Lab Technician CV Examples & UK Templates

As a lab technician, you’re the backbone of scientific research projects. From your knowledge of wide ranging laboratory techniques, to your participation in numerous research projects. But, it can be tricky to distil your diverse range of skills into a one or two page document.  

A well-crafted lab technician CV can allow your dream job to become a reality, whether you aspire to work in clinical research, biotech, forensics, environmental protection, or much more.

So, how can you factor a great CV into the equation? By combining your technical expertise with your professional achievements to spark the lab managers attention.

CV guide for a lab technician CV

Improve your chances of success with Resume.io. Our guides and CV examples cover over 150 professions, and our CV builder makes creating a compelling CV easier than ever.

This CV guide and the corresponding lab technician CV example will cover the following:

• How to write a lab technician CV
• Choosing the right CV format for a lab technician
• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Adding your laboratory experience
• Listing education and certifications

How to write a lab technician CV

First impressions count. Before you start to write your lab technician CV, it’s a good idea to have a predetermined structure in mind in order to stay on track. With some exceptions, all CVs should include these essential sections:

• The CV header
• The CV summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The CV skills section
• The education section

Each version of your lab technician CV should always be different. Tailoring your CV to each job application will ensure it’s 100% relevant. 

You already have an enquiring mind as a lab technician, so it’s time to apply this and do some background research on the employer and the sector in which they operate. You can then align your skills and achievements as a lab technician with the advertised role.  

Here are some key points to help you get started:

• Select impressive career highlights. Recruiters will want to know what you have achieved as a lab technician. Provide facts and statistics to evidence your strengths and capabilities in the laboratory.
• Adapt your CV for each job opportunity. Conduct an online review of projects the laboratory has recently completed so you can better understand the type of research they are involved in. You can then tailor your CV accordingly.
• Use a clean and polished format for your CV to project a professional image. Avoid graphics, fancy fonts, and jazzy borders, as these will be distracting.
• Sprinkle your CV with the right keywords to ensure you get past applicant tracking systems (ATS) that many organisations use to screen applications.

Always refer back to the posted job description and requirements. It’s your best source for customising your CV content and tone accordingly. 

Choosing the right CV format for a lab technician

When you prepare the laboratory for a day of testing and experiments, you need to ensure that everything is clean and organised. Your lab technician CV should follow the same principle. Adopt a clean format, with clear sections that the hiring manager can easily navigate. 

Most job seekers are well-advised to use the reverse chronological format for their CVs, which tends to be preferred by employers too. Your employment history takes precedence, organised in order from your most recent position back to the earliest.

Some job applicants choose the functional CV format instead, where skills are most prominent, or the hybrid (combination) format, where skills and experience are given an equal footing. 

These formats can be useful if you have specialist or complex technical skills or if you aspire to become a lab technician and have zero experience. 

Check out our CV templates and choose the format that best suits your situation. We also have multiple CV examples to give you some more inspiration. 

Include your contact information

Located at the top of your CV, the header contains essential contact details that the hiring manager can use to identify you and get in touch with you—ideally with an interview invitation. 

Here’s the key information you need to include: 

• Full name & title. Start with your full name, followed by the role title.
• Professional email address. Include a professional email address, with no slang or nicknames.
• Phone number. Share the phone number you’re most likely to answer, complete with an appropriate voicemail message.
• Location. There’s no need to detail your full address, just provide your city or location.
• LinkedIn. Include a link to your LinkedIn profile so employers can quickly review it. Just check this is updated and consistent with your lab technician CV.

Don’t include:

• Photo: This isn’t expected in the UK and can lead to issues such as age discrimination.
• Personal details: Don’t include your date of birth, whether you’re married with children, or your nationality on your CV.

Make use of a summary

A well-written summary can be the difference between a quick rejection or grabbing the hiring manager's attention. The summary (sometimes called the personal statement or profile) is a short paragraph below your CV header that introduces your top-level qualifications, skills, and experience as a lab technician. 

Done right, your profile gives hiring managers a good vision of what makes you suitable for the job, where you are in your career, and the value you can bring to their organisation. 

Writer's block can be a problem when creating your summary. To get started, scrutinise the job description so you have a good understanding of the overarching goals and objectives of the advertised role. You can then align your most relevant skills and unique achievements. 

A good approach is to self-reflect. Where have you secured your laboratory experience? What specialist techniques or equipment have you used during research projects? How have you been effective in team projects? What value could you bring to this new laboratory environment? Focus on elements that will make you stand out from other applicants.

Try to avoid using too much technical jargon in your opening summary. Your technical expertise needs to be a key component, but balance this with soft skills, such as communication, attention to detail, and teamwork. 

You can find adaptable laboratory technician CV example summaries below:

Outline your lab technician work experience: your pathway to success

Most hiring managers will be keen to review your work history if you’ve managed to hook them with an intriguing summary. Reverse chronological format applies here too. Start with your most recent role and work back to earlier jobs, covering no more than 10 to 15 years.

Create descriptive bullet points that outline core responsibilities and achievements in each role, resisting the urge to list every aspect of your work history. This approach tends to dilute the impact of your work experience section. Take the approach of quality over quantity.

With no need for the “I” pronoun, start each statement with an action verb such as "analysed," "delivered," or "orchestrated."  As a lab technician, you’re well-equipped to cite tangible outcomes using metrics, which will add weight to your CV. Avoid vague statements, such as:

• “Coordinated laboratory operations.”
• “Processed patient samples.”
• “Optimised existing systems and equipment.”

Describing actions combined with positive outcomes and tangible results is going to make your work experience section more powerful and effective. Here’s how you can add some colour to these statements with specific outcomes and results:

• “Steered day-to-day lab operations and provided leadership, training, and support to the six-member team of technicians.”
• “Routinely processed 65+ patient samples on a daily basis to exacting standards.”
• “Optimised existing systems and equipment, including the successful coordination of a major laboratory refurbishment and system upgrade.”

Take a look at the lab technician employment history CV sample below:

How to write a lab technician CV with no experience

If you're eager to pursue your dream career as a lab technician, but have no work experience, it can be difficult to know where to start. The good news is that there are plenty of entry-level opportunities out there and you can create a persuasive CV with the right approach.

Adopting the functional (skills-based) CV format will help you tackle a lack of direct experience. Showcase the transferable skills you possess that would benefit the role. Attention to detail, problem solving, and teamwork are all desirable skills for a lab technician. Referencing a group research project completed as part of your academic studies is one way you could show these skills in action. 

Part-time jobs, volunteer work, or work placements could offer transferable experience that you can relate to a junior lab role. Prioritise experience that is relevant to the lab technician position you're seeking, rather than listing every job you've ever had.

Finally, any relevant academic studies or certifications you are working towards or have completed should be highlighted on your CV. For example, if you’re currently completing a degree or diploma in a scientific subject, you may want to place your education section at the beginning of your CV to show that you are on track for a career as a lab technician.

Include the relevant key skills that make a great lab technician CV

When compiling your CV list of core skills, focus on their value-added impact on the employer. Review the job description to identify skills or knowledge that is emphasised as important so you can include this information and prove that you’re an ideal candidate.

A lab technician CV should include a blend of hard skills and soft skills. That is, your strengths across laboratory techniques, data analysis, and quality control, supported by attributes such as time management, dexterity, and problem-solving skills, to name but a few. 

If you need some guidance on the types of skills to include on your CV, check out our CV builder which provides examples of in-demand skills as well as proficiency levels you can adjust.

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our lab technician CV template. 

Demonstrating your lab skills in action can generate more interest from recruiters. When crafting your lab technician CV, make sure to support each skill with concrete examples. Connect each key skill to a specific situation and a positive result. 

For instance, in your professional profile and work experience sections, showcase your:

• Analytical skills by explaining how you reduced inventory costs by identifying overpriced supplies and renegotiating vendor agreements.
• Technical proficiency by describing the range of laboratory equipment and tools you have used to complete research projects.
• Attention to detail in maintaining optimal levels of accuracy by calibrating lab equipment and performing routine maintenance on laboratory tools.

Detail your education & relevant lab technician certifications

While some employers expect candidates to have a degree or diploma in a scientific subject, there are entry-level opportunities out there for job seekers with GCSEs or A Levels. 

The education section of your lab technician CV should list your formal qualifications in reverse chronological order, from highest to lowest level. If you have completed a degree, then you do not need to mention secondary school qualifications.

Completing additional qualifications or certifications can give you the edge over other applicants and will keep you up-to-date in the ever-changing laboratory science world. Here are some options to consider:

• Training and certifications. Training courses, seminars, and workshops will keep you updated on new technologies, regulations, and best practices.
• Apprenticeships. Combining classroom learning with on-the-job training in a lab setting, this can be a perfect solution if you’re new to the job market.
• Professional memberships. Registration with professional bodies, such as the Institute of Biomedical Science or the Science Council, demonstrates your commitment to high standards.

Check out the education section from our adaptable CV sample below:

Pick the right CV layout and design for a lab technician CV

You only have mere seconds to make a great first impression with your CV for a lab technician role. If your CV looks sloppy or unprofessional at first glance, it’s game over. 

You don't need to overthink the design of your CV, a clean, modern format is the best approach with a subtle colour scheme. Focus on making the content easy to read and ensure your skills and achievements stand out. This can be achieved by using bullet points, columns, lists, bold text, and a splash of colour here and there.

A CV can look messy if it is full of different font types and sizes. Use a consistent font throughout and only change the size for the header or the section headings. Always make sure you use a standard size (10pt to 12pt) to maximise readability.

For a hassle-free way to get all of the layout and design details perfect, consider using one of Resume.io's field-tested CV templates along with our builder tool.

Lab technician text-only CV example

Lab technician job market and outlook

Lab technicians can work across both public and private organisations in diverse settings, including industry, hospitals, Government departments, environmental agencies, research institutions, and much more. Demand is out there, with the workforce expected to grow by 0.5% over the period to 2027 and 42,600 new job openings being created in the same period.

Key takeaways for building a lab technician CV

Working as a lab technician offers the opportunity to be at the forefront of scientific discovery and technological advancements. To land the best opportunities, showcase your skill set and tailor your CV as much as possible to the specific role and institution, using the job description as your guide.

Using an expert-designed CV template can elevate your job search and help you secure your dream lab technician job.