How to Start Building Your Resume

Before we start writing anything, let’s make sure you’ve got the right foundation in place.

When I help biostatisticians one-on-one, this is always the first step: setting up a simple, professional, and shareable resume that makes editing, reviewing, and applying effortless.

For this course, you’ll be working in Google Docs (unless you have a strong preference for something else).
Why Google Docs? It’s:

• Easy to update and share during networking

• Mobile-friendly for quick tweaks

• Simple to export as a PDF or Word doc for applications

Step-by-Step: Your Resume Setup

✅ Make a Copy of the Template

Start by saving your own version of the resume template provided here.
Give it a professional, searchable file name—something like: John_Tukey_Resume or JSmith_Biostatistics_Resume_2025

Avoid names like “resume_final_final_revised” —you’ll thank yourself later.

✅ Enter Your Contact Info

At the very top of your resume, include:

• Your full name (plus credentials like MPH, PhD if applicable)

• Email address (hyperlinked)

• Phone number (optional but encouraged—just expect a few spam calls if uploading to job boards)

• LinkedIn profile (use a custom URL if you’ve got one)

• GitHub profile (if it contains relevant work)

💡 Pro tip: Use Cmd+K or Ctrl+K to hyperlink your email, LinkedIn, and GitHub—this is cleaner and more professional than plain text.

✅ Keep the Format Clean

Don’t start adding color, graphics, columns, or custom fonts.

The resume template I’ve provided has been battle-tested for clarity, scannability, and cross-device readability.
It works well for both ATS systems and human eyes.

Your goal is not to “stand out” with design. In data-heavy roles, standing out comes from clarity and relevance—not fancy formatting.

✅ Consistency Builds Trust

This is a small detail—but it matters more than you think.

Every bullet point should align. Font sizes should be consistent.
Margins, line spacing, section headers—all clean and uniform.

Hiring managers notice this (even if they can’t articulate it). A tidy resume signals that you care about quality and detail—both essential traits for biostatistics roles.

✅ Resume Length

Let’s get real about length:

• Ideal: 1 page

• Acceptable: 2 pages (if you’ve got substantial relevant experience)

• Avoid: 3+ pages—these are rarely read all the way through and tend to feel unfocused

When in doubt, trim the fat. No one hires because your resume was long—they hire because it was relevant.

💡 Action Step: Set Up Your Resume Document
Open Google Docs and make a copy of the course resume template.
Then:

1. Rename the file with your full name

2. Fill in your contact info at the top (with clean hyperlinks)

3. Make sure the layout looks clean, centered, and uniform

We’ll build the rest of the resume in future lessons—but this simple setup step gives you a strong, professional starting point.