Research the Company Before Applying for a Research Position
Many of the general rules of resume-writing apply when creating a resume for a research position. This is one of those resumes that should be one page, simple, relevant, and concise. Give your resume a boost by researching the goals and vision of the company first so that you can customize it to match what the company is looking for. Content rather than flashiness is what will impress your potential employer. Show your understanding of the industry by matching the employer's vision and you're on the right track to getting the research job you want.

Writing a resume that will get you the best jobs begins with custom tailoring your resume to the position you are looking to fill. If your focus is on getting a job within the research industry, then the main focus of your resume should be to highlight any experience and skills that are going to attract the attention of employers in this field.

The best way to begin this process is to create a master resume that comprehensively details every skill and qualification you've gained throughout your entire career, regardless of whether or not they are relevant to your current job search motives. This way, once you find out exactly what a certain company is looking for, you can pick out those skills that would be directly applicable to the open position. Each resume you write should be customized in this way to increase your chances for getting noticed and hired.

The more you know about what you are applying for, the better suited your resume will be to meet the individual needs of the company. You can find out more by reading the entire job description carefully and even looking up the company website and any literature they may have available. If you streamline your resume to match the company's vision, you are sure to impress your potential employer.

When you are applying for a research position, it would be ideal for you to keep your resume to only a single page, at least if you are a recent graduate simply looking for a shift in career. If you have ten or more years of experience in your current career path, a two-page resume may be better suited. One page resumes are most appropriate for career shifts because in changing careers, you will be competing against other entry level job applicants. If you are working on shifting careers, your former work experience may still come in handy on your resume because you can emphasize the transferable skills, or skills learned from your previous career that are directly applicable to your new career choice.

Certifications and schooling you've had will be important to include on your resume, especially if you have just graduated and don't have much professional experience yet. You can still show you have an understanding of the industry through your education, which is perfectly acceptable, as there are probably a lot of other entry level applicants as well. However, to gain an edge over the other entry level applicants, it would be beneficial to stand out a little with any transferable experiences.

When it comes to writing an industry specific resume, especially for a career path like research, you should make sure to use the right balance of professional jargon and language. Using professional jargon will show that you have an understanding of the industry which may give you an edge over the other applicants. However, if you use too much jargon in your resume, you may end up sounding like you're trying too hard or that you're just trying to show off. Fancy wordings will never take the place of actual relevant substance and content, so do not use them merely to cover up discrepancies.

Let your genuine sincerity show through and let your potential employer know that you're serious about the position by planning your resume out carefully. By putting time and effort into the writing of your resume, employers are sure to notice and recognize you as a valuable addition to their company.