Lab Manager Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Lab Manager resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Lab managers are responsible for everything that happens in their lab—from the research that’s conducted there to the safety of the environment in which it’s conducted. They oversee all aspects of their lab’s operations, from personnel management to budgeting to quality control to compliance.
Lab managers work closely with other managers, directors, and senior-level staff to ensure that their lab is running smoothly. They also collaborate with scientists and researchers to develop new projects and set goals for the lab.
If you’re interested in a career in science but aren’t sure where to start, consider applying for a lab manager position. Here are some tips and an example resume to help you write an effective lab manager resume that will get you noticed by hiring managers.
How to Write a Lab Manager Resume
Here’s how to write a lab manager resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
When you’re writing your bullet points, it can be tempting to just list your responsibilities and duties. But that’s not going to make a strong impression on recruiters. Instead, you should focus on the results of your work.
For example, rather than saying you “conducted experiments,” you could say that you “conducted experiments to identify new ways to reduce costs by 20% without impacting quality.”
Notice how the second bullet point is more specific and provides more detail about what exactly you did and the results of your work.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a lab manager role, your resume will likely be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. This system looks for specific terms related to the job, like “chemistry” or “analytical testing” in order to determine whether your skills and experience are a match for the position. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right keywords, your application might not even make it to a human recruiter.
To increase your chances of getting an interview, use this list of common lab manager keywords as a starting point to build out your resume:
- Laboratory Skills
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Cell Culture
- DNA Extraction
- Microbiology
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
- Laboratory Research
- Science
- Chemistry
- Cell Biology
- Scientific Writing
- Life Sciences
- Immunology
- Laboratory Management
- Genetics
- Scientific Equipment
- Biotechnology
- Protein Purification
- Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
- Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
- Quality Control
- Research
- Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
- Research and Development (R&D)
- Cell Counting
- Analytical Chemistry
- Team Leadership
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
- Microsoft Access
Showcase Your Technical Skills
Lab managers use a variety of software programs and systems in their work, so it’s important to list any relevant technical skills you have. Programs like Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Google Suite (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar), and social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter are all commonly used by lab managers. Additionally, lab managers may be called on to use specific software programs relevant to their industry, so it’s important to be familiar with as many programs as possible.