INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Biology positions are at a 7% growth rate, which is as fast as average. With that said, there are currently 87,600 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 5,900 to 93,500 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Biology jobs was $46,340 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $30,440, and the highest 10% more than $74,600.
Our conclusion? The Biology job market is wide open for candidates.
Top biology sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a memorable experience section: biology resume edition
Checklist: ways to make your experience section stand out
- Find balance: use 4-6 bullet points per position;
- Include positions that are relevant to the job you’re applying for;
- Use action verbs when describing your responsibilities and results;
- Highlight your achievements by adding numbers to them (e.g. instead of saying “achieved a steady increase in…”, say “achieved an X% increase in…”);
- Prove that you’re willing to work hard, both individually and in a team.
We’ve gathered the most impressive Biology experience sections from real Enhancv resumes. Check them out for some additional inspiration!
- Laboratory safety.
- Ovens, incubators and autoclaves operation.
- Media preparation.
- Microbial count of non sterile products(Raw materials, bicarb , Haemodialysis)
- Endotoxin testing of I.V. , dialyzers , bloodlines) (QTM and practical)
- beginner in clean rooms and environmental monitoring tests.
- Water system (treatment and wter station sampling sites).
- Sterility testing.
- HIAC device operation.
- Prepare reagents and culture media.
- Sterilize material and check equipment.
- Analyze bacteria in water samples according to ISO standards.
- Register results and mantain the lab. documentation updated.
- Communicate with other departments.
- Plan, design and perform daily cell growth experiments.
- Evaluate and discuss the results.
- Troubleshoot and optimize resources / equipment.
- Technically assist other research teams.
- Prepare reagents and culture media.
- Sterilize material and check equipment.
- Analyze bacteria in water samples according to ISO standards.
- Register results and mantain the lab documentation updated.
- Communicate with other departments.
- Prepare reagents and culture media.
- Sterilize material and check equipment.
- Analyze bacteria in water samples according to ISO standards.
- Register results and mantain the lab. documentation updated.
- Communicate with other departments.
- Had set up Microbiology lab for development studies within 6 months
- Optimization of global test methods as per Indian standards, resulting in better co-relation of results with Indian accounts
- Initiation of modified antimicrobial efficacy test methods specifically for metal working fluid matrix - a primary screening method
- Initiation of Bio challenge tests for metal working fluids in India lab, cutting the cost of analysis from abroad
- Took up responsibility of Microbiology Dept. and built a team of young and learning microbiologists
- Successfully drew international projects involving antimicrobial efficacy projects of FMCG giants worldover.
- Included around 15 new parameters in the biological scope of testing and got those certified by NABL authority
- Preparing specimens and analysing food samples to identify, examine and study foodborne microorganisms and write report. Performing mathematical calculations for the preparation of graphs.
- Conduct standardized biological, microbiological or biochemical tests and laboratory analyses to evaluate the quantity or quality of physical or chemical substances in food.
- Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory and field equipment. - Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.
- Ability to deliver information to a class of 20-30 students from a variety of backgrounds and with a range of academic ability and interests
- Confidence presenting to large groups of people
- Lesson preparation, assignment marking; time management and prioritisation of these tasks
- High level of education and ability in relevant subjects
- Organisation of multinational conference with 300 participants
- Managing multi-institutional cooperation within the Helmholtz Community across Germany
- Budget monitoring
- Maintenance of the Institute´s website
- Coauthored bioinformatics analysis of new pathogen, M. haemophilum
- Researched novel diagnostic phage for M. tb antibiotic resistance
- Designed operations strategy to balance funding loss with research
PRO TIP
In writing your Biology resume, you will no doubt want to list your previous duties - as you should. But steer clear of just listing your duties, instead of your achievements. Make your resume stand out by communicating what you have done, and not merely what the job needed you to do.
Action verbs for your biology resume
Recommended reads:
Biology resume: crafting a strong skills section
Do this if you want to make your skills section stand out.
- Check the job advert for keywords and add them to your skills section to pass ATS;
- List only skills that are relevant to the position to keep the hiring manager focused;
- Balance between hard, soft, and technical skills;
- Elaborate on some of your strongest skills in other sections of your Biology resume, e.g. the experience section or your resume’s summary.
Top skills for your biology resume
RDT
PRC
Blotting
Electrophoresis
Restriction Mapping
Media preparation
Sampling
Critical thinking
Problem Solving
Creativity
Innovation
Organisation
Attention to details
Caution
PRO TIP
When picking skills to feature in your resume, make sure they'll be relevant to the position you’re applying to. The point of listing skills is for you to stand out from the competition. Stay away from repetitive, meaningless skills that everyone uses in their resumes. Or else, they’ll backfire and make you look like an average candidate.
Biology resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your biology resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Include a link to your portfolio in your Biology resume header. Most companies will require that you include one in your resume, and even if they don’t, it’s an excellent opportunity to directly show them your proudest projects.
How to write an inspiring biology resume summary
Checklist: writing a resume summary that makes you stand out
- Keep it short and use well-structured sentences;
- Mention your total years of experience in the field and your #1 achievement;
- Highlight your strengths and relevant skills;
- Add keywords from the company’s website or the job description.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Your summary should act as an elevator speech, briefly promoting how you will benefit the employer if hired. Pitch your strengths in the summary and expand on them in your Biology experience section. Give examples like how your work benefited each employer.
Recommended reads:
Making the education section of your biology resume stand out
Education section checklist for your biology resume:
- List your highest education degree: including your major, year of graduation, and the institution you attended;
- Highlight the extracurricular activities that have helped you gain additional expertise;
- Share more about the certifications you’ve got, especially if they are relevant to the job position;
- Entry-level applicants: Mention relevant courses and projects.
Top certifications for your biology resume
Introductory Biology
Life around us is simply amazing. I'll show you why.
General Biology I: Foundations of Biology
An essential course in Biology for students of all ages.
Master the Fundamentals of Biology (Part 1 of 4) IGCSE
This is a Biology Course for Students Preparing for Any High School Biology Exams (iGCSE, GCSE, AP Biology & More)
Introductory Biology: Complete course of Biology
Introduction to Biology science and high school biology
Biology Foundation Course,Become master in basics of biology
A comprehensive course in basic fundamental concepts of Biology covering much for future exams in Biology.
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PRO TIP
There are dozens of certifications that you can claim as a Biology. But, some are more effective than others. That’s why you mustn’t include every certificate other applicants might have. Try instead to earn and list a few of the difficult ones.
Biology resume: Formatting tips & tricks
Which came first: the hen or the egg? This question reminds us of the thing our resume experts hear most often in their job – which comes first: the content or the format? Well, we advise you to pick the format first and then go on with drafting your resume’s content.
And how do you choose a resume format? Well, based on your applicant profile. In general, there are three basic resume formats for you to choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Let’s look at each one of them in more detail:
The reverse-chronological resume format is quite straightforward. Here, you describe all your previous jobs in a reverse-chronological form, meaning your latest job comes first. This resume format is great for people with lots of experience and skills who don’t have any career gaps.
If you are a recent graduate or don’t really have much experience in the industry you’re applying for, go for the functional skills-based resume format. This format focuses on skills and character traits, rather than experience. It makes the hiring manager realize you’re the perfect fit for the role without putting too much emphasis on your work history.
And if you’re looking for something a bit more intriguing and exciting, check out the hybrid resume format. It’s a combination of the reverse-chronological and functional skills-based formats, which makes it great for all types of job-seekers. The hybrid resume allows you to showcase both your professional experience and your skills, education, and additional qualifications. If you’re feeling creative, add a separate section about your typical day or life philosophy.
Our top style and layout resume format tips:
- Go for a standard 12p resume font;
- Choose 1-inch resume margins for a professional and easy-to-read feel;
- ry your best to fit your resume in a one-page template. If you’re a professional with over 10 years of relevant experience, having a two-page resume is also fine;
- Make sure to save your resume as PDF – this will help you avoid unwanted editing and formatting issues.
Read this: How to make your resume stand out
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Sometimes you’ll want to go after a job which requires more experience than you have. Instead of using a typical Biology resume layout, you can use a creative layout. Getting noticed is the most important challenge and a creative resume layout might help you get invited for an interview as most of other accountants have boring resume designs.
Other sections that’ll look good on your Biology resume
Do you want to move beyond the traditional skills, education, and experience section? Easy-peasy!
Just choose one or two additional sections to help recruiters get a fuller picture of who you are, both as a person and as a professional:
Adding a splash of creativity to your biology resume
Boring resumes are no longer an option if you’re looking to impress recruiters.
And no matter whether you’re looking to give your old resume a new life or want to start building a new one from scratch, being at least moderately creative is always a good idea. Do this by adding a ‘favorite books’ section or even a pie chart of what your typical day looks like.
What makes a great biology resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
