Pick a clean, professional template for a Laboratory Analyst. Use a reverse-chronological layout so your lab roles and methods appear first. That layout reads well and parses easily for ATS.
Keep your resume to one page if you have under 10 years of lab work. Use two pages only when you have many relevant studies, certifications, and publications to show.
Choose ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Set body text to 10–12pt and headers to 14–16pt. Use consistent margins and 1.0–1.15 line spacing so the page breathes.
Break sections with clear headings: Contact, Summary, Skills, Experience, Education, Certifications, Technical Skills. Put lab techniques and instruments under Technical Skills so hiring managers find them fast. Use bullet lists for responsibilities and outcomes.
Quantify results when you can. Give numbers for sample throughput, error rate reductions, method validation times, or instrument uptime. Those figures prove impact.
Avoid heavy graphics, multiple columns, or unusual fonts. They confuse ATS and slow a reviewer down. Keep formatting simple and consistent so your technical strengths stand out.
Common mistakes include long paragraphs, inconsistent date formats, and unexplained acronyms. Check spacing, alignment, and that headings use the same style. Proofread for small typos in chemical names and unit abbreviations.