"I'm an early career scientist. Do I need to put an executive summary in my resume?" Short answer - Yes. Long answer: See below An executive summary isn't for executives. It is a high level summary of what you bring to the table for your prospective employer. It needs to be focused on what the employer gets from you, and it has to be based on needs they have. How do you know what needs they have? Look at the job description and ask yourself these questions 1. What type of evidence are they looking for based on the requirements? 2. What do the first 3 bullet points of the job description say? 3. What language do they use to describe the type of person they want? The answer to the above questions will help you create a brief summary that if done correctly, will make them say "This is exactly what we need. I want to meet this person." ---------- I'm a big fan of examples, so here are 2 examples of executive summaries that I've helped my clients build. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝟭 For a job that wanted in vivo experience, management experience and strong publication track record👇 R&D scientist with 10+ years’ experience doing in vivo & in vitro research. I have 11 first-author & 29 total publications, have served as project lead on 14 research projects, and have experience managing as many as 8 direct reports. I am looking to bring my skills to your company to make a major impact on the development of your therapeutic assets. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝟮 For a job that wanted experience with applications development and proteomics for a technical sales role 👇 Applications scientist with 5+ years experience in proteomics, mass spectrometry, sequencing, and bioinformatics. I pay attention to detail, and provide an excellent customer experience. I am an engaging presenter, clear communicator, and a collaborator with a growth-minded, entrepreneurial work ethic. ---------- And yes, they are both happily employed now. What other questions do you have about different sections of your resume? #biotech, #biotechjobs, #scientist
This question has been on my mind for a week now! Thanks Ali Divan, Ph.D. such a detailed answer with examples!
Thank you for such insightful tips
Ali Divan, Ph.D. I think it depends on the length of your resume
Transplanting PhDs into fulfilling non-academic careers 🌻 | Dev Psych PhD → Founder @ After Academia | 40+ job offers for my students 💛
3moFor example 2, what do you think about "showing" with a clear example ("I've won 3 presentation awards") instead of "telling" ("I am an engaging presenter.")? I see the latter on so many resumes, and it's never unique to the applicant. Example 1 is great!