How to List Patents on a Resume — Well, Here’s How!

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A patent is a title which grants a person the exclusive right to an invention. This prevents others from making, selling, or using this invention for the duration of the patent.

Patenting an invention can be an expensive, yet rewarding endeavor for a person in any field.

It can also be a valuable asset for an employee looking for work! 

And this is why we will now have a closer look at how to include patents on your resume.

 

What is the best way to list a patent on a resume?

The best way to list patents on a resume is to give them their own section, or to list them along with the workplace they were developed at. Having a patent shows an extreme dedication to the development of new technology, as well as personal drive. To best make sure an employer sees this while skimming your resume, it is important to cite patents clearly, and with patent numbers listed. Patents which are still in the application phase should also be listed. 

 

Resume: How to create a new section for patents

Patents are no doubt extremely valuable assets which should be shown on a resume. So valuable, in fact, that they are often listed in their own section.

Patents require a lot of hard work, ingenuity, and personal drive. Regardless of whether or not the patented product is useful to the employer, it still serves as a “signal” that the employee is capable of bringing the company to new heights. 

There is no definitive way to format the text for a patent, so it depends entirely on how much space on your resume your patents deserve.

If you are listing a patent which does not have all that much relevance to the desired job, it is best to keep it simple. [Invention Title], [Country Patent Number], [Patent Issue Date]. 

Make sure you type the patent number properly, as employers can search for and read your full patent information online. (USPTO.gov)

 

Patents

“Combination Translation and Transcription Device” – US Patent No. 123,456,789 – Date of Patent: Jan 1, 20xx

If the patent is relevant to the desired field of work, then it would be worth expanding upon.

Similar to how one would list a job, a patent can be formatted largely in the same way using headers and bullet points.

In this example, perhaps a person is applying for a language translation company.

 

Patents

“Combination Translation and Transcription Device” – US Patent No. 123,456,789 – Date of Patent: Jan 1, 20xx

• Developed an application which can simultaneously translate and transcribe
• Increased efficiency by no longer requiring two separate departments within the workplace 

It is not always necessary to include how the patent has changed your work for the better, but it may create a good talking point that the employer will want to discuss upon interview.

Put down just enough information to sound confident and reliable, and it could turn a mediocre interview into a very impressive one!

 

How to include patents in the experience section of a resume

Including patents in the experience section is a good way to show that you are a driven employee who will work for the betterment of the company.

Coming up with new ideas is a skill, and leadership is a quality which any company will seek out.

Here is how to best list patents as part of your employment experience:

 

XYZ Trading Company (1 20xx) – (10-20xx)

Assistant Manager – Human Resources Department

• • Managed a team of 100+ employees on a seasonal rotating basis
  • Oversaw payroll, and maintained financial records spanning seven years
  • Co-developed and received a patent for an integrated financial record keeping system

• US Patent No. 123,456,789 – Jan 1, 20xx

As you can see, the description for the patent is much shorter in this section. It looks clean and professional, and is particularly suited to resumes which may be longer.

Saving space on an impressive resume helps the person reviewing it not get bored. This also increases your chances that the employer will read all of the information.

 

How to include a patent which is still pending

If the patent application is processing but is not yet approved, it is still an excellent idea to list it in either section.

Make sure that you include the application number, as well as the date that you applied for the patent. For its own section, the formatting would look like the following:

 

Patents

“Combination Translation and Transcription Device” – (pending) US Patent Application No. 123,456,789 – Date of Application: Jan 1, 20xx

As a bullet point beneath an employment experience, it would look like this:

• • Co-developed a patent for an integrated financial record-keeping system (Patent under application)

• US Patent Application No. 123,456,789 – Jan 1, 20xx

Once the patent is approved, make sure that you change the date to reflect the date of approval. It is not necessary to list both the application date and the approval date. 

 

Should you list co-inventors of the patent on a resume?

According to US patent law 35 U.S.C. §101, an inventor is “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new use and useful improvement thereof.”

Because of this, there is often more than one person listed as a contributor on a patent. 

Resumes, however, are a list of your accomplishments. If you are listed on a patent, then you are legally the inventor of the patent.

You should, and have every right to list yourself as such on your resume.

Although not required, you can state that you were assisted by others in the invention process.

Using the word “co-developed” like in the example above is a concise way to do so. 

You should not list specific names of your co-founders in your resume.

Unless these people are well-known, and their names will make you seem very impressive for having worked with them, your employer does not need to know the specifics.

Be open about it being a team effort if asked during an interview, but it is not necessary to disclose this in a resume.