Marine Biologist Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Marine Biologist resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Marine biologists study the ocean, its inhabitants, and the ecosystems that surround them. They conduct research to understand how marine life interacts with its surroundings, how it’s impacted by climate change and other environmental factors, and how it might be used to improve human life in the future.
If you’re interested in exploring the world beneath the waves or want to make a difference in protecting our oceans, then the field of marine biology might be the perfect place for you. But before you can start your new career, you’ll need a resume that showcases your unique skills and experience. Here are some tips and an example to help you write a marine biologist resume that will get you noticed.
How to Write a Marine Biologist Resume
Here’s how to write a marine biologist resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
When you’re writing bullet points, it can be tempting to simply list your responsibilities. But that’s not enough to make a strong impression. Instead, you should use your bullet points to demonstrate how you’ve used your skills and experience to make a difference.
For example, rather than saying you “conducted research on the effects of pollution on marine life,” you could say you “conducted research on the effects of pollution on marine life in order to develop new methods for reducing pollution in coastal waters.”
The second bullet point paints a much clearer picture of what you did and why it was important. And it also provides some context by mentioning the
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a marine biologist position, your resume will go through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This system will scan your resume for specific keywords related to the job opening. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right terms, your application might not make it past the initial screening.
One way to make sure you have the right keywords on your resume is to read through the job posting and take note of the terms that are used most often. Then, use those same terms when you write your resume. Here are some common marine biology keywords to get you started:
- Marine Biology
- Aquaculture
- Fisheries
- Oceanography
- Marine Conservation
- Environmental Conservation
- Environmental Science
- Science
- Zoology
- Research
- Wildlife Management
- Science Education
- Biotechnology
- Limnology
- Environmental Compliance
- Aquariums
- Public Speaking
- Education
- Communication
- Environmental Management
- Data Analysis
- Statistics
- Field Work
- Microsoft Access
- Science Writing
- Research Writing
- Field Biology
- COSEWIC
- DNA Sequencing
- Environmental Monitoring
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a marine biologist, you need to be proficient in the use of technology to study and understand the ocean’s inhabitants. This might include using software to track and analyze data, using digital imaging to capture images of marine life, or using drones to survey marine habitats. Additionally, marine biologists need to be familiar with the different types of equipment used in the field, such as microscopes, lab equipment, and survey tools.