Pick a clean, professional template for a Physicist. Use a reverse-chronological layout if your recent work is strongest. Use a functional or hybrid layout only if you need to highlight specific research skills over dates.
Keep length tight. One page works for entry-level and mid-career physicists. Use two pages only if you have long lists of peer-reviewed papers, grants, or major projects.
Use ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Set body text to 10–12pt and headers to 14–16pt. Keep line spacing at 1.0–1.15 and leave clear margins to give breathing room.
Structure sections with standard headings: Contact, Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, Publications, and Selected Projects. Put technical skills and instruments in a short list. Put publications or conference talks in a separate section if you have several.
Avoid common mistakes that hurt physicist resumes. Don’t use complex columns, embedded images, or decorative elements that confuse ATS. Don’t overload with jargon; explain methods briefly and list results with numbers where possible.
Make bullet points short and achievement-driven. Start bullets with action verbs and show impact with metrics like measurement precision, dataset size, speedups, or grant amounts. Proofread for consistent dates, units, and formatting.