What about Objectives?

You probably know that creating a scientific resume that shows off your skills and experience is your first step to transitioning out of academia. The resume makes your first “impression” on a hiring manger. So how do you make it your best? Should you start with an “Objective” statement such as, “Seeking a position at a leading biopharmaceutical company,” or “Obtain an applied physics position”?

The answer is no.

Objectives are not especially helpful. They can make your resume look unprofessional for your degree level and can actually screen you OUT of consideration. The company may think that a position matches your skills, but it does not match your objective (i.e, “Use my background to advance therapeutic discovery in immune diseases). If a position is available in a different therapeutic area (cardiovascular, for instance), they could easily conclude that you would not be happy, and move on to another candidate.

Instead, Use a Profile or Summary

Instead, we suggest using a Profile or Summary that will give the reader a framework to assimilate information in the rest of the document. Like the abstract of a scientific paper, your profile summarizes what the reader will see in more detail as they read further. This is where you articulate your expertise and outline some of your special skills. Your Profile or Summary introduces you to the reader. The rest of your resume fills in the particulars and supports your claims.

An Objective states what you want. A Profile or Summary shows why they would want you. It defines your expertise and outlines how you could contribute to their organization.

Your Profile or Summary effectively communicates your relevance to the position .

Studies show that people tend to remember what they read first, so this is a fundamental part of your resume. It is where you identify your field of expertise and then emphasize your strengths and skills in a way that helps define you. Don’t make the mistake of being too vague or broad. While hiring managers want people who have some breadth, sounding like a “jack-of-all-trades” suggests you will not bring any new ideas or expertise to the role. A Profile or Summary should define your greatest expertise and show that your additional skills, training, and/or experience complements that expertise.

To avoid being screened out of a consideration, many people write their resumes too broadly. But companies hire to fulfill a specific need. Remember, if you cannot define your expertise, the reader certainly cannot. Your resume will probably be passed over for someone who has the right knowledge base.

Avoid writing something that can be said for almost everyone at your degree level, such as “motivated scientist with strong problem solving skills.” Instead, focus your background’s relevance to the position to which you’re applying by prioritizing one or two of the job’s key skill requirements.

In writing the Profile or Summary, what do you say?

How do communicate your greatest expertise and good complementary areas? How can you define yourself without eliminating yourself as a potential candidate? What things are hiring managers most interested in knowing?

You can find the answers to these and other questions in the files from www.ScientificResumes.com. The instruction and examples you get there will help you write a Profile or Summary that gets a hiring manager’s attention in an appropriate way.

Most websites providing resume templates and advice are not relevant to scientific resumes. It is no wonder that scientists struggle when converting their C.V.s into result-oriented, industry-friendly resumes.

ScientificResumes.com was founded by scientific recruiters, industry scientists, and hiring managers to provide you the instruction you need write a powerful scientific resume that is relevant to industry roles. We speak your language and understand your needs. Plus, you will have the option to have your resume professionally reviewed and returned with comments.

Your first step to starting a career in industry is to create a results-oriented, industry friendly resume with an appropriate Profile or Summary. Invest in your career and get the information from www.ScientificResumes.com to help you kick-start your industry career.

Once you have your industry-friendly resume, use it to get the attention of a hiring manager for one of these industry jobs that do NOT require prior industry experience! Click HERE for list.

Connect with me on LinkedIn and request a 10% discount code for use on the www.ScientificResumes.com site!

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