Let's address the elephant in the room: you're looking for a job as an epidemiologist during a global pandemic. To say you work in one of the most highly-respected and sought-after fields on the planet would be an understatement. You've worked towards this goal for years and it's finally time to land that position that speaks to your expertise and knowledge. But how to accomplish this? With a great resume, of course!
That's where we can help. With 300+ resume examples and writing guides for every field and career level, we're an expert resource for job seekers far and wide. Here's what we'll cover in this epidemiologist resume example and guide:
- What does an epidemiologist do?
- How to write an epidemiologist resume (tips and tricks)
- The best format for an epidemiologist resume
- Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
- Professional resume layout and design
What does an epidemiologist do?
Epidemiologists perform research and investigate diseases to identify root causes, life-cycle and modes of transmission. Epidemiologists oversee public health programs and work to ensure that the proper precautions are taken to avoid the spread of disease. They aim to improve health outcomes by implementing greater community health education programs and enforcing beneficial health policies. Epidemiologists typically work for state and local governments where they address public health problems and work to achieve solutions.
For even more writing tips and advice, check out our related medical resume examples including our doctor resume sample, nurse resume example, healthcare resume sample and health educator resume sample.
How to write an epidemiologist resume
The very first step in writing your epidemiologist resume is understanding what sections to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:
- The resume header
- The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
An epidemiologist resume should highlight a candidate’s education and expertise as an epidemiologist. Most candidates have a Masters Degree or a Doctorate Degree and some have a voluntary certification from the Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology. Your resume should contain a strong summary section that highlights your greatest skills and career accomplishments in the field of epidemiology. You should call attention to important abilities such as your ability to perform statistical analyses, assess associations, develop multivariable models, and document analytic choices. Your resume should showcase impressive skills such as strong data analysis skills, excellent communication skills and advanced knowledge of epidemiology. Include any skills and personal or professional experiences that you feel have prepared you or a career in epidemiology.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for epidemiologists is expected to grow by 30 percent over the coming decade – that's much faster than average for other occupations.
Choosing the best resume format for an epidemiologist
For epidemiologists and other professionals who work in formal fields like medicine, there is only one right choice when it comes to choosing the best resume format: reverse chronological is the way to go. This resume format focuses on previous experience inside of an Employment History section. There, you can list your relevant job titles going back about ten years. This is the best way to show that you've got real-world knowledge to support your education as an epidemiologist.
While other resume formats exist – such as the functional or hybrid structures – they are best suited for career starters or those with untraditional career path.
Resume summary example
Your summary is the best place to speak directly to the hiring manager and point out the key elements of your experience. Highlight your biggest accomplishments and attributes here. Remember to include key attributes, abilities and talents that support your role as an epidemiologist. These 3-5 sentences are not the place to be shy: show off your education and most relevant positions to encourage a hiring manager to keep reading down the page. See our adaptable summary resume example below.
Highly skilled epidemiologist committed to providing communities and medical professionals valuable information regarding the spread and containment of diseases. Adept in analyzing research data and applying it to better understand the life-cycle of diseases. Dedicated to eliminating the spread of disease by recommending effective control measures.
Employment history sample
The employment history section is where you can really get down to the details of what you've accomplished as an epidemiologist. List all relevant positions going back ten years. Remember to use powerful action verbs and mention job specific accomplishments that prove you are an excellent candidate. Below you'll find a resume sample for the employment history section.
- Designed, developed and modified research experiments alongside teams of researchers.
- Performed research and gathered data to begin assignments.
- Carefully recorded and compiled data.
- Performed thorough research and analysis on data and created reports on research activities.
- Assisted with emergency health responses to disease outbreaks.
CV skills example
The CV skills section is the place to showcase your abilities and areas of expertise. Since this section often takes the form of a bullet point list, it's important to choose skills that can be conveyed in a word or two. Make sure to point out any qualities that you don't want the hiring manager to miss. Although you'll want to focus on knowledge areas, it's smart to include a few softer skills that can make you stand out from other candidates. Below you'll find a skills section resume sample.
- Research Skills
- Applied Science
- Assessments and Evaluations
- Disease Control and Prevention
- Data Interpretation and Analysis
- Leadership and Teamwork
Epidemiologist resume education example
As an epidemiologist, you couldn't do your job if it wasn't for your education, so make sure to list all degrees and certifications here. Don't forget to include any professional memberships or accreditations you hold. Any honors or distinctions should be noted here as well. Since you've certainly completed some level of higher education, there's no need to include your high school diploma. Below you'll find the education section from our epidemiologist resume example.
- 2004-2007 Loyola Marymount, Bachelor of Biology Los Angeles, CA
- 2001-2004 Johns Hopkins University, Master of Epidemiology Baltimore, MD
Resume layout and design
An epidemiologist with a sloppy-looking resume is not one to be trusted – at least not in the eyes of the hiring manager. Your resume layout and design should exude confidence and professional starting with an attractive and functional header that highlights your name and contact information. There's no need to go overboard with color. A simple and clear design will get the job done.
If you're not sure where to start, consider using a professionally-designed resume template which can allow you to create an attractive design in minutes.
- Stick with one or two professional fonts throughout your resume.
- Leave a balance of white space to text.
- Forget to proofread before you submit.
- Use a font size larger that 12.
Key takeaways
- At the risk of stating the obvious, epidemiologists are in high demand – now is the time to prepare your resume.
- The summary is the one place you'll be able to speak directly to the hiring manager so make sure to draw out your strong points.
- Check out our resume example for more ideas on creating a great page layout.
