INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Researcher positions are at a 6% growth rate, which is as fast as average. With that said, there are currently 92,400 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 6,000 to 98,400 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Researcher jobs was $80,680 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $54,810, and the highest 10% more than $165,290.
Our conclusion? The Researcher job market is wide open for candidates.
Top researcher sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a job-winning experience section: Researcher resume edition
Researcher resume experience section: dos and don'ts
- List 4-6 bullet points per position;
- Include only relevant job experience;
- Make sure to highlight your strongest skills by focusing on the challenges you’ve faced and the results you’ve achieved;
- Don’t use buzzwords that carry no meaning;
- Don’t share confidential information about your previous employers.
If you prefer to be led by example, check out some great Researcher resume experience section snippets below!
- Qualification of Inbound Leads
- Search & Qualification of new contacts and potential clients
- Delivery of average 200 verified companies monthly
- Working with internal CRM systems including entering data into databases
- Responding to inquiries regarding foreign ownership structures of the Czech/Slovak companies to foreign potential partners
- Creating scoring of lead companies, preparing financial documents of the lead companies
- Verifying accuracy of existing data of the companies
- Two forthcoming publications in peer-reviewed journals.
- Learnt the basics of CUDA (GPU-distributed) programming.
- Gained knowledge of rheometers and general rheology experiments.
- Developing and carrying out a portfolio of high quality original research in Lean IT management
- Publishing research papers in top-level academic journals and practitioner-oriented journals of a similar standing
- Investigating, developing and writing up business cases drawn from collaborating corporate partners and the global Lean research network
- Perform teaching activities for the executive programs at Nyenrode Business Universiteit, and the degree programs of MSc and MBA students
- Started work in the areas of Malnutrition, hunger and poverty in tribal belts of Rajasthan
- Organised health camps and assisted in immunization programmes in 25 blocks across the udaipur tribal belt
- Did intensive training programme for Self help groups and village women on gender violence
- Started classes for pregnant and lactating women on Best breast feeding practices
- Participated in training activities for Traditional Birth attendants
- Worked closely with the block heads, panchayat clusters to improve the operational capacities of Primary and community health centres
- Initiated health education programmes for children from classes 9-12 at the village high school
- Reported direct to Head of Department and Senior Programme Producer: Secrets from the Clink.
- Completed over 150 hours of research into family histories of TV personalities Len Goodman and Mariella Frostrup at London Metropolitan Archive, British Library and Whitecross Street Debtors prison.
- Presented research findings with recommendations at twice-weekly Production Progress Meetings with Series Editor, Head of Research and resident Genealogist.
- Academia | https://ucv.academia.edu/SusanaRebon
- Scribd | https://es.scribd.com/user/79960731/Susana-Rebon-Lopez
- “Casa de recogimiento para prostitutas“; winning article published in the magazine «El Desafío de la Historia» | http://macpecri.com/eldesafiodelahistoria/?p=268
- “Los confesionarios de fray Diego de Tapia“; article published in the magazine «El Desafío de la Historia» | http://macpecri.com/eldesafiodelahistoria/?p=358
- Provide press, online, event, crisis, and advertising monitoring, news digests, media analyses and bespoke reports to local and international clients – in English and Bulgarian;
- Collaborate with public relations department to track media campaigns;
- Develop strategies to attract new clients;
- Interact with customers to clarify requirements;
- Utilize paint.net to summarize and enhance image and text quality of articles.
- Two forthcoming publications in peer-reviewed journals.
- Learnt the basics of CUDA (GPU-distributed) programming.
- Gained knowledge of rheometers and general rheology experiments.
- Designed 100+ UI scans using Sketch for Android, iOS, and Web
- Conducted user research/testing on 50+ users
- Worked within a team of 5 - 1 graphics, 2 devs, and 2 founders
- Qualification of Inbound Leads
- Search & Qualification of new contacts and potential clients
- Delivery of average 200 verified companies monthly
- Working with internal CRM systems including entering data into databases
- Responding to inquiries regarding foreign ownership structures of the Czech/Slovak companies to foreign potential partners
- Creating scoring of lead companies, preparing finantial documents of the lead companies
- Verifying accuracy of existing data of the companies
- Processed and analyzed technical data from a number of sources, including logs and raw traffic data
- Specialized in analyzing SIGINT data, familiar with WEBINT
- QA - discovered bugs in internal systems, analyzed the root cause and opened detailed tickets
- Shift manager, training instructor
- Oversaw training and guidance for new recruit.
- Used analysis software (Excel, SPSS) and geospatial mapping software (ArcGIS) to provide tools to visualize citywide data trends, project future hotspots, troubleshoot technical and human errors, maintain data validity, and conduct in-depth research on city crime issues.
- Conducted several independent research projects, using both existing data sets and collecting statistics, in order to test hypotheses using z, t, ANOVA, and chi-squared methodology.
- Key member of multiple task forces assigned to maximize agency and government resources, including forecasting high crime areas, risk reduction strategy, and redistricting efforts. Managed several employees as part of teams responsible for data entry, data auditing, and statistical analysis; monitored workflow and conducted troubleshooting audits to maximize efficiency.
- Enhanced Risk Management Infrastructure: risk factor attribution model
- Designed and implemented an opportunity seeking tool to target prospective clients
- Directly reported to headquarters in NYC
- Tech: C++/ Slang, Python, Sql
- Designed and developed Python application as substitution for an old process automation, reducing the maintenance time and saving resources.
- Delivered all 2016 runs (Cosmics, Commissioning and Collisions) without major interruptions & user complaints (data missing or wrong) and provided faster noise feedback tool.
- Developing UI with Backbone consisting of three plot tools - radiation background analysis, noise monitoring and strip conditions monitoring.
- Tutored two students for more than a year in C++, ROOT and Linux during which time they've completed two small projects on data analysis, one of which resulted in thesis for B.Sc degree.
PRO TIP
The person reading your Researcher resume will be busy, make sure you never waste their time with fluff.
Action verbs for your researcher resume
Recommended reads.":
An impressive skills section for your researcher resume
Writing a skills section that stands out:
- Check the job advert for keywords that you can use: this will help you pass ATS;
- Focus on relevant and valuable skills that will support your application;
- Make sure to include both hard and technical skills, leaving soft skills for other sections of your Researcher resume;
- Don’t list skills you don’t have.
Top skills for your researcher resume
REST
Web APIs
MATLAB
Simulink
dSPACE
Autodesk Inventor
AutoCAD
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.
Researcher resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your researcher 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
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Researcher resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
The researcher resume summary: tips and tricks
Making a strong first impression.
- Keep your summary section short and easy to read; avoid long sentences;
- Highlight your total years of experience in the field;
- Mention 1-2 of your biggest achievements and strengths;
- Add a couple of keywords from the job advert.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Read the job description carefully and understand what the hiring company is exactly looking for. After that, write your summary accordingly while highlighting your potential and ability to be the best at that job.
Recommended reads.":
Researcher resume: a strong education section
What to include in your education section:
- Your highest education degree (incl. major, duration, name of institution);
- A bit more about the certifications you’ve got (if they are relevant to what you’re applying for);
- Some extracurricular activities that have helped you develop and strengthen your skills;
- If you’re an entry-level applicant: Relevant courses and projects.
Top certifications for your researcher resume

Research Methodology: Complete Research Project Blueprint
Research Methodology From A-Z. A Step-by-Step Guide Through Research Design, Data Collection, Analysis, & Interpretation

How to Write a Successful Research Paper
Complete Research Paper Writing Blueprint With Instructions And Templates For Every Section. Master Academic Writing

Research Methods For Business Students
A-Z guide to writing a rockstar Research Paper with a bulletproof Research Methodology!

How to Write an Effective Research Paper
Learn how to write award-winning research papers with easy steps. Includes examples and a research paper template.

Research Methodology
Academic Research | Business Research | Thesis & Dissertation Report | Research Paper / Journal
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
There are dozens of certifications that you can claim as a Researcher. 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.
Researcher resume: How to choose the right format
The content of your resume is necessary for showcasing your expertise, skills, and education. Great formatting, on the other hand, is essential for highlighting your attention to detail, creativity, and ability to stand out.
There are three basic resume formats to choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Which one of these you choose depends on a couple of things, but most importantly: the industry and your level of experience.
The reverse-chronological resume format, for example, is great if you’re a Researcher with many years of experience and no career gaps. It doesn’t really matter if your company of choice is a multinational corporation or an early-stage startup – this resume format is considered to be a safe bet.
If you’re someone with little or no experience, however, we advise you to go for a functional skills-based resume format. It focuses on skills, competencies, and education, rather than experience. This makes it great for entry-level applicants, career changers, and graduate students.
And if you’re tired of traditional formats and want to go over the top when it comes to your application, the combination or hybrid resume format is here to help. Here, you can focus on both your experience and your skills, there’s even space for you to highlight your most spectacular personality traits. If you want to give a modern feel to your Researcher resume, this resume format is just what you need. Add a ‘my life philosophy’ section for additional bonus points!
Looking for ways to perfect your Researcher resume layout and style?
- Don’t risk it: choose standard 1-inch resume margins;
- Go for traditional resume fonts (sized 10-12p);
- Match the length of your Researcher resume with your years of experience – choose a one-page template if you’ve got less than 10 years of experience; otherwise, opt for a two-page resume;
- To be on the safe side, save your resume in PDF. This will help you avoid formatting issues and unauthorized editing.
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 Researcher 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.
Your researcher resume: other sections to include
Tired of resumes that focus only on your professional side? Want to show you’re an actual human being with a real personality that goes beyond your work experience? Then add some other sections to your Researcher resume!
Depending on the industry, company, and position, you can go for a more creative or less creative approach. Choose 1-2 of the following:
Making your researcher resume shine
In a pile of boring black and white resumes, a creative Researcher application feels like a breath of fresh air. And trust us, recruiters love this.
There are two ways to add a splash of creativity to your resume. You can either go for a creative layout (bright colors, modern fonts, etc.) or add some creative sections (e.g. ‘what my typical day looks like’).
It’s up to you! Just make sure to keep the position, company, and industry in mind. Otherwise, you risk going over the top. And that’s not always a good idea.
What makes a great researcher 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.