RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Biologist Resume Mistakes From Holding You Back
Identify and correct the most common errors that keep hiring managers and ATS from noticing your scientific expertise.
How This Page Helps
This page helps biologists craft error‑free resumes that showcase research experience, technical skills, and scientific impact while passing ATS filters.
Spot hidden ATS blockers
Learn industry‑specific wording
See before‑and‑after examples
Apply formatting rules for labs and academia
Access a quick fix workshop
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using vague job titlesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t gauge your seniority
- ATS may not match keywords
How to fix
- Replace generic titles with specific scientific roles
- Include level (e.g., Junior Research Associate)
❌ Before
Research Assistant
✓ After
Molecular Biology Research Assistant – Level I
ATS Tip
Match the exact title from the job posting.
Detection Rules
title contains generic terms like 'assistant' without qualifier
no seniority indicator
Resumly Tip
Add the discipline and level to every position title.
Omitting quantifiable resultsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Impact of your work stays invisible
- ATS looks for numbers
How to fix
- Add metrics such as publications, grant amounts, sample sizes
- Use percentages to show improvement
❌ Before
Conducted experiments on gene expression.
✓ After
Designed and executed 30 gene‑expression experiments, resulting in a 25% increase in data throughput and co‑authored 3 peer‑reviewed papers.
ATS Tip
Include numbers and keywords like 'published', 'grant', 'data analysis'.
Detection Rules
bullet points lack numbers
no mention of publications or grants
Resumly Tip
Every achievement should have a measurable outcome.
Listing irrelevant skillsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Clutters the resume
- ATS may penalize for low relevance
How to fix
- Focus on lab techniques, bioinformatics tools, and regulatory knowledge
- Remove generic office software unless required
❌ Before
Skills: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Photoshop, PCR, Gel Electrophoresis
✓ After
Technical Skills: PCR, qRT‑PCR, CRISPR‑Cas9 editing, Next‑generation sequencing (Illumina), R, Python (Biopython)
ATS Tip
Prioritize keywords from the job description.
Detection Rules
skill list includes non‑scientific tools
more than 8 items
Resumly Tip
Tailor the skill section to the target role.
Improper date formattingLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may not parse employment dates
- Hiring managers can’t see timeline clarity
How to fix
- Use month-year format (MM/YYYY)
- Keep consistent throughout
❌ Before
Jan 2020 – Present
✓ After
01/2020 – Present
ATS Tip
Use numeric month/year to ensure parsing.
Detection Rules
dates written as words (January 2020)
inconsistent separators
Resumly Tip
Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY.
Missing academic honors and publicationsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Academic achievements differentiate candidates
- ATS may search for 'publications' keyword
How to fix
- Add a dedicated Publications section with proper citations
- Highlight awards and fellowships
❌ Before
Education: B.S. Biology, XYZ University
✓ After
Education: B.S. Biology, XYZ University (Cum Laude, 2018). Selected Publications: Smith et al., Nature (2022); Doe et al., Cell (2021). Fellowships: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2020‑2023).
ATS Tip
Include the word 'Publications' and list up to 3 most relevant works.
Detection Rules
no publications section
no honors listed under education
Resumly Tip
Create a concise Publications & Honors subsection.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Research Experience, Publications, Technical Skills, Education, Awards & Grants, Professional Affiliations
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Biologist_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages for early‑career, up to 3 pages for senior researchers
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Country)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear professional summary
- List research experience in reverse chronological order
- Include quantifiable achievements
- Add a publications section with proper citations
- Tailor keywords to the job posting
- Standardize dates to MM/YYYY
- Save as PDF with searchable text
- Proofread for scientific terminology accuracy
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Include terms like 'molecular biology', 'CRISPR', 'genomics', 'peer‑reviewed publications', 'grant writing', 'bioinformatics'
Heading Format: Use standard headings such as 'Research Experience', 'Publications', 'Technical Skills' to match ATS parsers.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current biologist resume text
- Standardize headings
- Convert dates to MM/YYYY
- Add missing metrics
- Replace generic titles with specific ones
- Generate a concise publications list
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