Free Entry-level biologist CV (2026)

Treat your CV as a concise record of your training, hands-on laboratory work, and relevant coursework. Focus on measurable contributions and clear descriptions of techniques so employers can quickly see your fit for an entry-level biologist role. emphasise transferable skills such as data handling, teamwork, and problem solving, and frame any lab experience for outcomes and learning.

Consider UK-specific contexts, such as NHS environments or university research groups.

Use a clean, professional layout with clear section headings so a recruiter can scan your CV in under 30 seconds. For most entrants, aim for 1-2 pages; two pages are acceptable if you have multiple internships or substantive projects.

Keep each bullet to 2-3 concise sentences, start with a strong action verb, and tailor the content to the job description. Use UK date format (DD/MM/YYYY) and ensure your contact details are visible at the top.

If applying to NHS roles, align expectations with typical pay bands when discussed later in the process.

Place your full name, city and postcode, mobile number, and a professional UK email address at the top so employers can contact you easily. Add a two-sentence profile that states your degree, primary laboratory techniques, and the types of roles you are seeking to give immediate context for the rest of your CV.

If you are eligible to work in the UK, mention this briefly (e.g. 'UK right to work' or visa status) and note any ongoing permissions if applicable.

List your most recent degree first with the institution, degree type, subject, graduation date (DD/MM/YYYY), and grade or classification (e.g. 2:1).

Include relevant coursework in a single line when you lack extensive lab experience, and add honours or scholarships as a short note under the degree. Mention UK qualifications such as GCSEs and A-levels in a separate subsection if helpful, and reference universities and programmes within the UK education system (e.g.

UCAS pathways, Russell Group institutions).

Organise experience by relevance rather than chronology when your research or internships are most relevant to the job you want. For each position, include the role title, organisation, dates (DD/MM/YYYY - DD/MM/YYYY), and 2-3 bullet points that describe concrete tasks and outcomes using action verbs and specific techniques.

If you lack paid lab work, include university projects, placements, internships, or voluntary lab experience. Where possible, quantify impact (e.g. sample sizes, time saved, accuracy improvements).

If applying to NHS organisations, consider how your responsibilities align with NHS lab practices and pay bands.

Summarise each project in one short sentence, then include 2-3 results-focused bullets that list methods used and what the work produced. Use numbers where possible, such as sample sizes, percentage improvements, or the number of experiments completed to show scale.

Emphasise problem solving, data interpretation, collaboration, and adherence to lab safety and quality standards within a UK context.

Create a skills section that groups wet-lab techniques, data analysis, and software tools so reviewers can find them quickly. List specific techniques (e.g.

PCR, qPCR, gel electrophoresis, cell culture, microscopy), instrumentation, data analysis packages (Excel, R, Python, GraphPad Prism), and laboratory information management systems (LIMS). Keep the list tidy and relevant to the job description.

If applying to NHS or clinical settings, highlight competencies common to UK healthcare laboratories and note any relevant regulatory or quality-systems experience.