Environmental scientists are responsible for identifying hazards that threaten our environment and surrounding communities. Once they’ve identified a potential issue, they conduct research, which includes going to the field to collect samples of water, soil, or food.
If they’ve encountered a problem, they must develop a strategy to minimize risks or eliminate the hazard completely. This is particularly important when the issue is affecting surrounding communities.
Most environmental scientists are expected to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in environmental science or a related field. However, this will depend on your potential employer. Yet, it is important that your environmental scientist resume demonstrates your educational background. If you want to stand out from competitors, try to include any relevant certification on your resume.
Another crucial competency you should include in your resume is your knowledge of environmental laws and compliance. This is particularly important when it comes to those aspiring to work in the industrial or manufacturing fields.
If you want to learn more about resume optimization for an environmental scientist role, read on. We’re about to give you some industry-relevant tips and customizable templates to boost your performance.
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Environmental scientists conduct research to identify hazards that could negatively affect nature and human health. They are responsible for developing strategies to eliminate or reduce these hazards with their deep knowledge of natural sciences. That’s why they collaborate with policymakers to develop appropriate plans for environmental health.
Environmental scientists can also work with industrial companies to reduce their waste and contamination. It is important to tailor your resume to the particular industry you’d like to work in. That’s why it could be a great idea to include related keywords.
Environmental scientists must ensure companies are compliant with environmental regulations, especially when working in the industrial or manufacturing field. Therefore, it is crucial to showcase your familiarity with compliance regulations on your resume.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, environmental scientists should ideally have a bachelor’s degree in natural science or a related field. Yet, some positions require you to have a master’s degree. Considering this is such a technical field, you should highlight your educational background.
An entry-level environmental scientist works in the field and labs. They collect samples of soil or water to identify hazardous elements. They usually work under the supervision of more experienced colleagues. That’s why it is important to mention your ability to follow directions and your logical thinking skills on your resume.
One of the main responsibilities of an entry-level environmental scientist is to conduct research. They conduct inspections and test samples to evaluate the quality of those elements. This is why it’s so important to highlight your research skills on your resume.
A lack of professional experience does not mean you can’t apply for an entry-level environmental scientist role. There are other experiences that demonstrate your competencies, such as internships or volunteering. You can include those in your resume to highlight your expertise.
We talked to hiring managers at top environmental agencies and research institutions, like the Environmental Protection Agency, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They shared what they look for in environmental scientist resumes, and we've compiled their best tips below.
Hiring managers want to quickly see if you have the technical skills for the job. Make sure to:
Avoid simply listing skills without context, like this:
A resume summary for an Environmental Scientist role is optional, but it can be a valuable addition if you want to provide context or highlight details not already covered in your resume. It's particularly useful if you're changing careers and your past experience doesn't directly align with the Environmental Scientist role, or if you're an executive with extensive experience. However, avoid using an objective statement, as it's outdated and doesn't add value.
When writing your summary, focus on your most relevant skills, experiences, and achievements without repeating information already in your resume. Incorporate keywords related to the Environmental Scientist role to optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS). Keep your summary concise, limiting it to a single paragraph.
The work experience section is the most crucial part of your environmental scientist resume, as it shows hiring managers what you've accomplished in your field. It's important to focus on your achievements and the impact you've made in previous roles.
When writing your work experience section, make sure to include relevant details that showcase your skills and expertise. Use specific examples and metrics to demonstrate your value and highlight your career progression.
High-performing environmental scientists have excellent communication skills to educate communities, employees, and stakeholders. If you want to demonstrate that in your resume, you should use an appropriate vocabulary that describes your responsibilities accurately and concisely. This is where action verbs can help you.
You can use bullet points in your work experience to streamline your message. Then, you can start each point with strong and relevant action verbs. These words will precisely illustrate your duties and achievements. Take a look at our selection of action verbs for your job below.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
Your environmental scientist resume should reflect your logical thinking skills and innovative thinking. You can also include research, observation, and data interpretation skills, which are essential for your role. Considering this is such a technical profession, you should leverage this area of your resume to demonstrate your potential.
Remember that your skills will be proportionally related to the industry you’ll work in, so it’s important to confirm relevant skills with your potential employer’s job post for this role. This will give you a better idea of what to include. If you need more inspiration, don’t forget to check the skills we’ve gathered for an environmental scientist role.
You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Environmental Scientist job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
