Lab Assistant Resume Examples and Templates for 2023

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for lab assistants was $57,800 in 2020, with a projected growth rate of 11% over the next decade. Many of these positions will be clinical in nature, but there are opportunities available in other industries, such as the electrical engineering field. The key to building a strong laboratory assistant resume is providing detailed insights into the research initiatives you were supporting and focusing on your individual contributions to the study. Even a seemingly mundane task can be framed as an accomplishment if you draw attention to how it helped the project’s overall success.

Using our resume building guide below will help you to:

  • •   Frame your daily job responsibilities and tasks as achievements and help you highlight the positive impact of your contributions on the organizations you’ve worked for
  • •   Create compelling content that showcases your expertise in laboratory testing techniques, safety, and specimen handling
  • •   Align your resume with the individual needs of the companies you’re applying to
  • •   Optimize your document to ensure compliance with ATS requirements

Lab Assistant Resumes Created Using Our ResumeBuilder

Example #1
Lab-Assistant_Example-1.pdf

Example #1

Example #2
Lab-Assistant_Example-2.pdf

Example #2

Example #3
Lab-Assistant_Example-3.pdf

Example #3

Lab Assistant Text-Only Resume Examples

Years of Experience
  • Example #1 #1
  • Example #2 #2
  • Example #3 #3

Yaling Zhang
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 12345

Profile

A Lab Assistant with three years of experience, specializing in clinical research, laboratory safety, animal studies, and phlebotomy. A strong history of supporting key research initiatives to study novel approaches and treatments for congenital health defects.

Professional Experience

Lab Assistant, University of San Diego Research Center, San Diego, CA
October 2020 – Present

  • Provided support for a variety of laboratory experiments and clinical studies, including managing animal care, performing data collection, sample storage, and analysis
  • Deliver training to three lab assistants on quality control standards, OSHA safety, and decontamination procedures for laboratory equipment
  • Ensure compliance with ethical standards for animal testing and welfare

Lab Assistant, Labcorp, San Diego, CA
May 2019 – October 2020

  • Oversaw pre-analytical processes for the processing and collection of laboratory specimens for patients in a controlled, medical testing environment
  • Ensured compliance with laboratory safety protocols and procedures, including strict usage of PPE and adherence to Covid-19 safety guidelines

Education

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Biology
University of San Diego, San Diego, CA September 2015 – May 2019

Key Skills

  • Laboratory Testing
  • Animal Studies
  • Clinical Research
  • Laboratory Safety Regulations
  • Data Collection

Certifications

  • Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), 2019

Cameron Malfara
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY, 12345

Profile

A Lab Assistant with four years of experience, specializing in quality assurance, laboratory safety, and DNA testing. A proven track record of performing sample testing and extractions in compliance with ISO 9001 and quality standards.

Professional Experience

Lab Assistant, DNA Testing Solutions, New York, NY
October 2019 – Present

  • Coordinate with the lab manager and a team of assistants to perform testing in an ISO 9001 certified laboratory, including equipment decontamination and sample storage
  • Conduct DNA extraction for samples, analyze reagents, and perform testing on samples to ensure compliance with quality standards
  • Identify opportunities to improve lab efficiency by automating data entry and pre-analytical processes, resulting in a reduction of 10 work hours per week

Lab Assistant, Kellerman Laboratories, New York, NY
May 2018 – October 2019

  • Managed data entry, labeling, and storage of DNA specimens for a clinical testing site and ensured compliance with lab safety requirements and quality assurance policies
  • Created lab reports on testing results, reagent quality, and sample issues
  • Performed sanitation and decontamination activities for laboratory environments

Education

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Biology
Columbia University, New York, NY September 2014 – May 2018

Key Skills

  • Laboratory Safety
  • ISO 9001 Standards
  • Quality Assurance
  • Process Improvement
  • DNA Testing

Certifications

  • Certified Medical Laboratory Assistant (CMLA), 2018

Amar Singh
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Windermere Rd., Seattle, WA 123455

Profile

A Lab Assistant with five years of experience, specializing in electrical engineering, chemistry, OSHA safety standards, and data analysis. A strong history of collaborating with diverse teams to drive process improvements to enhance lab efficiency and throughput.

Professional Experience

Lab Assistant, Innovate Engineering Corp., Seattle, WA
October 2018 – Present

  • Gather equipment data for researchers in a fabrication laboratory, including materials characterization, to support R&D initiatives and product development activities
  • Coordinate with engineering teams to increase laboratory throughput by 15% and improve turnaround time for sample testing from five days to three
  • Identify opportunities to improve lab efficiency by automating data entry and pre-analytical processes, resulting in a reduction of 10 work hours per week

Lab Assistant, Nanofabrication Inc., Seattle, WA
May 2017 – October 2018

  • Monitor laboratory quality control and perform testing, calibrations, and maintenance on instruments to ensure accurate and reliable results
  • Attend meetings with the laboratory manager and engineering teams to analyze process data, discuss safety incidents, and drive continuous improvement efforts

Education

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Electrical Engineering
University of Washington, Seattle, WA September 2013 – May 2017

Key Skills

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Quality Assurance
  • Laboratory Safety
  • Data Analysis

Certifications

  • Certified Quality Engineer, NCCA, 2019

Tips for Writing a Better Lab Assistant Resume

Now that you’ve seen some examples of lab assistant resumes, we’ll walk you through some best practices to help you build your own accomplishment-driven document. When crafting your resume, it’s important to identify what information will be most valuable to the hiring manager. Featuring key aspects of your experience that showcase your ability to create value for the companies you work for will go a long way in helping you secure your next interview. Below, you’ll find three expert tips to help you showcase your laboratory experience:

1. Highlight quality standards

Quality control is an important aspect of a lab assistant role that you’ll want to highlight in your document. Rather than simply mentioning that you excel in quality assurance, you should incorporate specific details that will grab the hiring manager’s attention. In the example below, the job seeker draws attention to their experience working in an ISO 9001 certified environment. This type of experience is highly attractive to potential employers. This quality management system is utilized heavily within this industry and will give the candidate an edge over the competition.

  • Coordinate with the lab manager and a team of assistants to perform testing in an ISO 9001 certified laboratory, including equipment decontamination and sample storage
  • Conduct DNA extraction for samples, analyze reagents, and perform testing on samples to ensure compliance with quality standards

2. Quantify your laboratory experience

Incorporating numbers and metrics into your lab assistant resume can significantly enhance the impact of your bullet points. Although this can be difficult in some instances, there are a variety of methods for evaluating the quality and efficiency of your laboratory. One way is by measuring throughput and turnaround times for sample testing. Another might be showcasing a reduction in uncertainty analysis. Even customer satisfaction ratings can be leveraged here, as this metric also speaks to the quality of your lab’s performance. In the example below, the job seeker uses a variety of metrics to quantify their process improvement efforts:

  • Gather equipment data for researchers in a fabrication laboratory, including materials characterization, to support R&D initiatives and product development activities
  • Coordinate with engineering teams to increase laboratory throughput by 15% and improve turnaround time for sample testing from five days to three
  • Identify opportunities to improve lab efficiency by automating data entry and pre-analytical processes, resulting in a reduction of 10 work hours per week

3. Feature your lab safety expertise

Featuring your lab safety expertise usage is important when applying for a laboratory assistant position. Employers want candidates who can provide valuable contributions to their safety culture. This includes decontamination procedures, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, and knowledge of OSHA standards. In the example below, the candidate showcases their laboratory safety experience and draws attention to their compliance with ethical standards during animal testing. This is important for the job seeker to feature here, as balancing the pain and suffering of the animal with the more significant benefits of the research is an important aspect of this type of role:

  • Provided support for a variety of laboratory experiments and clinical studies, including managing animal care, performing data collection, sample storage, and analysis
  • Deliver training to three lab assistants on quality control standards, OSHA safety, and decontamination procedures for laboratory equipment
  • Ensure compliance with ethical standards for animal testing and welfare

Key Skills Hiring Managers Look for on Lab Assistant Resumes

Employers often rely on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to identify qualified candidates during the hiring process. If your document fails to meet specific benchmarks during the initial ATS scan, your application may be rejected before it reaches the hiring manager. To mitigate this risk, you’ll want to incorporate as many relevant keywords as possible into your resume. Below, you’ll find a list of key terms that you may encounter over the course of your job search:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Animal Testing Animal Welfare
Bacteriology Biology
Blood Chemistry Chemical Analysis
Chemical Engineering Clinical Research
Data Analysis Data Collection
Electrical Engineering Equipment Calibration
Microbiology Microscopic Image Capturing Software
Lab Safety Laboratory Testing
OSHA Compliance Phlebotomy
Process Improvement Quality Assurance
Quality Control Scientific Investigation
Specimen Analysis Urinalysis

Common Action Verbs for Lab Assistant Resumes

When building your resume, you may find yourself overusing the same action verbs throughout your bullet points. You may find a shortage of verbs that can be used accurately to describe a specific job responsibility or achievement. Although this may be challenging, differentiating your usage of action verbs can help keep your content fresh and improve the overall readability of your document. Below, you’ll find a list of strong verbs that you can use to describe your work experience as you craft your document.

Action Verbs
Analyzed Audited
Collaborated Communicated
Conducted Coordinated
Delivered Developed
Diagnosed Drove
Enhanced Evaluated
Executed Identified
Interfaced Implemented
Improved Led
Managed Oversaw
Partnered Performed
Provided Resolved
Supported Tested

How to Align Your Lab Assistant Resume With the Job Description

Aligning your document with the job description is an essential aspect of the resume-building process. Before you even begin crafting your bullet points, you should research the company you’re applying to and learn about the organization’s culture and mission. For example, if you have a background in clinical research and are applying for a laboratory position with a biomedical company, you may want to draw attention to how your prior research initiatives are projected to improve the quality of life for patients. Beyond the Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) requirements, organizations are also interested in whether or not you’re the right fit for their team, so you’ll want to create compelling bullet points that showcase how your experience aligns with the company’s long-term goals.