Boost Your Biostatistics Resume with Powerful Bullet Points

Now that you’ve got the basics of your resume down, it’s time to take it to the next level. Powerful bullet points are key to showcasing your impact and making your resume stand out.

Start with 3-5 Key Bullet Points Per Job

Each role should have a few strong bullet points (3-5 is a good number) to highlight your most significant accomplishments. If you’ve been in a role for many years, it might take more, but remember to focus on quality over quantity. The aim is to clearly demonstrate your skills and achievements.

Align Your Skills with Your Job Target

When writing your bullet points, always align them with the skills the employer is seeking. Think back to your “Standout Seven” — the core competencies that are most relevant to the positions you’re targeting. These might include:

• Data analysis

• Statistical modeling

• Programming (e.g., R, SAS)

• Research design

• Clinical trial design

• Cross-functional collaboration

Incorporate at least 4 of these high-priority skills into your bullet points for each role. If you can’t fit all of them, make sure the most important ones are prominently displayed.

Crafting Your Bullet Points: The Action Verb + Task + Result Formula

The most effective bullet points follow a simple formula: Action Verb + Task + Result. This keeps your bullet points concise, impactful, and results-oriented.

For example:

• Weak: “Helped analyze data from a clinical study.”

• Stronger: “Performed multivariate logistic regression using SAS on a Phase III oncology trial dataset with over 2,000 subjects, resulting in identification of 3 statistically significant biomarkers.”

Here’s why the second version is better:

• Action verb: “Performed” is strong and direct.

• Task: Describes what you did (logistic regression, Phase III oncology trial dataset).

• Result: Shows what you achieved (identified 3 significant biomarkers).

This format makes it clear not just what you did, but how your work made an impact.

Include Recognizable Brands, Tools, and Projects

Incorporating well-known brands, tools, and projects can make your resume stand out to both ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) and hiring managers. This also helps recruiters immediately see your experience with industry-standard tools and clients.

Tools and Technologies:

• Programming: R, SAS, Python, STATA, SQL

• Databases: CDISC, SDTM, Databricks, MarketScan

• Work Types: Phase I–IV trials, real-world evidence (RWE), observational studies, EMR/EHR data

Notable Employers or Collaborators:

• NIH, FDA, Pfizer, Roche, Merck, and CROs like ICON, IQVIA

If you’ve worked with any of these tools, brands, or in these areas, mention them in your bullet points.

For example:

• “Led statistical analysis for a Phase III trial for Pfizer, identifying critical biomarkers using R.”

This immediately shows you have relevant experience with big-name players and tools that hiring managers recognize.

Quantify Everything You Can

Numbers are a biostatistician’s best friend. Including quantifiable metrics in your resume not only demonstrates your technical skills but also shows the impact you made.

Think about:

• Size of datasets (e.g., 10,000+ patient records)

• Number of studies or trials you supported

• Speed or accuracy improvements (e.g., reduced processing time by 25%)

• Impact (e.g., identified trends contributing to a 15% reduction in adverse event reporting errors)

For example:

• “Analyzed clinical trial data from 5,000+ patients, resulting in a 20% improvement in data accuracy.”

• “Developed a statistical model in SAS that reduced processing time by 30%, saving the team 200+ hours per quarter.”

These numbers instantly show that you don’t just complete tasks—you add value and improve processes.

Why Numbers Matter

In biostatistics, numbers are everything. Hiring managers want to see evidence that you can handle data and that your work has tangible outcomes. Including metrics on your resume does just that. It answers key questions such as:

• How much did you improve a process?

• How many studies or trials did you contribute to?

• What was the impact of the models or analyses you developed?

For example, you could mention:

• How many projects you worked on and their outcomes.

• If you streamlined processes to save time or money.

• How your statistical analyses directly impacted the results of clinical trials.

This type of information strengthens your resume by illustrating not just what you did, but the measurable impact you had.

Example of a Strong Bullet Point:

• Weak: “Analyzed clinical trial data for several studies.”

• Stronger: “Led data analysis for 5+ clinical trials (Phase II–III), identifying key trends that informed regulatory submissions to the FDA.”

This second version uses an action verb (“led”), specifies the types of trials (Phase II–III), includes the number of trials, and mentions a result (informing regulatory submissions to the FDA).

💡Action Step: Update Your Bullet Points

1. Review your past roles and write 3-5 bullet points for each one, following the formula: Action Verb + Task + Result.

2. Incorporate numbers wherever possible: number of patients, datasets, studies, or percentage improvements.

3. Align your skills with the job descriptions you’re targeting. Make sure to incorporate your Standout Seven skills throughout your resume.

By focusing on results, quantifying your achievements, and showcasing your skills with powerful bullet points, you will create a resume that not only highlights your expertise but also shows how you’ve made a measurable difference in each role.