What does a Astronomer do?

Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems. Day to day that includes work like analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers and Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals.

What skills should a Astronomer put on a resume?

O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Science, Critical Thinking, Mathematics, and Writing among the most important skills for this occupation. Name the ones that are genuinely yours and show where you used them. A resume that lists skills you do not have is weaker than one that lists fewer.

What software should a Astronomer list?

Software recorded for this occupation includes Abstraction plus reference plus synthesis A++, Adaptive optics AO simulation software, Analyze, Apache Hadoop, and Astronomical Image Processing for Windows AIP4WIN. Applicant tracking systems match on the exact product name, so write the tool as the posting writes it rather than describing it in general terms.

What other job titles cover Astronomer work?

O*NET records 16 titles for this occupation, including Astronomy Outreach Coordinator, Astrophysicist, Research Astrophysicist, and Postdoc Scientist. Searching only your own job title hides most of the openings you could apply to.

What qualifications does a Astronomer need?

In O*NET's survey of people doing this job, 65% reported their level of education as "Doctoral Degree". That is what current postholders reported, not a requirement any single employer sets.

Will this resume pass an ATS for a Astronomer role?

No tool outside an employer can tell you how that employer's system is configured, including ours. What you can control is that the resume parses cleanly, names the work in the words the posting uses, and does not claim anything you cannot back up.

Astronomer resume example

A resume for a Astronomer needs to show the work itself: observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems. Day to day that means work like this: analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers; present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals. Recruiters and applicant tracking systems both read for the tasks and tools this role actually involves, so the strongest resume names them in your own experience rather than describing the job in the abstract. Below are the tasks O*NET records for this occupation, the software and tools it uses, the titles it is advertised under, and the skills worth naming if they are genuinely yours.

Also advertised as

The same job is posted under many titles. Searching only your own job title hides most of the openings you could apply to.

Astronomy Outreach Coordinator
Astrophysicist
Research Astrophysicist
Postdoc Scientist
Cosmologist
Extragalactic Astronomer
Galactic Astronomer
High-Energy Astrophysicist
Institute Scientist
Optical Astronomer
Planetary Astronomer
Postdoctoral Scientist
Radio Astronomer
Solar Astronomer
Stellar Astronomer
Theoretical Astronomer

What this work actually involves

Tasks recorded for this occupation, in O*NET's words. If your experience covers one of these, it belongs on your resume in your own words.

Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers.
Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals.
Study celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments.
Collaborate with other astronomers to carry out research projects.
Mentor graduate students and junior colleagues.
Supervise students' research on celestial and astronomical phenomena.
Teach astronomy or astrophysics.
Develop theories based on personal observations or on observations and theories of other astronomers.
Measure radio, infrared, gamma, and x-ray emissions from extraterrestrial sources.
Develop instrumentation and software for astronomical observation and analysis.
Review scientific proposals and research papers.
Raise funds for scientific research.

17 tasks are recorded in total; these are the most central.

Example bullets for this role

Built from this occupation's own tasks. The brackets stay empty on purpose: we will not invent a number for you, and a fabricated metric is the fastest way to lose an interview you had already won.

Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].
Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].
Study celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].
Collaborate with other astronomers to carry out research projects, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].

Software used in this role

Recorded for this occupation by O*NET. An applicant tracking system matches the exact product name, so write the tool the way the posting writes it.

Abstraction plus reference plus synthesis A++
Adaptive optics AO simulation software
Analyze
Apache Hadoop
Astronomical Image Processing for Windows AIP4WIN
Astronomical Image Processing System AIPS
Astronomical information processing system AIPS++
Avis Fits Viewer
C++
Data reduction software
Diffraction Limited MaxIm DL
European Southern Observatory Munich Image Data Analysis System ESO-MIDAS
Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
IBM SPSS Statistics

36 software entries are recorded in total.

Tools and equipment

The physical equipment this occupation is recorded as using. Worth naming when a posting asks for it by name.

Atomic absorption AA spectroscopes
Automated telescopes
Ball mills
Baseband recorders
Charge-coupled device CCD imagers
Cryostats
Desktop computers
Differential scanning calorimeters
Dobsonian telescopes
Doppler Rayleigh laser imaging ranging and detecting LIDAR systems
Ebert-Fastie spectrometers
Echelle spectrometers

Skills an ATS reads for

Worth naming only if they are genuinely yours. Keyword overlap is one input to a resume's score, not a verdict.

Python
Abstraction plus reference plus synthesis A++
Adaptive optics AO simulation

What this job rates as most important

O*NET rates every skill for importance to this occupation. These are the highest rated, in order.

01Reading Comprehension
02Science
03Critical Thinking
04Mathematics
05Writing
06Active Learning
07Active Listening
08Speaking
09Learning Strategies
10Judgment and Decision Making

Knowledge areas

The subject knowledge this occupation draws on, rated by importance.

Physics
Mathematics
Computers and Electronics
English Language
Education and Training
Engineering and Technology
Chemistry

What qualifications people in this job have

From O*NET's survey of people doing this work. This is what postholders reported, not a requirement any single employer sets.

65%Doctoral Degree
26%Post-Doctoral Training
9%Master's Degree

What level this role is pitched at

O*NET places this occupation in “Extensive Preparation Needed”. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Common questions

What does a Astronomer do?: Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems. Day to day that includes work like analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers and Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals.
What skills should a Astronomer put on a resume?: O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Science, Critical Thinking, Mathematics, and Writing among the most important skills for this occupation. Name the ones that are genuinely yours and show where you used them. A resume that lists skills you do not have is weaker than one that lists fewer.
What software should a Astronomer list?: Software recorded for this occupation includes Abstraction plus reference plus synthesis A++, Adaptive optics AO simulation software, Analyze, Apache Hadoop, and Astronomical Image Processing for Windows AIP4WIN. Applicant tracking systems match on the exact product name, so write the tool as the posting writes it rather than describing it in general terms.
What other job titles cover Astronomer work?: O*NET records 16 titles for this occupation, including Astronomy Outreach Coordinator, Astrophysicist, Research Astrophysicist, and Postdoc Scientist. Searching only your own job title hides most of the openings you could apply to.
What qualifications does a Astronomer need?: In O*NET's survey of people doing this job, 65% reported their level of education as "Doctoral Degree". That is what current postholders reported, not a requirement any single employer sets.
Will this resume pass an ATS for a Astronomer role?: No tool outside an employer can tell you how that employer's system is configured, including ours. What you can control is that the resume parses cleanly, names the work in the words the posting uses, and does not claim anything you cannot back up.

Related roles

Occupations O*NET records as closest to this one, and worth looking at if this search is not moving.

What this page cannot tell you

No tool outside an employer can tell you how that employer’s ATS is configured, including ours.
This page makes no claim about pay, demand or how many people hold this job. O*NET does not publish that here and we will not estimate it.
Keyword overlap is one input to a resume’s score, not a verdict on you. A resume that names skills you do not have is worse than one that names fewer.

If this is the job you are aiming at, the guide to tailoring a resume covers how to aim one posting properly, and building and exporting a resume here is free.

Occupation data from the O*NET 29.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. SpartanResume is not endorsed by USDOL/ETA.