Biomedical Engineering Resume Example
Working as a biomedical engineer can provide a rewarding career, involving designing medical devices and conducting clinical trials. A professional resume for biomedical engineer applications will showcase your relevant skills and career achievements, to help you stand out from the crowd. In this article, we'll showcase resume tips and examples that can help you create a professional biomedical engineering resume that catches the eye of hiring managers.
After reading this guide, you'll know what it takes to create a resume that really stands out from other biomedical engineer applicants. You'll find valuable tips on writing a resume that best showcases your unique skills and achievements. There is also extensive guidance on how to structure your resume to match the job description, and to reflect your experience levels to impress HR specialists and employers. Read on to access expert insights from Jobseeker that will help you create a winning biomedical engineering resume.
Key sections for a biomedical engineering resume
It's essential to include a few core sections in your biomedical engineering resume, while there are also a few optional sections.
If you're applying for an entry-level biomedical engineer role and have limited relevant experience, consider using a skills-based, or functional resume format. The layout emphasizes your skills and education above your work experience. Focus the content of your resume on your soft and transferable skills, and any hard or technical skills you've learned from your studies or career to date. You can also mention any relevant internships, training courses or voluntary roles you've taken on.
Work experience is typically the most important resume section for biomedical engineer applicants with some prior experience. As such, it's best to use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format. By using this resume format you can focus on showing how your experience has helped you develop the required skills for the job. Review the job description to understand which key skills and experience to focus on.
For senior biomedical engineer roles, you're likely to be competing against highly experienced candidates. Use a reverse-chronological resume format and focus on adding additional information that shows your credentials beyond your work experience. Senior resumes are often longer than resumes for junior roles. This is because you may choose to include extra sections, such as awards, professional memberships, publications, conferences or certifications on your resume.
The order you present these sections can vary according to your career stage, but it's still essential to include each of the following:
Resume Header and Personal Information
Your biomedical engineering resume header should contain your name and contact details. These include your email address and phone number. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can also add that, to give employers the chance to learn more about your skills and experience. It's not necessary to include a photo or any other personal information. Create a clear, well-structured header that acts as the headline of your resume. Use color accents and blocks to help this section stand out and catch the eye of the reader.
Only include professional, name-based email addresses in your resume header. If you have an old email address that uses nicknames, puns, references to your personal interests or anything else that could appear unprofessional, set up a new email just for your job applications. Finally, always double-check your contact details are correct and up-to-date before sending your resume.
Ava Hernandez
ava.hernandez@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
Bag End, Hobbiton, Shire, TX
linkedin․com/in/ava–hernandez123
Resume Summary
Following your resume header, write a resume summary to introduce yourself and showcase some of your key skills and achievements. Alternative names for this section are 'resume objective' and 'personal profile'. While a resume summary focuses on your career experience, a resume objective covers your ambitions and career plans. Always make sure your summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for biomedical engineer roles.
Alternatively, write a paragraph that concentrates on your career objectives and how this role fits with your wider ambitions and progression.
A strong resume summary focuses on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for biomedical engineer roles in a clear, quantifiable way. It also gives an insight into your personal qualities, to help the reader understand why you're a suitable candidate. You can see some positive examples of a resume summary for biomedical engineer jobs below.
Biomedical Engineering Specialist with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. Experienced in designing, testing, and maintaining medical devices and equipment. Proficient in regulatory compliance, technical troubleshooting, and project management. Strong background in collaborating with healthcare professionals to optimize biomedical systems and improve patient care. Skilled in data analysis, software tools, and laboratory techniques relevant to biomedical engineering. Dedicated to advancing healthcare technology through innovative solutions and continuous professional development
Biomedical engineering professional with some experience in working with medical devices and equipment. Involved in tasks related to rules, fixing issues, and managing projects. Worked with healthcare teams to make systems better for patients. Familiar with analyzing data, using software, and doing lab work related to the field. Interested in finding new ways to improve healthcare technology and learning more about the field
On the other hand, a resume summary can be ineffective if it lacks specific information about how your skills align with the job description, or fails to paint a picture of your unique qualities and talents. In the graphic above you can find some negative examples of how to write a resume summary.
Work Experience
Your resume work experience section is the chance to show your relevant previous jobs and career achievements as a biomedical engineer. Add each previous employment in reverse-chronological order. This means starting from your current or most recent role and working back in time from there. Include your job title, the company name, the location of the job and your dates of employment.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to biomedical engineer roles.
The best resume work experience sections focus only on the most relevant previous jobs, and link each bullet point back to a skill or experience listed in the job description. It's also critical to provide evidence that shows the value you added to each role in a quantifiable way, such as project outcomes, key performance indicators or feedback from customers, colleagues or managers. See the examples below for some ideas of what a great resume work experience looks like.
Biomedical Engineering Specialist, January 2022 - Present
NeuroBioTech Innovations, Garland
- Developed a biocompatible implant that reduced post-surgery recovery time by 30%
- Led a research team to create a novel drug delivery system, improving patient compliance by 40%
- Published 10 peer-reviewed articles on advanced imaging techniques, contributing significantly to diagnostic accuracy in cardiovascular diseases
Biomedical Engineering Specialist, January 2022 - Present
NeuroBioTech Innovations, Garland
- Worked on various projects in the biomedical field, contributing to team efforts and enhancing project outcomes
- Participated in research initiatives, collaborating with colleagues to achieve project goals and improve processes
- Engaged in publishing activities, sharing knowledge and insights with the scientific community
See above for some of the pitfalls to avoid with your resume work experience section. Less effective resume work experience sections might take a more vague, descriptive approach to previous jobs. They focus on responsibilities and everyday duties rather than referencing career achievements and the value you've added for previous employers.
Education and Qualifications
In this section list any educational qualifications or degrees that are relevant to biomedical engineer roles.
Typically, working as a biomedical engineer requires a university or college degree, which you'll need to list on your resume. If you're working in this sector, it's usually a good idea to highlight your Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering degree or other relevant qualifications. Focus on qualifications that showcase your tissue engineering techniques or medical device design.
Include any qualifications relevant to the role. For each, add the name and level of the award, the institution name, its location and your dates of study. Include bullet points to show any specialist modules you studied, awards or exceptional grades and achievements that can set you apart from other candidates. These will all contribute to creating a positive impression on employers.
Additionally, mentioning any leadership roles or any societies and clubs you participated in while studying shows proactivity and initiative.
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, 2017 - 2020
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Publications and Projects
Including resume sections for key projects and publications can really help your chances of success with biomedical engineer applications. These help to demonstrate your expert knowledge and your standing within the academic community. Include a list of major academic projects you've been involved in, as well as a list of key publications that add to the knowledge base of your discipline. These could include books, chapters, journal articles, magazine articles or newspaper articles.
The two most commonly-used citation styles for publications on a resume are the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA). Both include the same basic information, such as author name, year of publication, article title (if necessary), publication name, volume, issue, page numbers and publisher. While MLA is more common for humanities disciplines, APA is used more commonly for scientific and engineering disciplines. See an example of a suitable (APA-style) publication to include in your biomedical engineering resume below.
Ava Hernandez. How Biomedical Engineering is Shaping the Future of Science. Published in Career Insights, 2009.
Hard and Soft Skills
The skills section is one of the main ways to show employers you've got the skills required for biomedical engineer roles. Whether your skills include medical device design, team collaboration or any other useful skills for the role, you'll want to list them here. Again, include any skills that match those listed in the job description. Focus particularly on technical skills required for biomedical engineer jobs and transferable skills that show your qualities as a biomedical engineer.
Showcasing hard skills on your biomedical engineering resume
For your hard skills list, include any technical abilities or specific industry knowledge that's essential to working as a biomedical engineer. These could be skills gained through work experience or qualifications. Furthermore, your list of hard skills provides a strong indication to the reader of your expertise in biomedical engineer roles, and how well you'll fit into the position. Add up to five key hard skills that show you're an ideal candidate for the role. It can also be beneficial to add context to each skill, showing how you've used it to positive effect in your career to date.
The best resume hard skills sections focus on specific technical skills necessary for the job, showcasing skills that you have particular expertise in. There are some examples of valuable hard skills for a biomedical engineering resume below.
- Tissue engineering techniques
- Medical device design
- 3D CAD software
Listing soft skills on your biomedical engineering resume
In your list of soft skills, add any personal strengths, qualities or transferable skills that make you a good fit for the job. Soft skills are often less specific to different industries, but that doesn't make them any less important. Indeed, transferable skills are growing in importance in the modern world of work, so make sure you include several of these in your resume. You should generally look to include up to five soft or transferable skills that match the job description.
The strongest resume soft skills sections include a mix of skills that match your best personal strengths, and that reflect the skills listed in the job description. See below for some examples of effective soft skills for a biomedical engineering resume.
- Problem-solving ability
- Communication skills
- Team collaboration
Expert Tip:
Include sections for additional experience, such as teaching, leadership roles, or public outreach, to show well-roundedness beyond technical expertise. (1) Format your resume with consistent font styles and adequate white space for a polished, professional appearance. (2)
Certifications and Training
Under certifications and licenses, add any further qualifications that show you're a good fit for the job. These could be official licenses required for the job or certifications that improve your employability. Therefore, add any professional licenses or certifications, along with valid dates that show they're still valid.
Take a look at some example certifications for a biomedical engineering resume below:
- CBET Certification, 2022
- Six Sigma Certification, 2022
- PMP Certification, 2022
Optional Information
As well as the main sections of a biomedical engineering resume, optional sections can help you prove your credentials to employers. Add any of the sections below that help you showcase your key skills and experience.
Hobbies and Interests
Add any hobbies and interests that reinforce your credentials for the position. These are particularly useful for your resume if you're short of work experience and need to showcase a particular skill or experience. Only include hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and personal qualities, and add something different to your application.
Volunteering
Listing volunteer work is another useful way to prove your relevant experience for biomedical engineer roles. Add any voluntary roles, including your position, the name of the organization, the dates of your voluntary work and a brief explanation of your responsibilities and achievements.
References
It's not typical to include references in a biomedical engineering resume, but some employers might ask for them. Don't add references unless requested by the employer. Include a maximum of three professional references, being sure to check with your referees before including them in your resume.
Please contact me for a list of references.
Best strong verbs for your a biomedical engineering resume
Using strong action verbs in your work experience bullet points can make a stronger impression on employers and show the value you added to your previous roles. The suggested action verbs below will help the reader to understand your key qualities and the impact you made on the organization.
- Developed
- Designed
- Analyzed
- Implemented
- Tested
- Optimized
- Conducted
- Evaluated
- Integrated
- Collaborated
If you want to create a resume that stands out from the crowd, use Jobseeker's expert-designed resume templates. You can also find cover letter templates that work to get you noticed by employers.
Example resume for biomedical engineer applications
Now that you know everything that needs to go into your biomedical engineering resume, let's review an example resume that you can use as a guide when creating your own:
Bag End, Hobbiton, Shire, TX
•
ava.hernandez@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/ava–hernandez123
Biomedical Engineering Specialist with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and extensive experience in designing, testing, and maintaining medical devices. Proven track record of improving healthcare technology, ensuring regulatory compliance, and providing technical support to medical staff. Skilled in troubleshooting, project management, and implementing innovative biomedical solutions to enhance patient care and operational efficiency.
Biomedical Engineering Specialist
2020
-2022
BioInnovate Solutions Inc (Henderson)
- Developed a biocompatible implant reducing patient recovery time by 30%, now used in over 100 hospitals nationwide
- Led a team to design a portable diagnostic device, increasing early disease detection rates by 25% in rural areas
- Published groundbreaking research on tissue engineering, cited in over 200 academic papers and influencing new regenerative medicine techniques
Tissue engineering techniques
Medical device design
3D CAD software
Problem-solving ability
Communication skills
Team collaboration
CBET Certification
Six Sigma Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Key tips for a biomedical engineering resume
- Include your educational achievements, including any impressive grades. Focus on the most relevant qualifications for the role.
- Kick off your biomedical engineering resume with a strong summary or objective statement that highlights your key skills and achievements.
- Choose a resume format that's clear, professional and makes your resume as readable as possible. Pay particular attention to the font, line spacing, heading and margins to make your document as easy-to-read as possible for employers.
- Make your biomedical engineering resume short and to-the-point. A length of one page is ideal for junior roles, while two is acceptable for senior applications.
- Tailor your resume to the job you're applying for by consulting the job description and using keywords throughout your document.
- Don't use an email address with offensive, funny or casual connotations. Instead, create a professional email address based on your name.
- Don't add work experience that's unrelated to the role you're applying for, as it isn't likely to help your chances of success.
- Don't exaggerate, lie or hide details about yourself as these can all undermine your chances of success with biomedical engineer applications.
- Don't use passive language - avoid phrases like 'I was tasked with' and use strong action verbs instead.
- Don't include hobbies unless you're light on work experience and they help you prove a skill required for the job.
How to make your resume ATS compliant
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is just one of the tools employers and recruiters can use to streamline their hiring practices. This typically includes screening candidates by scanning and ranking their resumes based on their likely suitability for any vacancy. When you're writing your biomedical engineering resume, there are several things you can do to make sure your resume stands the best chance of passing the ATS stage.
Follow these guidelines to create the best ATS-friendly resume:
- Use a traditional resume layout, such as a reverse-chronological or functional format. This will mean your resume includes all the necessary sections, in the expected order.
- Use keywords throughout your resume that reflect the job description, so ATS resume scanners can recognize a strong connection between your skills, and those in the job description.
- Include clear headings that make it easy to identify each section of your resume. This will help any ATS software navigate your resume during the scanning process.
- Utilize a clean, clear resume design that helps make your content more readable. Use simple fonts and subtle color accents and design elements that don't detract from the written content.
- Keep your resume as concise as possible, to make it easier to read, and for ATS software to scan.
If you're looking for inspiration for your resume, discover our comprehensive resume examples and in-depth, expert career blog.
Frequently Asked Questions about a biomedical engineering resume
After writing your biomedical engineering resume, you'll want to write an accompanying cover letter that helps your application stand out.
Before you write your cover letter, think about whether you need a formal, professional letter or if a brief, less formal email might be more suitable.
If you choose to write a full cover letter, follow traditional letter-writing conventions surrounding greetings, sign-offs and use of professional language. The body of the cover letter tends to be three paragraphs. The first introduces yourself and the role you're applying for, giving reasons for your application. The second briefly covers your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to biomedical engineer roles. Finally, the third paragraph re-emphasizes your interest in the role and leaves a call to action, encouraging the employer to reach out to you.
If you want to impress employers with a professional cover letter, use Jobseeker's simple and beautiful cover letter templates.
There are plenty of ways to still make a positive impression with your biomedical engineering resume, even if you lack relevant work experience. Choose a resume structure that best showcases your key skills for the role, such as a functional format. This places your skills and education above your work experience. Utilize additional sections at the end of your resume to show you've got what it takes to do the job. These include hobbies and interests, voluntary roles, certifications and internships.
If you want to create a strong first impression in your biomedical engineer application, a resume headline can help. Resume headlines are also helpful for the ATS stage of the recruitment process, as they can help you reference the job title and one or two keywords for the role. Write a few words to set the tone for your resume, including the job title, your experience or track record and one or two key skills that make you stand out.
See below for an example of a well-constructed resume headline:
- Aspiring Biomedical Engineering Professional
- Innovative Biomedical Engineering Solutions Expert
- Senior Biomedical Engineering Specialist
The resume format that gives you the best chances of success depends on your experience levels, as well as the type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. If you don't have much experience, for example if you're applying for a graduate role or changing careers, you might consider a functional resume format. This focuses on your skills and education above your work experience. If, however, you have experience in your chosen profession, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format might be the way to go. This showcases your relevant skills and achievements in your work experience section.
Takeaways for a winning biomedical engineering resume
An effective resume is a concise, professional summary of your relevant skills and career achievements, showcased through a chronology of your career history. Pick a resume format that matches your experience levels, and tailor the content of your resume to reflect the details of the job description.
Jobseeker has a wealth of resume tools, including resume templates and examples, to help you create a winning job application. Sign up today to get started. Whatever job you're applying for, a professional cover letter can make all the difference to your chances. Use Jobseeker's HR-approved tools and cover letter examples to inspire your applications.
Sources:
(1) Resumes & Cover Letters for PhD Students, Hardvard University: https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/161/2024/08/2024-GSAS_phd_resume_cover_letters-1.pdf
(2) Guide to Résumés and Curricula Vitae, National Institutes of Health: https://www.training.nih.gov/documents/16/Guide_to_Resumes_and_Curricula_Vitae.pdf
