Research Assistant Resume Example & Writing Guide

Taking for granted that dozens of other qualified applicants will offer similar on-the-job research abilities, you have a make-or-break chance right now to demonstrate excellence in investigating — and communicating — what the employer needs and wants. A groundbreaking research assistant resume will convey your insight into what would make you indispensable on all counts.

Resume.io can help you achieve that result. Our job-winning resources include more than 300 occupation-specific resume examples, alongside corresponding advice and tips.

This writing guide, backed by resume examples for a research assistant, will cover:

• What a research assistant does
• How to write a research assistant resume, starting with the best format and general guidelines
• Advice for each resume section: header, summary, work history, education and skills
• Resume layout and design hints.

What does a research assistant do?

Research assistants are the wind beneath the wings of the senior researchers they support in every capacity called for. From probing obscure archives and conducting interviews to writing summaries of statistical analyses, they perform myriad duties to ensure published information on specialized subjects is accurate, credible and evidence-based.

Reviewing existing information in the published literature is often the focus of a research assistant’s efforts in collecting and interpreting data. In other instances, they assist in conducting original research. 

Laboratories, universities and research centers may come to mind first as typical workplaces for a research assistant. But hiring organizations cover a wide cross section of sectors and settings, from medicine, marketing and all manner of social sciences to public interest groups, polling agencies, policy think tanks and consulting companies.

How to write a research assistant resume

As a research assistant candidate, you are likely no stranger to writing projects - likely not as straightforward as creating a resume. The basic framework outlined below makes this task seem less overwhelming. Keep in mind that these components should fit on a single page.

• Header
• Summary
• Employment history
• Education
• Skills

What will give your resume a job-winning edge is the extent that you address the specific needs of this research position and hiring organization. A custom-tailored version of your resume is necessary for every job you apply for. The only way to convince prospective employers that you’re good at what you do is to persuade them why you’re the best fit for this position. Leave them with no doubt that you’re not just looking for any research assistant job, but that you are the research assistant they are looking for.

Choosing the best resume format for a research assistant

The most commonly used chronological format may or may not be best suited to your research assistant resume. It depends on the specific position in relation to your background — in particular, how much directly applicable job experience and skills you have. 

For entry-level job seekers, or those whose job history does not follow a linear path of employee positions, there are other options. A functional resume format may be suitable for research assistants who have worked independently as consultants. Relevant qualifications are presented in relation to projects, clients or specialized skills. Hybrid (combination) resume formats offer versatility by including both chronological and functional elements. 

Resume header

While gaudy and gimmicky have no place anywhere on your resume, that’s not to say it should not be visually distinctive overall. Where that first comes across is in a well-designed header, setting the stage with a look that commands attention in the most inviting and reader-friendly sense.

There are practical considerations too for ensuring your name, occupation and contact information stand out. Who your resume belongs to will never be in question, and duly impressed recruiters will have no trouble finding out how to readily get in touch with you for an interview or more information.

Resume summary example

The summary of your resume (sometimes called “profile” or “personal statement”) holds a magnifying glass to your most impressive qualifications for this research support role.

Concise and precise wording choices  — including ATS-beating keywords — will launch your case here for being an ideal job fit. Aim for a synopsis of attributes and accomplishments that resonates directly and readily with recruiters. Also offer glimpses at your personality and purpose in pursuing a research career. Above all, your summary should elicit the reader’s curiosity to learn more about you, with a view to your future contributions when hired. 

Below is a research assistant resume example summary you can customize.

Employment history sample

In many instances, the relevance of your work experience as a research assistant is more important than the amount that you’ve acquired. And the more extensive your research background, the more challenging it may be to focus on the most relevant high notes. 

While thoroughness is obviously a prerequisite for your line of work, the need to be selective and specific in this resume section will showcase your communication skills to advantage.

Help your prospective supervisors envision the benefits of you joining their research team. From their perspective, elaborate on accomplishments you could replicate in future projects. Focus on the results of your most impressive investigative findings that will grab their attention. 

Descriptive and dynamic action verbs not only make your writing more concise and compelling to read, but also lend an energetic and self-assured tone. 

Below is a research assistant employment history resume sample you can modify.

CV skills example

Again, we come back to the vitally influential impact of a resume that’s geared specifically to what the job and the employer require. Deciding which hard skills and soft skills to list on your research assistant resume will require as much selectivity as it took to showcase your work experience, while avoiding repetition. 

Obviously, you need to revisit the advertised job posting to be sure all those boxes are checked on your skills list. Otherwise, certain generic research skills can be taken for granted, which means they are likely to appear on the resumes of many other job contenders. That means you can expect recruiters to be underwhelmed each and every time they see the expected analytical skills, technical skills, time management skills and others along those lines.

Check out a research assistant CV sample for the skills section below.

Research assistant resume education example

Compared to many other occupations, this education section may be more detailed for research assistants and certain other academic professionals. It may also retain importance even after work experience has been gained.

Just as their employers span a vast spectrum of industries and study specialties, research assistants can come from diversely different academic backgrounds, from math and microbiology to psychology and marketing. What most will have in common is a bachelor’s degree in a field of study matching the research job focus. 

That means high school information — noteworthy only in the absence of postsecondary graduation — can be omitted from your research assistant resume. Otherwise, list all of your most relevant and recent college degrees in reverse chronological order, from highest to lowest level, including the institution name, location and date. If you are still studying, indicate your expected graduation date. 

Below is the education section from a research assistant resume you can modify.

Resume layout and design

Research assistants who have a hand in preparing reports and presentations may have an advantage when it comes to ensuring their resume looks as good as it reads. You appreciate why every last detail needs attention for an overall result that’s impeccably well put-together. But that doesn’t not mean clean, neat and orderly is synonymous with stark, sterile and yawn-inducing. 

Polished can be eye-pleasing and inviting to read at the same time. At first glance, the right balance between text-dense black blocks and white space should be noticeable. This can be achieved by amplifying the surrounding page margins and spacing between lines and paragraphs.

From font style and size to graphic elements, all of your text formatting decisions should be guided by the goal of enhanced readability. For the same reason, color splashes and other creative touches should be sparing.

Key takeaways for a research assistant resume

1. The investigative and communication skills that research assistants bring to bear in their work can be useful when tailoring each resume to specific job and employer requirements. Thoroughly researching the employer’s needs and expectations is the first step.
2. The employment history section should take the recruiter’s perspective in highlighting directly relevant accomplishments with quantifiable results that could be repeated.
3. The education section of a research assistant’s resume may be more important than it would be for someone in another occupation, especially if they have little or no work experience.
4. Check out our adaptable research assistant resume sample for more ideas on creating a page layout that catches the employer’s attention.