If you have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant science field or formal education in biotech and related fields – you can apply for a lab assistant job.
As a lab assistant, you will play a critical role in supporting different lab operations by maintaining lab equipment, assisting researchers, and preparing for significant experiments.
If you have strong organizational (skills and proficiency) in lab instruments, this is your calling. However, with formal education, creating a professional lab assistant resume is essential so that you can pitch for the lab assistant job role.
Moreover, your lab assistant resume skills should demonstrate your technical skills and hands-on experience (if any).
By including all the relevant skills, you can align your experiences with those the companies may require. Of course, this will increase your chances of getting the job.
In this write-up, we’ll discuss how to write a lab assistant resume and get the job of your dreams.
Choose a Resume Format
There is no dearth of resume formats. Infact, you can choose from the one that suits your profile. However, a chronological format is ideal for a lab assistant resume.
This format can showcase your duties and experiences first, making you stand out (from the rest). A chronological resume lists your recent experiences and jobs first and your skills underneath. Ideally, you can add your lab assistant skills with brief lists and minimal elaboration.
Apart from this, you can choose a functional resume, which shifts your focus to skills. With this resume – you can add your work experience to your skills.
Plus, there is an option for a combination resume, where you can include skills and experience sections (with a combination) of bullet points and basic terms.
Know More :- Resume Formats
Always Start With a Header
It is always good to add a header to your lab assistant resume. You can begin your resume with your full name and contact information. The header of your resume should display your full name.
After that, you should mention your desired job role (a role you are applying for). For example, a medical lab assistant or lab assistant role.
It is vital to include your contact information, address, and number. Don’t forget to mention your LinkedIn profile in the header of your resume. Keep your header short, but add all the relevant information.
Add Your Professional Summary
Your lab assistant resume summary is incomplete if you don’t add your professional summary. For this, you can highlight your experience in lab research and other support work.
Add your coursework and internships. Companies these days do get impressed with previous work experience. So, if you add your relevant internship experience as a lab assistant, chances are you will secure a position.
Plus, it is essential to add your motivation to work as a lab assistant. Explain how your work skills can contribute to innovation and research.
If possible, you can outline your career goals in your summary. Keep your career goals short because you can elaborate on them later in the resume. It’s time to add your skills now.
Know More :- Professional Summary For Resume
Add Your Skills
Besides your experience and background, you should highlight your skills in your (lab assistant resume) skills section. You can create a key skill, followed by a bulleted list to outline what you know.
Do mention core skills in your professional summary and core skill sections. Here is a list of some common skills for the role.
- Lab procedures
- Lab safety
- Problem-solving skills
- Attention to detail
- Communication
- Research
- Tech skills
- Teamwork
If you pick a chronological resume, you can omit a bulleted list for each skill. Instead, you can create a separate heading to include a list of skills and columns.
The way you list your skills in your resume is significant because it plays a critical role in your selection. Key skills in your lab assistant resume may include specialization, such as data analysis, blood chemistry, quality control, specimen analysis, etc.
Work Experience
Work experience is a notable part of a lab assistant’s resume. You need to describe your work experience and accomplishments specifically. It is good to start with the recent position.
Provide a job title with company name and dates. Next, make a list of your responsibilities in your resume. Detail your role and use bullet points to provide precise information.
Also, describe how you supported science research work. You can write about data analysis and other lab maintenance tasks you completed in the past. As such, it is vital to highlight your role in publications and presentations.
If you demonstrate your contributions, it will create a positive impact on the hiring company. You can also (use stats and numbers) to quantify your achievements.
Educational Background
The most important aspect of a lab assistant’s resume is educational background. For the education section, you need to list your degrees with the institutions. You can start with the (name of) the institution, degree, and majors in a subject.
Next, you can list your attendance dates and graduation years. In addition, add your relevant coursework (you can mention your coursework in a separate section).
It is essential to demonstrate the technical aspect of your educational background. Most companies hire based on this background. Ideally, you can also add your educational background in your summary (at the start).
Read More :- Education Section Of Resume
Safety Expertise
If you wish to highlight this feature, you will have to demonstrate your understanding of different safety protocols. The best way is, to mention relevant experience in implementing safety measures.
As you know, safety is the most vital part of a lab. If you highlight this feature, you can stand out from the (rest of the) potential job seekers. It is best to list your knowledge of handling biological samples, hazardous materials, and lab equipment.
Besides, you can mention your familiarity with safety equipment like respirators, masks, and goggles. You can also mention certifications in safety.
Certifications And Training
It’s time to list your certifications for the lab assistant role. You need to add the details of the certification or training program, the health organization that provided the program, and the completion date. Some common training programs include:
Good Laboratory Practice (GLP): The training is based on the importance of maintaining a high standard of accuracy and quality in the lab.
Control of Hazardous Substance Training: This training helps you understand the risks posed by hazardous substances in the lab and – how you can control them.
First aid training aims to provide first aid in case of an emergency.
If you have any of the above training certifications, list them in your lab assistant resume. By doing so, you can create a good impact on the hiring team.
List Your Awards
Educational degrees are essential for getting a job. But do you know what the cherry on the cake is? It is your award. If you won awards in the field, then list each award.
Companies look for candidates with specialized skills in the medical field. If you have awards, chances are you will be given preference first. Plus, it’s vital to add your awards in a separate section.
This way, you can highlight your awards and secure your (chance of) getting a job. Awards are always a plus in your resume, as they make you stand out from other potential candidates.
Long-term Career Goals
Should you mention your career goals in your lab assistant resume? Of course, you should because that will highlight your perspective. You can add a section on long-term career goals and include all your transferable skills, leadership skills, and tech proficiencies.
By highlighting your skills and experience, you can show that the position aligns with your journey. Simply put, you need to demonstrate your commitment to career advancements.
Also, include reasons why you wanted to become a lab assistant, and you will give your 100% in the job role. Keep this section focused and precise – don’t add personal insights.
Customize Your Resume
Everything is customized today, so why not your lab assistant resume? You can customize your resume based on the job skills and profile. For example, you can save three copies of your resume. Tweak the resume depending on the skills required for the job.
If you find specific skills in the job profile – you can add those skills to your resume. But, don’t add skills to show the company. Of course, you must possess these skills to add them to your resume.
Also, it’s a good idea to update your resume for new applications. If you adjust your resume to match the listing, then it will improve your chances of impressing the hiring person.
Plus, tweaking the resume will help you stay on trend. Most potential job seekers tweak the format of their resumes, depending on the market demand.
It’s good to stay ahead of time so you can secure the best post. Also, there are customized resume tools to help you with this feature.
How to pick the best lab assistant resume template?
You now know how you can create a lab assistant resume. By adding all the relevant details, skills, and experience – you can increase your chances of standing out.
However, it is always good to start with the best resume template or format. After all, it is the first thing you need to create a resume. While picking a template, prioritize your layout and readability.
Plus, you can choose a format that allows the hiring person to scan your resume in seconds. Besides a straightforward resume format, you can pick an intentional sequence – A sequence that will list all your skills and experience in bottled form.
Also, avoid flashy fonts and decorative colors. You might have that urge to be different, but it’s essential to follow the rule of being simple. Your resume font must be clear and readable.
Use a common font, and don’t go for flashy fonts. Strong visual elements can distract a reader, you don’t want that to happen with your resume, right? You need to stick to the basics and keep it concise.
Tips to create a resume to catch a hiring manager’s attention,
Most hiring managers look for expertise that matches job skills for the role. So, it’s a must to include skills and expertise that align with the job profile.
Include all the vital skills in your resume to stand a chance. Also, don’t go too far while listing your experience. You can add your recent experiences, as most recruiters don’t care what you did a decade ago.
In addition, you can highlight your achievements with numbers and the impact they had on the medical organization. Also, remember that formatting the experience section doesn’t need to be over the top. You can keep that simple, too.
Wrapping Up
For a lab assistant resume, you need to showcase your skills and responsibilities (specifically). Highlight your lab assistant resume skills because hiring managers look for specific certifications, tech skills, and qualifications.
It is essential to focus on a strong resume summary to create an initial impression. Mention your experience and lab procedures in the summary. As such, you can write about your quantifiable achievements to secure a chance. If you add action verbs to your experience, you can showcase your accomplishments in a refined manner.
Some powerful action words include – process, maintain, explain, complete, etc. You can enhance your career prospects and get a dream job – by curating an ideal lab assistant resume.
Lastly, stick to a one-page resume if you have ten years of experience. A two-page resume is ideal for more experienced professionals. All the best for your job search.