How to Write a Scientific Resume

You're a scientist, you're very well educated, you're intelligent, and so writing your own résumé should be easy, correct? I mean, how hard could it be? Especially if you have written your own thesis or dissertation in the past, you may feel that you can save the $300 bucks (or however much it costs, even if it is a tax deduction!) and simply do it yourself. The answer to this may surprise you?

Sometimes you can write your own résumé, and write it well. From my experience as an industry recruiter, where I saw hundreds of scientific résumés every day, there would be maybe 1 or 2 résumés that were REALLY well written. Then there was the tier of résumés that you had to suffer through in order to find out the actual skills that the individual possessed. I will confess, there are times when I threw out a résumé because it was simply too jumbled, and it was just frustrating to read.

Here are some tips:

Step 1: What are the secrets to writing a great résumé? First, you need to have a plan. Get an actual written example of the position to which you are applying. Your résumé has to be tailored to this position, or your résumé ends up looking too general. I know there are times when you are a bit lost, and you don't know what kind of job you want. My advice? Find out. Unless you are a new graduate, a general résumé will only hurt more than help.

Step 2: Organize your abilities. Focus on skills, not research projects. I can't say this enough. The title of your dissertation is really not as interesting as the fact that you conducted small molecule scale up in a Medicinal Chemistry Department and have experience with HPLC and NMR. Don't be afraid to sell your most marketable skills!

Step 3: Know what a hiring manager wants to see and give it to them! This is where it becomes very hard, and it's a bit like playing Russian Roulette unless you know the industry, the market forecast, and recent downsizing / shifts within the industry. This is one of the main reasons why people use a Certified Professional Résumé Writers that has biotech / pharmaceutical industry experience (there are only a handful around the nation). It is invaluable to get that key "hiring manager perspective", simply because you may not know you are doing anything wrong in your résumé. Have you ever sent your résumé to a prospective employer, and it just seems like a black hole? There is zero feedback; it is almost as if you had never sent your résumé at all. The reason why this happens is that you may not be a match for the position, even if you feel like you are. It is amazing what red flags can go for a hiring manager just from your résumé, so you need to be very, very careful in how you word 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 on your email until you have had at least 3 friends review your résumé. And those friends need to be harsh about their feedback, not nice! Your friendship may suffer for a week or so (but I sincerely hope not!), yet your résumé will be all the better for it, and honestly, this is the only way your résumé will improve. This is perhaps the most humbling part, because it is human nature to be offended when someone critiques your work. I'm not just talking about grammar, either, although this is probably the most popular offense. Your friends have to really be able to THINK like a hiring manager, and your résumé needs to reflect your strengths, highlight your true skills, and lowlight all those things you want to hide.

Yes, it is certainly easier to simply contract a Certified Professional Résumé Writer to write your resume. It saves you the headache, saves at least 10 hours of your time, and gives you the confidence that you end up with a legal document with which you can be proud. The downside of course, is that it will cost you money. Your resume may be tax deductible, however, so make sure you check with your financial advisor to see if this applies to you.

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

Laura Innis Yaldo http://www.apexresumes.com/

Ms. Yaldo earned her Masters of Arts in Biology from Smith College and continued on to finish one year of doctoral studies in Biochemistry. After completing lab work in Europe, she worked at the Center for Aids Research (CFAR) in La Jolla, California, as a bench scientist. Ms. Yaldo was later recruited into a prestigious scientific recruiting firm, where she wrote, edited, and critiqued thousands of resumes, provided career coaching, and interviewed top candidates from around the nation. Her combined talents at recruiting, resume writing, career coaching, life coaching, and interviewing skills were directly responsible for placing people in positions that ranged from $30,000 to $150,000. Ms. Yaldo is one of only a handful of people in the United States that can write scientific and federal resumes, and she has a strong track record in career coaching.

---

Travel Writer Jobs, What Are They And How To Find Them

Travel writing jobs are few and far between. Getting into this field is hard to do and requires a lot of training and experience. But, there are... Read More

Building Your Army of Supporters: How to Build Strategic Relationships in the Work Place!

Once you have accomplished your task of getting in the door and getting the job the real job of career advancement begins!You will soon learn (if you... Read More

Build New Habits -- Payday Will Come --

Feeling that it never works is not a good excuse. You may even remember last year not getting past February. GOOD intentions. NO success. Don't quit! Every... Read More

Resume That Effectively Promotes You!

Imagine for a moment that you have created a wonderful product. You are excited at the possibilities of attaining name, fame and wealth marketing this product. You... Read More

Beat the Crowd with Winning Resume Cover Letters

Far too many people underestimate the importance of resume cover letters. In a sense, a well written cover letter works like an agent on your behalf. It... Read More

No Experience? No Problem!

Are you a new graduate with little or no work experience? Sometimes it can be tough to get a job without experience, and how do you get... Read More

Cross Cultural Interviews

At this moment in time, the increase in cross border human traffic has meant that companies are no longer dealing with a homogenous native community from which... Read More

Becoming A Home Inspector: What the Home Inspection Schools Dont Want You To Know

Chances are if you're reading this you've thought about becoming a home inspector. You may have even seen the ads that say you can make hundreds of... Read More

Telecommuting Interview Tips

Telecommuting Interview Tips- By Nell TaliercioYou've made it! Your cover letter and resume got you to the interview process... now what? First of all, I would like... Read More

Think About a Nursing Degree

If you decide to get a degree in nursing, there are many things you need to know and consider first. Choosing your nursing school may not be... Read More

Does Your Resume Lack Vision?

You're just getting over the shock of having become unemployed. You know you need to begin a job search, but you may not know the best way... Read More

Put Some Mystery in Your Life

Mystery shoppers. For some it conjures up images of private eyes and undercover detectives. That's fair. In Nevada, a mystery shopper is required to register with a... Read More

The 7 Tough Job Interview Questions That Can Make or Break You - and How to Answer Them

Some interview questions are asked so frequently that they've become classics. Practically every interview you go on you'll be answering one or more of these seven interview... Read More

Learn a Language for Career Advancement

To learn a language for career advancement is one of the best ways to get ahead in the job market. In the 21st century you will need... Read More

War Time Hiring: 5 Steps to Attract Top Talent

A recent report, titled "The War for Talent" stated that over the next 20 years, employee talent will be what differentiates successful companies from those going bust.... Read More

Outsmart Other Job Seekers by Showing These 5 Key Strengths

Getting an appointment for an interview these days is an accomplishment. It indicates that you have a good resume, and/or that networking has paid off. Bravo. Now... Read More

Does Retirement Fit Into Your Busy Schedule?

Why do you work?Stop and think about it. Other than the income you derive from the various tasks and responsibilities you perform on the job, are there... Read More

Learn How To Succeed At Career Fairs

This career article will give you some great tips on successfully navigating thru career fairs.This issue will quickly cover the following:A) Purpose of Career FairsB) How To... Read More

Job Hunting Tips: Assessing Personal Value

A week out of work is a vacation. You can sleep late in the morning, revel in your newly found free time, shop when the stores are... Read More

What to Do if You are Over 40 and Have Lost Your Job

Unexpectedly loosing your job can be a very traumatic and distressing experience at the best of times. If you are over 40 and can't find the job... Read More

Inside Sales Jobs: A Job Worth Seeking?

Are you interested in inside sales as a career? Inside sales can be a very rewarding job if you so choose. What is the difference between inside... Read More

What You Need To Know Before Committing To Vocational Retraining

You've thought a lot about the kind of work you want to do. The duties, the pay, the hours, the environment ? everything sounds right. According to... Read More

Jobseekers! Look For Smoke, Not Fire

"If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always received," said some wise person. This is certainly true when it comes... Read More

Career Transitions: Creating Complementary Careers in a Day

Down-sized? Outsourced? Burned-out? Wizened up? That's what I said. Wizened up! Now is not the time to be depressed. Now, is the perfect time to assess your... Read More

How To Resign Gracefully

Once a new job has been accepted, you need to consider the timing of your resignation. Since two weeks' notice is considered the norm, make sure your... Read More

The Top 10 Ways to Achieve Balance in Your Life

1. Define Success for YourselfClarify and write down what success means for you. What would it look like, feel like, what would you hear if you were... Read More