Tailoring your resume for biotech, pharma, and medtech roles.

Standing out doesn’t require flashy formatting or lengthy summaries for a resume to shine in life sciences. It requires clarity, relevance, and alignment with what hiring managers actually care about.

At Harba Solutions, we support life-sciences companies and talent across every function—from clinical and regulatory to manufacturing and commercial. Our team speaks with hiring managers every day, and we know what gets attention, and what gets passed over.

If you’re applying to roles in biotech, pharma, or medtech, here’s what hiring managers are really looking for in your resume.

1. Relevant Experience That’s Easy to Find

Your most relevant experience should appear within the first few lines. Don’t let important roles or projects get buried. If you’ve worked in industry, highlight it early. If you’re transitioning from academia, lead with transferable experience.

Pro tip: Use clear job titles, company names, and align keywords with the job description you're targeting.

2. Clear Impact, Not Just Responsibilities

Hiring managers don’t just want to know what you did. They want to know what difference you made. Instead of listing tasks, highlight outcomes.

For example:
❌ “Managed sample inventory”
✅ “Reduced sample turnaround time by 30% through streamlined tracking”

Focus on metrics, improvements, and outcomes wherever possible.

3. Technical Skills That Match the Role

Whether you’re in R&D, regulatory affairs, or clinical operations, make your technical strengths obvious. Use a dedicated section to call out tools, platforms, and protocols that match the job.

Examples:

• qPCR, ELISA, HPLC

• Python, R, SAS

• CTMS, EDC systems, Veeva Vault

This helps both recruiters and hiring managers quickly see if you're aligned with what the team needs.

4. A Resume That Tells a Clear Career Story

Whether you’ve moved up, pivoted into a new function, or transitioned from academia, hiring managers want to understand how your path fits together. Show how each step connects, even if your path has included a few turns.

Tip: Brief context in your bullet points can go a long way. For example, “Transitioned to regulatory affairs after leading internal quality audits across 3 study sites.”

5. Clarity Over Complexity

Hiring teams are scanning quickly. Use bullet points, short sentences, and accessible language. Avoid acronyms or jargon that may not be recognized outside your current team.

If your resume can be understood by someone outside your field, that’s a good sign.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

• Lengthy publication lists (unless you're applying for a research-heavy role)

• Generic summaries or objectives

• Vague soft skills like “team player” with no examples

• Personal details like hobbies or outdated academic information

Final Word

A strong resume doesn’t have to be complicated. The best ones are clear, concise, and aligned with the role. If you’re highlighting relevant experience, demonstrating impact, and showing a thoughtful career trajectory, you’re already ahead.

📩 Not sure if your resume is hitting the mark?
Send it to the Harba team. We’re happy to offer personalized feedback and help you get closer to the right opportunity.