Astrophysicist Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Astrophysicist resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Astrophysicists study the universe—from its beginnings to its current state and everything in between. They use math and physics to study the properties of space, time, matter, energy, and light.
As an astrophysicist, you might work in academia or in industry as a researcher or scientist. Or you might choose to work in public outreach or science journalism. No matter your area of focus, you’ll need a resume that showcases your unique skills and experience as well as your passion for space. Here are some tips and an example resume to help you write yours.
How to Write an Astrophysicist Resume
Here’s how to write an astrophysicist resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. But they can be tricky to write because they’re so brief. And it can be tempting to just list your responsibilities and duties. But that’s not enough to catch a recruiter’s attention.
Instead, you want to use your bullet points to tell a story about your work. And the best way to do that is to focus on results. So rather than saying you “conducted research,” you could say you “conducted research to identify new sources of energy, resulting in a 10% increase in power output.”
The second bullet point is much stronger because it provides specific details about what you did and the outcome of your work.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
Most astrophysicist roles are found through applicant tracking systems (ATS). When you submit your resume, the ATS will scan it for specific keywords related to the position. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right terms, the ATS might automatically reject your application.
The best way to ensure that your resume makes it past the ATS is to include relevant keywords throughout all sections of your application. Here are some of the most commonly used astrophysicist keywords:
- Astrophysics
- Physics
- Research
- Cosmology
- Research and Development (R&D)
- Astronomy
- Space Science
- Science
- Teaching
- Data Analysis
- Leadership
- Molecular Biology
- STEM Education
- MATLAB
- Science Communication
- Science Writing
- Teamwork
- Computational Physics
- Python (Programming Language)
- Laboratory Skills
- Mechanics
- Atomic Physics
- Differential Equations
- Spacecraft Systems
- Image Processing
- Space Exploration
- Geophysics
- Physics Teaching
- Technical Writing
- Simulations
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As an astrophysicist, you need to be proficient in the use of a variety of technologies and systems. This might include experience with data analysis software, programming languages, and astronomical software programs. Additionally, you should be familiar with big data concepts and platforms like Hadoop, Hive, and Spark. So if you have experience with any of these programs or platforms, be sure to list them on your resume.