When you go for an interview, the impression you make on your potential employers will be the difference between getting the job or not
. Even before you make it to the interview, your resume should have already impressed them. So you need to make sure that your presentation it catches their attention straightaway. If you are looking for a job as a patent attorney or agent, then your resume will have to be a bit different from the standard format. Here are a few suggestions when writing a resume for the patent law industry:
*The patent attorney and agent profession is a very specialized area, so potential employers are not going to have hundreds to go through. So you needn't start out with mentioning your experience or goals like most resumes do. Start with a list of all current bar admissions before moving on to educational qualifications. These will tell potential employers right away that you are a graduate. If you waiting to take the patent bar examination or are waiting for your results, you should mention this in your cover letter.
*Mention any kind of law experience you took part in and all skills you have acquired. Your trial experience should be written down in detail.
*You don't need to mention how many patent applications you have written. The number of years you have been doing so is sufficient.
*Even though you will need to have a degree in science or engineering to be a patent attorney, you don't have to go into details about any jobs you had in those sectors. Just the number of years you worked, designation and name of the company you worked for will do.
*Do not provide reference names and contact details. Only do so if asked by potential employers. You should not also provide personal details. Give these out only once you have joined the firm.
*In most cases a one page resume is enough especially if you do not have many years of experience under your belt. However, if you have more than 10 or 15 years' experience, your resume should be detailed and cover as many pages as required.
A resume is not just about letting potential employers about your experience; it tells them that you are qualified for the job on offer. A resume that presents all relevant information clearly will impress and get you many interviews and job offers.