how to include research in cv

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How To Put Research On Your Resume (With Examples)

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Research experiences and skills are an incredibly important aspect of many job applications, so it’s important to know how to put them on your resume correctly. Hiring managers and recruiters want employees who can help drive innovation by being able to apply research skills to problem solve and come up with creative growth solutions.

If you’re a job seeker looking to include your research skills on a resume , we’ll go over how to list research on resume, where you can include it on a resume, and give you some examples.

Key Takeaways:

If you don’t have traditional research experience, highlight the skills used for research that you’ve used in past jobs.

Consider creating a separate research section in your resume if you have a lot of research experience or merge sections, depending on which section you want to bolster with research.

Research experience is one of the best assets to include on a resume so be on the lookout for more opportunities.

What are research skills?

Where to put research experience on your resume

How to include research on your resume, examples of research on a resume, how to put research on your resume faq.

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Research skills are any skills related to your ability to locate, extract, organize, and evaluate data relevant to a particular subject. It also involves investigation, critical thinking , and presenting or using the findings in a meaningful way.

Depending on what job you’re applying for, research skills could make or break your ability to land the job. Almost every job requires some research skills and you probably already have some of those skills mastered by now.

For most careers, research is a vital process to be able to answer questions. “Research skills” are not a single skill, but multiple ones put together.

Some skills that are necessary for research are organization, problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and specific technical skills, like coding, Excel, and copywriting.

Including research experience and skills on a resume can be incredibly flexible. When thinking about how to add it to your resume, you want to consider how the research experience adds to your resume.

Your research experience can be included in a few different sections of your resume. Some of those sections include:

Academic accomplishments

Research experience

Work experience/history

College activities

Volunteer work

Presentations and publications

Skills section

If you’ve had smaller research roles but no “official” research experience, you can highlight the skills associated with the types of research mentioned above in your job description under the work history section in your resume.

If your job history is a research position, then naturally, you would include research under the work history section. You can also merge your sections depending on what type of position you are applying for.

For example, you could create a “Research and Education” section or a “Research and Publications” section. If your research is not related to your education and you don’t have any publications, you can also detail it in a separate “Research” section in your resume.

To include your research on your resume, you should gather all the necessary information and then quantify your accomplishments to fit into specific sections. Here is a more detailed list of how to write about research experience in resume:

Gather all the necessary information. The first step is to collect all of the important details like the title of the research project, the location of the research project, the principal investigator of the project (if applicable), and the dates of the project. You will list these details much like you would list a company you have worked for in the past.

Read the job description carefully. Every resume and cover letter you write should be tailored to the job you’re applying for. When a hiring manager puts a necessary qualification in their job posting, you must be sure to include it in your resume.

Make sure that you highlight the right types of research skills on your job applications and resumes.

Quantify your accomplishments. When describing your role on the project, you will want to summarize your accomplishments and deliverables. Hiring managers and recruiters love seeing numbers. When you write out the deliverables from your project, make sure you quantify them.

Incorporate into your work history section. If there were times when you used your research skills in your past employment opportunities, include them in your work experience section. You can also include publications, conferences you may have presented at, and any awards or recognition your research had received.

If you have completed research in an academic setting, then presentations (oral and poster) are an important part of the research process. You should include those details along with the titles of your publications.

Add to your research section. Other aspects of research that you can detail to make your application more competitive are adding skills specific to your project to the skills section of your resume.

These skills will vary depending on the subject matter, but some examples include coding languages, interviewing skills, any software you used and are proficient in using, managerial skills , and public speaking if you have presented your research at conferences.

Add research to your skills section. If the specific research you did is less important than the skills you used to perform it, highlight that in your skills section. That way, you don’t have to take up a lot of work or education history with slightly irrelevant information, but hiring managers can still see you have research skills.

Just be sure you’re more specific about a research methodology you’re an expert in because the skills section doesn’t give you as much room to explain how you leveraged these abilities.

Sprinkle research throughout your resume. If you have a lot of experience performing research in professional, volunteer, and educational settings, pepper it in a few different sections. The more hands-on experience you have with research, the better (for jobs that require research).

Let’s look at some examples of how research can be included on a resume:

University research example

EDUCATION Undergraduate Thesis, University of Connecticut, Dec. 2017-May 2018 Worked alongside UCONN English Department head Penelope Victeri to research the poetry of New England writers of the 20th century. Explored common themes across the works of Elizabeth Bishop, Wallace Stevens, and Robert Lowell. Performed online and in-person research on historical documents relating to each author , including information on the political, religious, and economic landscape of the US at the time. Analyzed poetic works of each author and drew on similar contemporary regional authors’ works. Prepared 20,000 words thesis entitled “Place, Allegory, and Religion: Three 20th Century New England Poets” and defended my written arguments to a panel of English professors.

Customer service research example

WORK EXPERIENCE Conducted interviews with 20 customers each week to gain insight into the user experience with company products Used Google analytics to determine which pages were driving most web traffic, and increased traffic by 11% Reviewed thousands of customer surveys and compiled findings into monthly reports with graphic findings Presented at weekly marketing meeting to inform marketing team of trends in customer experience with our products

Laboratory research example

RESEARCH Conducted experiments on rat brains by introducing various novel chemical compounds and levels of oxygen Ran electricity through brain slices to view interaction of different chemical compounds on active brain cells Prepared sterile samples for daily check and maintained 89% percent yield over the course of a 3-month study Presented findings in a final 15 -page research report and presentation to the Research and Development team

Examples of common research skills to list on your resume

Here are examples of research skills in action that you may have overlooked:

Searching for local business competition

Sending out customer satisfaction surveys

Summarizing current policies and laws in effect for a particular topic

Creating lesson plans based on current education standards

Reading literature reviews and implementing changes in clinical practice

Attention to detail

Problem-solving skills

Critical thinking

Project management skills

Communication skills

Why are research skills important?

Research skills are important because they can help you identify a problem, gather information, and evaluate that information for relevancy. Including your research skills on a resume will show hiring managers that you have the ability to suggest new ideas and help their organization adapt and change as the industry changes.

Some common research skills include:

critical thinking

Computer skills

Can I list research as a skill?

Yes, you can list research as a skill on your resume. Including your research skills in your resume can help show a potential employer that you have the ability to suggest new ideas and use critical thinking to find solutions to problems. Most research skills will use attention to detail, problem-solving, and project management skills.

California State University San Bernardino – Incorporating Research Project Experience on Your Resume

University of Missouri – How to Put Research on Your Resume

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Heidi Cope is a former writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog. Her writing focused primarily on Zippia's suite of rankings and general career advice. After leaving Zippia, Heidi joined The Mighty as a writer and editor, among other positions. She received her BS from UNC Charlotte in German Studies.

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Academic CV (Curriculum Vitae) for Research: CV Examples

What is an academic CV (or research CV)?

An academic CV or “curriculum vitae” is a full synopsis (usually around two to three pages) of your educational and academic background. In addition to college and university transcripts, the personal statement or statement of purpose , and the cover letter, postgraduate candidates need to submit an academic CV when applying for research, teaching, and other faculty positions at universities and research institutions. 

Writing an academic CV (also referred to as a “research CV” or “academic resume”) is a bit different than writing a professional resume. It focuses on your academic experience and qualifications for the position—although relevant work experience can still be included if the position calls for it. 

What’s the difference between a CV and a resume?

While both CVs and resumes summarize your major activities and achievements, a resume is more heavily focused on professional achievements and work history. An academic CV, on the other hand, highlights academic accomplishments and summarizes your educational experience, academic background and related information.

Think of a CV as basically a longer and more academic version of a resume. It details your academic history, research interests, relevant work experience, publications, honors/awards, accomplishments, etc. For grad schools, the CV is a quick indicator of how extensive your background is in the field and how much academic potential you have. Ultimately, grad schools use your academic resume to gauge how successful you’re likely to be as a grad student.

Do I need an academic CV for graduate school?

Like personal statements, CVs are a common grad school application document (though not all programs require them). An academic CV serves the same basic purpose as a regular CV: to secure you the job you want—in this case, the position of “grad student.” Essentially, the CV is a sales pitch to grad schools, and you’re selling yourself !

In addition to your college transcripts, GRE scores, and personal statement or statement of purpose , graduate schools often require applicants submit an academic CV. The rules for composing a CV for a Master’s or doctoral application are slightly different than those for a standard job application. Let’s take a closer look.

Academic CV Format Guidelines

No matter how compelling the content of your CV might be, it must still be clear and easy for graduate admissions committee members to understand. Keep these formatting and organization tips in mind when composing and revising your CV:

• Whatever formatting choices you make (e.g., indentation, font and text size, spacing, grammar), keep it consistent throughout the document.
• Use bolding, italics, underlining, and capitalized words to highlight key information.
• Use reverse chronological order to list your experiences within the sections.
• Include the most important information to the top and left of each entry and place associated dates to the right.
• Include page numbers on each page followed by your last name as a header or footer.
• Use academic verbs and terms in bulleted lists; vary your language and do not repeat the same terms. (See our list of best verbs for CVs and resumes )

How long should a CV be?

While resumes should be concise and are usually limited to one or two pages, an academic CV isn’t restricted by word count or number of pages. Because academic CVs are submitted for careers in research and academia, they have all of the sections and content of a professional CV, but they also require additional information about publications, grants, teaching positions, research, conferences, etc. 

It is difficult to shorten the length without shortening the number of CV sections you include. Because the scope and depth of candidates’ academic careers vary greatly, academic CVs that are as short as two pages or as long as five pages will likely not surprise graduate admissions faculty.

How to Write an Academic CV

Before we look at academic CV examples, let’s discuss the main sections of the CV and how you can go about writing your CV from scratch. Take a look at the sections of the academic CV and read about which information to include and where to put each CV section. For academic CV examples, see the section that follows this one.

Academic CV Sections to Include (with Examples)

A strong academic CV should include the following sections, starting from the top of the list and moving through the bottom. This is the basic Academic CV structure, but some of the subsections (such as research publications and academic awards) can be rearranged to highlight your specific strengths and achievements. 

• Contact Information
• Research Objective or Personal Profile
• Education Section
• Professional Appointments
• Research Publications
• Awards and Honors
• Grants and Fellowships
• Conferences Attended
• Teaching Experience
• Research Experience
• Additional Activities
• Languages and Skills

Now let’s go through each section of your academic CV to see what information to include in detail. 

1. Contact Information

Your academic curriculum vitae must include your full contact information, including the following: 

• Professional title and affiliation (if applicable)
• Institutional address (if you are currently registered as a student)
• Your home address
• Your email address
• Your telephone number
• LinkedIn profile or other professional profile links (if applicable)

In more business-related fields or industries, adding your LinkedIn profile in your contact information section is recommended to give reviewers a more holistic understanding of your academic and professional profile.

Check out our article on how to use your LinkedIn profile to attract employers .

2. Research Objective or Personal Profile

A research objective for an academic CV is a concise paragraph (or long sentence) detailing your specific research plans and goals.

A personal profile gives summarizes your academic background and crowning achievements.

Should you choose a research objective or a personal profile?

If you are writing a research CV, include a research objective. For example, indicate that you are applying to graduate research programs or seeking research grants for your project or study

A research objective will catch the graduate admission committee’s attention and make them want to take a closer look at you as a candidate.

Academic CV research objective example for PhD application  

MA student in Sociology and Gender Studies at North American University who made the President’s List for for six consecutive semesters seeking to use a semester-long research internship to enter into postgraduate research on the Impetus for Religious In-groups in Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century.

Note that the candidate includes details about their academic field, their specific scholastic achievements (including an internship), and a specific topic of study. This level of detail shows graduate committees that you are a candidate who is fully prepared for the rigors of grad school life. 

While an academic CV research objective encapsulates your research objective, a CV personal profile should summarize your personal statement or grad school statement of purpose . 

Academic CV personal profile example for a post-doctoral university position

Proven excellence in the development of a strong rapport with undergraduate students, colleagues, and administrators as a lecturer at a major research university. Exhibits expertise in the creation and implementation of lifelong learning programs and the personalized development of strategies and activities to propel learning in Higher Education, specifically in the field of Education. Experienced lecturer, inspirational tutor, and focused researcher with a knack for recognizing and encouraging growth in individuals. Has completed a Master’s and PhD in Sociology and Education with a BA in Educational Administration.

What makes this CV personal profile example so compelling? Again, the details included about the applicant’s academic history and achievements make the reader take note and provide concrete examples of success, proving the candidate’s academic acumen and verifiable achievements.

3. Education Section

If you are applying to an academic position, the Education section is the most essential part of your academic CV.

List your postsecondary degrees in reverse chronological order . Begin with your most recent education (whether or not you have received a degree at the time of application), follow it with your previous education/degree, and then list the ones before these.

Include the following educational details:

• Year of completion or expected completion (do not include starting dates)
• Type of Degree
• Any minor degrees (if applicable)
• Your department and institution
• Your honors and awards
• Dissertation/Thesis Title and Advisor (if applicable)

Because this is arguably the most important academic CV section, make sure that all of the information is completely accurate and that you have not left out any details that highlight your skills as a student. 

4. Professional Appointments

Following the education section, list your employment/professional positions on your academic CV. These should be positions related to academia rather than previous jobs or positions you held in the private section (whether it be a chef or a CEO). These appointments are typically tenure-track positions, not ad hoc and adjunct professor gigs, nor TA (teacher assistant) experience. You should instead label this kind of experience under “Teaching Experience,” which we discuss further down the list.

List the following information for each entry in your “Professional Appointments” section:

• Institution (university/college name)
• Department 
• Your professional title
• Dates employed (include beginning and end dates)
• Duties in this position

5. Research Publications

Divide your publications into two distinct sections: peer-reviewed publications and other publications. List peer-reviewed publications first, as these tend to carry more weight in academia. Use a subheading to distinguish these sections for the reader and make your CV details easier to understand.

Within each subsection, further divide your publications in the following order:

• Book chapters
• Peer-reviewed journal articles
• Contributions to edited volumes equivalent to peer-reviewed journals

All of your other research publications should be put into a subcategory titled “Other Publications.” This includes all documents published by a third party that did not receive peer review, whether it is an academic journal, a science magazine, a website, or any other publishing platform. 

Tip: When listing your publications, choose one academic formatting style ( MLA style , Chicago style , APA style , etc.) and apply it throughout your academic CV. Unsure which formatting style to use? Check the website of the school you are applying to and see what citation style they use.

6. Awards and Honors

This section allows you to show off how your skills and achievements were officially acknowledged. List all academic honors and awards you have received in reverse chronological order, just like the education and professional appointments sections. Include the name of the award, which year you received it, and the institution that awarded it to you.

Should you include how much money you were awarded? While this is not recommended for most academic fields (including humanities and social sciences), it is more common for business or STEM fields.

7. Fellowships and Grants

It is important to include fellowships and grants you received because it evidences that your research has been novel and valuable enough to attract funding from institutions or third parties.

Just like with awards and honors, list your grants and fellowships in reverse chronological order. Enter the years your fellowship or grant spanned and the name of the institution or entity providing the funding. Whether you disclose the specific dollar amount of funding you received depends on your field of study, just as with awards and honors.

8. Conferences Attended

Involvement in academic conferences shows admissions committees that you are already an active member of the research community. List the academic conferences in which you took part and divide this section into three subsections:

• Invited talks —conferences you presented at other institutions to which you received an invitation
• Campus talks —lectures you gave on your own institution’s campus
• Conference participation —conferences you participated in (attended) but gave no lecture

9. Teaching Experience

The “Teaching Experience” section is distinct from the “Professional Appointments” section discussed above.  In the Teaching Experience CV section, list any courses you taught as a TA (teacher’s assistant) you have taught. If you taught fewer than ten courses, list all of them out. Included the name of the institution, your department, your specific teaching role, and the dates you taught in this position. 

If you have a long tenure as an academic scholar and your academic CV Appointments section strongly highlights your strengths and achievements, in the Teaching Experience sections you could list only the institutions at which you were a TA. Since it is likely that you will be teaching, lecturing, or mentoring undergraduates and other research students in your postgraduate role, this section is helpful in making you stand out from other graduate, doctoral, or postdoctoral candidates.

10. Research Experience

In the “Research Experience” section of your CV, list all of the academic research posts at which you served. As with the other CV sections, enter these positions in reverse chronological order.

If you have significant experience (and your academic CV is filling up), you might want to limit research and lab positions to only the most pertinent to the research position to which you are applying. Include the following research positions:

• Full-time Researcher
• Research Associate
• Research Assistant

For an academic or research CV, if you do not have much research experience, include all research projects in which you participated–even the research projects with the smallest roles, budget, length, or scope. 

11. Additional Activities

If you have any other activities, distinctions, positions, etc. that do not fit into the above academic CV sections, include them here.

The following items might fit in the “Additional Activities” section:

• Extracurriculars (clubs, societies, sports teams, etc.)
• Jobs unrelated to your academic career
• Service to profession
• Media coverage
• Volunteer work

12. Languages and Skills

Many non-academic professional job positions require unique skillsets to succeed. The same can be true with academic and research positions at universities, especially when you speak a language that might come in handy with the specific area of study or with the other researchers you are likely to be working alongside.

Include all the languages in which you are proficient enough to read and understand academic texts. Qualify your proficiency level with the following terms and phrases:

• IntermediateNative/bilingual in Language
• Can read Language with a dictionary
• Advanced use of Language
• Fully proficient in Language
• Native fluency in Language
• Native/Bilingual Language speaker

If you only have a basic comprehension of a language (or if you simply minored in it a decade ago but never really used it), omit these from this section. 

Including skills on an academic CV is optional and MIGHT appear somewhat amateur if it is not a skill that is difficult and would likely contribute to your competency in your research position. In general, include a skill only if you are in a scientific or technical field (STEM fields) and if they realistically make you a better candidate.

13. References 

The final section of your academic CV is the “References” section. Only include references from individuals who know you well and have first-hand experience working with you, either in the capacity of a manager, instructor, or professor, or as a colleague who can attest to your character and how well you worked in that position. Avoid using personal references and never use family members or acquaintances–unless they can somehow attest to your strength as an academic.

List your references in the order of their importance or ability to back up your candidacy. In other words, list the referrers you would want the admissions faculty to contact first and who would give you a shining review. 

Include the following in this order:

• Full name and academic title
• Physical mailing address
• Telephone number
• Email address

Academic CV Examples by Section 

Now that you have a template for what to include in your academic CV sections, let’s look at some examples of academic CV sections with actual applicant information included. Remember that the best CVs are those that clearly state the applicant’s qualifications, skills, and achievements. Let’s go through the CV section-by-section to see how best to highlight these elements of your academic profile. Note that although this example CV does not include EVERY section detailed above, this doesn’t mean that YOU shouldn’t include any of those sections if you have the experiences to fill them in.

CV Example: Personal Details (Basic)

Write your full name, home address, phone number, and email address. Include this information at the top of the first page, either in the center of the page or aligned left.

• Tip: Use a larger font size and put the text in bold to make this info stand out.

CV Example: Profile Summary (Optional)

This applicant uses an academic research profile summary that outlines their personal details and describes core qualifications and interests in a specific research topic. Remember that the aim of this section is to entice admissions officials into reading through your entire CV.

• Tip: Include only skills, experience, and what most drives you in your academic and career goals.

CV Example: Education Section (Basic)

This applicant’s academic degrees are listed in reverse chronological order, starting with those that are currently in progress and recently completed and moving backward in time to their undergraduate degrees and institutions.

• Include the name of the institution; city, state, and country (if different from the institution to which you are applying); degree type and major; and month/year the degree was or will be awarded.
• Provide details such as the title of your thesis/dissertation and your advisor, if applicable.
• Tip: Provide more details about more recent degrees and fewer details for older degrees.

CV Example: Relevant Experience (Basic)

List professional positions that highlight your skills and qualifications. When including details about non-academic jobs you have held, be sure that they relate to your academic career in some way. Group experiences into relevant categories if you have multiple elements to include in one category (e.g., “Research,” “Teaching,” and “Managerial”). For each position, be sure to:

• Include position title; the name of organization or company; city, state, and country (if different from the institution to which you are applying); and dates you held the position
• Use bullet points for each relevant duty/activity and accomplishment
• Tip: For bulleted content, use strong CV words , vary your vocabulary, and write in the active voice; lead with the verbs and write in phrases rather than in complete sentences.

CV Example: Special Qualifications or Skills (Optional)

Summarize skills and strengths relevant to the position and/or area of study if they are relevant and important to your academic discipline. Remember that you should not include any skills that are not central to the competencies of the position, as these can make you appear unprofessional.

CV Example: Publications (Basic)

Include a chronological (not alphabetical) list of any books, journal articles, chapters, research reports, pamphlets, or any other publication you have authored or co-authored. This sample CV does not segment the publications by “peer-reviewed” and “non-peer-reviewed,” but this could simply be because they do not have many publications to list. Keep in mind that your CV format and overall design and readability are also important factors in creating a strong curriculum vitae, so you might opt for a more streamlined layout if needed.

• Use bibliographic citations for each work in the format appropriate for your particular field of study.
• Tip: If you have not officially authored or co-authored any text publications, include studies you assisted in or any online articles you have written or contributed to that are related to your discipline or that are academic in nature. Including any relevant work in this section shows the faculty members that you are interested in your field of study, even if you haven’t had an opportunity to publish work yet.

CV Example: Conferences Attended (Basic)

Include any presentations you have been involved in, whether you were the presenter or contributed to the visual work (such as posters and slides), or simply attended as an invitee. See the CV template guide in the first section of this article for how to list conference participation for more seasoned researchers.

• Give the title of the presentation, the name of the conference or event, and the location and date.
• Briefly describe the content of your presentation.
• Tip: Use style formatting appropriate to your field of study to cite the conference (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)

CV Example: Honors and Awards (Basic)

Honors and awards can include anything from university scholarships and grants, to teaching assistantships and fellowships, to inclusion on the Dean’s list for having a stellar GPA. As with other sections, use your discretion and choose the achievements that best highlight you as a candidate for the academic position.

• Include the names of the honors and official recognition and the date that you received them.
• Tip: Place these in order of importance, not necessarily in chronological order.

CV Example: Professional/Institutional Service (Optional)

List the professional and institutional offices you have held, student groups you have led or managed, committees you have been involved with, or extra academic projects you have participated in.

• Tip: Showing your involvement in campus life, however minor, can greatly strengthen your CV. It shows the graduate faculty that you not only contribute to the academic integrity of the institution but that you also enrich the life of the campus and community.

CV Example: Certifications and Professional Associations (Optional)

Include any membership in professional organizations (national, state, or local). This can include nominal participation as a student, not only as a professional member.

CV Example: Community Involvement and Volunteer Work (Optional)

Include any volunteer work or outreach to community organizations, including work with churches, schools, shelters, non-profits, and other service organizations. As with institutional service, showing community involvement demonstrates your integrity and willingness to go the extra mile—a very important quality in a postgraduate student or faculty member. 

While the CV template guide above suggests including these activities in a section titled “Additional Activities,” if you have several instances of volunteer work or other community involvement, creating a separate heading will help catch the eye of the admissions reviewer.

CV Example: References Section (Basic)

References are usually listed in the final section of an academic CV. Include 3-5 professional or academic references who can vouch for your ability and qualifications and provide evidence of these characteristics.

• Write the name of the reference, professional title, affiliation, and contact information (phone and email are sufficient). You do not need to write these in alphabetical order. Consider listing your references in order of relevance and impact.

CV Editing for Research Positions

After you finish drafting and revising your academic CV, you still need to ensure that your language is clear, compelling, and accurate and that it doesn’t have any errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. 

A good academic CV typically goes through at least three or four rounds of revision before it is ready to send out to university department faculty. Be sure to have a peer or CV editing service check your CV or academic resume, and get cover letter editing and application essay editing for your longer admissions documents to ensure that there are no glaring errors or major room for improvement.

For professional editing services that are among the highest quality in the industry, send your CV and other application documents to Wordvice’s admissions editing services . Our professional proofreaders and editors will ensure that your hard work is reflected in your CV and help make your postgrad goals a reality.

Check out our full suite of professional proofreading and English editing services on the Wordvice homepage.

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How to List Research Experience on Your Resume

Applying for a role that requires research skills? Here’s how to list your research experience on a resume, with examples you can follow.

3 years ago   •   7 min read

Research experience isn’t just for science and academia. Research is a valuable skill that’s required for a number of roles and industries, which means it almost certainly has a place on your resume. And no — that doesn’t mean writing “research” in your skills section and moving on.

Why you should list research experience on your resume

If you’re applying for a job that involves research, listing research experience is a no-brainer. Research-specific positions, scientific jobs like Research Assistants , Lab Assistants or Technicians, graduate school applications, and most jobs in academia all require evidence of research skills. Even outside these positions, research experience demonstrates valuable transferable skills, like critical thinking and attention to detail . Which is not to say that you need to include research experience on every resume — if it makes you a stronger candidate, include it, but if it isn’t relevant and doesn’t add anything else to your candidacy, leave it off.

Research experience resume example

Before we dive right in, here's a sample resume that emphasizes research skills. You can use this as a template or as inspiration to write your own resume from scratch.

Download: PDF | Google Docs

How to list research experience in your resume

Like a lot of desirable skills, research is a soft skill , meaning it’s not something you can claim as an objective fact on your resume without backing it up. What you can do instead is prove it — what previous role involved a lot of research? What resume accomplishments do you have that highlight your research experience? Showing how you used research skills in action is the best way to demonstrate the value you could bring to the company and role you’re applying for.

There are a number of ways you can highlight research experience on your resume:

In a dedicated section

In your work experience, in your education section, listing research publications, in a projects section, in your skills section, in your resume summary.

Let's take a look at each of these options in a little more depth. But first, let's look at an annotated example to help set the context.

If you come from a research background, you might want to title your work experience ‘Research.’ Alternatively, you could create two experience sections — one titled ‘Work Experience’ and one titled ‘Research Experience’ — if you also have a lot of non-research experience but want to highlight your most relevant experience first. You can go into more detail when applying for a research-focused role by describing the project and specifying the nature of the research and your role in it.

More information: How to title different sections of your resume

Including research experience in your main work experience section is appropriate if it was paid work or if it was your most recent and relevant experience. List the employer — for example, the university or research department — job title, dates, and accomplishments, just like you would any other work experience.

More information: How to list your work experience on your resume

If you’re a current student or recent graduate, you can list your education section at the top of your resume. You can also make this section a little more comprehensive if you don’t have a lot of work experience, by including things like awards, coursework, and academic research.

If you undertook research as part of your studies and it demonstrates skills relevant to the job you’re applying for, list your research accomplishments in bullet points under the education section of your resume.

More information: The must-haves when writing your education on your resume

If you have a lot of publications that came out of your research, and you want to draw attention to them — and if they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for — consider creating a separate publications section . Formal publications like these are an excellent way to add credibility to your research experience.

List each publication in a new bullet point with the title, year, and name of the magazine, website, or journal. Academic publications can be listed more formally if it’s relevant, like if you’re applying for graduate school or a role in academia.

When it comes to listing research on your resume, like other soft skills, you need to show you’ve used this skill in your previous roles by showcasing your research related accomplishments. Upload your resume to the tool below to find out if your resume highlights your most relevant research experience and achievements.

If your research experience is less extensive or wasn’t quite relevant enough to include alongside your work experience or education, you can still highlight it in a projects section. Keep this brief and include 1-2 bullet points showcasing your key research accomplishments.

More information: How to list projects on a resume

Research skills can go in your skills section — as long as they’re hard skills. Steer clear of listing generic skills like “Research” — instead, use our keyword finder to look for relevant skills and keywords and include specific hard skills like data analysis, project management, software proficiency, and certifications.

You can also use the skills search tool below to get a list of hard skills relevant to the research-focused role you’re applying for.

More information: How to write a resume skills section

If you’re applying for a position where research experience is essential, consider emphasizing your experience by including a short resume summary at the top of your resume. This should include the title of the job you’re applying for and a brief overview of your background and key skills.

More information: Generate a summary for your resume

Examples of listing research experience on your resume

No matter where you choose to include it, always list research experience in concise, accomplishment-focused bullet points . These should follow the structure of action verb + what you did + what the result was. Here are some examples of resume bullet points you can use or modify to suit your own research experiences.

Highlight research projects

• Assisted with cell development research projects as part of the Leukemia Research team — identifying cell changes, determining cell counts and coulter counters with 98% accuracy.

If you have significant research experience, describe it! The more relevant it is to the position you’re applying for, the more detail you can go into. Make sure to specify exactly what stages of research you worked on and what your contribution was.

Mention awards for your research

• Awarded “Total Quality Award” in recognition of consistent high standards of quality work for research excellence (only 3 awarded in class of 500).

If the high quality of your work has been acknowledged by an award, early promotion , or similar outside recognition, include it! In addition to the name of the award or accolade, don’t forget to specify context (e.g. 'out of class of 500 people' to increase its credibility.

Demonstrate technical expertise

• Created over 75 3D models with CAD tools such as Solidworks and ANSYS.

If you have experience with specific software or tools that you’ll be using in the position you’re applying for, include a bullet point accomplishment specifying how you’ve used them. While this isn't direct 'research' experience, it uses tools that are relevant to research projects — this is a good way of showing that you have research skill sets without having formal research experience.

Use 'research-focused' action verbs

• Researched and edited two articles and one book chapter on prenatal substance abuse, policy implication of Human Genome Project.

Use action verbs like "Researched" or "Scoured" which clearly emphasize research skills. In some cases (like in this example), you can list publications in your bullet points itself. If you’ve authored academic papers, books, or articles, this is a great way to show the validity and importance of your research.

Include accomplishments related to research studies

• Oversaw screening and recruitment of over 100 participants to study, liaised with laboratory personnel and site coordinators to ensure study is completed on time with 100% success.

Not all research positions involve pure research. Make sure you highlight appropriate related accomplishments, like managing research study participant data and enrolments or managing a team of research assistants.

Include accomplishments relating to research in your field

• Conducted legal research; organized and analyzed data and evidence for over 50 cases annually.

If research is part of the job description, make sure you include at least one bullet point highlighting how you’ve used those skills in the past. Including metrics, like the number of cases you’ve researched, contextualizes your accomplishments and helps them stand out.

• Conducted marketing research for both buy-side and sell-side resulting in 15 strong leads.

Research isn’t just limited to science and academia. Demonstrate your skills in action by the context and end results of your research, like the number of leads it generated or the increase in sales figures.

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Want To Add Research Experience in a Resume? Learn How! (+10 Examples)

3 key takeaways

• Why you should include research experience in a resume
• How to write your research experience using the Teal AI Resume Builder
• 10 examples of resume research experience

Research penetrates virtually every profession, from healthcare to finance and tech to the arts.

In fields like biotechnology, the value is clear. Still, even in areas like market analysis, design, and humanities, research experience can highlight your capacity to dig deep, discern patterns, and contribute original insights. It's also a testament to your in-depth knowledge in your chosen domain.

Research experience in your resume is a powerful way to demonstrate your analytical insight and unique expertise. So where should it go? And what's the best approach to describe, quantify, and showcase these accomplishments?

Why you should include research experience in your resume

Research experience showcases your dedication to and in-depth understanding of your field. 

Whether you're after a research assistant position, a job in molecular biology, a position as a marketing generalist, or a prominent spot on the leukemia research team, including research on a resume highlights technical skills (like data interpretation and statistical analysis), soft skills (such as collaboration, critical thinking, and teamwork), and their corresponding impact. 

Especially when these research skills are listed in a job description, it’s crucial to incorporate them into your resume. This helps align your qualifications with what the hiring manager, recruiter, or prospective employer is looking for. 

Also, every role you apply to will likely have a variety of skills you’ve gained through your research experience. So before you submit an application, be sure to tailor your resume to that specific role—focusing on the unique skills and keywords for each position.

Pro Tip: Teal+ offers insight into unlimited hard skills, soft skills, and other important language from any job description. The free Teal AI Resume Builder and Job Application Tracker pull the top five hard skills—helping you align your resume with every role you apply to. 

How research experience on a resume differentiates you

As a job seeker, skills gained through traditional research experience set you apart as a candidate who not only has theoretical knowledge but also has the hands-on experience to apply this knowledge, tackle complex challenges, conduct research, and contribute meaningful insights in real-world scenarios.

For example, if you conducted research in data analytics, you know how to collect, process, and interpret large data sets, whereas those who haven’t engaged in real-world research experience may only be able to interpret large sets of data. 

What fields value research experience?

So, what are some fields where adding research experience to a resume can help differentiate you from other candidates?

• Engineering & Technology: Emphasizing your ability to tackle technical challenges and innovate using cutting-edge technologies.
• Social Sciences & Humanities: Emphasizing your analytical skills in understanding human behaviors, societal trends, and cultural nuances.
• Business & Economics: Showcasing your skill for dissecting market trends, predicting economic shifts, and strategizing based on concrete data.
• Life Sciences & Medicine: Demonstrating your expertise in laboratory techniques and understanding of complex biological systems.

Other fields where research might be less prominent but still relevant are marketing, event management, web development, and hospitality.

How to write about your research experience

The power of your research experience lies in quantifying your impact and success. 

Rather than just listing your research experience, by emphasizing the measurable impact you've made, you offer undeniable proof of concept—turning abstract research skills into concrete accomplishments.

In the same way you would create resume work experience achievements, research experience should follow this structure (or something similar) to emphasize your research skills, how you used them, and the outcome.

Success Verb + Noun + Metric + Context (Research Experience) + Outcome = 1 bulleted achievement 

You can also incorporate research experience on a resume using a similar structure into your “Professional Summary,” “Education,” and “Projects” sections. 

If you’re feeling stuck, the Achievement Assistant in the free Teal AI Resume Builder can help you write impactful resume achievements for all of your research experience. 

How to list research experience on your resume with Teal

Step 1: Log in to your Teal account. (If you don’t have one, sign up for free!)

Step 2: Click “Resume Builder” in the navigation panel on the far left. From here, you can click “Add New Resume” or select a resume you’re already working on. 

Teal note: Start with steps one and two. Then, proceed with the directions for each of the following sections.

To list research experience in your professional summary

To add research experience to your professional resume summary, scroll to Professional Summaries, click the drop-down button, then click "Add Professional Summary." Create one from scratch, or click the "Generate With AI" Button. Then, edit as needed to incorporate your relevant research experience. 

To list research experience in your work experience

To add research experience to your work experience achievements, from the Resume Builder, scroll to Work Experience. Then, click the drop-down button. Click "Add Work Experience" to create a new section or "Add an Achievement" in an existing work history.

To list research experience in education

To add research experience to your education, from the Resume Builder, scroll to Education. Then, click the drop-down button. Click "Add Education" to create a new section or the “Edit Education Item” icon to add research experience to existing education.

To list research experience in your projects

To include research on a resume in your projects, from the Resume Builder, scroll to Projects. Then, click the drop-down button. Click "Add Project " to create a new section or the "Edit Project" icon to add research experience to an existing project.

How to include undergraduate research experience on your resume

Undergraduate academic research experience is more than just academic work; it's a testament to your commitment, curiosity, and capability. 

By actively engaging in research at an early stage, undergraduates like you demonstrate a proactive approach to learning and a desire to dig deeper into your field. 

Not only is this research experience valuable for students pursuing, say, a career in academia, but also for students of all fields of study entering the professional world. 

In real-world scenarios, prospective employers view undergraduate research as an indicator of problem-solving project management skills, technical knowledge, and the ability to collaborate.

5 tips for including undergraduate research experience on a resume

If you’re looking to learn how to put undergraduate research experience on a resume, the best placements are within your “Education” section or as projects in a resume .

Here are five tips to help you get started.

1. Use a clear title

2. Include the duration of the research

3. Be specific about your role and contributions 

4. Highlight achievements and outcome 

5. Incorporate relevant hard and soft skills

Resume research experience examples

Let’s take a look at some research experience examples on a resume across different levels of experience and professions to get an idea of what this can look like. 

High school student

Collaborated and utilized botanical techniques in an 'Effects of Light on Photosynthesis' study, examining 40+ seedlings during a semester-long biology research project, revealing blue light's heightened influence on photosynthesis.

Undergraduate student

Surveying 500+ meals over six months in the 'Dietary Habits of University Students' research projects, using Excel's advanced statistical functions and critical thinking, revealed a 58% decline in protein-rich food choices.

Recent College graduate

As an Environmental Science graduate, I'm skilled in the hands-on application of advanced chromatography techniques, with a focus on the 'Efficiency of Modern Water Purification Methods' research. I've successfully analyzed and improved purification methods for over 300 water samples, achieving a 90% reduction in contaminants. 

Masters student in Psychology

Led the data analysis of 100+ patient evaluations during the 'Efficiency of Cognitive Therapies on Stress' study, resulting in a 20% improvement in therapeutic outcomes.

Human resources intern

Used the Qualtrics survey tool to capture insights from 250+ employee responses as part of the 'Employee Satisfaction Metrics' evaluation. This collaboration and data-driven analysis highlighted key opportunities for organizational enhancements, leading to a 10% increase in overall employee satisfaction scores within Q2.

Junior-level data engineer

Developed an ETL pipeline capable of processing 2TB+ of data daily as part of the 'Real-time Data Integration' research project, significantly reducing data latency by 80% 

Financial analyst

Leveraged Excel's advanced financial functions to dissect 3 years' worth of company financials in the 'Company Health Audit' study, identifying potential savings of $1.2M

Product manager

As a seasoned Product Manager with 7 years of experience, I've spearheaded research-centric product developments, aligning technical capabilities with market demands. My most notable accomplishment was the 'User Experience Revamp' research project, where I employed data analytics tools and cross-functional teamwork to gather feedback from 10,000+ users. This feedback-centric approach led to a 20% increase in user retention and positioned our product as a market leader in its segment.

Lead mechanical engineer

Project: Efficiency Enhancement of HVAC Systems Research - Innovated novel airflow designs tested on 100+ HVAC units as part of the 'Airflow Optimization Research,' achieving an efficiency boost of 15%. - Collaborated with electrical engineers to integrate smart sensors in 50 existing HVAC systems during the 'Smart HVAC Retrofit' initiative, leading to a 10% reduction in energy consumption.

‍ Senior machine learning engineer

‍ ​​Optimized neural network architectures, improving over 2,500 lines of Python code, during a collaborative research initiative on image recognition, resulting in a 15% boost in model accuracy.

Add your research experience to your resume with Teal

Highlighting research experience in your resume is more than just filling space.

It's about showcasing a depth of understanding, commitment to a field, and practical skills that can differentiate you from other job seekers.

Research proves you have the hard and soft skills employers want and demonstrates your proactive approach to leveraging those skills for tangible outcomes.

The Teal AI Resume Builder makes adding this research-focused experience to your resume seamless. Whether it's capturing intricate details of an independent research project, translating theoretical skills into actionable results, or giving context to your hands-on experience, Teal provides the tools and guidance to do it with precision. And by tailoring your research for each application, you make a compelling case that you're the best fit for a role.

Sign up for Teal today and let your research experience take the spotlight it deserves.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i effectively quantify my research experience on a resume, should i include all my research projects on my resume or only the most relevant ones, how can i describe undergraduate research on my resume if i don't have any publications or presentations.

Kayte Grady

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The Best Research Skills for a Resume

If you want to apply for a research position, you need to provide evidence of research skills on your resume. In this article, we explore what the best research skills for a resume are, why they are important and how to list them properly. We also provide a researcher resume sample to get you started – you can use it as inspiration or a template.

Table of Contents

What Are Research Skills?

A career like research is an excellent option for anyone who can collect, analyze and interpret data, solve complex problems, dive deep into discovery, and offer innovative solutions. The best thing about being a researcher is that you can not only succeed in science and academia but also climb up the career ladder in the corporate world. Indeed, having solid research skills opens the door to many roles and industries, including academic environments, government settings, transnational corporations, startups, tech giants, and non-profit organizations, to name but a few.

From human behavior to regional studies to biotech, there are myriads of research spheres where a qualified individual can make a difference. Researchers utilize their skills to explore a variety of topics, and if you have your mind set on pursuing a career as a researcher, you need to understand what skill set is pivotal for success in this field.

In a nutshell, research skills are all about searching ways to resolve problems. They are knowledge, abilities and competencies that ensure you can investigate particular topics, perform critical analysis, extract and organize data, interpret results, form hypotheses, and derive data-driven conclusions.

As a researcher, you are expected to be capable of relaying your findings to other people in a compelling and digestible form and even inspire action, both in yourself and in others.

Whether you are a seasoned researcher or a novice in this field, you need to put the right skills on your resume . Below you will find a list of the most in-demand research skills in today’s job market.

The Top 10 Research Skills for a Resume

Communication.

Communication is a crucial aspect of a research career since you are required to share information, relay findings and spread knowledge efficiently and effectively, both orally and in writing . While communication skills certainly have a place on your resume , that doesn’t mean adding “Communication” to your list of skills is enough to move on. You need to provide relevant examples verifying that you can research things as part of a team and work towards a common goal. You could add something like this to add credibility to your claim:

Recruited 7 research assistants for clinical studies by visiting clinics and sending out email invites, increasing participation by 20%.

Explained 100+ research procedures to a group of study participants in 10 days, resulting in a 0% incident rate.

Problem Solving

Being an advanced problem solver means you can consistently identify issues and find effective and efficient solutions to them . It is an extremely valuable skill when it comes to research-based activities, and 86% of employers look for workers who are capable of solving problems in the workplace according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Job Outlook 2022 survey. If you want to add problem-solving skills to your resume, you need to underpin them with relevant accomplishments. For instance, you could add examples like these:

Resolved course accessibility issues by creating interactive presentations for remote learners, increasing student satisfaction by 89%.

Developed and introduced a new computing environment for analysis, identifying 100% of failure patterns and improving issue detection by 75%.

Analytical Skills

Having analytical skills means you can parse data into digestible pieces, interpret them correctly and make data-based connections and conclusions . Data analysis incorporates a vast set of competencies, including technical skills like proficiency in programming languages, such as Python and R, familiarity with data visualization tools, like Tableau and Power BI, and a strong grasp of statistical analysis methods, such as hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and sample size determination. Armed with these skills, a researcher can take data to the next level and drive both innovation and profitability.

Being able to make sense of facts and figures both manually and using automated solutions will help you thrive in most roles, so recruiters would love to know that you are an analytical thinker when considering your candidacy. Your best bet here is to make sure they can find this out by examining your resume. You can add examples like the ones below to prove you can tackle complicated issues using your analytical skill set:

Collected, cleaned and analyzed first-party data from 10+ departments to identify the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company.

Performed regression analysis to determine the effects of a company-wide minimum wage increase, concluding that the hiring process was accelerated by 25% due to the wage change in question.

Qualitative Analysis

Qualitative analysis allows you to analyze a research subject using non-numerical and non-quantifiable parameters, characteristics and indicators and is based on abstract concepts . For instance, you can use qualitative attributes like human behavior or brand reputation to make business decisions or recognize investment opportunities. This skill is in demand today as it helps researchers use their observations to make conclusions, identify patterns and tackle challenges. Since you cannot quantify this area of your expertise, you need to provide relevant context to convince the reader that you are capable of analyzing non-tangible aspects of a subject. You can do that by using appropriate examples, like the following ones:

Evaluated the quality and accuracy of 200+ data sources in a month.

Performed quality control of high-volume content in a rapidly changing environment, maintaining a quality score of 99.9%.

Quantitative Analysis

Quantitative analysis is an approach that allows you to collect, study, measure, and analyze data . From statistical research to financial modeling, quantitative analysis includes a powerful toolkit that helps a researcher refine and simplify vast amounts of raw data to make better decisions and forecast trends.

Quantitative analysis has countless applications: with it, you can track metrics, measure variables and evaluate parameters in multiple fields, from finance and accounting to molecular biology and astrophysics. Therefore, it is no wonder that it is one of the most important research skills for a resume and highlighting it the right way is likely to help you move forward in the job searching process. You can prove that you know how to work with tangible data by providing relevant examples, like the following ones:

Designed a new data analysis technique, saving 30 monthly hours in parameter comparisons.

Used SQL to analyze customer data and identify areas for improvement related to customer conversions, resulting in a conversion boost by 75%.

Academic Writing

Academic writing is the ability to create complex documents containing scientific data, such as formulas, graphs, and charts . Academic writing skills help researchers prepare reports, presentations and articles for scientific journals and magazines, and if you have them, it means you know how to present technical information clearly and concisely. Recruiters from scientific fields are especially interested in candidates capable of writing academically, so submitting a resume with examples of written work is likely to help you secure a position as a researcher. Listing your publications to prove your expertise is the best option here, but since you might not have enough space to add all your papers, books and articles, you could highlight your academic writing proficiency with something like this:

Created 350+ articles on the principles of academic research for the university’s database, increasing student satisfaction by 60%.

Published 30+ papers focused on structural changes in protein conformations.

We know that expressing your writing potential in limited words can be difficult, so here getting assistance from a summarizing tool can be a good idea.

Literature Review

Literature review is a methodology that implies conducting rigorous research on a particular topic . Having literature review skills means you can explore your subject area in greater depth using sources like books, journal articles, industry magazines, etc. Such competencies allow you to build upon existing knowledge and generate new ideas, accelerating your research and pushing it to its full potential. Naturally, your literature review skills are a valuable asset to your resume. We recommend you to illuminate them with appropriate examples, focusing on tangible outcomes:

Gathered and reviewed 10+ articles on Stata to extract variables from a dataset.

Performed 100+ literature reviews to implement changes in clinical practice, boosting quality of care by 70%.

Time Management

Time management is a powerful soft skill that is especially valuable in research environments. It allows you to manage your time effectively, break large tasks into manageable chunks and prioritize them properly, set up measurable, attainable, and time-bound goals, and even juggle your responsibilities . Proper time management helps you stay focused on your work, boosts your productivity and thereby leads to consistently high results and impressive outcomes. From carrying out experiments to writing reports to teaching, as a researcher, you need to apply time management strategies on a daily basis to successfully accomplish your tasks. You can show you are good at time management on your resume by showcasing your successes, like in the examples below:

Developed a database for organizing behavioral data for 100+ study participants, decreasing data processing time by 30%.

Implemented data analysis techniques in Python, increasing the amount of data analyzed per hour by 17% and accelerating project completion by 40%.

Attention to Detail

Paying attention to detail is a vital aspect of being a researcher. Having this skill helps you gather credible information, perceive meaningful connections, notice discrepancies, and deliver high-quality work based on correct evidence. Since each and every aspect of a career in research requires efficiency and trustworthiness, attention to detail is something you cannot go without – otherwise, your progress will come to a screeching halt. Naturally, you need to illuminate this skill on your resume as recruiters seek candidates who can look at details with a critical eye and minimize distractions. And the best way to do that is by providing a relevant example of success. You can use the ones below for reference:

Checked 10 + data sheets for completion and quality per day, resulting in a <1% error rate.

Supervised the maintenance and updates of the lab’s database with a 99% accuracy rate.

Editing & Proofreading

Editing and proofreading skills are essential to perform successful research since they ensure it is both accurate and easy to read . While editing is more about making your text more digestible and improving the overall quality of your writing, proofreading corrects surface issues like errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar. Both require you to have a solid command of the language you use and a certain degree of focus. The devil is indeed in the details, so you need to always polish your texts before submitting them. Only this way will they be perceived by your peers and superiors as constructive and professional. And to prove you are good at editing and proofreading, you need to add appropriate examples to your resume. Here is how you can demonstrate your ability to provide high-quality texts:

Edited 11 federal grant proposals designed by my team, which generated $200+ in lab funding.

Edited a research paper co-authored with 2 postdoctoral employees regarding protein generation, which received the Best Paper Award in 2020.

How to List Research Skills on a Resume

Your resume is the best place to highlight your research experience and the value you could bring to your next role. The key here is to put your research skills in the right section so that they get noticed by the reader. You have no fewer than 7 options here:

• A dedicated research section
• Your work experience section
• The education section
• The list of your research publications
• The projects section
• The skills section
• Your resume summary

If you have a solid research background, you may want to create a separate section on your resume and call it Research or Research Experience . This place will help you expand on your projects and their details, specify the nature of your research, and describe the specifics of your previous roles, providing relevant examples and demonstrating the most prominent accomplishments.

If your career is all things research, the work/professional experience section can incorporate your research skills and accomplishments. List your employers and your duties, along with the dates of your employment, like you would do when describing your non-research work experience.

Your education section is an appropriate place to highlight your research skills if you are a student or a recent graduate. You can put it at the top of your resume if you want to draw more attention to your research background when applying for your first job in science or academia.

If you have a whole host of published works, it could be a great idea to create a separate section for listing your publications . This will help you add credibility to your research skills and accomplishments. Research-related accomplishments can also be highlighted as projects on your resume. This might be appropriate if your research background is not so extensive or not quite relevant to your current career aspirations.

You can list your research skills in your skills section as long as they are tangible and relevant for the job you want to land. We recommend you to avoid general skills here and focus on industry-specific expertise, illuminating it with the keywords you can find in the corresponding job listing and relevant skill levels .

Highlighting your research skills in the summary section is appropriate if you are applying for a role where a robust research background is essential. Your resume summary is just a few lines appearing at the top of the document, so make sure to add only the most important research skills there – those that you want the reader to see first and foremost.

Why Are Research Skills Important?

Research-oriented positions and most jobs in academia require you to have a solid set of research skills. Employees outside these roles can also benefit from research experience – research skills are transferable , meaning you can bring them to the table no matter your position, career field or job level. Therefore, they are a valuable addition to a resume in many cases.

Businesses and organizations are eager to employ candidates with proven research skills because they can

• come up with original plans and ideas,
• design innovative products and services,
• improve processes,
• keep up with technology,
• identify customers’ needs and requirements and find ways to meet them,
• resolve complicated issues,
• analyze competitors’ strengths and weaknesses,

By adding research skills to your resume, you show recruiters that you can think outside the box, know how to work with data and technology, are capable of making well-informed decisions, and are good at solving problems. This makes you a valuable hire in today’s skill-based job market

A Resume Sample to Apply for a Research Position

JOHN/JANE DOE Research Assistant Location ⋅ Email ⋅ Phone number Diligent and hardworking clinical researcher seeking a position at [Name of Company] to apply academic expertise and facilitate biological research. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Company/Organization, Location Dates of Employment Research Assistant Assisted scientists in 30+ research projects related to therapeutics for COVID-19 Conducted data-driven testing with an accuracy rate of 98% Supervised a team of 3 junior research assistants with daily laboratory duties Company/Organization, Location Dates of Employment Graduate Research Assistant Participated in cell research projects as part of a cross-departmental team of 30 researchers. Performed cell counts with 99% accuracy Was engaged in developing a platform to investigate immune responses to virus-infected hepatocytes. … Company/Organization, Location Dates of Employment Research Student Assistant Gathered and analyzed data and evidence for 10+ clinical research cases monthly. Awarded “Research Impact Award” in recognition of consistent research excellence (only 1 student is awarded in a class of 100). … EDUCATION NAME OF UNIVERSITY Location Degree, Major Dates of Education SKILLS Molecular cloning RNA isolation Cell counting Knowledge of SQL code and queries Data analysis Literature review

A career in research is an extremely exciting yet quite a demanding path. Since the competition for positions in the field is very fierce, as a researcher, you need to have high levels of determination and persistence and a powerful combination of skills. The research skills we have outlined in this article are what recruiters expect to see on your resume, so make sure to expand on them to get the job of your dream, rise to the top of your game and deliver ground-breaking research.

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• Resume Tips

How to Include Research On A Resume (Examples and Tips)

Research skills are highly prized across a wide spectrum of industries. The fact is that researchers are invaluable for many employers. After all, new ideas often come only after exhaustive analysis of existing practices. Is it any surprise then that many of the most innovative companies in the world look for employees who possess these skills?

The good news is that most of us possess at least some skill in researching. Unfortunately, too many of us don’t recognize those skills or why they matter to employers. In this post, we’ll help you identify your research skills and show you how to include them on a resume.

What Are Research Skills?

Research skills are all those skills needed to investigate and analyze a subject and then communicate your findings to others. In short, there is no simple easily-defined skill that encompasses all these talents. Instead, your ability to research involves the effective use of a range of other skills.

Most of these skills relate to critical thinking in some way. They involve accumulating information and using it to draw reasoned conclusions. Naturally, those conclusions need to be conveyed to others with effective communication skills.

Research skills are among the most highly-prized transferable skills employers are looking for in today's competitive job market.

Employers value these skills because they are essential to progress. Innovation only comes from research and inspired insight. As a result, companies that rely on innovation to remain competitive tend to rely on employees who are talented researchers. Obviously, there are entire fields of industry that use researchers only for that purpose. In a more general sense, however, research skills are widely used by many different types of employees. And they use them in almost every industry in the marketplace.

How to List Research on a Resume

Including research on your resume:.

For research, summarize your accomplishments in a brief section. You should include a description of your role in the research, the topic that you were exploring, and some information about your findings. For example,

_ Research Project , Economics Department, Dynamic University, Dec 2017 – Apr 20_20

Key participant in research project examining blockchain technology’s potential impact on financial intermediation. Explored use case studies for cross-border payment systems, intrabank transactions, and microtransactions for e-commerce.

Designed model simulation to study blockchain-based payment system

Worked in tandem with Alpha and Delta Finance to create simulated intrabank transfers using digitalized tokens

Studied e-commerce script integration for cryptocurrency payments

Member of 3-person team tasked with presenting findings to 2018 National Banking Technology Conference

Example of Research Listed On a Resume:

View 200+ more professional resume samples for all industries, along with a guide to writing resumes from our career experts.

You can also combine your research with other sections:

Research and Publications

Research and Professional Development

Educations and Research

We wrote a good post here on how to include publications on a resume.

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Some Important Research Skills You May Already Possess

When listing research skills on your resume, it’s important to remember that most of them won’t be core skills for the job you’re seeking. Unless you’re applying for a job as a researcher, these skills will basically be transferable skills. That means that they might not be essential for the position but will certainly enhance your value as a potential employee.

To better understand your own research skills, it’s important to be able to identify them.

Here are some common and valuable research skills that many employees possess. Chances are that you have used at least some of these skills in your career. For example:

Attention to detail. This seemingly simple skill is one that employers truly appreciate. People who possess an ability to note even the smallest details can be invaluable for identifying problems and creating solutions.

Planning and scheduling skills. Every research project starts with a plan and a schedule. This is also one of those transferable skills that has application throughout nearly every industry.

Data collection skills. Good research depends upon good data. If you’re a skilled data collector, that talent will be useful for any company’s research needs.

Problem-solving skills. At some level, all research is about solving problems. Whether it’s a graduate thesis or a corporate study, there’s always a question that needs to be answered.

Technical skills . Proficiency with computers and other technology is an essential skill for modern research.

Critical thinking skills. Data collection is useless if no one ever considers what that data means. That analysis requires critical thinking and the ability to analyze and draw conclusions.

Project management skills. Can you manage projects in an orderly and effective way? Every research project requires effective management.

Communication skills . Whether it’s an oral presentation or a written report, research findings always need to be communicated to others.

Make Your Research Skills Work for You

Finally, do more than just list your research skills in your resume. Put them to use. Research the company you’re trying to join, and mention things you’ve learned in your cover letter and interview. That can not only showcase your research abilities but will demonstrate your real desire to join their team. In the end, that can be the best way to improve your odds of landing that great job you need.

Related posts:

Writing Your Education Section: Samples & How to Guide

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• • Directed a multi-sector research project evaluating the impact of digital resources in academic environments, benefiting over 30 institutions.
• • Implemented innovative qualitative research methods that increased project efficiency by 25%.
• • Authored impactful research reports presented at national conferences, influencing educational policy directions.
• • Supervised and mentored a team of 3 junior analysts, improving team productivity and research output quality.
• • Managed project timelines and deliverables for complex studies, resulting in 95% on-time completion rate.
• • Developed strong professional relationships with stakeholders and collaborators, which led to securing 2 significant research grants.
• • Conducted in-depth analysis on STEM education trends, influencing curriculum development for 100+ educational institutions.
• • Played a critical role in a team that delivered 4 major research projects yearly, exceeding stakeholder expectations.
• • Managed cross-functional teams, increasing overall project efficiency by 15%.
• • Presented research findings at 10+ industry conferences, enhancing the company's professional reputation.
• • Leveraged advanced data collection tools to gather and analyze information from over 500 interview subjects.
• • Assisted in the preparation of grant proposals that secured funding of over $500,000 for environmental research.
• • Organized and managed data collection for a large-scale research study on conservation best practices.
• • Played a key role in publishing 3 research papers that contributed to new sustainability guidelines.
• • Supported senior researchers in conducting fieldwork and data analysis for interdisciplinary research projects.

13 Researcher Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your researcher resume must demonstrate your expertise in your field. Clearly highlight publications, presentations, or projects you've contributed to. Showcase your analytical and data collection skills. Elaborate on the methodologies you're proficient with to prove your technical capabilities.

All resume examples in this guide

UX Researcher

User Researcher

Student Researcher

Quantitative Researcher

Qualitative Researcher

Market Researcher

Undergraduate Researcher

Product Researcher

Psychology Researcher

Design Researcher

Lab Researcher

Machine Learning Researcher

Resume guide.

Resume Format Tips

Resume Experience

Skills on Resume

Education & Certifications

Resume Summary Tips

Additional Resume Sections

Key Takeaways

As a researcher, you may struggle with translating your extensive project experience into a concise format that appeals to a broad range of employers. Our guide will provide you with tailored strategies to effectively distill your research accomplishments into an impactful resume that resonates across industries.

• Utilize real-life examples to refine your researcher resume;
• Effectively write the experience section of your researcher resume, even if you have minimal or no professional experience;
• Incorporate the industry's top 10 essential skills throughout your resume;
• Include your education and certifications to highlight your specific expertise.

If the researcher resume isn't the right one for you, take a look at other related guides we have:

• Lab Manager Resume Example
• Lab Technician Resume Example
• Scientist Resume Example
• Chemist Resume Example
• Research Assistant Resume Example
• Lab Assistant Resume Example
• Research Director Resume Example
• Radiologic Technologist Resume Example
• Research Manager Resume Example
• Research Associate Resume Example

Simple guide to your researcher resume format and layout

• professional experience - use the reverse-chronological resume format;
• skills and achievements - via the functional skill-based resume format;
• both experience and skills - with a hybrid resume format .

What is more, keep in mind that your resume may be initially assessed by the ATS (Applicant Tracker System) (or the software used by companies in the hiring process). The researcher resumes that suit the ATS:

• have a header that includes either a role keyword or the job you're applying for;
• should be no longer than two pages;
• be submitted as PDF, unless specified otherwise.

Upload & Check Your Resume

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

If you happen to have some basic certificates, don't invest too much of your researcher resume real estate in them. Instead, list them within the skills section or as part of your relevant experience. This way you'd ensure you meet all job requirements while dedicating your certificates to only the most in-demand certification across the industry.

The five (plus) definite sections your resume for a researcher job should include are:

• Header with your headline, contact details, and/or a preview of your work
• Summary (or objective) to pinpoint how your success aligns with the role
• Experience with bullets of your most relevant achievements in the field
• Skills to integrate vital job requirements (both technical and personal)
• Your further dedication to the field, showcased via relevant higher education and/or certifications

What recruiters want to see on your resume:

• Publishing Record: Evidence of publications in reputable journals or conferences relevant to the field.
• Research Experience: Detailed description of past research projects, roles, and contributions.
• Grant Writing Skills: Demonstrated success in securing research funding from grants, fellowships, or scholarships.
• Technical Expertise: Proficiency with tools and methodologies specific to the research area, like statistical analysis software, lab techniques, or data analysis programs.
• Collaboration and Communication: Examples of working effectively within interdisciplinary research teams and communicating complex research findings to diverse audiences.

Creating your researcher resume experience to catch recruiters' attention

Remember that for the researcher role, hiring managers are looking to see how your expertise aligns with their requirements. Here's where your resume experience section can help out. Make sure you:

• Include mainly roles that are relevant to the researcher job you're applying for;
• Don't go too far back in your experience - recruiters will only care what you did a decade ago if it's really important for the researcher role;
• Each bullet you include should say what you did, followed by the skills you used and the actual end result of your efforts;
• Quantify each of your achievements with numbers and possibly the overall effect it had on the organization;
• Highlight transferrable skills - or personal skills you've attained thanks to past jobs - that could be applicable within your potential workplace. This would showcase your unique value as a professional.

Formatting the experience section of your resume doesn't have to be an over-the-top deep dive into your whole career. Follow the researcher resume examples below to see how industry-leading professionals are presenting their experience:

• Designed and executed a comprehensive experimental study on the effects of new agricultural chemicals, increasing crop yields by 20% over a two-year period.
• Authored and co-authored 6 peer-reviewed journal articles in the field of synthetic biology, enhancing the company's academic presence and fostering collaborative opportunities.
• Mentored a team of junior researchers and interns, improving team productivity by 30% and helping to establish a robust research pipeline.
• Implemented new data collection protocols for patient trials, which improved data accuracy by 25% and ensured regulatory compliance.
• Coordinated with cross-functional teams to manage over 15 multi-center clinical trials, ensuring that deadlines were met and budgets were maintained.
• Presented findings at 3 international conferences, significantly raising the profile of the research programs and attracting future funding.
• Led the research and prototype development for a new medical device, which subsequently received FDA approval and led to a 150% increase in departmental revenue.
• Coordinated with a team of scientists to integrate artificial intelligence in the device's diagnostic process, improving prediction accuracy by 35%.
• Managed the intellectual property process for developed technologies, resulting in the granting of 5 patents and protecting the company's assets.
• Analyzed consumer behavior data and trends to inform the company's marketing strategies, contributing to a 40% increase in market share.
• Developed and administered over 200 surveys and focus groups to gather actionable customer insights, directly influencing product development.
• Worked directly with the sales team to refine target demographics, which led to more effective ad spend and a 25% increase in conversion rates.
• Directed a groundbreaking research initiative on renewable energy that secured $2M in grants from government and private sectors.
• Managed collaborations with industry partners to test and refine prototype solar panels, achieving a 50% increase in efficiency over existing models.
• Organized and chaired a successful international symposium on sustainable energy, fostering partnerships that led to further R&D investments.
• Led the development of a novel gene-editing platform, which resulted in a 200% increase in experiment throughput and reduced costs by 40%.
• Collaborated with pharmaceutical companies to leverage the platform for drug development, accelerating the timeline from discovery to preclinical trials.
• Managed the submission of regulatory documents for new research protocols, ensuring full compliance with all federal and state regulations.
• Processed and analyzed big data sets using advanced analytics tools, uncovering patterns that led to a 20% improvement in operational efficiency.
• Developed custom scripts and algorithms to automate data collection processes, saving the company an average of 250 man-hours per month.
• Designed an interactive dashboard that provided real-time insights into market trends, which became a key decision-making tool for the executive team.
• Monitored patient enrollment and data integrity for over 10 international clinical trials, ensuring adherence to study protocols and Good Clinical Practice guidelines.
• Provided key contributions to the successful launch of a Phase III trial, which saw a 95% retention rate of study participants due to enhanced engagement strategies.
• Developed training materials and conducted workshops for new clinical research coordinators, greatly improving the effectiveness and compliance of the research team.

Quantifying impact on your resume

• Include the number of publications you've authored to demonstrate the depth and breadth of your research experience.
• List the amount of research funds you've secured, as it shows your capability to attract significant financial resources for your work.
• State the number of experiments or studies you've conducted to quantify your hands-on experience in your field.
• Mention the number of citations your work has received to reflect its influence and acceptance in the research community.
• Highlight the size of the research teams you've led or participated in to show your collaborative and leadership skills.
• Detail the number of conferences you've presented at to exhibit your ability to communicate your findings to a professional audience.
• Provide the percentage by which your findings have improved a process or technique within your field to illustrate the practical impact of your research.
• Specify the number of patents you hold, if applicable, to demonstrate innovation and potential for commercial application of your work.

Action verbs for your researcher resume

Four quick steps for candidates with no resume experience

Those with less or no relevant experience could also make a good impression on recruiters by:

• Taking the time to actually understand what matters most to the role and featuring this within key sections of their resume
• Investing resume space into defining what makes them a valuable candidate with transferrable skills and personality
• Using the resume objective to showcase their personal vision for growth within the company
• Heavily featuring their technical alignment with relevant certifications, education, and skills.

Remember that your resume is about aligning your profile to that of the ideal candidate.

The more prominently you can demonstrate how you answer job requirements, the more likely you'd be called in for an interview.

Recommended reads:

• How To Include Your Relevant Coursework On A Resume
• How to List Continuing Education on Your Resume

The more trusted the organization you've attained your certificate (or degree) from, the more credible your skill set would be.

Balancing hard and soft skills in your researcher resume

Recruiters indeed pay close attention to the specific hard and soft skills candidates possess. Hard skills refer to technical abilities or your proficiency in technologies, while soft skills are the personal attributes and qualities developed over your lifetime.

If you're unsure about effectively quantifying these skills on your resume, follow our step-by-step guide. It's crucial to first understand the key job requirements for the role. Doing so enables you to accurately list your:

• Hard skills in sections like skills, education, and certifications. Your technical expertise is straightforward to quantify. Most organizations find it sufficient to mention the certificates you've earned, along with your proficiency level.
• Soft skills within your experience, achievements, strengths, etc. Defining interpersonal communication traits in your resume can be challenging. Focus on showcasing the accomplishments you've achieved through these skills.

Remember, when tailoring your researcher resume, ensure that the skills you list match exactly with those in the job requirements. For instance, if the job listing specifies "Microsoft Word," include this exact term rather than just "Word" or "MSO."

Top skills for your researcher resume:

Data Analysis

Statistical Analysis

Qualitative Research

Quantitative Research

Research Design

Literature Review

Data Collection

Data Interpretation

Academic Writing

Scientific Publication

Critical Thinking

Problem Solving

Attention to Detail

Time Management

Communication

Adaptability

Project Management

Ethical Judgment

List your educational qualifications and certifications in reverse chronological order.

The importance of your certifications and education on your researcher resume

Pay attention to the resume education section . It can offer clues about your skills and experiences that align with the job.

• List only tertiary education details, including the institution and dates.
• Mention your expected graduation date if you're currently studying.
• Exclude degrees unrelated to the job or field.
• Describe your education if it allows you to highlight your achievements further.

Your professional qualifications: certificates and education play a crucial role in your researcher application. They showcase your dedication to gaining the best expertise and know-how in the field. Include any diplomas and certificates that are:

• Listed within the job requirements or could make your application stand out
• Niche to your industry and require plenty of effort to obtain
• Helping you prepare for professional growth with forward-facing know-how
• Relevant to the researcher job - make sure to include the name of the certificate, institution you've obtained it at, and dates

Both your certificates and education section need to add further value to your application. That's why we've dedicated this next list just for you - check out some of the most popular researcher certificates to include on your resume:

The top 5 certifications for your researcher resume:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) - Project Management Institute
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) - Research Administrators Certification Council
• Institutional Review Board Professional (CIP) - Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research
• Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) - Society of Clinical Research Associates
• Data Analysis & Statistics Certificate (DASC) - Various Institutions

Highlight any significant extracurricular activities that demonstrate valuable skills or leadership.

• When Should You Include Your High School on Your Resume?
• How To List Certifications On A Resume (Examples Included)

Researcher resume summary or objective? The best choice is based on your experience

If you're wondering about the relevancy of the resume summary or the resume objective to your Researcher application - here's the truth.

The summary and objective provide recruiters with your expertise and accomplishments at a glance, within an up-to-five-sentence structure.

The difference is that the:

• Resume objective is also more focused on emphasizing your career goals. The objective is the perfect fit for (potentially more junior) candidates who'd like to balance their relevant experience with their career goals.
• Resume summary can provide you with space to also detail the unique value of what it's like to work with you. Researcher candidates who have many noteworthy accomplishments start from the get-go with their summary.

Ensure that either type of resume introduction presents your Researcher expertise in the best light and aligns it with the job advert.

The more details you can provide with numbers, the more compelling your resume summary or objective will be.

Real-world Researcher candidates follow these frameworks in writing their resume summaries and objectives.

The end results are usually as such:

Resume summaries for a researcher job

• With a decade of profound experience in molecular biology, an extensive publication record, and a Ph.D. from MIT, the candidate is adept in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics. Awarded with the Young Scientist Award, they have led teams in groundbreaking cancer research, yielding patents and significant advancements in targeted therapy.
• A seasoned chemist with 15 years at GlaxoSmithKline specializing in pharmaceutical development, pivoting into biotechnology research with a strong desire to apply synthetic chemistry skills towards developing novel biologics. Recognized for innovation in small molecule synthesis, keen to contribute to interdisciplinary approaches in disease treatment.
• Former aerospace engineer with 12 years' tenure at NASA seeking to transition into climate research. Armed with robust analytical skills, a deep understanding of complex systems, and a master’s degree in environmental engineering, aiming to utilize simulation modeling to address pressing environmental challenges and climate change.
• After years of developing market forecasts and data models for economic research at a leading think tank, the candidate is eager to transfer their refined quantitative analysis skills into computational neuroscience research. With a strong grasp of machine learning and predictive analytics, they are ready to contribute to elucidating neural network functionalities.
• Graduating magna cum laude with a B.S. in biology, the applicant is enthusiastic about beginning a research career in immunology. Committed to lifelong learning and making impactful contributions, they are determined to leverage their strong foundation in cell biology and genetics to aid in developing innovative immunotherapies.
• As an ambitious recent graduate with a Master's in Computer Science and a passion for algorithm design, I am eager to delve into the world of bioinformatics research. With a zest for problem-solving and a commitment to advancing healthcare through technology, I aim to contribute to projects focused on genetic data analysis and personalized medicine.

Showcasing your personality with these four researcher resume sections

Enhance your researcher expertise with additional resume sections that spotlight both your professional skills and personal traits. Choose options that not only present you in a professional light but also reveal why colleagues enjoy working with you:

• My time - a pie chart infographic detailing your daily personal and professional priorities, showcasing a blend of hard and soft skills;
• Hobbies and interests - share your engagement in sports, fandoms, or other interests, whether in your local community or during personal time;
• Quotes - what motivates and inspires you as a professional;
• Books - indicating your reading and comprehension skills, a definite plus for employers, particularly when your reading interests align with your professional field.

Key takeaways

At the end of our guide, we'd like to remind you to:

• Invest in a simple, modern resume design that is ATS friendly and keeps your experience organized and legible;
• Avoid just listing your responsibilities in your experience section, but rather focus on quantifiable achievements;
• Always select resume sections that are relevant to the role and can answer job requirements. Sometimes your volunteering experience could bring more value than irrelevant work experience;
• Balance your technical background with your personality traits across various sections of your resume to hint at how much time employers would have to invest in training you and if your profile would be a good cultural fit to the organization;
• Include your academic background (in the form of your relevant higher education degrees and certifications) to show recruiters that you have the technical basics of the industry covered.

Researcher resume examples

Explore additional researcher resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

Looking to build your own Researcher resume?

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How to Put Research on a Resume: Tips and Examples

When most people think of research, they think of scientists in labs or graduate students trying to complete a thesis or dissertation. The truth is research comes in many types and forms. 

Have you ever analyzed how target audiences interact with your product? Have you ever cross-checked product prices among the competition or compared which features their applications have? That’s also research. 

The point is this: Many organizations are looking for people with strong analytical skills and research experience, even in areas that do not directly relate to the product or service they provide. Why? Because “research” is a skill that carries over into all academic, scientific, and business endeavors. 

So whenever you’re perusing job posts, always check if mentioning your research experience may be helpful. If so, you will need to know how to include your research experience on a resume. 

How to Put Research Experience on Resume?

Research experience belongs to the Work Experience section of your resume. Depending on your field of work, you can either mention some of your research skills when describing your work duties and accomplishments.

Or, if you’re working on a scientific resume for an academic position, you can set up a separate Research section on your resume (or even share your research work as a separate attachment). 

At any rate, your research experience must be presented in a logical and coherent manner. Here’s how you put research on your resume: 

• List all research work you have done previously, no matter what kind it may have been. It may have been academic research from your schooling. It may have been market research you did in your previous positions.
• Take a lingering look at the job description for the role you’re after. Scan the applicant requirements section for specific research skills. 
• Cherry-pick the most relevant research experiences to include in your resume (yes, every resume has to be customized to the job description!). 
• Include all your research directly in the sections of your resume that summarize your current and previous positions. If you can quantify the results of your research, do so. Employers like to see actual numbers.

Sample Entry for Research Experience on a Resume

Let’s say you’re after a Product Marketing Manager position with a SaaS company.  The job ad says they’re looking for candidates, experienced in doing market research, segmented customer demographics studies, and brand messaging split testing. You have those skills. Here is how you might include them in your resume. 

XYZ Corp. 2018-Present Position: Market Researcher Responsible for analysis of customer satisfaction with current products

• Conduct product satisfaction surveys on a weekly basis
• Analyze survey results using Power BI tools to understand the trends in user engagement, satisfaction, and attrition. 
• Source additional qualitative data from customer support and sales teams to provide a more comprehensive analysis. 
• Collaborate with the Product Owner and Program Manager on inputs for new product features. 

ABC Corp. 2018-2019 Position: CRO Specialist  Responsible for conceptualizing and implementing CRO strategies for e-commerce websites. 

• Google Analytics, heatmaps, and session recording data to create conversion benchmarks for main landing pages. 
• Make recommendations for changes in microcopy, CTA placements, and information layouts, page-by-page.
• Have improved the conversation rate by 23% for an international food retailer. 
• Generated over $100K in revenue from one promotional landing page for a coffee retailer. 

Sample Undergraduate Research on Resume 

Here’s another option: You want to talk about relevant coursework in college. Any research you did as an undergraduate related to your career can be relevant, especially when you’re an entry-level candidate. 

Again, read the job posting carefully, and see what will fit. Here’s a sample of how you can include it on your resume.

Education University of Missouri 2020 BS in Agriculture

Additional Information: Research Project

Conducted original research on the effects of phosphorus and nitrogen in soil samples on the growth of corn. Concluded with recommendations for percentages of each in the soil to achieve maximum growth.

How to Put Research Skills on Your Resume

First, understand this: Research experience and research skills are two very different things. Experience is actual research work that you have done. Skills indicate your ability to conduct research. 

So you’ll want to list your skills separately from your academic or work projects. A good way to do so is by creating a featured skills section on your resume. Depending on the resume template you use, you can locate it in the sidebar area or header. 

Good Research Skills for a Resume

Need some ideas? Here are several examples of resume-worth research skills: 

• Research question development
• Field data collection 
• Data aggregation and analysis
• Statistical models in Matlab
• Custom analytics projects in PyTorch
• Customer survey development
• Interview techniques
• Qualitative research design
• Experiment designs

Research experience is an important qualifier for so many career positions today. If you feel comfortable working with data and know a thing or two about statistical analysis, your value   to any employer increases manyfold. So always give your research skills a prominent placement on your resume!

Elena runs content operations at Freesumes since 2017. She works closely with copywriters, designers, and invited career experts to ensure that all content meets our highest editorial standards. Up to date, she wrote over 200 career-related pieces around resume writing, career advice... more

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A Guide to Listing Research and Publications on your Resume or CV

With there being only so much room on your resume or CV, space can get taken up very easily…

Making you wonder…

Should all my publications and research get listed on my resume?

It’s a big question with a simple answer.

If you’ve got work or papers that:

Then you most definitely should include them on your resume. You want your prospective employer to be able to see exactly what you’re capable of and the actual work you’ve done is perfect.

You want to make it easy for the person thinking about hiring you to see your range of experience and knowledge in your field; this is what citing your published work will do.

Papers will also demonstrate some soft skills like good writing and the ability to analyze data .

When you’ve got a good library of publications, how do you choose which ones to include?

What format should you use in your citation?

For answers, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ve pulled together the rules and tips you need for adding your publications to your resume or CV to help get things perfect.

The right time to add publications to a resume or CV

The first thing you need to do is assess the job role that you’re applying for and decide if your published work is relevant.

You only have a small amount of space and it gets full, quickly.

The best advice you’ll get is to only include publications that match the job you’re applying for and support the points you’re making elsewhere in the resume.

To make it easy to follow, here are the main times you’re going to find listing your publications to be useful on your resume or CV:

Deciding which publications to use on your CV or resume

Your first instinct is probably to add everything you’ve ever achieved in life, but you need to make sure you’re targeting your information to the person reading your document.

• When you have papers that confer kudos, make you look more qualified, or demonstrate key skills for the role, these are the papers that you include.
• When you’ve got industry-specific publications or ones that really highlight a skillset, make sure you add them on.
• Articles about hobbies or casual subjects probably aren’t going to impress the hiring manager and can be omitted.

With all of this to think about, you’re probably thinking about which publications are the right ones to add to your resume or CV.

For your curriculum vitae , note down anything that has authority in its field that has been or will soon be published.

These could be:

• Books for academia
• Journal and publication research papers
• Not-yet-published research papers
• Articles of a scholarly nature
• Papers presented at conferences

The right type of publications to list on your resume include:

• Presentations at trade conferences
• Chapters of books or whole books
• Trade association magazine articles
• Industry journal publications

Pro-Tip Not every publication belongs on your CV. Don’t include blogs, website content, or nonscientific or magazine articles. Also, if your thesis didn’t get published, it belongs in your “ Education ” section.

Why are resumes and CVs different for listing publications?

The question of the difference between a CV and resume should probably be tackled first!

Your resume contains a summary of your skills and experience in brief, covering just one or two pages.

Conversely, your CV is packed with detail and will run well over two pages in length.

You should be writing a different resume that’s specific to each position you’re applying for, whilst your CV remains static and you tailor your cover letter for each job you go for.

How does all of this affect how you show your published work?

This breaks it down for you:

Getting to the nitty-gritty…

Examples for listing publications on a resume

You’re here because you’re wondering…

Let’s answer that for you…

We’re going to give you the rules you need to follow for citing publications on your resume. It includes the order you need to use and the simple structure to follow to give you the perfect Publications section of your resume:

• Use a dedicated section called “Publications” so it’s easy for the recruiter to find
• Order it using reverse chronology , meaning you start with the most recently published and give each publication its own bullet point. Pick out your recent and relevant works so you can conserve space for all the other important things
• Pick the right style for your list. You don’t need to follow MLA (Modern Language Association) or APA (American Psychological Association) styling, rather you can make a list that covers the title of the work, where it was published, and the date it was featured. As an example: “Components of Neo-gothic Churches in Nineteenth-Century England” British Journal of Architecture, June 2018

Pro-Tip APA style is a writing style and format for academic documents such as scholarly journal articles and books. It is commonly used for citing sources within the field of behavioral and social sciences. It was developed by The American Psychological Association. MLA style is the leading style of documentation for literary research, as well as academic papers in the humanities field. It was developed by The Modern Language Association.

For including a written publication, it should look like this:

• Title of article or chapter, then the name of the journal/magazine/website
• Last name of the author, then first and middle names or initials
• Publication year
• Issue or publisher’s number, and volume and page numbers where applicable
• If the paper is available online, be sure to add the URL too

To cite a paper presented at a conference:

• Note your role, such as presenter, panelist, or keynote speaker
• The topic or title that was discussed
• Conference or forum name
• Where and when the presentation took place

Imagine you’re looking for a SEO consultant role and the skills you need to be showing are around SEO.

This is an example of how you’d cite relevant publications for these key skills:

• Panelist: “Native SEO and How to Host It” HostCon, 2019
• “SEO in the Next Decade” Internet Trends, June 2019
• “Best Advanced SEO Techniques” Content Guru, Turin Publishing, Dec 2018
• “Hold the Front Page: Modern SEO” Searchzone, Feb 2018

Want to whip up your resume whilst dinner is cooking? Use our resume builder to easily make an effective resume. We’ve got ready-made content that you just click to use. Check out the template and choose the right one to make your resume shine. Browse examples 👈

Examples for listing publications on a CV

We’ve already established that…

Your CV, or curriculum vitae, is what you use instead of a resume in the world of academia.

Rather than picking out the best bits of your publication history for your resume, on your CV you get to show absolutely everything you’ve had published during your career, except obsolete one.

There are a few different things to consider when you’re formatting your publications to go on to your CV :

• Have the right format. With only a few publications to cite you can just add a section called “Research and Publications” within your CV, when your list is more comprehensive you’ll need to use dedicated pages for your citations
• Be consistent with your style of citations , whether you choose to use MLA or APA. A general rule of thumb is that humanities fields like languages, social sciences, and philosophy generally use MLA whilst science and engineering fields tend to opt for APA style.
• Go in reverse chronological order starting with your most recent published work and go back in descending order, all the way back to your first published article
• Don’t refer to publications that are now obsolete , you’re fine to ignore things that have been superseded or aren’t relevant to your job or field any more
• Note work that’s yet to be published but is being peer-reviewed at the time you’re writing your CV. Format these papers in italics and don’t include the name of the journal you have sent them to.
• Highlight your byline when you have co-authors or collaborators by putting your name in bold, remember not to miss out on anyone’s name

Here’s a guide to the different styles that you may be expected to use:

To give you some examples of what your listed publications would look like based on the type of work and the style you decide to use:

Pro-Tip Make sure you keep your list up to date as your career progresses and you get more articles, books, or presentations published. Each time something new goes live, add it to the top of your CV’s Publication and Research section.

When you have publications to cite on your CV or resume, it shows that you have skills, knowledge, and interest in your field. A potential employer will only see this in a positive light; they want you to be engaged in the work that you do.

It’s really important that everything that you include about your published history is correct and up to date, as well as relevant.

You can add publications to your CV or resume in a number of ways, depending on your field and purpose.

To be doubly sure that you’ve got it, here’s how to write publications on a resume and CV:

Publications on your resume :

• Put them in a separate section called “Publications”
• Include each publication in a new bullet point
• List the year and title
• Add the name of the magazine, website, or journal
• Only include publications that are relevant to the job you’re applying for

For your CV, usually, you'd include all your academic publications.

Publications for your CV :

• Include all of your academic publications
• Choose a citation style for your list and stick to it
• Start with the most recent publication and work backward
• Bold your byline when you’ve shared credit
• Don’t use outdated, disproved, or obsolete works

However, you choose to format your list, make sure that it looks tidy and well organized so any hiring manager knows exactly what they’re looking at.

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Writing an effective academic CV

June 6, 2019 | 6 min read

By Elsevier Connect contributors

How to create a curriculum vitae that is compelling, well-organized and easy to read

A good CV showcases your skills and your academic and professional achievements concisely and effectively. It’s well-organized and easy to read while accurately representing your highest accomplishments.

Don't be shy about your achievements, but also remember to be honest about them. Do not exaggerate or lie!

Academic CVs  differ from the CVs opens in new tab/window  typically used by non-academics in industry because you need to present your research, various publications and awarded funding in addition to the other items contained in a non-academic CV.

Here are some tips. They are organized into categories that could be used to structure a CV. You do not need to follow this format, but you should address the categories covered here somewhere in your CV.

Tools you can use

If you’re looking to demonstrate the impact your research has had, PlumX Metrics are available in several of Elsevier’s products and services, giving you an overview of how specific papers have performed, including where they were mentioned in the media, how other researchers used them, and where they were mentioned on platforms from Twitter to Wikipedia.

You can also use Mendeley Careers to discover job opportunities based on the keywords and interests listed in your CV and the articles you’ve read in your Mendeley library.

If you’re looking for more specific guidance on how to take control of your career in research and academia, Elsevier’s Research Academy opens in new tab/window has entire sections dedicated to job search opens in new tab/window , career planning and career guidance.

General tips

Start by considering the  length ,  structure  and  format  of your CV.

2 pages is optimal for a non-academic CV, but research positions offer more flexibility on length

Include research-specific details that emphasize your suitability, like relevant publications, funding secured in your name, presentations and patents to the employer.

4 sides  is a reasonable length. Academic recruiters may accept more if the additional information is relevant to the post.

Next, choose a structure for your CV.

Start with the main headings and sub-headings you will use.

In general, you should start  by providing some brief personal details, then a brief career summary.

The first section of your CV should focus on your education, publications and research.

Also address: funding, awards and prizes, teaching roles, administrative experience, technical and professional skills and qualifications, professional affiliations or memberships, conference and seminar attendances and a list of references.

Dr. Sheba Agarwal-Jans talks about writing an academic CV for Elsevier’s Researcher Academy (free registration required).  Watch here opens in new tab/window .

Use legible font types in a normal size (font size 11 or 12) with normal sized margins (such as 1 inch or 2.5 cm).

Bullet points can highlight important items and present your credentials concisely.

Keep a consistent style for headings and sub-headings and main text – do not use more than 2 font types.

Make smart but sparing use of 

bold and italics. (Avoid underlining for emphasis; underlines are associated with hyperlinks.)

Be aware of spelling and grammar and ensure it is perfect. Re-read a few times after writing the CV. Spell check can be useful, though some suggestions will not be accurate or relevant.

Composing your CV

Personal details

Personal details include your name, address of residence, phone number(s) and professional email.

You might also include your visa status if relevant.

Career summary

Use about 5 to 7 sentences to summarize your expertise in your disciplines, years of expertise in these areas, noteworthy research findings, key achievements and publications.

Provide an overview of your education starting from your most recent academic degree obtained (reverse chronological order).

Include the names of the institutions, thesis or dissertation topics and type of degree obtained.

List your most reputed publications in ranking of type, such as books, book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles, non-peer-reviewed articles, articles presented as prestigious conferences, forthcoming publications, reports, patents, and so forth.

Consider making an exhaustive list of all publications in an appendix.

Publications

Your research experiences, findings, the methods you use and your general research interests are critical to present in the first part of your CV.

Highlight key research findings and accomplishments.

Honors and awards

Indicate any prizes, awards, honors or other recognitions for your work with the year it occurred and the organization that granted the award.

The funding you have attracted for your research and work is recognition of the value of your research and efforts.

As with the honors and recognitions, be forthcoming with what you have obtained in terms of grants, scholarships and funds.

List your teaching experience, including the institutions, years you taught, the subjects you taught and the level of the courses.

Administrative experience

Administrative experience on a faculty or at a research institute should be noted.

This might include facilitating a newsletter, organizing events or other noteworthy activities at your institution or beyond.

Professional experience

Include any employment in industry that is recent (within the last 5 to 10 years) and relevant to your academic work.

Professional experience can explain any gaps in your academic work and demonstrate the diversity in your capabilities.

Other skills and qualifications

Highlight key skills and qualifications relevant to your research and academic work.

Technical and practical skills, certifications, languages and other potentially transferrable skills are relevant to mention in this section.

Professional affiliations and memberships

If you belong to any professional group or network related to your areas of expertise, you should mention them in this section.

Only list affiliations or memberships you have been active with within the last 5 years.

Keep this section short.

Attendance at conferences and seminars

List the most relevant conferences or seminars where you presented or participated on a panel within the last 5 to 7 years.

In an appendix, you can add an exhaustive list of conferences and seminars where you participated by giving a speech, presenting a paper or research, or took part in a discussion panel.

List at least three people who can provide a reference for your research, work and character. Check with them first to make sure the are comfortable recommending you and aware of the opportunities you are seeking.

Provide their names and complete contact information. They should all be academics and all people you have worked with.

Appendices enable you to keep the main content of your CV brief while still providing relevant detail.

Items to list in an appendix can include publications, short research statements or excerpts, conference or seminar participation, or something similar and relevant which you would like to provide more details about.

CVs are not only for job searching. You will need to update your CV regularly and adapt it for the various purposes:

Awards, fellowships

Grant applications

Public speaking

Contributor

Elsevier Connect contributors

University of Missouri

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Undergraduate Research

How to put research on your resumé.

Resumés are important documents for all kinds of application packages — jobs, scholarships, grad school, etc. Your resumé should fit within the total package highlighting your achievements in a concise manner that can be further expounded upon in your personal statement, cover letter, or your letters of reference. It is important to custom tailor your resumé to any particular position, or program you are applying for. Some information needs to be emphasized more than other depending on what the reviewers may be looking for.

Using Your Space Wisely

In general, a resumé should be no more than two pages long — unless you have a large number of presentations or publications that need to be listed. Avoid the tendency to add more “stuff” to your resumé to try to look impressive. Use the relevant experience you have and determine what was impressive about it (for example, demonstrated independence, innovation, grit, or tenacity; helped improve ways of doing things in the lab; were given additional responsibilities as time went on; etc.)

• A reviewer would rather read about the two positions you had that are relevant, than try to sift through seven or eight clubs or fast-food job descriptions.
• Transcript?
• Recommendation Letters?
• Personal Statement?

Typically, resumes are formatted so that your most recent position is listed first. However, don’t put working at Dairy Queen first, if you are applying for a research position. Instead, consider using some of the following sections:

• Academic Accomplishments
• Research Experience
• Work Experience/Employment
• College Activities
• Volunteer Work
• Presentations and Publications

You do not need all of these categories, especially if you do not have relevant, interesting, or recent experience with them. Do not feel forced to try to fit your resume into someone else’s template. Make a list of what you want to include then design categories that fit your experience and story. Keep in mind that these categories will change over time (for example: five years after college, you will no longer need to include a section on “college activities”).

Research Mentor

• Area of research
• Not only does it show that you worked directly with a faculty member in your position, but reviewers might be familiar with your mentor’s work which could put you at an advantage.
• Consider listing projects and accomplishments the group achieved first before breaking things out on a year to year basis.
• If you were funded by different sources at different times, put a list of these sources at the bottom of the experience in this position.

Job Titles, Time Periods

• Use something that makes sense (sometimes HR titles do not)
• Instead of “MUURS Scholar” say “Student Researcher funded by the MU Undergraduate Research Scholars Program”
• Summer 2017 (9 weeks, full time internship)
• Academic Year 2018-2019 (15 hrs/week)
• What does that award mean?
• Will anyone outside of campus know what that is?
• Was the program selective?
• What was the award amount?
• What was the duration of the award?
• You can list various funding sources at the end of the relevant section
• External funding (from a government entity such as NIH, for example) is impressive. Be sure to list it.

You need to take the time to seriously consider your experience and how that allowed you to grow and mature as a researcher. Ask yourself these questions when brainstorming about your experience:

• What are areas you excelled in?
• What are lessons you learned?
• What are things you improved upon from the person before you?
• How did you spend your time?
• What skills did you gain?
• What research outcomes were reached?
• How long were you in the lab?

Use specific numbers or other qualifiers when applicable to show just how much work, effort, independence, or tenacity you had.

If your publication and presentation experience is limited, it is recommended that you include it with your relevant experience. However, if you have extensive or otherwise impressive experience (won a presentation award at a conference, or presented your work to state legislators at the Undergraduate Research Day at the the State Capitol, for example) then include a new category specifically for Presentations and/or Publications.

Presentations

• Include full list of authors
• Include full and official title
• Include if it was poster or oral presentation (ie, 15 minute presentation)
• Include location, event
• Include date (at least month and year)
• Include any award
• Check in with your mentor, to find out if a poster you co-authored was presented elsewhere.

Publications

• Full citation when published
• In Press – journal, date?
• Submitted for review – journal/date
• In preparation
• Check with your mentor as many projects are not completed by the time as student graduates.

Final Reminders

• Know your audience
• Explain (or spell out)
• Organize to fit your own situation
• Make it easy to follow – esp. if you have ‘time away’
• But have on comprehensive and cohesive running resumé.
• Have a system in place to update/organize your resumés.
• Use professional language, as most files are submitted electronically — the reviewer will see if you named a file “Better Resumé”
• ex: Jane Doe Resumé – Biochemistry REU, UT Austin
• This will ensure that the reviewer knows who you are and what you are applying for without even opening the file.

We encourage students to visit the MU Career Center in the Student Success Center for help on their specific application needs.

How to Put Research Experience on Resume?

When applying for a job, all your experience matters. Most people love to indicate all the experience they have gained over the years to prove their competence for a particular position. However, many people are confused about how to include research on resumes. Are you a job applicant who has been wondering how to list research on a resume? Or are you completely lost on how to put conferences on resumes ? You’re at the right place.

Keep reading to find out how to include research in your resume.

Does Research Count as Work Experience?

Perhaps, you’re asking yourself, does research count as work experience? The answer is yes. In today’s world, various companies are interested in hiring individuals with probing skills. Employees that display adequate study skills can easily gather information from multiple sources and interpret complex data to find solutions to a problem. This skill is crucial in helping organizations improve the quality of the service they offer.

If you have lab skills to put on your resume as well, we have a different article for that. Check it out !

Also, employees highly skilled in finding information will ensure that the company exceeds customer expectations at every step of the way. There are clear indications that research work counts as experience. And learning how to list research experience on a resume can make you stand out from a long list of applicants.

How to Add Research Experience to Resume?

It’s been established that every applicant will do better by learning how to write about research experience in a resume. But, the real challenge is in the process of learning how to add research to a resume. Do you just go ahead and list all the research skills at your disposal? Or do you blindly include your study portfolio as a separate subheading in your resume? That’s the purpose of this piece. You’ll find out soon enough.

Frequently, resumes are designed such that your current or newer positions are listed first. However, if you’ll add research experience to your resume, then format your CV according to the following subheadings or sections;

• Academic Accomplishments
• Research Experience
• College Experience/Activities
• Volunteer Work
• Presentations and Publications

You should only include all of the above-listed sections if you have the relevant experience to fill them. Don’t feel pressured to make things up and include any false details as a way of stuffing your resume with research experience. The use of falsified information will be considered a breach of trust that may come with some serious consequences.

For those who have teaching experience and certificates, you can learn how to list them on your CV; just visit our blog page.

Before you get started with filling out the important details, make sure to list them. Then, you can go ahead to categorize them. Don’t be rigid about the categories you are filling. Instead, you should be open-minded and prepared to make as many alterations as possible. Some sections may even be deemed unnecessary depending on the time elapsed. For instance, if you have graduated for more than 5 years, adding a section on college activities may feel unnecessary.

What to Include When Putting Research on Resume?

These are some of the essential information to add to your CV to display your ability to handle research work:

Research Mentor

The first step to learning how to put research on the resume is to include information about your research mentor. Adding your mentor to your resume tells your prospective employer that you’ve spent some time learning the ropes on how to research properly. Not only does this tell them that you’ve worked directly with a senior member of your faculty, but it also says exactly who it is.

Don’t be surprised to find that someone may be familiar with your mentor’s work. Now, that’s the type of advantage you’d want to have when seeking employment.

You need to include your mentors;

• Research area

Some students train under more than one mentor or have worked on multiple projects with a single person. If you fall under this category, never hesitate to expressly state the terms and conditions surrounding your mentorship. You may include any projects and achievements you and your study group witnessed. To make your work orderly, you may list out past projects on a year-to-year basis.

And you should always mention your lab experience on your resume, so click for more info about it.

Job Titles and Work Duration

If you have served in any related position before your current job application, it’s a valuable experience that should be included in your CV. Make sure to state your job title or position. Abstain from the use of acronyms that may confuse the reviewer of the resume. For instance, do not call yourself a MUURS Scholar. It’ll be a better idea to say that you are a Student Researcher who is a part of the MU Undergraduate Research Scholars Program.  You should also be specific when listing your work period or the duration you spent on the job.

This is where you describe how the entire study went. Take some time to deeply consider the experience you have gained from related positions and mentorships. Make a list of all the things that have contributed to your growth as a researcher. Review each of them closely and ask yourself any of these questions to find out your experience with it:

• What were your best areas?
• Were there any particular lessons learned?
• What are the important aspects you need to improve during your work?
• What skills did you pick up from the research position?
• Did you enjoy your time there?
• What were the results of the research you worked on?
• How long did you spend on the project?
• What was your role during the project?

You may use certain qualifiers to show how much work or effort you put into the research position you held at that time. It’s a simple tactic to remember when putting the research on a resume.

Publications and Presentations

Publications and presentations are evidence of your research work and experience. Even if you have limited publications and presentations to present to your prospective employers, you should include them. They will serve as a symbol to show your competence and capability.

When listing presentations;

• Include the complete list of authors on the project
• Include the project’s full title and official title
• Specify if it was an oral or poster presentation (i.e., you may even describe it based on its duration by calling it a 15-minute presentation on whatever topic)
• Specify its location and events surrounding it
• Include the date
• Include your mentor or whoever co-authored the presentation

When listing publications;

• Include full citation after publishing
• Include in-press recognition – journal date
• Include the date submitted for review and the journal-title

Make sure to update this section regularly. You may also include any publications that were completed after your time as a student.

Examples of Resumes With Research Experience

Role: Research Assistant, University of Missouri (2014 – 2016)

• Participated in insightful and innovative research on cell biology.
• Participated in intensive laboratory work and collaborated with other team members to document details of experiments
• Maintained lab equipment in reasonable working conditions and organized lab operations.

Research Project, Biology Department, University of Western California, December 2020-April 2021

Key participant in a study on the work of Charles Darwin. Confirmed his theory on the triggers of evolution and adaptation of living organisms.

• Collaborated with other team members to identify and evaluate empirical evidence to support the project proposition
• Analyzed the work of other previous authors during the same period to identify any parallels with the topic
• Compile a 40-page report on the team’s findings and present them to the research professor

What Are Research Skills?

Research skills refer to a person’s ability to gather, organize, analyze and interpret information on a specific topic. To put it simply, these skills are the outward manifestation of the research techniques you have built up over time. Probing skills are concerned with searching through numerous information sources and analyzing them to identify which of them contains the solution you need.

What’s the Importance of Research Skills?

If you’re contemplating putting the research on your resume, you probably don’t understand the importance of research skills. These skills are valuable to an employee or employer. They allow the person to look closely at important details, gather information from multiple sources, extract vital evidence and details to support your study, and identify a reasonable solution to the problem.

Employers hire individuals with profound probing skills to:

• Create and compile comprehensive reports on work processes
• Evaluate the performance of competitors
• Track technology changes
• Create new and innovative products for clients
• Identify the demands of customers
• Improve work processes and streamline operations

Adding these skills to your resume gives your employers an idea of what to expect. It tells them that you are capable of suggesting new ideas and helping them create innovative solutions to satisfy consumers.

So, How to List Research Skills on a Resume?

Now that you know how to write a research resume, it’s time to move on to adding these skills to your CV. To do this, you must correctly identify all the related skills you possess. Common examples of these skills include; planning and research, attention to detail, data collection, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, technical skills, project management, and communication.

The following steps will teach you how to add probing skills to your resume:

Look through the job description : The first thing to do is check the job description and find out if the employer is on the market for specific research skills. Go ahead and list all the skills you possess that correlate with the requirements in your job post. You may decide to tailor your CV to comply with your potential employer’s needs, or you may list all your research skills to let them know your overall capability.

Add the skills to the research experience section : The research experience section of your resume is the perfect place to list all your skills. All you have to do is create a new subsection for it.

We’ve clearly emphasized the importance of research experience during job applications. Companies are looking for applicants with these skills because they offer them a chance to improve and offer customers innovative products.

Learning how to write research experience in a resume will give you a much-needed advantage over other applicants. Try it out today. It could be the key to securing your dream job. But if you feel you need help with your resume, check these services that assist with resume writing.

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• Customize Your Research Assistant Resume to the Job

As a successful research assistant, you’re a thorough data analyst, a top-notch lab technician, a friendly participant coordinator, and an organized librarian, all rolled into one.

However, demonstrating these skills on your research assistant resume can feel more overwhelming than autoclaving an entire lab’s worth of equipment. Not to mention, you may not know whether your school wants a  CV or a resume . And what about writing a cover letter ? Where to start?

Don’t fret—we’ll walk you through what makes a good research assistant resume and how to stand out among your peers.

Our seven research assistant resume samples have helped researchers across disciplines land jobs in top labs and departments in 2024. If you’re stuck, pick a  resume template  complete with sample points to brainstorm your best resume yet!

Research Assistant Resume

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Phrases peppered with keywords from the job ad, such as “writing grant proposals” and “decreased in cognitive cerebellar regions” can turn the tides in your favor in mere seconds. In other words, show the potential employer you’ve got what it takes to meet their needs and you’re golden.
• Make strong action verbs (think “oversaw,” “organized,” “managed,” and “partnered”) your bullet points’ friends. It’s about directing the hiring manager’s attention straight to the good stuff you want to flaunt—primarily your proactive stance or results-driven mindset.
• So, you believe your killer skill set should be your ticket in, huh? Then, make a convincing case for it by illustrating the required competencies (cue database management techniques, SAS, flow cytometry data, written communication, and statistical modeling) in your work history.
• Then, to cap off, take full advantage of genuine metrics that let recruiters envision your impact and success potential. “5+ publications on effective vaccination development” and “saving $13,400 per year” from Ravi’s resume make for good examples.

Entry-level Research Assistant Resume

• This section lets you discuss an interest in a particular field (and in a particular research assistant position). So,  tailor this section for every application you submit!
• Even if the projects aren’t relevant to the field of research you’d like to study, adding them highlights transferable skills like data analysis and experiment design. Plus, it fills up space so you’re not worried about filling up a whole page. 

Laboratory Research Assistant Resume

• Use numbers to discuss publications, team members you managed, money you saved, grant funding you helped acquire, or the outcome of your data analysis.  If numbers can measure it, include it!
• However, unlike your data, these numbers don’t have to be perfectly accurate—they can be rough estimates.
• Before you hit submit, run your resume through a  resume checker  or a spellcheck system (Grammarly is a good place to start). Better yet, after you run it through AI, have a trusted colleague review it, too. 

Clinical Research Assistant Resume

• Highlight your track record of adhering to guidelines in past trials to help your clinical research assistant resume stand out.

Undergraduate Research Assistant Resume

• However, even if you don’t have experience as a research assistant, include whatever work experience you have. Having any sort of job demonstrates responsibility, initiative, and the ability to work with others well.
• Choose a template that allows you to add sections (like projects) to make up for a lack of experience while also filling the page.

Graduate Research Assistant Resume

• A strong graduate research assistant resume should include a career objective that describes your topic of interest. Tell prospective programs how you’ll contribute to their legacy as a research institution through your work in the field.

Postdoctoral Research Assistant Resume

•  This section highlights your expertise, years of experience in your field, and achievements. Just remember to  tailor it for each application . 
• Consider including projects such as club membership (especially if you founded it yourself), volunteer experiences, or independent research. 
• Projects also make great examples to discuss in your research assistant cover letter .

Related resume guides

• College student
• Entry-level
• Grad school

Customize Your Real Research Assistant Resume to the Job

You’re the perfect person to create a stellar resume. After all, impressing an employer or a professor is all about research, and that’s something you’re already great at! However, with a vast number of research roles available, you may find yourself staring at a blank resume with no idea where to start.

We know—begin with the job description! The responsibilities listed there will help fill your resume with useful skills and experiences. Which ones of these best apply to your background?

• Collect, organize, and analyze data using surveys, interviews, experiments, and field observations
• Prepare materials and research cases for further study
• Perform literature reviews, including organizing results, writing summaries, and searching for sources
• Maintain clear and concise records, including confidential data
• Manipulate, clean, and visualize data, providing weekly and monthly reports to senior faculty members
• Participate in research meetings and present in-progress and final results

Resume Objective Examples With Tips and How-To Guide

What Is a Resume Objective?

Should i include a resume objective, are resume objectives helpful during a career change, should i use a resume objective to explain an employment gap, how to write a great resume objective, resume objective examples, resume objective examples by job title, frequently asked questions about resume objectives.

The opening section sets the tone for your resume. To generate interviews during the job search, it’s important to grab the hiring manager’s attention as quickly as possible. In the past, job seekers typically relied on a resume objective to introduce themselves to prospective employers. In recent years, however, the hiring process has evolved in a myriad of ways. This guide will explore the resume objective and assess its value within the contemporary job market.

A resume objective is a concise opening statement that explains your career goals and why you’re applying for a particular job. While resume objectives were widely used for many years, they’re now considered outdated by most resume writers and recruiters. In its place, job seekers in today’s market have adopted what is referred to as a professional summary, profile, or summary of qualifications.

The primary reason for this shift is that a resume objective focuses on the candidate’s goals, whereas a professional summary demonstrates why the candidate is qualified for the job they’re applying for. A resume’s main goal is to generate interviews, and the best way to make a positive impression on the hiring manager is to emphasize the potential value you can bring to their organization.

The short answer is no in most cases. Not only does the resume objective take the emphasis away from your qualifications, but it risks making you appear dated in the eyes of potential employers. Even when writing a resume for a grad school or internship application, you’ll be better served by simply building a strong summary that emphasizes your most impressive academic achievements and relevant skill sets.

At a cursory glance, one might think this is a situation where having a resume objective might be useful. It does present an opportunity to explain your desire to transition into a new field. However, once you look deeper, the same drawbacks continue to emerge.

The truth is hiring managers aren’t interested in learning about your long-term career goals when reviewing your resume. They understand that you’re interested in the job because you’ve applied for it. Rather than explaining your objectives, emphasize relevant experience and qualifications from your previous industry that will allow you to excel in the new position.

This is another unique circumstance where the idea of a resume objective appears more suitable. Employment gaps can be incredibly challenging to overcome in the competitive job market, and providing context for the hiring manager seems like a viable strategy. Unfortunately, this approach tends to make the gap even more glaring and diverts attention away from your qualifications. An employment gap is better addressed during the interview and, in some cases, even the cover letter. It should never be the first thing you draw attention to on your resume.

While we can’t recommend using a resume objective, if you do opt for this approach, there are ways to heighten its impact. Rather than only highlighting your career goals, create an objective that emphasizes how your unique background and skills can create value for potential employers. Also, mention something specific about the company and why you’re seeking this opportunity. This allows you to tell some of your story while also demonstrating how your qualifications align with the roles you’re targeting.

New graduate

A recent graduate with a degree in web design, specializing in user experience (UX) design, front-end development, and graphic design. Seeking a position with Pantheon Technologies to apply user-centered design principles in a forward-thinking work environment centered on innovation and real-world solutions.

A recent nursing graduate with entry-level work experience specializing in patient relations, post-anesthesia care, and process improvement. Seeking a registered nurse (RN) position with University of Pennsylvania Hospital to deliver exceptional patient-centered care and grow as a medical professional within one of the nation’s leading hospitals.

A recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree in economics, specializing in finance, financial modeling, accounting principles, and risk assessment. Seeking an internship position at Vanguard to forecast long-term business outlooks and identify financial risks for clients at one of the world’s largest investment firms.

Career or industry change

A military veteran with over 10 years of experience in supply chain management, logistics, fleet management, and procurement. Seeking a position at Olsen Manufacturing to transition from a military career to the private sector. A proven track record of overseeing multi-million-dollar supply chains to support military operations.

A server with seven years of professional experience specializing in upselling, client relations, customer service, and communication. Seeking a sales representative position with Morgan Electronics to transition from the hospitality industry to a sales career at an industry-leading technology company.

An event manager with eight years of experience advertising, planning, and executing virtual events. Seeking a marketing coordinator position with Cadence Inc. to transition from the events space to a digital marketing career. Adept at developing impactful marketing strategies to drive customer engagement.

Seeking advancement

A software developer with seven years of experience specializing in Agile software development, back-end development, Python, and web development. A strong history of developing innovative application features and software solutions to enhance the UX. Seeking a technical project manager position with Aiden Corporation to advance into a leadership role.

A construction worker with eight years of experience supporting commercial and residential projects, including construction, home renovations, and landscaping. Adept at coordinating with diverse teams to execute complex projects on-time and under budget. Seeking a construction manager position with Ajax Construction Co. to further leadership growth.

A principal with nine years of professional experience specializing in policy development, program management, educational leadership, and school administration. Seeking a superintendent position with the Swarthmore School District to drive the success of students and teachers at one of the state’s highest-performing districts.

Administrative assistant

A results-driven medical administrative assistant with five years of experience specializing in office administration, calendar management, and patient relations. Seeking a position with St. Mark’s Medical Center to apply administrative expertise in a fast-paced clinical setting at one of the state’s finest hospitals.

Office manager

A dynamic office manager with eight years of experience supporting daily operations and managing calendars for C-level executives. A proven track record of identifying opportunities to enhance client communications and administrative functions. Seeking an office manager position with Allied Marketing Corp. to transition into a leadership role.

Sales representative

A sales representative with four years of experience specializing in cross-selling, cold calling, lead generation, and client relations. A strong history of developing customer relationships and identifying appropriate products based on client needs. Seeking a sales representative position with State Farm to continue career growth at one of the best insurance providers in the U.S.

Account manager

An account manager with six years of experience within the technology industry, specializing in business-to-business (B2B) sales and Software as a service (SaaS). A proven track record of exceeding sales quotas and collaborating with cross-functional teams to improve the sales process. Seeking a position with Starlight Inc. to drive revenue growth in a fast-paced startup environment.

Software developer

A software developer with six years of experience specializing in Agile software development, back-end development, Python, and web development. A strong history of developing innovative application features to enhance the UX. Seeking a developer role with Cubix to provide valuable contributions to cutting-edge software solutions.

Software engineer

A lead software engineer with eight years of experience developing innovative software solutions for enterprise customers. A proven track record of executing multi-million-dollar technology projects. Seeking a software development manager position with Genetech Solutions to fuel leadership growth at one of the world’s best innovators in the technology space.

Digital marketing specialist

A digital marketing specialist with seven years of experience specializing in brand messaging, Google Analytics, and SEO strategy. A proven track record of executing digital campaigns to enhance user engagement and drive market penetration. Seeking a digital marketing manager position at Impossible Foods to drive brand awareness for a leading plant-based food company.

Marketing manager

An experienced leader and brand marketing professional with over 10 years in health care, specializing in content marketing, brand messaging, and ad campaigns. A strong history of guiding dynamic marketing teams to execute high-impact digital campaigns. Seeking a marketing manager position with Better Help to raise awareness of mental health resources.

A customer service manager with over 10 years of experience specializing in continuous improvement, client relations, and cross-functional leadership. A proven track record identifying opportunities to enhance the customer experience and improve satisfaction ratings. Seeking to advance into a customer service manager role with TD Bank.

Customer service representative

A customer service representative with six years of experience supporting sales teams and turning cancellations into satisfied customers. Seeking a customer service team lead position with Astound Broadband to enhance client retention for a premiere internet provider.

Registered nurse

A registered nurse (RN) with over seven years of clinical experience providing quality care to critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICU), oncology, and surgical units. A strong history of identifying opportunities to drive patient-centered care and improve clinical operations. Seeking a position at Columbia University Hospital to grow as a health care professional at one of the nation’s leading hospitals.

Medical surgical nurse

A certified medical surgical nurse with eight years of experience specializing in surgical care and patient education. A strong background of collaborating with interdisciplinary health care teams to deliver patient-centered care within high-volume acute care environments. Seeking to advance into a nurse manager position at St. Mark’s Medical Center.

A senior immigration lawyer with seven years of experience managing and navigating complex immigration, citizenship, and asylum cases. A strong history of serving as a client advocate and consistently achieving high approval rates. Seeking a position with Rosenberg LLP to provide exceptional legal services to clients at a reputable immigration law firm.

An associate attorney with four years of experience specializing in regulatory compliance, court litigation, legal research, and environmental law. A proven track record of navigating complex legal landscapes to obtain favorable outcomes. Seeking a position at Nelson Legal Associates to manage high-value cases related to environmental regulatory violations.

Project manager

A construction project manager with eight years of experience overseeing large build-outs and commercial construction projects valued at up to $25 million. A strong history of leading diverse construction teams and identifying cost-saving opportunities. Seeking a superintendent position with Ranson Construction Inc. to advance at one of the state’s top firms.

Technical project manager

An information technology (IT) project manager with 10 years of professional experience managing and building cross-functional teams from the ground up to execute multimillion-dollar enterprise-level projects. Seeking an IT director position with Cadence Technologies to advance as an industry leader at a company centered on innovation and real-world solutions.

HR recruiter

A human resources (HR) recruiter with six years of experience specializing in talent acquisition, recruiting, sourcing strategies, and learning and development. A proven track record of running high-impact recruitment initiatives to drive the retention of top talent. Seeking an HR manager role at Deloitte to grow within one of the nation’s leading financial firms.

Human resources specialist

A results-driven HR specialist with eight years of experience coordinating and enhancing HR operations. A proven track record of developing HR programs to improve employee satisfaction and retention. Seeking an HR manager role at Accenture to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) recruiting initiatives at an enterprise-level company.

Graphic designer

A senior graphic designer with over 10 years of experience specializing in brand messaging, digital marketing, project management, and UX design. A proven track record of defining high-impact visual solutions to drive brand awareness and sales growth. Seeking to advance into a digital design manager position with Arkline Inc.

UX designer

A UX designer with six years of experience specializing in UX research, design systems, user interface (UI) prototyping, and user-centered design. A proven track record of managing UX teams to develop design solutions for an unparalleled UX. Seeking a UX manager position at Ascension Inc. to drive innovation at one of the nation’s best web solution providers.

Should I use a resume objective instead of a summary? -

In most cases, it’s best to avoid using a resume objective in today’s job market. Career objectives have been largely phased out in favor of professional summaries, as they divert the focus of your resume away from your relevant qualifications and skills.

Why are resume objectives considered outdated? -

Resume objectives are considered outdated because they aren’t an effective way to grab the hiring manager’s attention quickly. Discussing your career goals is a topic much better suited for the interview, as your top priority should be marketing your skills and experience to potential employers.

How can I write a great resume objective? -

While it’s not advisable to clutter your resume with unnecessary details about your long-term career objectives, if you choose to include one, explain why you’re interested in this particular company and how you can provide value to their team.

Craft your perfect resume in minutes

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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CV (curriculum vitae) Guidelines

Format and Content FAQ

• Blue Ivy Carter

Your CV or curriculum vitae is similar to your resume. It clearly represents your current and past experiences and accomplishments so that your reader can understand the unique value that you bring to a job/internship/academic program. A few important differences to keep in mind about your CV:

• A CV can be longer than a typical US resume, but still needs to focus on clarity.
• CV is interchangeable with resume in some industries and parts of the world.
• Should include your academic experiences with minimal curation, do not exclude transferrable and relevant experiences.
• As with a resume, your CV should complement your cover letter not compete or duplicate content.

There are no “universal” formatting rules for a CV, however, you can start by following general resume formatting guidelines. Remember to always try to create a clear, concise, and easy to read document. Additional formatting suggestions:

• Reminder: reviewers may not look past the first page.
• Avoid using Wellsley-specific acronyms, terms, or jargon to make sure the off-campus reader can understand your experiences.
• Note: You should do this with any potential colleague in your target location(s), whether a particular university or country.
• ​ if your transcript is not included or does not adequately demonstrate the relevance, be sure to focus on specific skills/techniques learned and used through projects, papers, etc.
• This can include unpaid experiences paid, project based, upper division coursework, and/or thesis.
• Don’t forget to include relevant details like research supervisor, location, university or lab, or funding source(s).
• The Ruhlman and Tanner Conferences are Wellesley-specific, assume the reviewer is not from Wellesley.
• Possible sub headings: lab, data analysis, languages machine or human, etc.
• You should arrange the order of sections in your CV to highlight information most relevant to the position or application. More important information should be closer to the top, not buried at the end of the second page.
• Largely determined by your audience, think about the potential reviewer.
• For example: standard abbreviations will be understood by specialists in your field but not those outside the field.  
• Read and follow application instructions.
• If an application allows you to choose whether to submit a CV or resume: which will do a better job of showing your fit (your relevant preparation and experience and skills) for the opportunity for which you’re applying?  
• This can vary by the application but you should leave in experiences that show your preparation, experience, and relevant skills.  
• This does not mean you cannot discuss when appropriate, they just not get valuable space on your CV!  
• They’ll have your transcript, and therefore your GPA.
• If you think it might be more helpful to have them look at your transcript and the whole history of that GPA, then don’t include GPA on your CV.  
• Might it be more helpful to include information on your cv that isn’t on your transcript, like the GPA in your major and/or the courses most relevant to your proposed graduate work?
• Not sure what to do? Check in with someone in Career Education. Book an appointment  in Handshake or come by pop-ups or drop-ins.  
• You should always highlight any transferable skills and experiences.
• When in doubt, leave it in! And check in with someone in Career Education. Book an appointment  or come by pop-ups or drop-ins.
• How to have your CV reviewed

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UH embarks on out-of-this-world research to put animal cells in the moon

Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi and the Smithsonian Institution are exploring the possibility of storing animal cells on the moon in case of a global disaster.

The plan is to create a lunar biorepository that serves as an off-site storage space operation.

Scientists picked the moon for storage because the cells must be held in extremely cold temperatures, specifically -320 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to Mary Hagedorn, a scientist at the Smithsonian National Zoo, that freezing climate does not exist on Earth.

“Radiation is still an issue on the moon but we can bury or have this underground repository,” she said. “About 2 meters of lunar solid blocks most of the radiation.”

Scientists will expose animal skin cells at ultra-low temperatures without killing them, using a storage method called cryopreservation. Researchers already had success in using this technique on the starry goby, or Hawaiian reef fish.

Hagedorn said the major goal of biorepositories is to secure the diversity of ecosystems. In case of natural disasters, like hurricanes or wildfires, researchers would reintroduce microbes into the solid “so it can become vital again,” according to Hagedorn.

She said researchers don’t know how to cryopreserve many cells across all wildlife.

“As humans, we're probably very used to thinking about or hearing about reproductive technologies, and you may have heard of freezing sperm or human embryos … But for many other species, that's not available," Hagedorn said.

“We know how to freeze sperm for many animals, but anything else, we just didn't know how to cryopreserve and revive safely. But one thing that we can do is we can use these things called fibroblast cells. And these can be turned into stem cells, and they can be used for cloning in the future,” she continued.

Researchers are still doing further tests on fish skin cells. The goal is to make sure the experiments can withstand radiation in order to be stored on the moon.

POV: Sexual Pleasure Should Be Integrated into Scientific Research on Sexual Health

Aside from disease prevention, elements of sexual health, including pleasure and orgasm, don’t receive much research funding, limiting what’s known.

Photo via iStock/Prostock-Studio

Julia Bond (SPH’24)

In a splashy piece in 2022, the New York Times detailed what many doctors and medical researchers know, but rarely talk about: we really do not know enough about the clitoris. This component of female anatomy has been routinely overlooked and ignored by the medical establishment, despite its substantial role in sexual pleasure for many people. When asked why, the medical experts interviewed in the piece shared the same sentiment: female sexual pleasure has long been viewed as secondary to male sexual pleasure. Unnecessary, even frivolous. Why, then, would this organ, perceived by many to play no role beyond orgasm, be suitable for serious scientific research? I believe the deep-rooted ignorance of the clitoris is a good example of the consequences of a larger, pervasive problem in the field of medical research: the routine dismissal of sexual pleasure as something worth studying.

This year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest funder of scientific research in the United States, will allocate an estimated $388 million towards the study of sexually transmitted diseases. This is a critical effort, particularly as cases of some sexually transmitted infections have increased in recent years. But the risk of sexually transmitted infections is just one component of sexual health. In 2022, the World Health Organization published an updated definition of sexual health, defining it as more than just the absence of disease. Their definition includes the “possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences.” Elements of sexual health beyond disease prevention, including pleasure, orgasm, or even pain, do not receive much research funding, which limits what is known.

In addition to little funding, sexual health research is also curtailed by scientists themselves. Researchers are impacted by cultural influences. Across different cultures, it is common for sex and sexual pleasure to be considered a taboo topic. Researchers’ discomfort with topics related to sexual pleasure poses real barriers to the meaningful study of sexual health. If someone is uncomfortable even saying the word “orgasm,” how can they effectively research the full range of human sexual experience?

The lack of scientific research focused on the positive elements of sexual behavior, including pleasure and orgasm, has real consequences. Beyond the ignorance of female sexual anatomy, research also suggests that public health programs that incorporate sexual pleasure might work better. Downplaying or ignoring pleasure may result in less successful efforts to promote sexual health. A narrow research focus on the risk of sexually transmitted infections can also obscure other important issues that are deeply relevant to people, including sexual dysfunction, which is estimated to affect 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men in the United States. The stigma against discussing sexual pleasure and pain also pervades medical care. Research shows that people experiencing sexual health issues often do not discuss them with their providers and providers do not routinely ask about them. This contributes to the often years-long wait that many people experiencing chronic pelvic pain conditions, like endometriosis, experience before receiving a diagnosis.

I believe that scientific and medical research that aims to improve sexual health should incorporate a sex-positive lens. By this, I mean taking into consideration the many reasons people may have sex, including interpersonal connection, pleasure, and joy. This is the focus of a recent commentary I published in the American Journal of Epidemiology , alongside Dr. Jessie Ford of Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. We emphasize that sexual pleasure is important to many people, and therefore should be integrated into scientific research on sexual health. This could help public health research be more aligned with people’s lived experiences, in which pleasure and connection are often central to sexual experiences. In an era where humans have gone to the moon, the intricacies of the clitoris should not be a mystery. Scientific researchers have the potential, and, I would argue, the responsibility, to help bring sexual pleasure out of the darkness, and into the light.

Julia Bond (SPH’24), a research associate in epidemiology at Boston Medical Center, can be reached at [email protected] .

“POV” is an opinion page that provides timely commentaries from students, faculty, and staff on a variety of issues: on-campus, local, state, national, or international. Anyone interested in submitting a piece, which should be about 700 words long, should contact John O’Rourke at [email protected] . BU Today reserves the right to reject or edit submissions. The views expressed are solely those of the author and are not intended to represent the views of Boston University.

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Julia Bond (SPH’24) Profile

Julia Bond (SPH’24), a research associate in epidemiology at Boston Medical Center, can be reached at [email protected].

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How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets You a Job Interview

Learn to avoid the biggest mistake job seekers make and write a cover letter that truly makes an impact.

Customers Interviewed by:

Most job seekers don’t know how to write a proper cover letter. They believe a cover letter is just a “here is my resume” note. This is a wasted opportunity!

In this article, you’ll discover the secret to writing a professional cover letter that’s truly effective. It’s not hard to do and will give you a significant edge over the competition. We’ll walk you through the process in a few straightforward steps and provide examples to help you along the way.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in and create a cover letter that opens doors to your next opportunity.

What is a cover letter and do you really need one?

A cover letter is a short document (around 300 words) that accompanies your resume. Your cover letter should not simply repeat what your resume says . Instead, it should complement your resume, highlight your personality, and potentially address any weaknesses that could otherwise prevent you from getting an interview.

But do you really need a cover letter in 2024? The short answer is YES.

“Over 80% of hiring managers read a cover letter and 60% of applications require one as part of the application,” says career coach Madelyn Mackie . “Even hiring managers and recruiters who say they never read cover letters may find themselves drawn in by a particularly compelling letter.”

In fact, Jobscan analyzed nearly 1 million job applications and found that including a cover letter with your resume makes you  1.9 times more likely  to be invited for an interview compared to those who left out a cover letter.

What’s the biggest cover letter mistake?

The biggest mistake job seekers make when writing their cover letter is to focus only on themselves .

“It’s not about you,” says career coach Susan Schwartz . “It’s about what you can do for them. Talking to them about what they care about—not about what you want—is what’s going to make them want to read your letter. And to hire you!”

According to Schwartz, this is the best way to write a cover letter:

Paragraph 1. A single sentence (maximum two) stating the PROBLEM that the company faces. What is the issue/need/opportunity that this role will address?

Paragraph 2. what solution do you offer how are you the answer to their need again, keep it to a sentence or two., paragraph 3. explanation: what experience do you have that supports your assertion that you can help this paragraph can be 3-4 sentences, but keep it short., paragraph 4. call to action: suggest next steps. not “thank you” but let’s plan to discuss this next week..

Since hiring managers often spend less than 20 seconds on an application, your cover letter needs to grab their attention and get them to look at your resume. By highlighting how your experience matches the job, you make it easier for them to see you as a great fit for the role.

Now let’s examine each of these steps in more detail.

How to write a strong cover letter step-by-step

Now that you know the basics of what to include in your cover letter, let’s go through the process from start to finish to see how you can write a cover letter that will make you stand out from the rest of the candidates.

1. Do your research

Before writing your cover letter, research the company to understand its current challenges and goals. Visit the company website, read their latest news and press releases, and follow their social media channels.

Don’t skip this step! It’s crucial for writing a cover letter that truly resonates with a potential employer and sets you apart from other candidates.

After you’ve researched the company, carefully read the job description. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What specific problems or challenges is this role designed to address?
• How do my skills and experiences align with the job requirements?
• Am I a good fit for the role?
• What unique value can I bring to the company in this role?
• Are there any keywords or phrases that I should incorporate into my cover letter?

After researching the company and the role, you’re ready to start writing your cover letter.

2. Write your opening paragraphs

Many job seekers make the mistake of being too wordy in their cover letters. You’re not writing a novel. Use short words in short sentences. Remember, a hiring manager is going to quickly scan your application, so you need to get right to the point.

Here are some examples of how to start a cover letter:

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I’ve noticed that NexGen is working hard to stand out in a crowded digital market, and keeping your brand top-of-mind for customers can be tough.

That’s where I come in—I specialize in creating engaging content and smart SEO strategies that boost online presence and drive customer engagement.

I understand that Weissman is seeking to maintain its innovative edge in the dancewear industry while consistently meeting sales and margin targets.

I am confident that my experience and passion for design can help Weissman continue to create stunning, market-leading dancewear.

I understand that Timmons Company needs motivated individuals to manage sales territories and boost product visibility in retail grocery stores around Quincy, IL.

I am excited to bring my self-motivation and sales-oriented mindset to your team, ensuring your products not only maintain their shelf presence but also thrive.

3. Prove you can do the job

Now you need to provide evidence that you’re the right person for the job. The best way to do this is to highlight your relevant experience and achievements. Here are some things you should focus on:

• Specific Accomplishments : Share examples of your successes, such as increasing sales, leading projects, or improving processes.
• Relevant Skills : Highlight the skills that match the job requirements, like planning, organizing, technical proficiencies, or specific industry experience.
• Problem-Solving : Discuss times when you successfully tackled challenges, such as resolving issues, managing conflicts, or implementing solutions.
• Industry Knowledge : Demonstrate your understanding of the field and awareness of current trends and standards.
• Team Collaboration : Mention how you’ve effectively worked in teams, mentored others, or collaborated across departments.

Remember to keep it concise. Your letter isn’t meant to tell your whole story; it’s about making a compelling case that you understand the key aspects of the job.

Your goal is to leave the reader eager to learn more about you. Here are some examples:

“Over the past five years, I’ve led digital marketing campaigns that ramped up organic traffic by 40% and bumped up conversion rates by 25%. I’ve worked with diverse teams to create compelling content that resonates with audiences and used data analytics to refine strategies for maximum impact. My experience with social media management and email marketing also ensures a holistic approach to your digital marketing needs.”

“With over ten years in apparel design, specializing in activewear and dancewear, I have a proven track record of developing designs that resonate with customers and drive sales. My expertise includes conducting global trend research, selecting inspiring materials, and leading teams to transform creative concepts into market-ready products. I am proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and have experience with CLO3D, ensuring that my designs are both innovative and technically sound. My leadership skills have been honed by mentoring junior designers and managing cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative and efficient design process.”

“With several years of experience in CPG retail sales and merchandising, I have successfully managed sales territories, maintained product placements, and executed promotional strategies. My ability to plan and organize, combined with proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with iPads, positions me well to contribute effectively to your sales team. I am adept at thinking on my feet and delivering results in dynamic environments, ensuring that products are always tagged, rotated, and optimally displayed.”

4. Conclude with a call to action

When wrapping up your cover letter, it’s crucial to include a strong call to action in your closing paragraph. This isn’t just about expressing gratitude—it’s about setting the stage for the next steps in the hiring process.

Instead of a simple “thank you,” aim to propose a specific plan, such as scheduling a meeting or a call to discuss how you can contribute to the company.

Here are some examples of how to end a cover letter :

“Let’s discuss how I can help NexGen Creative Agency achieve its sales goals next week. Please let me know your availability for a meeting.”

“How about we chat next week about how I can help Weissman shine even brighter? Let me know when you’re free.”

“Let’s plan to discuss how my self-motivation and sales-oriented mindset can boost product visibility for Timmons Company next week. Please let me know your availability for a meeting.”

There is no need to add anything more. Time is valuable, so hiring managers won’t spend it on a cover letter that isn’t concise and to the point.

Expert tips for writing a cover letter

We’ve gone over the basics of how to write a good cover letter. Here are some expert tips for formatting and how to make your cover letter even better.

Format your contact information correctly

Before diving into the content of your cover letter, it’s important to format the contact details and header correctly. You’ll need to include your name, full address, phone number, and email address.

Here’s an example:

Personalize your greeting

To whom should you address your cover letter to? “For maximum impact, see if you can find the hiring manager or recruiter for the role, and send your letter to them,” says career coach Susan Schwarz . “Addressing your letter to a specific person will significantly increase the likelihood of someone reading it.”

Check the company’s website or LinkedIn profile to find the name of the hiring manager. However, if you can’t find a specific name, “Dear Hiring Manager” will suffice.

To end a cover letter, you can use “best regards” or “kind regards” followed by your full name.

Show your personality

While it’s important to maintain a professional tone in your cover letter, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. But remember, you don’t want to overdo it—keep it concise and relevant .

Here are some ways to show your personality in your cover letter:

• Briefly mention a specific project or experience you enjoyed.
• Highlight a distinctive skill or trait that sets you apart.
• Talk about how your values align with the company’s mission or culture.
• Describe a unique volunteer experience.

Emphasize your adaptability

According to LinkedIn , the top “skill of the moment” is adaptability . This means being open to new ideas, ready to pivot when needed, and always looking for ways to improve. In a world where the only constant is change, being adaptable can set you apart.

Here’s an example of how to incorporate adaptability into your cover letter:

“In my previous role as a CPG retail sales merchandiser, I consistently demonstrated my ability to adjust to changing market conditions, customer preferences, and sales strategies. This adaptability allowed me to increase sales by 25% in a highly competitive market.”

Show enthusiasm

Research shows that 40% of employers would not hire a candidate if they lacked enthusiasm. Remember, you’re much more attractive to employers when you’re on fire .

Here’s an example of how to show enthusiasm for the company you’re applying to:

“I’ve long admired Weissman’s commitment to the dance community and the artistry of your costumes. Your dedication to empowering performances and celebrating creativity is inspiring, and I’m excited about the opportunity to join your passionate team.”

Balance professionalism with friendliness

Try to strike a balance between a professional and friendly tone. Don’t use overly formal language, but make sure your writing is polished and error-free. Use humor sparingly, as it can be easily misinterpreted.

This approach helps you come across as both competent and personable, making you an ideal candidate.

Cover letter do’s and don’ts

• Do personalize . Address your cover letter to a specific person whenever possible.
• Do be concise . Keep your cover letter to one page.
• Do show enthusiasm . Mention specific reasons why you want to work there.
• Do include measurable accomplishments . These are achievements that can be quantified , such as increasing sales by a percentage.
• Do show your personality . Share brief anecdotes or unique experiences relevant to the job.
• Do be professional yet friendly . Avoid overly formal language.
• Do proofread your cover letter. A single mistake can damage your chances of getting an interview.
• Do include a call to action. Suggest scheduling a meeting or a call.
• Don’t be too formal . Strike a balance between professionalism and friendliness.
• Don’t overuse humor . Humor can be easily misinterpreted or come off as unprofessional.
• Don’t repeat your resume . Your cover letter should complement your resume, not repeat it.
• Don’t include irrelevant information. Focus only on what’s most relevant to the job you’re applying for.
• Don’t use clichés . Phrases like “I am a hard worker” or “I think outside the box” are overused and add little value.
• Don’t make excuses . Avoid explaining gaps in employment or other potential negatives.
• Don’t forget to tailor each letter . Customizing each cover letter will help it pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Cover letter examples

Here are a few cover letter examples that show how to highlight your skills, show your personality, and match your experiences with the job.

Cover letter example for someone with no work experience

Starting your career can be challenging, especially when you don’t have much experience to showcase. But don’t worry—a well-written cover letter can highlight your strengths and potential.

• Addresses the company’s needs : The letter begins by acknowledging the challenges the company faces, demonstrating an understanding of the industry and the company’s needs.
• Offers a solution : The candidate clearly states how they can provide value by offering a fresh perspective and innovative ideas.
• Highlights relevant experience : Even with limited work experience, the letter mentions a successful internship project that aligns with the job’s requirements.
• Shows enthusiasm and passion : The mention of a passion for sustainability and eagerness to contribute to the company’s efforts showcases the candidate’s genuine interest.
• Proposes next steps : The call to action is clear and professional, suggesting a meeting to discuss how the candidate can contribute, which shows initiative and confidence.

Cover letter example for someone changing careers

Changing careers can be a bold and exciting move, especially when you have a strong foundation of transferable skills. The following example of a cover letter demonstrates how to effectively highlight your previous experience and enthusiasm for a new industry.

• Engaging opening : Starts with a bold question that captures attention and sets the tone for the rest of the letter.
• Clear value proposition : Quickly establishes how the candidate’s project management skills can benefit the finance industry.
• Relevant experience : Highlights a specific project that showcases the candidate’s ability to improve efficiency and manage complex tasks.
• Expresses enthusiasm : Shows genuine excitement about the career change and the specific company.
• Call to action : Concludes with a clear and confident call to action, suggesting a meeting to discuss how the candidate can contribute to the company’s success.

Cover letter example for someone re-entering the workforce

Re-entering the workforce after a significant break can be challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to showcase your resilience and the valuable skills you’ve developed during your time away.

The following cover letter example demonstrates how to effectively address employment gaps while highlighting your strengths and enthusiasm for the role.

• Strong opening statement : The cover letter begins with a compelling statement about the importance of adaptability and innovation, setting a positive and forward-thinking tone.
• Addresses employment gap : It acknowledges the employment gap upfront, providing context without dwelling on it, which demonstrates honesty and transparency.
• Highlights relevant experience : The letter emphasizes past accomplishments and specific projects, showcasing the candidate’s skills and ability to deliver results.
• Shows enthusiasm for the role : The candidate expresses excitement about re-entering the workforce and aligns their values with the company’s mission.
• Proposes next steps : It ends with a clear call to action, suggesting a meeting to discuss how the candidate can contribute to the company’s success.

Generate a perfectly crafted cover letter in seconds

If you’re still having trouble writing your cover letter, try Jobscan’s AI cover letter generator . It analyzes both your resume and the job ad to create a completely original cover letter customized for the job you’re applying for.

To learn more about how the cover letter generator works, watch this brief video:

You can try Jobscan’s cover letter generator for free below:

Key takeaways

Follow these key takeaways to write a compelling cover letter that sets you apart from other candidates and opens doors to new career opportunities.

• Write with the employer’s needs in mind. Explain how you can address their specific challenges and contribute to their goals.
• Keep it brief . Use short sentences and paragraphs to make it easy for hiring managers to scan quickly.
• Address your letter to a specific person . If you can’t find a name, “Dear Hiring Manager” will suffice.
• Showcase your relevant experience. Use specific examples to demonstrate your abilities.
• Inject your personality. Share brief anecdotes or unique experiences relevant to the job.
• End with a strong call to action . Suggest a meeting or a call to discuss how you can contribute to the company’s success.
• Proofread your letter. A single error can torpedo your chances at getting an interview.
• Show enthusiasm. Showing excitement and a willingness to learn can make you a more attractive candidate.

A cover letter should be one page long, consisting of three to four paragraphs. The total word count should be around 250-400 words.

When you don’t have a specific name, you can use “Dear Hiring Manager.” Avoid using “To Whom It May Concern,” as it is considered old-fashioned.

When emailing a cover letter, use a clear subject line like “Application for Content Developer – [Your Name].” Paste your cover letter into the email body. Attach your resume.

Yes, a cover letter is necessary because good first impressions are important. By highlighting your qualifications and showing enthusiasm for the role, you can gain an advantage over someone who doesn’t send one.

Employers look for personalization in a cover letter, showing that it’s tailored to the specific job and company. Highlight relevant experience and skills that match the job requirements. Include specific achievements that demonstrate your capabilities and contributions.

Yes. Providing specific examples of your achievements helps demonstrate your skills and qualifications, making your application more compelling to employers.

A cover letter starts with your contact information, first and last name, the date, and the employer’s details. Begin with an introduction about your suitability for the role. Include a brief section highlighting relevant experience and skills with examples. Conclude by asking for an interview.

The primary goals of a simple cover letter are to make a good impression, get someone to read your resume, and offer you a job interview. It also shows you have good communication skills, which are highly valuable in today’s workforce.

The opening sentence should state the problem the company faces or pose a thought-provoking question to grab the hiring manager’s attention.

Robert Henderson, CPRW, is a career advice writer and a resume expert at Jobscan.

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How to cite ChatGPT

Use discount code STYLEBLOG15 for 15% off APA Style print products with free shipping in the United States.

We, the APA Style team, are not robots. We can all pass a CAPTCHA test , and we know our roles in a Turing test . And, like so many nonrobot human beings this year, we’ve spent a fair amount of time reading, learning, and thinking about issues related to large language models, artificial intelligence (AI), AI-generated text, and specifically ChatGPT . We’ve also been gathering opinions and feedback about the use and citation of ChatGPT. Thank you to everyone who has contributed and shared ideas, opinions, research, and feedback.

In this post, I discuss situations where students and researchers use ChatGPT to create text and to facilitate their research, not to write the full text of their paper or manuscript. We know instructors have differing opinions about how or even whether students should use ChatGPT, and we’ll be continuing to collect feedback about instructor and student questions. As always, defer to instructor guidelines when writing student papers. For more about guidelines and policies about student and author use of ChatGPT, see the last section of this post.

Quoting or reproducing the text created by ChatGPT in your paper

If you’ve used ChatGPT or other AI tools in your research, describe how you used the tool in your Method section or in a comparable section of your paper. For literature reviews or other types of essays or response or reaction papers, you might describe how you used the tool in your introduction. In your text, provide the prompt you used and then any portion of the relevant text that was generated in response.

Unfortunately, the results of a ChatGPT “chat” are not retrievable by other readers, and although nonretrievable data or quotations in APA Style papers are usually cited as personal communications , with ChatGPT-generated text there is no person communicating. Quoting ChatGPT’s text from a chat session is therefore more like sharing an algorithm’s output; thus, credit the author of the algorithm with a reference list entry and the corresponding in-text citation.

When prompted with “Is the left brain right brain divide real or a metaphor?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that although the two brain hemispheres are somewhat specialized, “the notation that people can be characterized as ‘left-brained’ or ‘right-brained’ is considered to be an oversimplification and a popular myth” (OpenAI, 2023).

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

You may also put the full text of long responses from ChatGPT in an appendix of your paper or in online supplemental materials, so readers have access to the exact text that was generated. It is particularly important to document the exact text created because ChatGPT will generate a unique response in each chat session, even if given the same prompt. If you create appendices or supplemental materials, remember that each should be called out at least once in the body of your APA Style paper.

When given a follow-up prompt of “What is a more accurate representation?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that “different brain regions work together to support various cognitive processes” and “the functional specialization of different regions can change in response to experience and environmental factors” (OpenAI, 2023; see Appendix A for the full transcript).

Creating a reference to ChatGPT or other AI models and software

The in-text citations and references above are adapted from the reference template for software in Section 10.10 of the Publication Manual (American Psychological Association, 2020, Chapter 10). Although here we focus on ChatGPT, because these guidelines are based on the software template, they can be adapted to note the use of other large language models (e.g., Bard), algorithms, and similar software.

The reference and in-text citations for ChatGPT are formatted as follows:

• Parenthetical citation: (OpenAI, 2023)
• Narrative citation: OpenAI (2023)

Let’s break that reference down and look at the four elements (author, date, title, and source):

Author: The author of the model is OpenAI.

Date: The date is the year of the version you used. Following the template in Section 10.10, you need to include only the year, not the exact date. The version number provides the specific date information a reader might need.

Title: The name of the model is “ChatGPT,” so that serves as the title and is italicized in your reference, as shown in the template. Although OpenAI labels unique iterations (i.e., ChatGPT-3, ChatGPT-4), they are using “ChatGPT” as the general name of the model, with updates identified with version numbers.

The version number is included after the title in parentheses. The format for the version number in ChatGPT references includes the date because that is how OpenAI is labeling the versions. Different large language models or software might use different version numbering; use the version number in the format the author or publisher provides, which may be a numbering system (e.g., Version 2.0) or other methods.

Bracketed text is used in references for additional descriptions when they are needed to help a reader understand what’s being cited. References for a number of common sources, such as journal articles and books, do not include bracketed descriptions, but things outside of the typical peer-reviewed system often do. In the case of a reference for ChatGPT, provide the descriptor “Large language model” in square brackets. OpenAI describes ChatGPT-4 as a “large multimodal model,” so that description may be provided instead if you are using ChatGPT-4. Later versions and software or models from other companies may need different descriptions, based on how the publishers describe the model. The goal of the bracketed text is to briefly describe the kind of model to your reader.

Source: When the publisher name and the author name are the same, do not repeat the publisher name in the source element of the reference, and move directly to the URL. This is the case for ChatGPT. The URL for ChatGPT is https://chat.openai.com/chat . For other models or products for which you may create a reference, use the URL that links as directly as possible to the source (i.e., the page where you can access the model, not the publisher’s homepage).

Other questions about citing ChatGPT

You may have noticed the confidence with which ChatGPT described the ideas of brain lateralization and how the brain operates, without citing any sources. I asked for a list of sources to support those claims and ChatGPT provided five references—four of which I was able to find online. The fifth does not seem to be a real article; the digital object identifier given for that reference belongs to a different article, and I was not able to find any article with the authors, date, title, and source details that ChatGPT provided. Authors using ChatGPT or similar AI tools for research should consider making this scrutiny of the primary sources a standard process. If the sources are real, accurate, and relevant, it may be better to read those original sources to learn from that research and paraphrase or quote from those articles, as applicable, than to use the model’s interpretation of them.

We’ve also received a number of other questions about ChatGPT. Should students be allowed to use it? What guidelines should instructors create for students using AI? Does using AI-generated text constitute plagiarism? Should authors who use ChatGPT credit ChatGPT or OpenAI in their byline? What are the copyright implications ?

On these questions, researchers, editors, instructors, and others are actively debating and creating parameters and guidelines. Many of you have sent us feedback, and we encourage you to continue to do so in the comments below. We will also study the policies and procedures being established by instructors, publishers, and academic institutions, with a goal of creating guidelines that reflect the many real-world applications of AI-generated text.

For questions about manuscript byline credit, plagiarism, and related ChatGPT and AI topics, the APA Style team is seeking the recommendations of APA Journals editors. APA Style guidelines based on those recommendations will be posted on this blog and on the APA Style site later this year.

Update: APA Journals has published policies on the use of generative AI in scholarly materials .

We, the APA Style team humans, appreciate your patience as we navigate these unique challenges and new ways of thinking about how authors, researchers, and students learn, write, and work with new technologies.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

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