Lab Assistant Resume Sample [with Laboratory Skills]

You’re an unsung hero in a white coat.

Without lab assistants like you, humanity wouldn’t be able to convert lab specimens and research data into applied science that saves lives.

But getting a heroic job like yours can be surprisingly hard. Candidates swarm on well-paid jobs like bacteriophages on big, tasty bacteria. So if you want to win the job hunt, you need to leave your competitors behind and make your value clearly visible to recruiters.

In other words, you need an effective lab assistant resume.

This guide will show you: 

• A lab assistant resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a lab assistant resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a lab assistant resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for a lab assistant to get any job you want.

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Lab Assistant Resume Sample

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Here’s how to write a lab assistant resume that gets jobs:

1. Use the Best Format for Your Lab Assistant Resume

The hiring manager needs to know you’re not an Igor.

Prove that at a glance with a cleanly-formatted lab assistant resume.

Here’s how:

• Lead off with the cleanest resume format for a job in a lab. That’s the reverse-chronological resume template. It shows your last job, then your older ones.
• Create a good resume header with your full name, phone number and contact info. Add your business position title (Lab Assistant) and certification if you’ve got one.
• Use the best resume fonts—Arial and Cambria. Leave some dead space so employers don’t get eye-strain.
• Last, save it as a resume PDF file unless that job ad tells you otherwise.

Pro Tip: Does the length of a resume for lab assistant jobs matter? Yep. Put your most precious moments in your resume that fit a single page. Save the balance for the interview.

2. Write a Lab Assistant Resume Objective or Resume Summary

Some applicants get all the cookies.

That’s because they catch the hiring manager’s eye fast.

How can you do that?

With a profile on your resume that spins them like a stir plate.

If you’ve been assisting for 2 years and more, make it a resume professional summary. Add a couple skills, your job title, and the job you’re vying for.

Writing a first job resume? Then you’ll need a resume objective statement. That goes heavier on the skills.

But—fill either with key achievements.

Pro Tip: If you’re new to the assisting world, put transferable skills in your lab assistant resume. Those are things like teamwork, a detail-oriented mindset, or communication.

3. Adjust Your Lab Assistant Job Description for Your Resume

Why should they hire you?

If you list responsibilities and nothing more, they’ll pass you by.

So—

Show relevant work experience like this:

• For each position, list the title, company, and dates employed.
• Include a bullet list with duties, but add lab assistant accomplishments.
• Need an example? “Used Excel to write a pivot table that saved $7,000” shows computer skills.
• Add numbers like $7,000 or 75 or 22%. They show your achievements aren’t imaginary.
• Use sharp resume verbs so hiring managers don’t nod off.

Pro Tip: Can’t get a response on your lab assistant resume? Try a temp agency. It’s not glamorous, but it gets you started. Do good work and you can transform into a full-time job.

4. Tweak Your Lab Assistant Resume Education Section

Of course your lab assistant resume will show your education.

But hold on.

Don’t just list school name, degree, and years.

Everyone does that.

Educational background on a resume should prove hard and soft skills.

So—add educational achievements.

If you belonged to clubs, did projects, or excelled in classes that demonstrate your skills—

List them in your education section.

Did you come away from school with a certification like a CLA?

You can put that in your bullets. But also put it in a “Certification” section so employers can’t miss it.

Pro Tip: Got a GPA so high they have to write it in scientific notation? Awesome. List it. Is the notation subscript? Leave it off and use the extra space for eye-opening accomplishments.

5.Prove Lab Assistant Skills in Your Resume

Use this lab assistant resume skills list:

Lab Assistant Resume Skills

Hard Skills:

• Computer skills
• Cleaning, maintaining, and calibrating equipment
• Analyzing and recording data
• Sample collection, prep, and analysis
• Technical support
• Equipment knowledge
• Giving presentations to senior staff
• PowerPoint
• PPE use
• HIPAA
• Prepping for inspections
• Cleaning
• Experiment preparation

Soft Skills:

• Organizational skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Independence
• Problem-solving skills
• Time management
• Attention to detail
• Analytical skills
• Written and spoken communication skills
• Teamwork
• Efficiency
• Following procedures
• Safety

But wait!

There’s a right and wrong way to use that list.

Don’t just do a laboratory assistant skills dump in your resume.

Knowing the right skills to put on a resume means picking them from the job ad.

Pro Tip: You don’t need to list every skill in the world on your lab assistant resume. Stick to what you’re best at and what you can prove.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

6. Add Other Sections to Your Lab Assistant Resume

You want the hiring manager to say, “Wow.”

Do it with other laboratory assistant resume sections that prove key job skills.

Choose from:

• Associations
• Volunteer experience
• Groups
• Activities
• Conventions
• Freelance work
• Employer commendations
• Hobbies
• Classes
• Sports

Pro Tip: You don’t need to add all those sections to your lab assistant resume. Just pick a few that let you prove your lab rat skills the best.

7. Send a Cover Letter With Your Lab Assistant Resume

How important is a cover letter for a lab assistant resume?

Very.

A strong lab assistant cover letter can make them call you.

But it has to be unique:

• Use proper cover letter formatting.
• Write a cover letter introduction that really grabs them. Show passion or your best lab-based accomplishment.
• Know how to close a cover letter with an offer. That can be a promise to tell more about how you can help.
• Make your cover letter length three paragraphs or half a page.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to send a follow up email on your application. It’s just the thing to put your lab assistant resume top-of-mind and get you interviewed.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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That’s it!

That’s how to write a resume for lab assistant positions.

Worried you won’t get calls on your lab resume? Frustrated with the response your lab skills resume is getting? Give us a shout in the comments. We’d love to talk!