Writing for Scientists

The only person who can or should be allowed to create your resumé is you. Only you know ALL the facts, strengths and weaknesses, your likes, dislikes, what you want and where you want to be. Potential employers must, within a few seconds, be able to visualize you as filling a specific position in their company perfectly, and as the solution to the problem which they face. To accomplish this feat, you must provide as much pertinent information as possible—condensed onto approximately one page. Begin resumé writing by making lists. Exhaustive lists. Don’t worry about length or duplication—at this point, the longer the better. Take a week if necessary to complete your lists, although it usually will require only a few hours. Make lists for: —Instrumentation you’re familiar with. Give manufacturer, model number, configuration, accessories, associated software, etc. Example: Varian 3700 GC, packed and capillary columns, ECD, PID, FID and Hall detectors. —Applications of the instrumentation. Example: QAQC of product; environmental monitoring drug monitoring; incoming raw materials testing. —Sample types. Example: Nonferrous alloys, polymers, composites, food, etc. —Specific protocols. Example: EPA, AQAC, ASTM, FDA, USP/ NF API, etc. If possible, be even more specific, such as EPA 601, 602, 624, 625, etc. or ASTM D-19. —Specific procedures. Example: Sterile technique, cell culture, western blot, protein purification, purge & trap. —Projects you’ve worked on. Example: Isolation and identification of natural products in milkweed; airborne geochemical reconnaissance m Alberta; Superfund cleanup of the La Mirada site, etc. —Publications, papers, presentations. Just list titles for now. —Supervsoiy and management experience. Example: Number of people supervised; budgetary responsibilities. —Special licenses or registrations. —Degrees. What, when, where earned. —Continuing education. Topic(s), where pursued. —Employment. List beginning and ending dates, job titles, major areas of responsibility, duties. In the next few steps you will select the strengths that most clearly define your abilities, talents and interests. 1) Review your lists of experience, knowledge, skills, and accomplishments. Condense each line item to short phrases or sentences. 2) Quantify your strength for each item by assigning a 1-5 number to each. Use 5 to indicate the greatest areas of strength. You must be objective as you assign numbers. Imagine how others—your peers, mentors or relatives—would list your strengths. In fact, if you have the time, ask them directly. 3) Use a yellow highlighter (or or / ) to mark each item assigned a “4” or “5”. These are the items you have placed greatest importance on in your prioritization, and these will now be the strengths from which your resumé will be built. 4) Use a pink highlighter (or double /) to mark items within the “4” or “5” category you enjoy or have the most enthusiasm for. This exercise will enable you to focus on specific items which reflect your best skills, accomplishments and strengths. This is particularly important if you have more than five years working experience and have long lists to select from. To optimize your chances, we recommend: —A summary display of accomplishments, strengths and skills shown prominently at the top of the resumé (i.e., “Qualifications”). This is designed to immediately attract attention to what you can do for the company. —No inclusion of a statement of “Objective.” It will only serve to limit your opportunities. —A final presentation which is typeset and printed,to promote the highest professional image. Be brief, succinct and thorough, but don’t sell yourself short just for the sake of brevity. If you find you need two pages, use them, but don’t be verbose. Your resumé will follow this sequence in presenting you to your potential employer: —Name —Address —Telephone Number(s) —Qualifications: Here, you are saying to a potential employer. “These are my credentials. This is how I am prepared to help you. This is what I can do for you.” —Employment (beginning with most current to earliest): A work history is intended to be short and simple. List where you worked, when you worked there, your job title, your key duties and accomplishments. —Special Skills: Under “Qualifications” you have described your qualifying experiences, which tell what you can DO; under “Special Skills” you will describe the “tools” you can utilize. These may be actual equipment, instrumentation or intellectual tools, such as specific procedures and training. —Education (highest degree first). Indicate that your references are “available.” Do NOT list them. The person who can hire you will not be interested in your references until after you have successfully completed your interview and are being seriously considered for hiring. Then, your references can be crucial. Ask your typesetter to review with you the type faces available and select the most readable type. You will distinguish yourself from your competition in the wrong way if you choose an unusual typeface, paper size, or color. Have several people skilled in grammar and spelling check your draft before you give it to your typesetter. (And check the typesetter’s work before you have it printed. The typesetter may make typographical errors that can be corrected.) You bear the final responsibility for the technical accuracy and spelling in your resume. Your resumé is you at your best, so give it your best. You deserve it. Excerpted from Finding and Getting the Right Job For You. Copyright © Lab Support Incorporated. copies of the book can be ordered for $9.95 from Lab Support. 20301 Ventura Blvd.. Woodland Hills CA 91364. (515)716-8990.

Writing for Scientists

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of