Medical Writer Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Medical Writer resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Medical writers are highly specialized writers who use their knowledge of medicine, science, and healthcare to create content for a wide range of audiences. They write everything from patient education materials to research papers to drug labels.
If you enjoy writing and are interested in a career in healthcare, a medical writing job might be right up your alley. But before you can land your dream job, you need a compelling resume that will impress hiring managers across the industry. Here are some tips and an example to help you write yours.
How to Write a Medical Writer Resume
Here’s how to write a medical writer resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. And when it comes to medical writing, the more specific and detailed you can be, the better.
For example, rather than saying you “wrote medical content for website,” you could say you “wrote 500-word blog post on new treatment for chronic pain for website’s patient education section, which received over 1,000 views in first week.”
The second bullet point is much stronger because it provides specific details about what you did, how long it took, and the outcome of your work.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a medical writer role, your resume will likely be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. ATS programs rank each resume against other applicants by searching for specific job-related terms, like “medical writing” and “scientific writing.” If your resume doesn’t have enough relevant keywords, the ATS might not forward it to a recruiter.
To increase your chances of getting an interview, use the list below as a guide when creating or updating your resume:
- Medical Writing
- Medical Editing
- Clinical Trials
- Regulatory Affairs
- Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
- Medical Education
- Clinical Research
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Oncology
- Publications
- Writing
- Medicine
- Content Development
- Healthcare
- Healthcare Information Technology (HIT)
- Hospitals
- Healthcare Management
- Medical Coding
- Editing
- R&D
- Copy Editing
- Proofreading
- Publications Management
- Science
- Research
- Medical Education Design
- Manuscript Preparation
- Medical Writing Services
- Electronic Data Capture (EDC)
- Medical Billing
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a medical writer, you need to be proficient in a variety of software programs and systems in order to effectively do your job. This might include medical writing software, clinical trial management software, and electronic health records (EHR) systems. Additionally, you should be familiar with various style guides, such as the AMA Manual of Style, and be able to use them to format your writing.
If you have experience with any of these programs or systems, be sure to list them on your resume. This will show potential employers that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to be a successful medical writer.