Identify Your Core Skills (The Reverse Engineering Method)

Here’s where your resume stops being generic—and starts getting results.

When I was first applying to biostat jobs, I assumed that listing every statistical method I knew would show how well-rounded I was. But what actually worked was focusing on the right skills—the ones employers were actively looking for. That’s where Reverse Engineering comes in.

This method is simple but powerful:
You’ll analyze real job descriptions to figure out exactly which skills your target companies want to see.

If you already did this exercise in an earlier section—awesome. You can move ahead.
But if not, don’t skip this. It’s the foundation of a high-performing, high-conversion resume.

Step-by-Step: Reverse Engineering a Job Description

✅ Choose 2–3 Job Postings

Find current listings that are in your target area—whether that’s pharma, biotech, research consulting, or public health. These don’t need to be your dream jobs, but they should be representative of the kind of roles you want.

✅ Scan for Patterns

Focus on the “Responsibilities” and “Qualifications” sections.
Ask yourself:

• Which skills are listed at the top?

• What appears more than once?

• Are there any software, techniques, or project types that keep showing up?

Here’s a quick example:

Sample job listing:

• “Design and analyze Phase II and III clinical trials.”

• “Collaborate with cross-functional teams (data managers, clinicians, programmers).”

• “Use R, SAS, and SQL for data analysis.”

From that, you’d extract:

• Clinical trial design

• Cross-functional collaboration

• Statistical programming (R/SAS/SQL)

Repeat this across 2–3 listings and look for overlap.

✅ Build Your “Standout Seven”

Once you’ve reviewed a few postings, write down your 4–6 most in-demand skills. These will form the foundation of your:

• Skills section

• Bullet points in Experience

• LinkedIn summary

• Project and publication descriptions

Here’s a sample “Standout Seven” for a biostatistics role in pharma:

1. Clinical trial design & protocol development

2. R programming for statistical modeling

3. Regulatory reporting (CDISC, ADaM, FDA submissions)

4. Collaboration with cross-functional teams

5. Data visualization (e.g., ggplot2, Shiny)

6. Survival analysis and longitudinal modeling

7. Statistical programming in SAS

You don’t need to force all of these into one resume. But you should absolutely highlight them—especially the ones that show up across multiple job descriptions.

❗Don’t Have One of the Critical Skills?

That’s not a dead end—it’s a roadmap.

If you notice that “CDISC” or “Shiny dashboards” keeps appearing but you’ve never used them, that’s your sign to take action.
Consider a short project, an online course, or even a self-directed case study that helps you build and showcase that skill.

💡 Action Step: Extract Your Top Skills
Find 2–3 job descriptions that align with roles you’re targeting.
Scan the responsibilities and qualifications, then:

1. Identify the most frequently mentioned skills

2. Write down your personal “Standout Seven”

3. Save these—they’ll guide how you write your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile

This is where your resume shifts from generic to strategic. You’re no longer writing a resume for yourself—you’re writing it for the person hiring you.