—
You can tell typed-up lab notes apart from a journal article.
Format matters, for your resume as well.
So make sure your resume’s style says ‘hire me’—
Even at arm’s length.
Here’s how you can achieve a clean, clear, and compelling resume layout for your scientific resume:
Does the job ad specify a particular file format?
If not, then save or export your resume in PDF. Other formats have their place, but for formatted text, PDF can’t be beat for stability and cross-platform support.
Papers start with abstracts—
Your scientist resume should start with a resume profile.
There are two forms a resume profile can take—
Got experience?
The start with a career summary.
Use:
These science resume examples show the above in action:
Hard to believe they’re the same person.
The first one:
The second one is vague and focused on what the candidate wants from the employer—
Not a protocol for success.
Just starting out?
Then start your entry-level science resume with a resume objective instead.
Focus on academic achievements plus placement and volunteer work.
And take note of the fact that—
Your career objective is still all about what you can do for them.Target your resume by mentioning the company by name as well as the job title.
This will also keep Applicant Tracking Systems happy—an ATS-friendly resume is key if you want to pass the initial resume screening!
Expert Hint: Write your science resume objective or summary last. You’ll do a much better job after you’ve got your work experience, skill, and education sections sorted out.
Assumption:
Past behavior predicts future behavior.
How to show what you can do for a future employer?
Describe what you’ve done for previous employers.
To come up with a compelling work experience section:
Study these science resume examples:
Computer Scientist
MVW Systems
2017–2019
Computer Scientist
MVW Systems
2017–2019
See that?
Both examples use strong resume verbs to put you in the center of the action—
But the first one focuses on results, quantifying the consequences of your actions.
You’ll also need a skills section for your resume. The skills you include will depend on your field of expertise. ‘Science’ is a pretty broad category, after all.
Use the lists below as jumping-off points—
And remember:
Let the job ad dictate what skills to put on a resume for science jobs. Aim for a balance between soft and hard skills.
Hard Skills
Soft Skills
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Education is important—
In all the sciences.
There’s no way around it.
Include the obvious:
Degree, school, and years attended—
With an expected graduation date if you’re still studying.
But then—
Add bullets that point to key skills, achievements, or areas of particular interest.
This science resume example will give you an idea:
BSc Computer Science, MIT
2011–2015
These extra bullet points will help you stand out like a non-Gaussian distribution.
Low on work experience?
Expand your education section even more! Include relevant coursework, projects, classes, competitions, clubs and societies, and generally anything that’s relevant to the job ad.
Expert Hint: Got a scholarship? Brag about it in your resume! Create a separate “Awards” section and list it there.
Most people know—
You can add extra sections to your scientific resume to stand out from the crowd.
But many people don’t know—
What things to add to a resume to boost their chances of success:
It’s easier to see in an example:
Professional Organizations
Software
Hobbies
Office Software
This one might be a bit subtle.
There’s nothing wrong with including hobbies in a science resume, but they have to be directly relevant to the job at hand.
And that’s the golden rule:
Everything is fair game if and only if it’s relevant to the job ad.
Also—
Mentioning spreadsheets when you’re a MATLAB master is usually going to be a waste of precious space.
One last thing—
Did the ad explicitly ask candidates not to include cover letters?
No?
Then you’ll need to write a cover letter to go with your science resume.
Fail to include one and risk having your resume eliminated as an anomaly.
Expert Hint: Email your resume directly to the hiring manager. You can find their contact details through the company’s website or LinkedIn.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
For a science resume that gets results:
How does this article stack up to your observations? Report back with your findings—drop us a comment down below, and we’ll be sure to get back to you.
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