As an environmental consultant, you might struggle with effectively showcasing the breadth of your field experience and technical skills on your resume. Our guide provides targeted advice to help you highlight your expertise and tailor your resume to stand out in the competitive environmental consulting market.
- Format your environmental consultant resume to ensure that it balances professionalism with creativity, and follows the best practices.
- Match the environmental consultant job requirements by including industry keywords on your resume.
- Use various resume sections to showcase your skills and achievements to answer why you're the best candidate for the environmental consultant role.
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Tips and tricks for your environmental consultant resume format
Before you start writing your resume, you must first consider its look-and-feel - or resume format . Your professional presentation hence should:
- Follow the reverse-chronological resume format , which incroporates the simple logic of listing your latest experience items first. The reverse-chronological format is the perfect choice for candidates who have plenty of relevant (and recent) experience.
- State your intention from the get-go with a clear and concise headline - making it easy for recruiters to allocate your contact details, check out your portfolio, or discover your latest job title.
- Be precise and simple - your resume should be no more than two pages long, representing your experience and skills that are applicable to the environmental consultant job.
- Ensure your layout is intact by submitting it as a PDF. Thus, your resume sections would stay in place, even when assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (ATS).
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If you happen to have some basic certificates, don't invest too much of your environmental consultant resume real estate in them. Instead, list them within the skills section or as part of your relevant experience. This way you'd ensure you meet all job requirements while dedicating your certificates to only the most in-demand certification across the industry.
Traditional sections, appreciated by recruiters, for your environmental consultant resume:
- Clear and concise header with relevant links and contact details
- Summary or objective with precise snapshot of our career highlights and why you're a suitable candidate for the environmental consultant role
- Experience that goes into the nuts and bolts of your professional qualifications and success
- Skills section(-s) for more in-depth talent-alignment between job keywords and your own profile
- Education and certifications sections to further show your commitment for growth in the specific niche
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Relevant environmental certifications (e.g., Certified Environmental Scientist, LEED Accreditation, etc.)
- Experience with environmental impact assessments and sustainability reporting
- Proficiency in environmental legislation and regulatory compliance
- Hands-on experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and environmental sampling methodologies
- Demonstrable involvement in successful environmental remediation or conservation projects
Five dos for building your environmental consultant resume experience section
The best strategic approach to your environmental consultant resume experience section is to support your particular responsibilities with actions and achievements.
For example, you could list:
- Up to six responsibilities in your day-to-day work, supported by why they're important for your role, department, or organization;
- Experience items that have helped you sustain and enhance your technical knowledge within the field, or, perhaps, have helped you grow as a professional;
- Any metrics that pinpoint your success within your past roles;
- How you've solved specific problems in your day-to-day work;
- Strategies and solutions you've implemented for growth - and how that growth was measured.
The environmental consultant resume experience is your best shot at making a good first impression on recruiters. That's why we've included some real-world professional examples to get you thinking about how you present your experience:
- Conducted comprehensive environmental impact assessments for large-scale development projects, leading to the identification of critical areas that reduced potential legal liabilities by 25%.
- Designed and implemented a water quality monitoring program for a regional utility provider, significantly improving compliance with federal and state regulations, and decreasing the rate of contaminants by 30%.
- Facilitated stakeholder engagement sessions to foster collaboration between developers, governmental agencies, and community members, which improved project acceptance rates by 40%.
- Developed and executed innovative waste reduction strategies for manufacturing clients, achieving an average of 20% reduction in waste output annually.
- Provided expert testimony on environmental litigation cases, contributing to the successful defense of clients in high-stakes environmental lawsuits.
- Performed due diligence environmental site assessments for real estate transactions, identifying material environmental risks and facilitating more informed investment decisions.
- Led a multi-disciplinary team to integrate sustainability practices into corporate operations, which resulted in the client receiving the LEED Gold certification for their new headquarters.
- Analyzed and optimized energy consumption patterns for industrial clients, reducing their energy use by an average of 15% annually through tailored strategies.
- Launched a biodiversity program for a national park that increased species tracking and protection efforts, with an increase in native species populations by 20% in two years.
- Designed remediation plans for contaminated sites, successfully securing non-objection certificates from environmental agencies, thereby speeding up the client's redevelopment timelines by 50%.
- Developed a corporate environmental responsibility strategy that lowered GHG emissions by 25% over a three-year period for a leading pharmaceutical company.
- Managed cross-border environmental projects, aligning multinational standards and facilitating international agreements that enhanced compliance and reduced costs by 20%.
- Pioneered a cloud-based GIS system for tracking environmental changes, which improved data accessibility and aided in decision-making processes for urban planning initiatives.
- Successfully lobbied for the adoption of cleaner industrial processes, influencing legislation and reducing local air pollution levels by 10%.
- Directed environmental risk evaluations for energy projects, which helped clients to navigate regulatory frameworks and mitigate risks early in the project lifecycle.
- Executed a greenhouse gas inventory for a large municipality, establishing a baseline that guided the development of an aggressive climate action plan aiming to reduce emissions by 35% by 2030.
- Advised on the ecological restoration of a 50-acre wetland, leading to improved water quality and habitat for endangered species.
- Delivered training programs to industrial clients on environmental compliance, resulting in a 90% improvement in adherence to environmental safety procedures.
- Played a key role in the development of a strategic environmental management plan for an oil and gas company, reducing the risk of spills and environmental damage by 40%.
- Designed and facilitated the execution of land-use planning studies that aligned economic development with conservation goals for several mid-sized cities.
- Orchestrated the community outreach for a controversial mining project, which enhanced community relations and prevented project delays due to public opposition.
- Led the successful certification process for ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems for five manufacturing facilities, improving their market competitiveness through demonstrated commitment to sustainability.
- Coordinated multi-sector partnerships for a large-scale conservation project, leveraging $5 million in funding and enhancing the protection of 200,000 acres of forest.
- Assessed and improved emergency response plans for hazardous material incidents, ensuring all client facilities met OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standards.
The following content includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top responsibilities present on the task lists for environmental consultant professionals.
Top Responsibilities for Environmental Consultant:
- Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
- Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
- Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
- Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
- Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.
- Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.
- Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports.
- Prepare, maintain, or revise quality assurance documentation or procedures.
- Develop site-specific health and safety protocols, such as spill contingency plans or methods for loading or transporting waste.
- Provide technical support for environmental remediation or litigation projects, including remediation system design or determination of regulatory applicability.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Include quantified reduction targets achieved in previous projects, demonstrating your ability to meet environmental compliance and efficiency goals.
- Detail the amount of funding secured through grants or investments for environmental initiatives to show your skill in resource acquisition.
- List the percentage decrease in energy usage or carbon footprint for clients, highlighting your effectiveness in implementing sustainability practices.
- Provide numbers related to the scale of environmental assessments performed, such as the acreage of land surveyed, to underscore your comprehensive analysis capabilities.
- Specify the number of training sessions or workshops you led on environmental compliance or green technologies to establish your role as a thought leader.
- Report the statistical improvement in waste management or recycling rates as a result of your strategies to display your impact on resource conservation.
- Mention the numerical increase in compliance rates with environmental regulations under your guidance to demonstrate your expertise in legal adherence and risk mitigation.
- Indicate the number of successful certifications or audits completed, such as LEED or ISO 14001, to show your commitment to recognized environmental standards.
Action verbs for your environmental consultant resume
Writing your environmental consultant experience section without any real-world experience
Professionals, lacking experience, here's how to kick-start your environmental consultant career:
- Substitute experience with relevant knowledge and skills, vital for the environmental consultant role
- Highlight any relevant certifications and education - to showcase that you have the relevant technical training for the job
- Definitely include a professional portfolio of your work so far that could include university projects or ones you've done in your free time
- Have a big focus on your transferable skills to answer what further value you'd bring about as a candidate for the environmental consultant job
- Include an objective to highlight how you see your professional growth, as part of the company
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Showcase any ongoing or recent educational efforts to stay updated in your field.
Environmental consultant resume skills section: writing about your hard skills and soft skills
Recruiters always care about the skill set you'd bring about to the environmental consultant role. That's why it's a good idea to curate yours wisely, integrating both hard (or technical) and soft skills. Hard skills are the technology and software you're apt at using - these show your suitability for the technical aspect of the role. They are easy to track via your experience, certifications, and various resume sections. Your soft skills are those personality traits you've gained over time that show how you'd perform in the specific team, etc. Soft skills are more difficult to qualify but are definitely worth it - as they make you stand out and show your adaptability to new environments. How do you build the skills section of your resume? Best practices point that you could:
- Include up to five or six skills in the section as keywords to align with the advert.
- Create a specific technical skills section to highlight your hard skills aptitude.
- Align the culture of the company you're applying to with your soft skills to determine which ones should be more prominent in your skills section.
- Make sure you answer majority of the job requirements that are in the advert within your skills section.
A environmental consultant's resume requires a specific skill set that balances both industry-specific hard skills with personal, soft skills. Discover the perfect mix for the environmental consultant role from our list:
Top skills for your environmental consultant resume:
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Data Analysis Software (e.g., R, Python)
Environmental Modeling Software
Air Quality Monitoring Tools
Soil and Water Testing Equipment
Sustainability Reporting Software
Regulatory Compliance Knowledge
Project Management Software
Remote Sensing Tools
Analytical Thinking
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving
Team Collaboration
Attention to Detail
Time Management
Adaptability
Critical Thinking
Interpersonal Skills
Ethical Judgment
Next, you will find information on the top technologies for environmental consultant professonals from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Top technologies for Environmental Consultant’s resume:
- Insightful S-PLUS
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Eko
- Material safety data sheet MSDS software
- Regulatory compliance management software
PRO TIP
The more time and effort you've put into obtaining the relevant certificate, the closer to the top it should be listed. This is especially important for more senior roles and if the company you're applying for is more forward-facing.
What are the best certificates to add to your environmental consultant resume + how to curate your education section
The education and certification resume sections are the underdogs of your environmental consultant resume.
They showcase to recruiters that you've invested plenty of time to gain valuable and specific know-how, vital for growth.
As far as the resume education section is concerned:
- Detail only advanced education, specifying the institution and timeframe.
- Indicate your forthcoming graduation date if you're in the midst of your studies.
- Consider omitting degrees that don't align with the job's requirements.
- Offer a description of your academic journey if it underscores your notable achievements.
When curating your degrees and certificates on your environmental consultant resume:
- Select only accreditation that matters to the role
- Niche knowledge that could help you stand out as a candidate (as is within the past few years), should be listed towards the top of your resume
- Include any pertinent data for credibility (e.g. institute name, graduation dates, etc.)
- Irrelevant degrees and certifications shouldn't make it on your resume. Those include your high school diploma and any specializations that have nothing to do with the technical or soft skills that are required for the job
As a final note, if you feel tempted to exclude your education or certification from your resume, don't.
These two sections could help you have a better competitive edge over other candidates - hinting that your professional journey in the industry may be for a longer period of time.
Recruiters find all of these environmental consultant credentials impressive:
The top 5 certifications for your environmental consultant resume:
- Certified Environmental Professional (CEP) - Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) - U.S. Green Building Council
- Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) - National Environmental Health Association
- Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) - Society of Wetland Scientists
- Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) - Institute of Hazardous Materials Management
The content below includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top associations for environmental consultant professionals.
Top US associations for a Environmental Consultant professional
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- Air and Waste Management Association
- Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals
- American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists
- American Industrial Hygiene Association
PRO TIP
If you're in the process of obtaining your certificate or degree, list the expected date you're supposed to graduate or be certified.
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Should you write a resume summary or an objective?
No need to research social media or ask ChatGPT to find out if the summary or objective is right for your environmental consultant resume.
- Experienced candidates always tend to go for resume summaries. The summary is a three to five sentence long paragraph that narrates your career highlights and aligns your experience to the role. In it you can add your top skills and career achievements that are most impressive.
- Junior professionals or those making a career change, should write a resume objective. These shouldn't be longer than five sentences and should detail your career goals . Basically, how you see yourself growing in the current position and how would your experience or skill set could help out your potential employers.
Think of both the resume summary and objective as your opportunity to put your best foot forward - from the get go - answering job requirements with skills.
Use the below real-world environmental consultant professional statements as inspiration for writing your resume summary or objective.
Resume summaries for a environmental consultant job
- Seasoned environmental consultant with over 12 years of experience in developing and implementing sustainable business solutions. Expertise in conducting environmental impact assessments, compliance auditing, and developing corporate social responsibility strategies. Notable achievement includes leading a multinational corporation to a 30% reduction in carbon footprint over a five year period.
- Highly skilled environmental consultant with a decade of experience in the field, specializing in soil remediation and contaminant hydrogeology. A proven track record in managing large-scale environmental projects, overseeing team performance to ensure alignment with environmental regulations and sustainable practices, culminating in the successful cleanup of a 50-acre brownfield site.
- Passionate biologist transitioning to the field of environmental consultancy, bringing 8 years of field research experience, specifically in wetland ecosystems. Expertise in data analysis, research methodology, and environmental legislation, aiming to apply this background to assist organizations in achieving their sustainability goals through science-backed environmental strategies.
- Mechanical engineer pivoting into environmental consultancy, equipped with 15 years of experience in energy systems and sustainability practices. Strengths include advanced data modelling, lifecycle analysis, and renewable technology integration. Successful in retrofitting an industrial plant for a 40% improvement in energy efficiency, demonstrating a commitment to environmental innovation.
- Eager to embark on a career as an environmental consultant, with a strong academic background in Environmental Science and a deep-rooted passion for conservation practices. Dedicated to mastering environmental policy, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable development techniques to contribute to meaningful environmental improvement projects.
- Aspiring environmental consultant with a freshly attained Master’s in Environmental Management, eager to apply comprehensive knowledge of ecological impact assessments and geographic information systems (GIS). Committed to advancing the understanding of environmental challenges and facilitating proactive solutions through hands-on experience and continuous learning.
Average salary info by state in the US for Environmental Consultant professionals
Local salary info for Environmental Consultant.” Source: My Next Move, National Center for O*NET Development. Accessed 10/15/2024
| State | Average Salary (in USD) |
|---|---|
| US National Average | $100,090 |
| California (CA) | $111,970 |
| Texas (TX) | $114,900 |
| Florida (FL) | $80,300 |
| New York (NY) | $95,830 |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | $92,540 |
| Illinois (IL) | $102,000 |
| Ohio (OH) | $123,850 |
| Georgia (GA) | $90,420 |
| North Carolina (NC) | $101,660 |
| Michigan (MI) | $90,410 |
More relevant sections for your environmental consultant resume
Perhaps you feel that your current resume could make use of a few more details that could put your expertise and personality in the spotlight.
We recommend you add some of these sections for a memorable first impression on recruiters:
- Projects - you could also feature noteworthy ones you've done in your free time;
- Awards - showcasing the impact and recognition your work has across the industry;
- Volunteering - the social causes you care the most about and the soft skills they've helped you sustain and grow;
- Personality resume section - hobbies, interests, favorite quote/books, etc. could help recruiters gain an even better understanding of who you are.
Key takeaways
Writing your environmental consultant resume can be a structured and simple experience, once you better understand the organization's requirements for the role you're applying to. To sum up, we'd like to remind you to:
- Always select which experiences, skills, and achievements to feature on your resume based on relevancy to the role;
- In your resume summary, ensure you've cherry-picked your top achievements and matched them with the job ad's skills;
- Submit your environmental consultant resume as a one or two-page long document at the most, in a PDF format;
- Select industry leading certifications and list your higher education to highlight you have the basis for technical know-how;
- Quantify your people's skills through various resume sections (e.g. Strengths, Hobbies and interests, etc.) to show recruiters how your profile aligns with the organizational culture.
