A research assistant takes on many tasks, including data collection, data entry of the findings of a project into a computer database, summarizing project results and creating reports on progress made on various projects.
Writing a resume that gets the attention of a hiring manager is not always easy. However, the perfect resume template or resume builder can help you write a resume that gets you that research assistant job.
Let’s look at some more tips that will help you write a good research assistant resume in this article.
Additional information about the Research Assistant Resume Example.
According to the U.S Bureau of Statistics, the industries with the highest levels of employment for Social Science Research Assistants are colleges, universities and professional schools, scientific research and development services, local government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation), Management, scientific and technical consulting services and general medical and surgical hospitals.
The average salaries for a graduate research assistant, including bonus, tips and overtime pay, are as follows:
Entry-level $29,422
Early-career $28,000
Mid-career $28,000
Late-career $36,500
The average yearly salary for a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) is $28,436 (Payscale).
Example of a resume
Jane Sloan
Research assistant
264-896-456
janesloan@gmail.com
Hempstead, New York City
linkedin.com/in/janesloan
Professional research assistant with four years of research experience, data analysis, and general documentation of information acquired from research subjects. Strong familiarity with quality control procedures and the development of research protocols to increase productivity.
Work experience
Graduate Research Assistant
Columbia University, NY
March 2019-Date
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Instigated new techniques to document classified reports.
Managed business network, including filing and archiving documents and troubleshooting issues.
Increased efficiency by organizing records and producing maintenance reports.
Recorded personnel personal data on the database.
KEMRI
Lab Research Assistant
October 2017-February 2019
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Cleaned and arranged lab equipment to ensure they were ready for use.
Collaborated with the Biology professor to set up the lab for Molecular Biology exams for the undergraduate students.
Assisted with data entry of students’ results in Microsoft Excel.
Liaised with third-party affiliates to get feedback on various research projects.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry
University of Pennsylvania
2012-2015
Skills
-
Programming skills
Overseeing experiments
Project management
Laboratory testing
Leadership skills
Conferences
Attended the Scientists’ Association of Albany conference at the University of Albany, NY
How to Make a Research Assistant Resume?
The average hiring manager takes less than ten seconds to read a resume. This means that when you set out to write a resume, it needs to be impressive if you want to get the job. While most of the same rules apply when writing a resume, it is important to personalize each resume to the job you are applying for. Some of the ways you can personalize your research assistant resume include:
- Using the right resume format.
- Adding the relevant keywords and action verbs to your research assistant resume.
- Having an additional section in your research assistant resume with volunteer experiences, certifications, awards/honors and languages
The layout of the research assistant resume
The best layout for your resume is the reverse-chronological format. You have probably seen it in many research assistant resume examples since it is the most commonly used format. It is also a favorite of most hiring managers because it is easy to scan on applicant tracking systems. Check out our resume examples.
The structure of the research assistant resume
The two other formats you can consider using are the functional and combination resume formats. The functional resume focuses on your skills and is perfect if you don’t have much experience. The combination resume blends the best features of the reverse-chronological and functional resume formats. If you have a lot of relevant experience, the best format is the reverse-chronological format which focuses on experience.
The typical structure of a research assistant resume should have the following sections:
- Header section
- Resume summary/objective
- Work experience
- Education section
- Skills section
- Additional sections (Interests, languages, certifications and volunteer experiences)
Start with the header of the research assistant resume examples.
The header section contains your full name, title, contact information and a link to your LinkedIn profile or career blog.
Example of a good header
Research Assistant
546-875-364
lizjackson@gmail.com
Rochester, New York
linkedin.com/in/elizabethjackson
Example of a bad header
Research Assistant
546-875-364
lizjackson@gmail.com
3rd Avenue, Woodvale Grove
Hse number 87
Rochester, New York
Date of birth 14/02/1994
linkedin.com/in/elizabethjackson
Is a photo required in the research assistant resume?
It is advisable to leave the photo out of your resume because some hiring managers believe it increases the chances of discrimination and unconscious bias against a candidate. However, if you must add a photo, it should be a professionally done photo.
Choosing your research assistant resume title.
You should tailor the job title to each position you apply for since it varies depending on the job and the company.
Professional summary/profile
A research assistant resume summary summarizes your key accomplishments, experience and skills in a few sentences and should compel the hiring manager to read the rest of your resume.
CORRECT EXAMPLE
Goal-oriented Research Assistant with a six-year background in managing research projects and significant expertise in various research methods. Expert in applying technical skills and undertaking methodical research studies when researching to achieve company goals.
INCORRECT EXAMPLE
Enthusiastic and hardworking research assistant with graphical analysis experience. Looking to fill a research assistant position.
Work experience in the research assistant resume
The work experience section allows you to show the hiring manager what you can do based on your previous research assistant experience.
Describe your professional experiences on your research assistant resume
Under this section, you will list your previous work history, starting with the name of the workplace, the title and the period at each workplace. It is essential to add the relevant experience and leave out any other experience that is not relevant to the research assistant position.
However, if you do not have relevant experience, you can add volunteer experiences and any other experience that allows you to talk about transferable skills relevant to the job.
Examples of professional experiences for research assistant beginner/junior
Here is an example
Research Assistant
July 2019-August 2020
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Assisted in a research project that became one of the best performing projects in the school.
Worked on a volunteer research project with the undergraduate class, which helped 90% of the students graduate with an A+ grade.
Collaborated with the research team to collect and analyze data on the best methods to increase our reach to potential students.
Worked on a research proposal with the senior research assistant that got the school $30,000 in funding from the donors.
Examples of work experience for Senior Research Assistant.
Here is an example
Research Assistant
September 2017-December 2019
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Developed new system applications that improved the functionality of operations and support mechanisms.
Completed various projects simultaneously within restricted budgets.
Accurately determined specifications of materials and equipment needed and submitted the request to the purchasing department.
Assisted with supervising technicians working in the school lab.
Education in the research assistant resume
The education section on your research assistant resume gives you a chance to talk about your educational achievements. If you have a bachelor’s degree or high school diploma, you will add it in this section.
It is important to note that different hiring managers will require different educational qualifications. Therefore, you should check the research assistant job description or job ad and add the necessary qualifications to your resume.
Should you start with education or work experience?
You can start with education or experience in your research assistant resume. It depends on the format you choose to use. If you use the functional resume, you can start with education and skills. However, if you choose the reverse-chronological resume, you start with the experience.
How to properly list your education in a research assistant resume?
When listing your education, you should ensure that you start with the school’s name, the degree earned and the time taken to complete the degree. If you have a Master’s degree, you can leave out your high school diploma.
Example of the Education section of a research assistant resume.
Here is an example
Columbia University
2014-2017
Skills to put in the resume for a Research Assistant
If you look at any research assistant resume sample, you will find that it always has this section. Whether you are writing an undergraduate research assistant resume, a graduate research assistant resume, or an academic CV, it’s essential to have this section in your resume. Most research assistant jobs require specific research assistant skills, which you’ll list in this section of your resume.
Expert tip
What are the main skills sought for a Research Assistant?
Let’s look at some of the research skills you should add to your resume.
Hard skills
- Overseeing experiments
- Strategic planning
- Report writing
- Data collection and analysis
- Personal networking skills
- Laboratory assistance
- Programming skills
- Data entry
Soft skills
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Critical thinking
- Planning and scheduling
- Leadership skills
- Interviewing
- Time management
What skills for a junior
- Preparing samples and specimens
- Computer skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Lab maintenance
- Documentation skills
- Innovative
- Field research
- Equipment maintenance
What skills for a qualified senior
- Laboratory testing
- Research protocol development
- Clinical research
- Quality control enhancement
- Teaching students
- Product specifications
- Quantitative and qualitative analysis
- Empirical research
Write the ideal resume hook for a research assistant
A resume hook is a set of words that summarizes your achievements and value proposition. You can write a resume hook as a quote, testimonial, achievement or personal description. It is also a great way to set yourself apart from other job seekers for the research position you want.
Example of a tagline for a junior employee
Research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I’m doing – Wernher von Braun.
Sample tagline for a senior level
Scientific research is one of the most exciting and rewarding occupations – Frederick Sanger.
Additional headings for your resume research assistant.
The additional section on your research assistant resume helps your resume stand out, which is why you should always include it in your resume. The perfect cv template usually has this section allowing you to add all the relevant information you need to have in your resume. You can check out our resume templates.
Some of the headings you can add under this section include computer skills, certifications, interests, and languages. Let’s look at them in detail.
Computer skills and Certifications
You might see a research assistant resume example with the certifications added in the education section. However, this is not the best idea because it makes it hard for the hiring manager to see them. You can consider using a research assistant resume template if you are unsure about how to add your computer skills and certifications in this section.
Interests
The interests section can be confusing for many people because you don’t want to add anything to your resume that might cause you to lose the opportunity. It is advisable to add only the interests that fit the profile of the research assistant job. If you are a career writer and love blogging, you can add it as one of your interests to your research assistant resume.
Languages
Your language skills should have their section instead of adding them under the skills section. This allows the hiring manager to see them as soon as they look at your resume because, remember, we said they only take a few seconds on your resume. It is also important to use the official language reference for this section as you add the languages. For example, DELF for French(score of 70% and above) and Goethe Zertifikat for German(score of 60 and above)
Summary: Key points for writing a perfect research assistant resume.
Here are the main takeaways from the tips we’ve discussed in this article that you will need to consider when writing your research assistant resume.
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Choose the correct format for your resume.
Always check the job description and add the keywords and action verbs that help your resume stand out and increase your chance of getting the job.
Proofread your resume to ensure there are no typos or other errors.
It is recommended to write a one-page resume for a research assistant, as employers tend to ignore resumes that are longer than one page.
Write a Cover Letter that goes with your Research Assistant Resume.
Cover letters are not always a requirement, but it is essential to accompany your resume with one for your application to stand out. A cover letter allows you to express your passion for the job and describe some of your achievements. The perfect cover letter template can help you write a cover letter that stands out and enables you to get the job.
Frequently Asked Questions Research Assistant
How do I write a research assistant resume?
Your research assistant resume should have all the sections, including the header, resume summary/objective, work experience, education section, skills and additional sections (Languages, volunteer experiences, certifications, honors and awards)
What are good skills to put on a resume for a research assistant?
Some of the skills you should put on your research assistant resume include managing laboratory supplies, preparing samples and specimens, clinical research, performance testing, laboratory assistance and data collection and analysis.
How do you write research skills on a resume?
The best way to write your skills in your research assistant resume is by listing them down using bullet points.
How do you put graduate research assistant on your resume?
You can add graduate research assistant as a title in your resume.
