Resume guide · Job Zone 5

Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomistsresume guide.

Design objects, facilities, and environments to optimize human well-being and overall system performance, applying theory, principles, and data regarding A strong Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists resume shows active listening, complex problem solving and critical thinking, and names the tools you have worked with, such as SAS, The MathWorks MATLAB and IBM SPSS Statistics.

See how a parser reads your resumeFree, no card→

01Also called

O*NET
Board Certified ErgonomistCertified Professional ErgonomistCognitive EngineerEngineerErgonomic ConsultantErgonomics Technical AdvisorErgonomistHuman Factors AdvisorHuman Factors EngineerOccupational Ergonomist

02Skills employers expect

O*NET

Importance is how much the skill matters to the job; level is how much of it the job demands. Both are worth naming on the resume, in this order.

SkillImportanceLevel
Active ListeningVery highAdvanced
Complex Problem SolvingVery highAdvanced
Critical ThinkingVery highAdvanced
Reading ComprehensionVery highAdvanced
SpeakingVery highAdvanced
WritingVery highAdvanced
Active LearningHighAdvanced
Judgment and Decision MakingHighAdvanced
Systems EvaluationHighAdvanced
MathematicsHighAdvanced

03Knowledge areas

O*NET
  • Psychology
  • English Language
  • Design
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Education and Training
  • Mathematics
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • Administration and Management
  • Computers and Electronics

04Common responsibilities

O*NET

Ordered by importance. Each one is a bullet waiting for a result and a number.

  1. Collect data through direct observation of work activities or witnessing the conduct of tests.
  2. Conduct interviews or surveys of users or customers to collect information on topics, such as requirements, needs, fatigue, ergonomics, or interfaces.
  3. Advocate for end users in collaboration with other professionals, including engineers, designers, managers, or customers.
  4. Inspect work sites to identify physical hazards.
  5. Prepare reports or presentations summarizing results or conclusions of human factors engineering or ergonomics activities, such as testing, investigation, or validation.
  6. Recommend workplace changes to improve health and safety, using knowledge of potentially harmful factors, such as heavy loads or repetitive motions.
  7. Perform functional, task, or anthropometric analysis, using tools, such as checklists, surveys, videotaping, or force measurement.
  8. Provide technical support to clients through activities, such as rearranging workplace fixtures to reduce physical hazards or discomfort or modifying task sequences to reduce cycle time.
  9. Assess the user-interface or usability characteristics of products.
  10. Establish system operating or training requirements to ensure optimized human-machine interfaces.

05Software and tools

O*NET

62 tools across 22 categories. The six largest categories are below; Hot marks a hot technology, In demand a tool employers ask for most often.

Analytical or scientific software19
  • SASHotIn demand
  • The MathWorks MATLABHotIn demand
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHotIn demand
  • Statistical softwareIn demand
  • MathWorks SimulinkIn demand
  • Simulation software
  • Noldus Information Technology The Observer XT
  • Dartfish ProSuite
  • AEMC DataView
  • Bit Debris Solutions Usability Activity Log
  • Data Translation quickDAQ
  • Mangold INTERACT
  • Mangold LogSquare
  • Mangold Soundalyzer
  • Noldus Information Technology FaceReader
  • Noldus Information Technology uLog Pro
  • Ovo Studios Ovo Logger
  • Thought Technology BioGraph Infiniti
  • Triangle Research Collaborative Observational Coding System OCS Tools
+ 14 more
Web platform development software6
+ 1 more
Object or component oriented development software5
Program testing software5
  • Debugging software
  • User interface design software
  • Regression testing software
  • Usability testing software
  • TechSmith Morae
Computer aided design CAD software3
  • Autodesk AutoCADHotIn demand
  • Dassault Systemes SolidWorksHotIn demand
  • Dassault Systemes CATIAIn demand
Graphical user interface development software3
  • Graphical user interface GUI design software
  • Altia Design
  • Seeing Machines faceLAB
Graphics or photo imaging software3
Internet browser software3
  • Mozilla FirefoxHotIn demand
  • Apple SafariHotIn demand
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
Development environment software2
Content workflow software1
  • Atlassian JIRAHotIn demand
Desktop publishing software1
Document management software1
Electronic mail software1
Enterprise application integration software1
Office suite software1
Operating system software1
Presentation software1
Process mapping and design software1
Spreadsheet software1
Video creation and editing software1
  • TechSmith CamtasiaIn demand
Web page creation and editing software1
  • Adobe Dreamweaver
Word processing software1

06Education and preparation

O*NET
Typical education
Master's Degree
50% of surveyed workers. Others report Bachelor's Degree (40%) and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (10%).
Preparation level
Job Zone 5 · Extensive preparation
Usually a graduate degree and extensive related experience.

07Putting it on your resume

ResumeXRays guidance
BEE · How to show it

Lead with what you built. For a Job Zone 5 role, hiring managers and parsers both look for outcomes before credentials. Put two or three results at the top of each job entry, with the scale or effect stated plainly.

Name the tools exactly. This occupation is heavy on named software. A skills section that says "SAS, The MathWorks MATLAB, IBM SPSS Statistics, JavaScript" matches more job descriptions than a general phrase. Use the spelling employers use.

Show complex problem solving and critical thinking, not just active listening. Complex problem solving and critical thinking rank close to active listening for this occupation. One bullet per role that shows a decision, a tradeoff or a result covers them.

Run your resume through the free scan →

See your fitbefore youhit apply.

Drop your resume and see what a parser flags before you send it. Free, no card.

Analyze your resume free →$0 to start · No card · Free plan forever