| Most people have written at least one resume in their lifetime, and anyone who has done it, knows that resume writing can be a tedious and frustrating task. New college graduates, and newcomers to the environmental field looking to land the right job, should be aware of several key elements that should be included in every environmental resume.
Name and Contact Information on Resumes
While this section is the same for all resume types, some guidelines include:
Place all contact information at the top of the page including name, address, telephone, and e-mail address. The name should be in bold to stand out so it becomes more memorable than less important information like the address.
A good idea for environmental resumes is to include a current title with the name. Rather than writing John Smith; consider John Smith, Biologist Aid; Or John Smith, Environmental Tech I. Titles from recent internships or environmental positions can be used as well.
The Education Section of a Resume
This field generally comes first on the resume, as employers want to be sure the candidate meets the most basic criteria they have set forth. Always list in descending order, starting with the most recent education and degree. The education field should include the following information:
School attended
Dates attended
Location of the school (city, and state)
Degree received
Environmental resumes should add the following to this field:
Concentration: Because there are many different concentrations and focuses within the environmental science filed, it is important to be specific about the area of science in which the greatest education occurs. For example, an environmental science graduate applying for a position with a stream ecology firm should be sure to include the phrase "Concentration in Hydrology" if this is the case. Simply writing environmental science does not clearly indicate an educational expertise.
If the degree program had no specific concentration, but included much course work relevant to the position being applied to, candidates should consider using the phrase "focus" in place of "concentration."
For example, an environmental science graduate applying for a position with a stream ecology firm, who may not be able to use the phrase "B.S. Environmental Science: Concentration in Hydrology", should consider writing "B.S. Environmental Science: Stream Ecology Focus" instead.
Relevant Coursework: It is important for environmental services applicants to include a list of relevant coursework within the education filed of the resume. Many employers want to know rather quickly not just if the desired degree is available, but to what extent the applicants specific coursework relates to the work required for the position being applied to.
It is important for applicants to contact the company they are applying to in order to determine the specific tasks the position will require. The more an applicant knows about the specific tasks of a position, the better they can target their application for that position.
Work Experience Section of a Resume
The work experience field is often the most important field of the resume. General resume requirements for this field include:
Descending order (list most recent first)
Name of Company
Location and Dates Employed
Position Title
Work experience description
Beyond these core characteristics, the environmental resume should also include the following:
Equipment used at a particular company. Employers in the science industry like to see that candidates have experience using a wide range of equipment. Even if a particular device is not needed in the job being applied for, listing various devices shows employers that a candidate holds a contemporary knowledge of science devices, and that the candidate has an ability to learn new-technologies should the company hiring seek to purchase new equipment.
Materials worked with. Listing materials worked with gives applicants the opportunity to show their environmental experience. Include relevant phrases such as sludges, soils, wastewater, toxic wastes, PCB-contaminants, Form U wastes, animals etc. It is essential to include the particular materials that were being tested in the previous position.
Tests run. Beyond equipment and materials, it is important to mention the various tests executed a particular position. These may include pH, ammonia, BOD, COD, CBOD, fingerprint analysis, nitrate, nitrite etc. Even the smallest test at a previous position may be a major aspect of a new position, which would stand out to the employer.
Skills Section of a Resume
Perhaps the most overlooked section on an environmental resume is the final section, which lists skills and additional qualifications. An environmental resume should include the following in the skills section:
Permits. Any permits a candidate has worked with or under should absolutely appear on the resume. One of the most difficult aspects of working in the environmental field is operating under, ... |
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