How To Write An Environmental Engineer Resume (With Example)

Updated 21 August 2023

Employers typically ask candidates for job vacancies to submit a resume. This document outlines a candidate's qualifications, experience and skills. If you are applying for an environmental engineer job, knowing how to create an effective resume that portrays you as the best candidate can improve your chances of getting an interview. In this article, we explain what an environmental engineer resume is, show you how to write one in seven steps and provide a template, and an example to guide you.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.

What Is An Environmental Engineer Resume?

An environmental engineer resume is a document candidates submit when applying for jobs in this profession. You may also include a cover letter with your application, depending on the employer's requirements. Environmental engineers apply soil science, biology, engineering and chemistry principles to solve environmental issues, normally concerning pollution and waste, by designing processes and technologies to address these matters. This typically involves maximising the use of natural resources and developing renewable energy sources. Your resume usually includes the following information:

Contact information
A professional summary
Details regarding your engineering experience, including internships, graduate roles and work history
Transferable and technical engineering skills
Engineering qualifications, including undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and certifications

How To Write A Resume For An Environmental Engineer Role?

Consider the following seven steps to help you create your resume for an environmental engineer role:

1. Apply resume formatting

Before you begin writing your resume, ensure you format the document appropriately and apply this consistently throughout. Consider adopting a traditional resume format. Choose a professional-looking font that is easy for recruiters to read, such as Cambria or Arial. Set the font size to 11 or 12 pt and bold your headings to improve readability and make it easy for employers to scan your resume.

2. Insert contact information

Start by including your contact information in the resume's header. This makes it easy for employers to contact you for further information or to arrange an interview. You may also include your most recent degree or certification if it is relevant. For example, if you have a master's degree in environmental engineering, including it here might be beneficial, as employers can quickly recognise your suitability for the role. In this section, include the following details:

Full name
Telephone number
Email address
Location

3. Write a professional summary

Following your contact details, add a professional summary. This is your chance to introduce yourself to the recruiter and make a good first impression. Write two to three sentences that highlight your achievements, experience, skills and qualifications in environmental engineering. Adapt this section to the job you are applying for by searching the employer's website to discover their values and requirements, which you may then reflect in your professional summary. For example, if the employer favours experience in air pollution management systems, mention your experience in this area here. While not essential, you may also include your career goals.

4. Mention your experience

In the next section, list your experiences in reverse chronological order. For each entry, mention the role you held, the employer's name and location, and your employment dates. Then, list your duties in bullet points for each position. Start each point with a verb and explain what you did, and what the outcome was, using data to support any claims made. For current positions, write in the present tense and use the past tense for your previous jobs.

Review the job description to discover the employer's job requirements and incorporate them into your resume. For example, if you are applying for a job that stipulates using technology to manage water pollution, you can include your experience in this area to emphasise your suitability to hiring managers.

5. List your skills

Following the experience section, add a section for skills, which includes your transferable and technical abilities. Write them in a list format, so employers can quickly see if you are a suitable candidate. Adapt this section to the role you are applying for by reviewing the job description and including your relevant skills. Examples of environmental engineering skills include:

Communication
Time management
Organisation
Data analysis
Environmental compliance
Collaboration
Water and air quality testing
Pollution prevention techniques
Environmental reporting

6. Add your qualifications

After your skills, list your qualifications in reverse chronological order. These include your undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and any relevant certifications. Give the title of the degree or certification, the name of the awarding institution and your graduation date. If you are applying for more senior environmental engineer roles, you can omit the graduation dates. Degrees that environmental engineers hold include:

Environmental engineering
Chemical engineering
Civil engineering

7. Proofread your resume

After completing your resume, proofread it for formatting, grammatical and spelling errors. Consider asking a friend or colleague to read your resume and provide constructive feedback. Environmental engineers have strong written communication skills that help them create environmental reports. By submitting an error-free document, you can make a positive impression and demonstrate your excellent written communication abilities and attention to detail.

Resume Template For An Environmental Engineer Role

Here is a resume template you can refer to when writing your resume for an environmental engineer role:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City], [State or Union territory]

Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications, and achievements as a professional.]

Experience

(For the most recent role, list 5 experience items. For previous roles, list 3.)

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State or Union territory]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State or Union territory]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

Education
[Degree] | [Name of School or University]

Certifications (optional)
[Certification Name], [Host Organisation] - [Year completed or expiration date]

Resume Example

Here is a resume example that may inspire you when applying for environmental engineer roles:

Aditya Patel, Master of Science in environmental engineering +91 1234-567890 | aditya_patel@email.in | Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Professional Summary
Passionate Environmental Engineer with more than eight years of experience in developing and improving processes related to air and water pollution control, recycling, waste disposal and other public health concerns. Experienced in working on environmental projects and collaborating with environmental scientists, hazardous waste technicians, business directors, planners and other engineers. An excellent communicator with a strong understanding of pollution prevention techniques and environmental compliance.

Experience
Environmental Engineer | January 2019–Current
Rhino Energy and Waste Consultancy | Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Participate in various environmental projects, including designing systems to manage air and water pollution, helping over 20 clients to reduce their impact on the environment
Advise clients on recommended environmental practices in line with environmental regulations
Collect and analyse environmental data
Write environmental investigative reports after completing site assessments
Design technologies to reduce pollution and control waste

Assistant Environmental Engineer | January 2014–January 2019
Rhino Energy and Waste Consultancy | Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Assisted the environmental engineer with their workload during site visits, meetings and environmental regulatory and committee hearings, enabling them to help an additional 10 clients
Ensured environmental reporting and monitoring complied with environmental regulations
Created analysis and sampling procedures, and prepared reports

Education
Master of Science in environmental engineering | University of Meni
Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering | University of Meni