| You're a scientist, you're very well educated, you're | | | | one of the main reasons why people use a Certified |
| intelligent, and so writing your own | | | | Professional Résumé Writers that has |
| résumé should be easy, correct? I | | | | biotech / pharmaceutical industry experience (there |
| mean, how hard could it be? Especially if you have | | | | are only a handful around the nation). It is invaluable |
| written your own thesis or dissertation in the past, | | | | to get that key "hiring manager perspective", simply |
| you may feel that you can save the $300 bucks (or | | | | because you may not know you are doing anything |
| however much it costs, even if it is a tax deduction!) | | | | wrong in your résumé. Have you ever |
| and simply do it yourself. The answer to this may | | | | sent your résumé to a prospective |
| surprise you... | | | | employer, and it just seems like a black hole? There |
| Sometimes you can write your own | | | | is zero feedback; it is almost as if you had never |
| résumé, and write it well. From my | | | | sent your résumé at all. The reason |
| experience as an industry recruiter, where I saw | | | | why this happens is that you may not be a match |
| hundreds of scientific résumés every | | | | for the position, even if you feel like you are. It is |
| day, there would be maybe 1 or 2 | | | | amazing what red flags can go for a hiring manager |
| résumés that were REALLY well | | | | just from your résumé, so you need |
| written. Then there was the tier of | | | | to be very, very careful in how you word and |
| résumés that you had to suffer | | | | structure your experience. |
| through in order to find out the actual skills that the | | | | Step 4: You are ready to edit! And edit again, and |
| individual possessed. I will confess, there are times | | | | edit again! Don't you dare hit the "SEND" button on |
| when I threw out a résumé because | | | | your email until you have had at least 3 friends |
| it was simply too jumbled, and it was just frustrating | | | | review your résumé. And those |
| to read. | | | | friends need to be harsh about their feedback, not |
| Here are some tips: | | | | nice! Your friendship may suffer for a week or so |
| Step 1: What are the secrets to writing a great | | | | (but I sincerely hope not!), yet your |
| résumé? First, you need to have a | | | | résumé will be all the better for it, |
| plan. Get an actual written example of the position to | | | | and honestly, this is the only way your |
| which you are applying. Your résumé | | | | résumé will improve. This is perhaps |
| has to be tailored to this position, or your | | | | the most humbling part, because it is human nature |
| résumé ends up looking too general. I | | | | to be offended when someone critiques your work. |
| know there are times when you are a bit lost, and | | | | I'm not just talking about grammar, either, although |
| you don't know what kind of job you want. My | | | | this is probably the most popular offense. Your |
| advice? Find out. Unless you are a new graduate, a | | | | friends have to really be able to THINK like a hiring |
| general résumé will only hurt more | | | | manager, and your résumé needs to |
| than help. | | | | reflect your strengths, highlight your true skills, and |
| Step 2: Organize your abilities. Focus on skills, not | | | | lowlight all those things you want to hide. |
| research projects. I can't say this enough. The title of | | | | Yes, it is certainly easier to simply contract a |
| your dissertation is really not as interesting as the | | | | Certified Professional Résumé Writer |
| fact that you conducted small molecule scale up in a | | | | to write your resume. It saves you the headache, |
| Medicinal Chemistry Department and have experience | | | | saves at least 10 hours of your time, and gives you |
| with HPLC and NMR. Don't be afraid to sell your most | | | | the confidence that you end up with a legal |
| marketable skills! | | | | document with which you can be proud. The |
| Step 3: Know what a hiring manager wants to see | | | | downside of course, is that it will cost you money. |
| and give it to them! This is where it becomes very | | | | Your resume may be tax deductible, however, so |
| hard, and it's a bit like playing Russian Roulette unless | | | | make sure you check with your financial advisor to |
| you know the industry, the market forecast, and | | | | see if this applies to you. |
| recent downsizing / shifts within the industry. This is | | | | |