Lab Technician CV Example
Successfully pursuing a career as a lab technician requires a CV that gives you the edge over other candidates and shows your skills and achievements in context. You will need to focus on the most relevant and essential specialist skills for the role that match your career experience, including preparing samples for analysis and operating lab equipment. In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn the steps to producing a lab technician CV that puts you in pole position to progress to the interview stage.
A meticulously crafted, tailored lab technician CV gives your application the best chance of passing the ATS screening stage, impressing the hiring manager and progressing to the interview stage. Let’s take a closer look at the key parts of a CV and how to develop them for maximum impact.
Main lab technician CV sections
Your lab technician CV writing strategy may vary significantly according to numerous factors, such as your previous experience, your seniority and the requirements in the job description.
For an entry-level CV, you might wish to choose a format that doesn't place too much emphasis on your prior work experience. If you don't have too much relevant experience in the workplace, you can focus more on your skills and qualifications instead. Therefore, if you're just starting out in your career, a functional, or skills-based, CV format might be the best option for you. This structure emphasises your skills and education sections over your work experience. You can also draw on optional sections such as volunteering, certifications and training and hobbies and interests to showcase your skills.
Once you've got some relevant work experience under your belt, you'll want your CV to focus on this as much as possible, and show how you've developed your skills and put them to good use in the workplace. Employers will be keen to see the impact you've had in other roles, and for other organisations. In this case, opt for a traditional, reverse-chronological CV to showcase your work experience in the best possible way. List your most recent and relevant jobs first and use bullet points to demonstrate your skills and the impact they've made.
As a senior candidate with a wealth of relevant experience, it's important that your CV showcases your reputation within your industry. Employers will be looking for candidates with the expertise, industry standing and track record to lead a team or organisation. Therefore, you'll want to create a detailed CV that follows the traditional, reverse-chronological format and showcase the depth of your experience and your career progression. You could also include professional memberships, publications, awards and key achievements to show your expertise.
However, no matter where you are in your career, a lab technician CV must present a clear, compelling narrative of your professional journey. To help you build that story, we’ll now break down the document piece-by-piece—from the initial contact header to your most significant career milestones.
CV Header
Start your lab technician CV with a professional-looking header that includes all the relevant contact information. This usually includes your name, your email address, your phone number and your location, but not your full address. Additionally, add your LinkedIn profile, if this is in use and up-to-date. A well-utilised LinkedIn profile can give further information to the reader about your skills, experience, industry knowledge and career achievements.
For UK applications, it's not usually a good idea to add a personal photo or any other personal details, such as your age, gender, nationality or ethnicity. These can risk introducing bias to the selection process and, as such, are often discouraged in job adverts under the terms of the Equality Act 2010.
Angela Peterson
angela-peterson@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
Birmingham
linkedin․com/in/angela–peterson–123
CV Objective
Underneath your contact information, write a brief CV summary or CV objective to introduce yourself and highlight a few key skills and qualities. This can help the employer to quickly form a first impression on your suitability for the lab technician role. While the CV summary focuses on your key skills and achievements, a CV objective highlights your career ambitions, making it more suitable for junior candidates.
In your summary or objective, write up to three sentences outlining your key skills, unique personal qualities and career achievements or ambitions, taking care to always reflect the requirements listed in the job description.
An effective CV summary will focus on a few of the key skills required for the role and show how you've put them to good use in your career to date. You'll want to give the reader a good impression of your unique qualities and briefly provide evidence of their impact in previous roles. Below you'll find an example of a strong lab technician CV summary.
Engaging example:
Dedicated laboratory technician with five years’ experience and a BSc in Biomedical Science. Implemented automation protocols that reduced sample processing time by 30%. Maintained 99% accuracy in 10,000+ assays.
Worst practice example:
Dedicated lab technician with a strong academic background and solid experience in implementing efficient procedures and ensuring reliable sample handling and accurate analysis within a supportive and collaborative laboratory environment.
Above is an example of CV summary that doesn't follow best practice, with some subtle shortcomings and failings. There are several factors that could make your summary less engaging. These include using long, poorly-structured sentences, failing to add evidence of your impact, being too generic with the skills you mention and not adapting your CV summary to specifically respond to the job description.
Work History
As with most CVs, your lab technician CV work experience section tends to be the most vital part of your application. Employers tend to look to this section for evidence of how you've developed useful and relevant skills, and used them to add value for previous employers. Remember, it's essential to tailor this section to match the job description, including keywords and phrases to help employers see how you'll fit the role, and how you might put the required skills to good use in the future.
This section should contain a list of your most relevant previous jobs in the last 10 or 15 years. Add the job title, the name of the employer, its location and your dates of employment. Include detail in bullet points, outlining the skills you used in the role and the impact they made.
What differentiates one CV work experience section from all the others is the use of action verbs and quantifiable evidence in your bullet points. It should showcase how your actions led to positive outcomes for the employer, and show a progression in your skills throughout your career. Take a look at an example of a strong lab technician CV work experience section below.
Engaging example:
Laboratory Technician, January 2023 - Present
Hawthorne Analytical Services, Manchester
- Improved accuracy of diagnostic results by implementing rigorous calibration procedures across 200+ instruments.
- Reduced sample contamination incidents by 40% through strict adherence to aseptic techniques and regular laboratory audits.
- Streamlined inventory management, cutting reagent shortage occurrences by 50% and lowering operational costs significantly.
Worst practice example:
Laboratory Technician, January 2023 - Present
Hawthorne Analytical Services, Manchester
- Conducted routine laboratory assays and testing to support research projects.
- Assisted with equipment maintenance and calibration to maintain operational functionality.
- Collaborated with colleagues to streamline laboratory processes and improve workflow.
Above you can see an example of what not to do with your lab technician CV work experience section. A less-engaging work experience section might include irrelevant roles or jobs from a long time ago, and generic information that fails to address the requirements of the job description. It could also lack evidence to support the claims made in the bullet points.
Education
Your education section is the chance to list your most recent and highest qualifications, and anything that's relevant or required for the role.
Lab technician jobs tend to require a relevant university degree just to be eligible for the role, so you'll want to showcase this in your CV. If you have a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science or another related degree that makes you an eligible candidate for the position, add it to your CV. You could also add other degrees or qualifications that highlight your key skills, like LIMS software proficiency or PCR amplification methods.
Creating the education section of your CV means selecting the most relevant and highest qualifications, and listing them in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent achievements and working back from there. Add the name and level of the award, the institution, its location and your dates of study or graduation. If you have space or if you particularly want to emphasise your qualifications, you could add one or two bullet points under each entry, highlighting specialist areas of study, projects you worked on, awards you won or societies you were a member of.
You might also wish to add specialist qualifications, certifications or licences that are required for the role. If you add any of these, include the expiry date, if the qualification requires renewal in the future.
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science, 2018 - 2021
University of Surrey, Guildford
Key Skills
Your CV's skills section CV's skills section is a great place to showcase some of the key skills necessary for the role. Check the job description to understand which skills are most essential, and provide a combination of hard and soft skills, reserving space to include some unique qualities that can help you to stand out from the competition. For a lab technician CV, you'll want to focus on the most relevant skills for the role that match your skill set, including attention to detail and microscopy image acquisition, to catch the reader's attention and show you're qualified for the lab technician position.
Hard Skills
Hard skills are the specialist technical skills that are essential for carrying out the duties of the role. They might be developed through study, on-the-job training or experience in the industry, and some hard skills may require a licence or certification. For lab technician positions, hard skills that match your abilities, such as mass spectrometry operation, and microscopy image acquisition tend to be valued by recruiters and hiring managers. After checking the job description, include a list of four or five key hard skills in your CV to confirm that you have the necessary expertise for the role.
The best hard skills section would be based around skills listed as 'essential' or 'required' in the job description. To give yourself the best chance of success, you'll want your strongest skills to match closely with those most desired by the employer, and your hard skills list should reflect this.
Review the examples below to understand which skills are often added to the hard skills section of a lab technician CV.
- PCR amplification methods
- Mass spectrometry operation
- Microscopy image acquisition
Soft Skills
Soft skills are distinct from hard skills and tend to reflect your inherent personal qualities and strengths. These are often more transferable to different roles, and help the reader understand your working style, and your likely fit to the team and the organisational culture. As a result of rapid technological changes to modern ways of working, soft skills are becoming more and more valuable to employers. Soft skills can also be particularly useful for junior or entry-level roles where candidates haven't had the time or career experience to develop hard skills and notable achievements.
Similar to your hard skills section, it's best to first review the job description to know which soft skills to focus on in your lab technician CV. You'll want to include a combination of soft skills that you can provide evidence for throughout your CV. Create a list of four or five transferable skills, combining the most essential skills from the job description with the skills that help you to stand out as a unique and compelling candidate for the position.
Explore the examples below to identify soft skills commonly presented in a lab technician CV.
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Attention to detail
Foreign Languages
If you speak any languages in addition to your mother tongue, you might want to include them in your lab technician CV as a languages section. These can be valuable for your application, whether languages are specified as a requirement in the job description or not. Under this section, list any foreign languages you speak to a professional standard, with an indicator of your competency level for each.
The methods for indicating your foreign language skills on your CV include assigning a basic descriptive word, such as:
- English: Fluent
- Spanish: Intermediate
Alternatively, use an internationally recognised framework for languages, such as the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). This gives your language skills a standardised competence indicator, as follows:
- A1: Beginner
- A2: Elementary
- B1: Intermediate
- B2: Upper intermediate
- C1: Advanced
- C2: Proficiency
Certifications and Licences
To showcase additional qualifications and training beyond the basic requirements for the role, consider adding a certifications section to your CV. If you've been proactive in pursuing professional development opportunities throughout your career, it's worth showcasing them. Not only do they make you more qualified, they also show a proactive and motivated mindset. In addition, some roles require specific licences or training just to be eligible for the job, making the certifications section more important. This might include technical roles or positions which require the operation of specialist software, equipment or machinery.
Here is a list of some key certifications and licences that can be particularly useful for lab technician applications:
- Certified Medical Laboratory Technician, 2023
- Phlebotomy Technician Certification Course, 2023
- Good Laboratory Practice Training, 2023
Specialist Insight:
Barnet Council shows that recruiters spend only 8.8 seconds reviewing a CV, so a concise personal statement is essential to grab attention immediately. (1)
Additional Sections
Including optional sections in addition to the core sections of your lab technician CV can help you to show employers you're a strong candidate for the job. If you're struggling to show all the necessary skills for the job through your work experience or other core sections, optional sections can give your CV the boost it needs to progress you to the interview stage. This could be particularly helpful for entry-level candidates or career changers.
You’ll find more in-depth guidance on structuring your CV in our career resources, designed to help you present your skills as effectively as possible.
Hobbies and Interests
Hobbies and interests are a legitimate way to showcase your skills, if you have any hobbies relevant to the role. In addition, this section is the ideal way to show aspects of your personality that might not otherwise shine through in your CV, helping to offer a point of difference compared to other candidates. However, it's important to only mention hobbies and interests that are relevant, or related to, the role you're applying for. If your hobbies don't help you to show skills required for the role, that are missing elsewhere in your CV, it's best to leave this section out.
Career Achievements
Compiling your key career achievements into a single list is an effective way of making your CV more readable at a glance. Add any awards you've won or career milestones you've reached, so employers can easily see the impact you've made in your career to date.
Volunteer Roles
Another alternative to showcasing your skills and experience through work experience is by adding a volunteering section. This can give you a valuable showcase of your skills, particularly if you're a junior candidate or career changer without much relevant work experience. Structure your volunteering section the same as your work experience section.
Add your job title or the name of the volunteer role, the organisation, its location and the dates you volunteered. Also add some bullet points outlining your skills and experience in the role, as well as any key achievements.
Data Insight:
Hiring managers spend an average of 30 seconds reviewing a CV to assess its likely fit for the role, so it's essential to clearly highlight your skills, experience, and evidence of your achievements. (2)
Best action words for a lab technician CV
Using strong action verbs in your work experience bullet points gives you the opportunity to show how you've applied skills to good effect in previous roles. Starting each bullet point with an action verb, such as 'delivered', 'collaborated' or 'developed' also allows you to show your key skills and qualities in a way that's easily identifiable for the reader. Remember, it's essential to evidence any action verbs you add to your work experience. This will help show your achievements and the impact you made in previous roles. Use past tense for action verbs that describe previous roles, and present tense for your current position.
- Analyse
- Calibrate
- Operate
- Record
- Document
- Maintain
- Prepare
- Test
- Inspect
- Validate
Lab technician CV sample
Now you know how to create a lab technician CV for maximum impact, take a look below at this full, completed example:
Birmingham
•
angela-peterson@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/angela–peterson–123
Lab technician with five years’ experience in clinical diagnostics and research. Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science skilled in assays. Increased sample throughput by 30% while maintaining quality control.
Laboratory assistant
2023
-2026
GlaxoSmithKline (London)
- Optimised sample processing workflow, reducing turnaround time by 30% and improving data accuracy.
- Maintained laboratory equipment schedules and performed preventive maintenance, decreasing equipment failures by 25% over 12 months.
- Designed a reagent tracking system, enhancing inventory control and reducing stock discrepancies to under 5%.
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science
2018
-2021
King’s College London (London)
PCR amplification methods
Mass spectrometry operation
Microscopy image acquisition
Communication
Teamwork
Attention to detail
Certified Medical Laboratory Technician
Phlebotomy Technician Certification Course
English - Native
French - Advanced
If you're not sure what your one-page, finalised CV design might look like, check out our examples.
Best practice and common mistakes for your lab technician CV
Tips to follow
- Add a dedicated skills section, including a summary of your key hard and soft skills that also reflect the job description.
- Proofread your CV thoroughly before sending, helping you avoid any errors in spelling and grammar that could harm your chances of success.
- List your qualifications in a dedicated education section, including grades and awards if these can help set you apart from other candidates (particularly for junior candidates).
- Tailor your CV, matching it to the key skills and experience described in the job description, while telling a unique story about your best qualities and achievements.
- Use a clear, professional CV format with a standard font, consistent line spacing and headings that stand out, for maximum readability.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Don't design your CV with overly complex or elaborate formatting that can make it difficult to read or less likely to pass the ATS stage.
- Don't use unnecessary industry jargon or acronyms that may alienate the reader, when simple, straightforward language will do the job.
- Don't focus on irrelevant work experience that takes up valuable space and won't improve your chances of getting the job.
- Don't forget to update your contact information to ensure it's current, including keeping your LinkedIn profile updated with your latest career details.
- Don't use an email address that could be considered inappropriate, such as one that includes informal language or nicknames. If necessary, create an email address for your applications, based on your name, initials and/or profession.
A courteous, professional cover letter can make all the difference to your job applications. Our cover letter templates have been designed by experts to help you make the best impression with hiring managers.
Guide to CV ATS optimisation
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are now commonly used by employers, to help them manage the recruitment process. One of the main functions of ATS software is the scanning and ranking of CVs according to their likely suitability for the role. This saves recruiters and hiring managers the time and effort of reading every CV in detail. With many vacancies often receiving hundreds of applications, ATS software can really relieve the burden on hiring teams and free them up to focus only on the most suitable candidates.
With ATS apps becoming more prominent, it's essential for candidates to optimise their CVs to increase their chances of passing the initial screening stage. You can read a list of the top tips for ATS optimisation below:
- Include keywords and phrases that mirror the job description, increasing your chances of ranking highly in the ATS screening stage.
- Use clear, standard CV headings that are easily recognisable, such as 'work experience', 'education' and 'skills'.
- Choose a simple, straightforward CV layout with clear, consistent formatting, that avoids text boxes, graphics or other special design elements, as these can make your CV harder to scan.
- Select a font that can enhance the readability of your CV, such as popular serif and sans serif fonts, with size 10 to 12 for body text and 14 to 16 for headings.
- Use bullet points throughout your CV in place of full sentences. This serves a few purposes, reducing the overall length, helping keywords stand out and making it overall more scannable by ATS apps.
You might feel there are a lot of steps to creating an ATS-compatible lab technician CV, but with just a few small changes, you can ensure your CV passes this stage. Use one of our ATS-compatible CV templates, which are designed by experts to give you the best chances of success.
If you want to impress recruiters with your CV, use Jobseeker's ready-made CV templates, which are HR-approved for maximum chances of success.
Lab technician CV FAQs
How do I create a lab technician cover letter to go with my CV?
An engaging and gently persuasive cover letter can enhance your chances of success with your job applications. Opt for a formal, professional letter format and choose a cover letter template with a design consistent with your CV.
The typical cover letter includes three key sections of content. Firstly, introduce yourself, confirm the role you're applying for and explain why you're applying for the position. Next, outline some relevant key skills and achievements from your career without repeating the details in your CV. Finally, express your gratitude to the employer for considering your application and leave a call to action that encourages them to contact you for an interview, or to establish dialogue.
As an alternative to the traditional cover letter, you may wish to send your application via email with a simple cover note. This includes a short introduction to yourself, confirms the role you're applying for and directs the reader towards the attached CV. With email cover notes, you don't need to follow full letter-writing conventions and can be less formal in your tone. Always include your contact details in your sign-off or email footer.
Jobseeker's cover letter examples for lab technician roles and other biology industry positions can provide valuable insights from HR specialists on how to craft the most persuasive cover letter.
How do I write an engaging lab technician CV without experience?
Even if you're lacking relevant work experience, you can still write a lab technician CV that impresses employers.
Opt for a CV structure that focuses more on your relevant skills than your work experience, such as a functional CV format. The order of this CV layout places the skills section first after your CV summary, before education, with work experience taking less priority.
If you're applying for your first job, focusing on your soft and transferable skills can help you to create a strong lab technician CV. Employers will likely be looking for candidates who can show they have well-developed soft skills for learning and adapting to a new role and environment.
How do you write an impactful lab technician CV headline?
A CV headline can be an effective way of introducing yourself in your CV and setting the tone, so the reader can quickly identify whether you're likely to be a good fit for the role.
Aim for a short, snappy sentence that includes the job title and introduces one of your strongest, most relevant skills or qualities.
For an impactful CV headline, focus on the most critical keywords and phrases from the job description, as this will mark you out as a strong fit for the role and give you a strong ranking in the ATS screening stage.
See these examples to understand best practice for writing a CV headline for different experience levels:
- Junior Laboratory Technician Seeking Growth
- Experienced Laboratory Technician Demonstrating Precision
- Senior Laboratory Technician with Expertise
What's the best CV format for a lab technician CV in 2026?
The best CV format for a lab technician CV in 2026 depends on both your experience levels, and the role you're applying for, including its level, the company and industry norms.
Typically, the most effective CV format for most candidates is a standard reverse-chronological structure that prioritises your work experience section as a showcase of your skills and career achievements.
Conversely, for candidates without relevant work experience (such as recent graduates or career changers), a functional format can be beneficial, as this emphasises skills and qualifications over work experience.
Key takeaways for your lab technician CV
To grab the attention of the reader with your CV, tailor it to the exact specifications of the job description, incorporating keywords and phrases that match the employer's requirements. Choose the most fitting CV format for your experience level, and focus on showcasing how you've developed the necessary skills for the role, and used them to positive effect in previous roles.
Finally, building your CV using Jobseeker's HR-approved CV templates can help to catch the eye of recruiters and hiring managers, making your application stand out and giving you the best chance of gaining your dream job.
Sources:
- Barnet Council (UK local government), Recruitment tips: How to write a supporting statement
- Jobseeker, Recruitment Statistics
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