Essential Resume Writing Skills For Job Seekers

Over the last few months, I've been on the hiring committee for three bioinformatics positions; in the past two years, too many to count. The job market is insanely competitive right now, as evidenced by the number of qualified candidates I have recently reviewed, and I hate that I often can't provide individual feedback to all candidates. So, I thought I'd gather some insights for those still on their search and share them in a few posts. 📌 Post #1: Resumes and CVs ✅ Keep it concise. Bullet points over paragraphs. Hiring managers scan for relevant information—make it easy to find. ✅ Be specific. Instead of "Performed bioinformatics analysis," say "Developed a Nextflow pipeline for bulk RNA-seq analysis on AWS, improving runtime efficiency by 40%." This helps me understand what you did and how you did it. ✅ Don't mislead about where you've worked. If you were a contractor at NASA, don’t say you worked for NASA—list the contracting company and indicate you were on a contract at NASA. Federal government experience differs from contracting experience. ✅ List only what you know. If your skills section includes every bioinformatics tool ever invented, I assume you actually know none of them. ✅ Explicitly include required qualifications. If the job listing states that Nextflow experience is required, make sure it’s clearly mentioned—I shouldn’t have to follow up to ask if you have that experience. ✅ Know the position you're applying for. If it's a developer role, highlight software development, management languages, and programming skills. If it's an analyst role, focus on biological insights, statistical models, and visualization tools. ✅ Keep it readable. I don’t mind multi-page resumes/CVs, but when reviewing 150+ resumes for a single position, I want to find key details quickly. Use bolding, italics, underlining, and alignment strategically. 💡 Final Thought: A well-structured resume makes all the difference. Let me know what other tips you might have for fellow job-seekers!

Looking to make your resume shine and grab attention? With over a decade of recruitment experience and having reviewed nearly 250,000 resumes while working for industry giants like Amazon, Accenture (Avanade), Cognizant, and various startups through my agency, Proven Patterns, I’ve seen what truly makes a resume stand out. Here are some top tips to help you create a powerful resume that will leave a lasting impression: ☑ Keep It Concise: Aim for 2-3 page resume when possible. Focus on your most relevant experiences and achievements without overwhelming the reader. ☑ Tailor for Each Job: Customize your resume for every position you apply for. Incorporate keywords from the job description and highlight skills and experiences that match the role. If you don't have enough time at least match the resume summary section with the job description. ☑ Showcase Achievements: Use specific numbers and examples to quantify your accomplishments. Instead of saying "improved sales," say "boosted sales by 20% within six months." ☑ Professional Format: Opt for a clean, professional layout with consistent fonts and spacing. Save the flashy graphics for creative fields. ☑ Include a Strong Summary: Start with a compelling summary that highlights your key qualifications and career goals. Make it engaging and tailored to the job you're targeting. ☑ Highlight Skills: Clearly list your core skills and competencies. Be honest and focus on those that are directly relevant to the position. ☑ Proofread Carefully: Ensure your resume is free from typos and grammatical errors. A polished resume reflects attention to detail and professionalism. ☑ Add a Personal Touch: Include a brief section on your interests or volunteer work. This can help convey your personality and values beyond your professional skills. Your resume is your first impression; make it count! 🚀 If you found these tips useful, please repost ♻ and follow me, Kumud Deepali R. for more insights and advice on jobs and career!

Lately, I’ve been receiving more requests to review resumes—from friends who've been impacted by layoffs to job seekers eager to land their next role to students prepping for summer internships or jobs after graduation. I'm fortunate to come across a lot of resumes and enjoy reviewing them, so if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: your resume is your first impression. I know it's an extremely competitive job market, so I hope these quick tips support anyone looking to stand out: ✅ Lead with impact—Start each bullet point with a strong action verb and highlight results, ideally with a % impact - could be improvement in satisfaction scores, time saved, money saved, etc. And if you're leading a lot with "Managed" or "Coordinated," there are likelier stronger verbs to choose. ✅ Keep it clean & brief—Recruiters and hiring managers often skim, so make sure your resume is easy to read, well-structured, and free of fluff. My rule of thumb is if you have less than 8-10 years of work experience, it should fit on one page. And keep the format simple and ensure your personal data is safe: I only need to see your name, phone, email, and LinkedIn profile. Sharing home or mailing addresses isn't necessary and may signal an unwillingness to relocate. ✅ Grammar & consistency matter—A simple typo can cost you credibility! Ensure your formatting, punctuation, and verb tenses are consistent throughout. ✅ Tailor, tailor, tailor—One-size-fits-all resumes? Nope. Customize your resume for each role or company by mirroring keywords from the job description. Here's where AI can help... ✅ Leverage AI tools—Think of Copilot or AI-driven writing tools as your personal editors. They can catch grammar mistakes, improve clarity, and optimize your resume for keyword searches. You can also ask them for suggested learning courses or articles to improve upon skills that may be helpful in jobs you're looking for. ✅ Showcase YOU—Your resume isn’t just about what you’ve done—it’s about what you can bring. Highlight unique skills, projects, or volunteer experiences that set you apart. I often find that the most interesting and insightful interview questions can come from someone reviewing your resume and asking you something at the very bottom of it. For me, I was often asked about teaching dance fitness classes and why that was a passion of mine. If it's on your resume, ensure YOU want to talk about it! And while this post was all around resume/CV tips, I hope you prioritize networking and finding warm introductions through people in companies or with career paths that inspire you. Those connections can help and be an extension of your professional brand! Comment below any other tips or what resonates most ⬇️ #ResumeTips #JobSeekers