As a biogeographer, your resume must balance scientific detail with clarity. Use a clean, reverse-chronological layout to highlight fieldwork and research experience. Avoid fancy graphics—ATS systems can’t read them. Stick to 10–12pt body fonts (like Arial or Georgia) and 14–16pt for headers.
Keep it to one page unless you have 10+ years of relevant work. Use bold sections (e.g., Professional Experience, Fieldwork, Education) for quick scanning. Add white space by increasing line spacing to 1.15x. Never use columns or tables—ATS gets confused.
Bad habits to avoid: handwritten fonts (like Papyrus), color gradients, or overly technical jargon in headers. Instead, phrase achievements like Created a biodiversity map for Stehr-Gerhold’s conservation project. Simplicity wins with hiring managers who read hundreds of resumes daily.