Career tools

Scientist Resume Scorecard

Open your resume next to this page and rate each area. Your score is a checklist for improvement, not a prediction of whether a company will hire you.

Relevance to target role

The top third of my resume matches the job I'm applying for.

Clarity

A reader outside my field understands each bullet.

Scientific impact

I show why my work mattered, not just what I did.

Quantified achievements

Bullets include numbers (samples, throughput, time saved, yield).

Transferable skills

I show project management, training, collaboration or data skills.

Industry terminology

I use terms common in industry postings (GMP, SOP, assay development).

Length

My resume is 1-2 pages.

Technical skills

My technical skills are grouped and easy to scan.

Leadership

I show initiative or leadership, even informally.

Formatting

Clean, consistent formatting with no tables or graphics that confuse screeners.

Unnecessary academic detail

I removed coursework, long publication lists and teaching detail not relevant to the role.