Table of contents
A career in biotech takes significant expertise, but do you know how to communicate your scientific skills on a resume that inspires employers? To do that, let our guide and biotech resume examples walk you through the process.
This guide will show you:
- Popular biotech resume examples.
- How to write a job-winning biotech resume.
- Biotech resumes for different stages in your career.
- Why everyone in biotech should be writing cover letters.
Need assistance with your resume? Get support with our AI Resume Builder. Choose a design suitable to a career in biotech and get section-by-section advice, including auto-generated text you can easily edit and add to your template.
Popular Biotech Resumes
You’ve got the knowledge to be a star in the biotech world, but can you sequence a resume that will make an employer sit up and take notice?
The trick is translating your biotech skills and experiences into a straightforward resume that’s easy to read and covers your bases. Here’s an example that shows you how the pros do it, and guess what? It was crafted in our Resume Builder.
Biotech resume example
Check out more resume examples related to biotech:
Browse other popular samples
How to Write a Resume for a Biotech Job
Eager to take your biotech career to the next level? Start by learning how to make a resume that will get recruiters talking.
One note up front — are you applying for a job in research? If so, you may want to learn how to write a CV instead. CVs are longer documents that list a candidate’s complete academic history, including research initiatives and teaching experience.
OK, with that side note out of the way, let’s get started. A good first step is to sketch out a resume outline. This should include:
- Your contact info right at the top.
- A punchy, keyword-packed resume profile.
- A section or two spotlighting relevant skills.
- Your work experience, starting with your latest gig.
- Degrees and diplomas for your education section.
- A few optional sections to jazz up your resume.
Alright, let’s break down each of these parts, shall we?
Step 1
Add your contact info
Think of your resume as your first impression and calling card. You want the hiring manager to contact you, then make it easy for them to get in touch. That’s why your contact information should be front and center in the header.
Your resume header must include your name, phone number, email address and location (city and state).
When you take a look at some biotech resume examples, you’ll notice that some candidates also sometimes include links to a personal website, portfolio or LinkedIn profile, as applicable.
As a biotech pro, your resume header should be clear and uncluttered — no need for neon fonts or rainbow borders. Feel free to add a bit of your own flair, but don’t overdo it.
Here’s an example of an excellent biotech resume header:
OK, it’s time to tackle your summary.
Step 2
Summarize your career in one paragraph
First impressions count, right? And there’s no better place to make a lasting impression than on your resume profile.
This little intro sits comfortably at the top of your resume, offering a sneak peek of your skills and experiences. It’s an ideal venue to prove you’d be a perfect hire and pique the recruiter’s interest to read on.
Now, there are a couple of profile flavors to choose from, depending on where you’re at in your career journey.
Biotech folks with hands-on experience will benefit from a professional summary. These are typically four or five sentences that emphasize your skills and experiences.
If you’re fresh to the workforce or making a bold leap into a new field, a resume objective could be your best bet. These are goal-oriented statements where you spell out what you’re hoping to get from the job and how you will bring value to the team.
Ultimately, your profile should be laser-focused on one mission: convincing the hiring manager that you and the position are like two strands of a double helix.
And how do you make that clear? Ask yourself, “What is this company all about?” Review the company’s mission statement so you can customize your resume to highlight the achievements and skills they will find super impressive and relevant.
Customize your summary or objective for every biotech role you apply for. Remember, no two biotech gigs are identical. By tailoring your resume for each position, you can spotlight the skills and experiences they’re specifically asking for in the job ad. This strategy increases your relevance and helps you breeze through the applicant tracking system (ATS).
Professional summary for biotech resume example:
Independent and flexible biotech professional with a Ph.D. in Chemistry and over two years of experience. Especially skilled in clinical manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies and operation of thermo SUM and Akta-ready technologies. Proficient in data integrity, regulatory and cGMP requirements, and adapting to production schedule changes. Adept with business IT systems and Microsoft Office. Demonstrated ability in cross-functional collaboration, managing product life cycles, and adjusting to shifting business needs.
Sample objective for biotech resume:
As a recent Ph.D. graduate in Chemistry, my goal is to apply my knowledge and passion in a biotech setting, particularly focusing on the clinical manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies. Keen to utilize my training in data integrity and regulatory adherence. Excited to foster cross-functional collaborations and manage product life cycles in a dynamic environment. Comfortable adapting to changing production schedules and business needs to drive efficiency and innovation in biotechnology.
Step 3
Include your most relevant skills
Whether operating complex lab equipment or creating a bond within a multidisciplinary team, you utilize unique skills in biotech every day. The trick is showcasing these skills on your resume in the most appealing way.
You use hard skills during technical assignments, such as conducting DNA sequencing or analyzing molecular structures. Soft skills come into play when you’re collaborating with colleagues or presenting research findings.
This isn’t a clash between hard and soft skills — it’s more like a collaboration. Both types of skills come together to help show how balanced you are as a candidate.
Biotech is a field where the interplay of data and people is essential, so in addition to technical skills and computer skills, you should be clear that you also have the people skills that make you a strong team player.
Hard and soft skills for a biotech resume
- Genomic sequencing
- Molecular biology
- Biostatistics
- Lab Information Management Systems (LIMS) software
- Collaboration
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Communicating findings
Step 4
Detail your work experience
As a biotech wizard, your professional experience is a testament to successful research projects, patent applications and game-changing discoveries. Whether perfecting your lab technique, pioneering new methodologies or meticulously logging data in your LIMS, your work has been monumental.
But the point is — when you add work experience to your resume, you really want it to leap off of the page.
Here are a few ways to make your work history stand out:
- Showcase impact, not just roles: Focus on achievements that can be measured to make your professional journey more impactful. For example, cite the number of successful research projects or patents filed instead of just listing routine lab tasks.
- Illustrate your career progression: Organize your previous roles in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent position, to stress your upward trajectory in the biotech sphere.
- Leverage action words: Amplify your experience by selecting words like “engineered,” “spearheaded” and “innovated.” This will give your resume a proactive, results-driven aura.
Don’t downplay your skill in the lab. While teamwork and communication are vital in biotech, your technical expertise is your bread and butter. You flex these skills daily and your resume should reflect that.
Biotech work experience entry example:
Research Associate, Biotech Inc.
Charlestown, SC
September 2021 – Present
- Coordinated with team members on multidisciplinary projects, leading to three successful grant applications and over $500K in funding secured for further research.
- Instrumental in streamlining laboratory procedures, optimizing workflows and reducing overall experiment run time by 30%, without compromising on data quality.
- Created and implemented rigorous data management protocols using Lab Information Management Systems (LIMS), significantly improving data integrity and reducing time spent on data validation by 25%.
Step 5
Showcase your education and credentials
Your education is pivotal in landing your first role, especially if you’re a recent biotech graduate.
You know all those sleepless nights you spent in pursuit of your science degree? Well, they’re about to pay off, because listing your degrees tells your future boss that you’ve got the basics of biosystems and lab procedures down pat.
Typically, you’d present your educational credentials in the following order:
- Graduate or postgraduate degrees.
- Undergraduate education.
- Certificates.
- High school education — leave this out if you’ve finished your college degree.
Sure, you could dedicate a separate section for your certifications, but if you only have one, it fits neatly within the education section. If you’ve received any awards or honors related to your academic pursuits, this would be the perfect place to highlight them.
Biotech education entry example:
Education
Ph.D. in Molecular Biology,
California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, CA | 2024
Dissertation Topic: “The Role of Epigenetics in Cancer Progression and Treatment”
Master of Science in Biotechnology,
University of California, Berkeley, CA | 2020
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry,
University of California, Berkeley, CA | 2018
Honors: Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Certified Laboratory Technician (CLT)
American Medical Technologists
Certification Date: September 2018
Step 6
Consider additional sections to add to your resume
Your time in the lab and out in the field has made you the skilled professional you are today. But what if your career is just getting started? Or perhaps some of your most impressive achievements happened outside the traditional work setting?
Your resume doesn’t have to match up exactly with the biotech resume examples you’ve used for inspiration. It’s okay to create your own resume sections to showcase unconventional experiences or skills that are important to your career. Here are a few categories you might want to include:
- Volunteer work: If you’ve volunteered for a role related to the biotech field — like community health drives, science fairs or environmental cleanups — it’s worth mentioning it on your resume. It shows you’re passionate and proactive about your field, even when you aren’t getting paid.
- Language proficiency: Biotech is a global industry, and being multilingual can be a huge plus. Whether you’re collaborating with international research teams or reading non-English research papers, additional languages can open doors.
- Hobbies and interests: If you have hobbies or interests that tie into biotech, don’t be shy to share them. Maybe you’re an avid reader of science journals, or you enjoy birdwatching or gardening. These details can make your resume stand out and show you’re truly invested in the life sciences.
Got any biotech accolades or professional awards, like “Best Research Presentation” at a conference or “Outstanding Contribution” in your lab team? Shine a spotlight on these in a separate section. It’s your chance to show potential employers you’re recognized for your skills and dedication.
One last thing — you’ll want to choose a biotech resume template that suits your style and the biotech industry.
There’s a mountain of templates out there, from crisp and professional designs to more innovative and creative templates. Pick what resonates with you and the image you want to project.
Don’t want to spend hours hunting for a biotech resume template? You can find plenty of free templates for Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Just remember, the key is to make a clear and organized resume that reflects your journey.
Biotech Resume Examples by Experience Level
Professional experience is the beating heart of a biotech resume. As you rack up more time in the lab, the field or the corporate office, you open doors to more advanced roles.
Over time, this experience might even shape the layout of your resume. There are three common resume formats, each tailored for a different stage in your career journey:
- Budding biotech professionals would benefit from a functional resume format.
- Seasoned professionals would benefit from a combination resume format.
- Senior-level scientists would benefit from a chronological resume format.
Let’s review visual examples of each one.
Entry-level biotech example
What makes this a great biotech resume example?
-
Presents a spot on career objective
This candidate cleverly chose a resume objective over a professional summary. If you’re fresh out of school or just getting started in biotech, objectives can work in your favor by showcasing how your unique skills can contribute to the company.
-
Utilizes multiple skills sections
This savvy candidate makes a bid for the recruiter’s attention by incorporating multiple skills sections. The clever use of bullet points and distinct sections makes the resume visually appealing and easy to digest at a glance.
-
Customized for a lack of work experience
This candidate nailed it with their focus on the skills and knowledge gained from education and internships. The limited professional experience isn’t hidden, but rather it’s complemented by highlighting relevant skills across different sections — giving an extra boost to anyone early in their biotech journey.
Midcareer biotech resume example
What makes this a great biotech resume example?
-
Professional summary is robust
The professional summary offers an ideal platform to spotlight career highlights. This candidate cites the number of years they’ve worked in the field and lists key skills in “research methods” and “managing laboratory equipment.”
-
Skills section is dominant
When you’re established in your biotech career, it becomes crucial to underscore specific skills that set you apart from peers with similar credentials. This candidate does so by positioning a skills section prominently above their work history.
-
Career progression is evident
After accumulating years of practical experience, biotech professionals often have some specialization and unique skills. You can showcase this upward trajectory in a strategically placed work history section that lays out your last few roles in reverse-chronological order.
Experienced biotech resume example
What makes this a great biotech resume example?
-
Puts the emphasis on professional experience
As your biotech career marches forward, your work history should take center stage. In this example, the applicant arranges their employment history in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent role. This section includes bullet points for each role, highlighting their achievements and making them easily noticeable.
-
Uses an ATS-friendly template
Today, many companies rely on applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter resumes based on relevant keywords. Chronological resumes tend to be more compatible with ATS due to their emphasis on job titles and dates of employment — sections that have long been integral to resumes.
-
The format draws focus on consistency
Additionally, by positioning career progression at the forefront, the chronological resume format emphasizes the candidate’s consistent and productive career trajectory over the years. This approach is appealing to employers who might be hesitant to risk hiring a less experienced candidate in the biotech sector.
Write a Biotech Cover Letter
When all is said and done, the real game-changer in the job search just might be a well-crafted cover letter.
Your cover letter gives you the freedom to address things you couldn’t squeeze into your resume. Maybe you’ve got a gap in your career because you took time off to further your education, or maybe you’re shifting from a different industry into biotech. Our guide on writing a cover letter is your perfect starting point to touch on the nuances.
When you feel ready to put pen to paper, check out our professionally approved cover letter examples to make your application stand out in the biotech crowd.
Pressed for time? Why not give our Cover Letter Builder a try? It auto-generates sentences tailored for jobs in fields like biotech. Better yet, you can customize it to sound just like you and showcase your unique accomplishments.
Next, you may be wondering what’s in store for you as you start or advance in your biotech career. Let’s take a look.
Facts About the Biotech Industry
Looking to get a handle on what the biotech landscape looks like and where your career could go?
Here are some interesting insights about the biotech industry that underscore the significance of having a great resume:
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, biological technicians held about 83,100 jobs in 2023 and 31% of them work in scientific research and development services.
- Median salaries for job titles in this field:
- Biotech research scientists earn a median salary of $168,000 per year.
- Chemists earn a median salary of $93,000 per year.
- Lab Supervisors earn a median salary of $101,000 per year.
- Overall employment in biotech is expected to grow by 7% from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average of all occupations.
Key Takeaways for Your Biotech Resume
-
Customize your biotech resume
Each job in biotech has specific requirements. Review the job description closely and tailor your resume to match their needs.
-
Spotlight technical abilities
Whether it’s lab techniques or project management, let potential employers know about your unique skill set.
-
List your certifications
Biotech professionals are more impressive when they’ve gotten certifications. Add what you’ve earned to your resume.
-
Feature quantifiable achievements
Biotech is about concrete results. Wherever possible, use numbers to illustrate your contributions and their impact.
-
Emphasize relevant research
Any experience you have in research settings is invaluable in biotech. Detail your role, the techniques used and the results achieved.
-
Proofread for precision
A single mistake could cost you the job. Review your document thoroughly, then have a trusted friend or colleague do the same.
-
Don’t neglect the cover letter
A well-written, personalized cover letter can effectively convey your passion and commitment to the biotech field.
Resources to Help With Your Job Search
Last Updated: December 03, 2024
- 21st Century Skills for Your Resume
- Networking Skills for Your Resume
- The Perfect Resume: A Detailed Guide for 2024 (+Examples)
- Cover Letter Basics (Examples & Guide)
- How to List References for a Resume With No Experience
- How to Update Your Resume in 2024 (Guide + Expert Tips)
- How to Prepare for a Job Interview
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Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years’ experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers. He holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.
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