Crafting an outstanding social scientist resume is no small task. Social scientists understand the importance of first impressions better than most. With our guide, you'll be able to create a resume that catches any recruiter's attention. So let's explore how to do just that with our tips, examples, and templates.

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 Keep reading to learn how to:

• Choose the proper resume format for the position
• Showcase notable accomplishments in your resume summary
• Include technical and interpersonal social scientist skills
• Describe quantifiable details of your work experience
• List your social scientist education accurately and completely
• Access top resources for job-seeking social scientists

Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.

1. Choose the proper format for your scientist resume

Earning a position as a social scientist is no easy feat – and you need a resume format that reflects the hard work you put in to get here.

The two best formats when writing a social scientist resume are the reverse-chronological resume and the Curriculum Vitae.

The reverse-chronological resume is a one-page format that focuses mainly on your work history and experience. Listing your most recent position first, this format uses descriptive and concise bullet points to explain your responsibilities and accomplishments. This type of resume can be used by all levels of professionals, but often works best for those applying to entry to mid-level positions.

The Curriculum Vitae – or CV – is a longer-form resume format that provides in-depth detail for every section of the document. This long-form resume is the ideal choice when applying to high-level roles in formal science and academia.

Choose your preferred template and make your resume shine.

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2. Showcase notable accomplishments in your social scientist resume summary

Why is this incorrect?

Whenever you write a resume summary, you want to be as specific as you possibly can in your statement. This applicant should provide far greater detail on their “expansive academic background and teaching history,” as well as provide greater context around the type of research they have specialized in.

Why is this correct?

In this example, the applicant gives details that are much more impressive to employers to their specificity. Rather than stating they have an extensive academic history, the applicant simply states that they are a Ph.D. candidate at Yale University. They replace the vague statement about being skilled at research with an example of a major study they conducted. Overall, this summary offers much better context and eye-catching details.

3. Include the best technical and interpersonal social scientist skills

Whenever you write a resume, it is important to show employers that you possess a solid set of both technical and interpersonal skills.

Technical skills refer to your learned abilities gained through education and training, such as the ability to conduct an experiment or analyze data. Interpersonal skills, on the other hand, refer to your ability to interact with other people and the world around you – think communication and collaboration.

Both of these types of skills are crucial for Social Scientists to have. Thus, you should strive to include a variety of both on your resume.

Here are 10 ideas for both technical and interpersonal skills to include on a social scientist resume:

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4. Describe quantifiable details in your social scientist work experience section

The work experience section of your resume is where you will go into in-depth – but still concise – detail about your previous work responsibilities and accomplishments.

When writing your work experience entries, keep in mind how visually organized the information is. Avoid writing large, chunky paragraphs – instead, use bullet points and short sentences to create your descriptions.

5. List your social scientist education accurately and completely

To become a professional social scientist, you will generally need a master’s degree or a Ph.D. in a related field including psychology, sociology, or other scientifically-backed social studies.

If you have opted to use a Curriculum Vitae format, you will need to take extra care to ensure the section is adequately detailed and in-depth. For one-page resumes, however, it is best to keep the education section concise.

The vital information needed within any education section on a resume includes:

• The name(s) of your degree(s)
• The university or universities you attended
• Your date(s) of graduation

Always make sure to list your highest degree first and work chronologically backward from there!

6. Top resources for job-seeking social scientists

The field of social science is exciting and dynamic. But also highly competitive. If you don't know where to start searching for job opportunities, you can start by looking at the resources below: 

• Industry-specific websites: Explore platforms like the Social Science Research Network (SSRN), and the Social Science Space for research opportunities, and professional development resources tailored to social scientists.
• Academic job boards: Utilize specialized job boards such as HigherEdJobs, Jobs.ac, and ResearchGate Jobs for academic positions in sociology, political science, psychology, and other social science fields.
• Government agencies: Check the websites of government agencies such as the European Social Survey (ESS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for research, policy, and advocacy roles relevant to social scientists.
• Professional associations: Based on your specialization and location, you can join associations like the American Sociological Association (ASA), the British Psychological Society (BPS) or the International Society for Political Psychology (ISPP) to access networking events, conferences, and career resources for social scientists.
• Research institutes and Think Tanks: Explore job opportunities at research institutes and think tanks such as the Pew Research Center,the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Bruegel, or Chatham House for research and policy analysis positions.
• Online learning platforms: Take advantage of online courses and certifications offered by platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udemy to enhance your skills in data analysis, research methods, and social science theory.

During your job hunt, you regularly go head to head with people with very similar qualifications to yours. You want to make sure to present your skills and experience in a professional and impactful way. And a top–notch resume can be just the thing that gives you that competitive edge you need.