Medical Examiner Resume Example & Writing Guide

Medical examiners are medical professionals who investigate deaths in order to determine the circumstances surrounding them. They must collect and analyze evidence in order to determine cause of death and help police or attorneys build a case.

Medical examiners typically work in morgues or labs where they perform autopsies, collect and test evidence, and record their findings in a report. There are almost 1,400 medical examiners employed in the U.S., many of whom also teach or conduct research in addition to their regular duties.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a medical examiner or want to build a resume that will set you apart from other candidates, here are resume tips to follow plus an example for reference.

How to Write a Medical Examiner Resume

Here’s how to write a medical examiner resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the first thing recruiters will read. And if they’re not interesting or compelling, they’ll be the last thing they read.

So it’s crucial that you use them to your advantage by highlighting your most impressive accomplishments and skills. And the best way to do that is by using specific numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts whenever possible.

For example, rather than saying you “managed staff,” you could say you “managed staff of 15+ employees, reducing turnover rate by 15% in first year.”

The second bullet point is much more interesting and provides a clear sense of the scale of the project and the level of success achieved.

Related What Is a Medical Examiner? How to Become One

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

When you apply for a job as a medical examiner, your resume is likely to be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. ATS programs rank resumes based on the number of relevant keywords that are found throughout the document. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right keywords, your application might not make it past the initial screening process.

The best way to ensure that your resume contains the right keywords is to read through job postings and take note of the terms that are used most frequently. Then, use those same terms when you’re writing your resume. Here are some of the most common medical examiner keywords:

Showcase Your Technical Skills

As a medical examiner, you will need to be proficient in the use of a variety of software programs and systems. These might include autopsy software, toxicology software, and medical records software. You will also need to be familiar with medical terminology and be able to use medical research databases.

Related: How Much Does a Medical Examiner Make?

Remember The Basics

As you’re writing your resume, you’ll want to keep a few basic guidelines in mind.

Make Sure Your Resume Is Easy to Scan

There are a few things you can do to format your resume in a way that makes it easy to read and understand. This includes using left-aligned text, a standard font size, and limited use of bolding, italics, and all-caps. You should also try to use no more than 2 lines per bullet point and have a separate skills section. Finally, make sure your formatting is consistent throughout the document.

Be Concise

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. However, it is generally best to keep resumes concise and to the point – one or two pages long is most ideal. You want to make sure to focus on the most relevant and recent experience, and remove any irrelevant information. When in doubt, less is more.

Check Your Work

There are a few key things to look for when proofreading a resume, including spelling mistakes, punctuation mistakes, and grammatical mistakes. It is also important to be aware of easily confused words, such as their/there/they’re and to/too/two. Spellcheck is a good way to start, but you should also have someone else proofread your resume for you.

Consider a Summary

A resume summary statement can be a great way to introduce yourself to a potential employer and highlight the skills and experiences you have that are relevant to the role you’re applying for. When crafted correctly, it can help to show off your best traits and connect the dots between your past experiences and your future goals. If you’re looking to add a summary statement to your resume, be sure to keep it short and simple, and focus on highlighting your most relevant skills and experiences.

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