Six Second Resume Test: Make Your Biotech Resume Survive the Scan

Does your biotech resume pass the six-second test? That's all the time most recruiters spend deciding who gets rejected and who deserves more attention.

In this episode, we show you how to build a resume first page that survives the scan and wins interviews in today's biotech job market.

Carina breaks down exactly what needs to go at the very top of your resume so a busy recruiter can see you meet the bar in just a few seconds. Drawing on real applicant tracking system data and years of biotech recruiting experience, you’ll learn how to design a sharp, focused top section that works in the real world.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Use the job title and language from the job description to create a clear one-line headline
• Handle education, location, and work authorization without wasting valuable space
• Build a tight highlight reel that acts like a movie trailer for your career, not a generic skills dump
• Choose and place the right keywords so you work with, not against, applicant tracking systems
• Avoid long paragraphs and formatting choices that backfire during recruiter scans

Whether you’re a scientist, operations professional, or business hire moving into biotech, this episode will help you avoid outdated advice and turn the top of your resume into a powerful hook instead of a missed opportunity.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 The six-second recruiter test and the biotech resume

01:00 Why traditional advice fails modern biotech resume scans

02:30 How recruiters actually run a resume scan in applicant tracking systems

03:30 Above the fold and why the top of a biotech resume matters

04:15 Where degree and work authorization live on a biotech resume

05:00 Writing a sharp, tailored biotech resume headline

05:45 Using job description language in a way that passes the resume scan

06:30 Turning experience into a professional highlights reel on your biotech resume

07:30 Why long skills lists hurt you during a quick resume scan

08:00 Passing the six-second resume scan and getting to the shortlist