Biophysical Society Newsletter | July 2017

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BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER 18 JULY 2017
Molly Cule
How Do You Tailor your CV
or Resume to Industry Jobs?
If you are thinking about applying for jobs outside
academia, but aren’t sure where to begin, you’re
not alone. In today’s economic climate and with
the ever-changing career landscape, an increasing
number of graduate students and postdocs are
electing to look for careers outside the ivory tower.
The key is to find work to which you are both
interested and suited.
In order to get ready, let’s look at the differences
between resumes and CVs to help you think about
your transition and how to apply for your new
job.
Resumes and CVs are not interchangeable. Not
only are their structure, content, length, and styles
completely different, but to be more specific, a
resume is much more concise. It’s basically a one-
to-two page document. A CV is static and doesn’t
change for the various positions you are apply-
ing for, whereas a resume is intended to make an
individual stand out and does change for various
positions.
Your resume should convey how your past
experiences relate to where you are going. This
is another key difference between a CV and a re-
sume. A CV, as mentioned above, does not change
for the different applications you are writing; it is
intended to focus on where you have been, a list of
your past experiences. A resume is different in this
sense; it should also convey where you are going.
It should be a selection of your past experiences
that are best suited for the job to which you are
applying.
Next, let’s look at the parts of the resume itself.
There are certain parts of your resume that will
resemble your CV, such as your name and contact
information, but other parts of your resume will
be different, such as the objective statement. This
is a one sentence statement focused on what you
are looking for in a job. This statement should
change based on the job and type of position you
are applying for, but fundamentally it is used to
show that you are well-suited for the position.
Next is your qualifications and skills summary and
it should focus on past positions that best prepare
you for (or best align with) the job you are apply-
ing for. Omit any statements that aren’t important
for the position’s goals, and focus your statements
to make them relevant to the position. Don’t for-
get to emphasize your matching skills to what the
employer wants in an ideal candidate!
Following your listed qualifications is your
employment history. This is another section that
should be tailored to the job for which you are
applying. Review the job description and focus on
your job experience and achievements that relate
to the opening (but of course this should be an
honest account!). Put any key qualifications at the
top of your description and make them stand out.
Lastly, don’t forget to customize your resume to
each job for the best results. Good luck!
According to the National Science Foundation, 3,260 doctorate degrees have been awarded
in biophysics between 2005 and 2015 in the United States.
NumbersBy the
Source: