Biotech Resume: Examples, Templates & Tips for 2024

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. See our CV templates for designs to choose from and CV examples that are professionally written and formatted. When you’re ready, build a CV with our CV Maker.

OK, with that out of the way, let’s get started. A good first step is to sketch out a resume outline. This should include:

Alright, let’s break down each of these parts, shall we?

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).

On top of that, consider adding a link to your personal website, portfolio or LinkedIn profile.

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 let it overshadow your professional achievements.

Here’s an example of an excellent biotech resume header:

OK, it’s time to tackle your summary.

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.

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 — hard skills vs soft skills. It’s more like a collaboration, where these abilities work together to create a winning candidate.

Hard and soft skills for a biotech resume

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:

Biotech work experience entry example:

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:

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:

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?

To enrich your biotech resume, consider adding a few optional sections to spotlight your unique journey and capabilities. Here are a few categories you might want to include:

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.

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