Choose a clean, professional template with a reverse-chronological layout. This layout highlights recent lab roles and testing duties, and it parses well for applicant tracking systems.
Keep length to one page if you have under 10 years of assay experience. Use two pages only if you have long experience in assay development, method validation, or regulatory submissions.
Pick ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Use 10–12pt for body text and 14–16pt for headers. Keep bold and italics minimal so scanners read your text accurately.
Give each section clear headings: Contact, Summary, Experience, Technical Skills, Education, Certifications. List certifications like ISO, GLP, or specific assay training under Certifications or Skills.
Use consistent spacing and at least 0.3–0.4 inch margins. Put one role per block with 1–2 line gaps between blocks. That keeps the page airy and easy to scan.
Avoid complex columns, images, or embedded charts. They often break parsing and hide key facts about your methods or results. Use bullet points for achievements and start bullets with strong verbs.
Watch common mistakes like too many fonts, tiny margins, and vague job descriptions. Quantify results, for example: "reduced assay variance by 18%" or "validated 5 methods in 12 months."