How to Write a Restoration Ecologist Resume (With Steps)

Updated 27 April 2023

Restoration ecologists require extensive knowledge of how to renew ecological systems and understand the rate of habitat degradation. A resume allows candidates for this role to demonstrate their ability to assess environmental disturbances and how they personally contribute to environmental recovery and renewal by listing previous ecological work and studies of the environment. Understanding how to write a restoration ecologist resume can help you create an effective one, increasing your chances of securing a role. In this article, we discuss what a resume for restoration ecologists includes and how to write one and provide a useful template and example.

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

What is a restoration ecologist resume?

A restoration ecologist resume is a document used during recruitment processes that explains your professional experience of restoring ecosystems that have experienced damage due to human activity. A resume also explains your academic history of studying ecology and restoration and demonstrates that you possess the expert-level knowledge necessary to support degrading ecosystems by introducing the appropriate biodiversity. Resumes for restoration ecologists also highlight your experience of rebuilding ecological systems, showing that you have experience in specific locations or ecosystems that may be similar to the habitats you could work on in the role.

Including this information demonstrates your in-depth knowledge and training, which could improve your chances of securing an interview with the hiring manager. Resumes are a key means to show that you have the skills to manage all levels of damage from human activity. Specific skills may be necessary to manage all three stages of damage, degradation and destruction. Hiring managers use resumes to identify if you have the correct skills to navigate complex cases involving land clearing, urbanisation or non-native species invasion.

How to write a resume for restoration ecologists

Here's a step-by-step guide to creating a resume for restoration ecologists:

1. Research key restoration ecology skills, experience and qualifications

To create a coherent resume, research the key skills, experience and qualifications that hiring managers are likely to search for in an ideal candidate. These may include an understanding of the long-term human impact on biodiversity around the world or the impact of coastal erosion on surrounding ecosystems.

Conducting this research allows you to highlight specific information, which can show a hiring manager you're able to conduct ecological restoration tasks. This can increase your chances of securing an interview. Consider researching which academic qualifications and certifications may be beneficial, as hiring managers typically expect you to possess a bachelor's degree in biology with a postgraduate degree in ecosystem science. Including the exact academic information immediately establishes that you meet the criteria for the role.

2. Create a contact header

A contact header appears at the top of your resume. It contains your full name, city and state or territory, email address and phone number. Providing this information allows a hiring manager to contact you with updates about your application progress, invite you to an interview or to gather information about your previous work experience restoring and revitalising depleted ecosystems.

In this section, it may be beneficial to include the title of your academic qualification, such as a Master of Science with a specialisation in eco-science. Providing this information immediately shows a hiring manager that you have expert-level knowledge. This may increase the likelihood that you secure an interview.

3. Write a professional summary

A professional summary is a two- or three-sentence section that provides a hiring manager with a basic introduction to your key ecologist capabilities and knowledge of specific topics, such as environmental law or impact assessments.

The professional summary is an opportunity to motivate a hiring manager to continue reading your resume and see information about your professional achievements in conservation and ecology. This can demonstrate your proficiency in environmental science. Consider also including key skills that hiring managers are likely to prioritise, as this can help you pass applicant tracking systems and secure an interview invitation.

4. Include your work experience

The work experience section of your resume helps a hiring manager to determine whether your previous roles have given you useful experience in specific locations or ecosystems, such as rain forests, urban areas or flood plains, which could benefit you in the role for which you're applying. The work experience section contains information about your most applicable environmental science roles. Write your job title and employment dates for each position.

Underneath this information, provide bullet points that describe your key restoration duties and any metrics of key achievements. For example, a key achievement could include the impact of a restoration project you worked on involving native species of plants and animals in an area. Providing specific information relating to the impact of your restoration work shows a hiring manager that your knowledge positively impacts the environment.

5. Add your skills

The skills section of your resume showcases your most applicable ecology and natural resource management skills. Identifying your relevant skills shows that you can complete restoration projects successfully. The skills section can contain highly applicable environmental science skills, such as environmental consulting, biodiversity knowledge and an understanding of environmental law.

You can also provide soft skills that support your daily activities but are non-specific to ecology. These skills could include attention to detail, time management and organisation. Here are some examples of skills to include on a resume for restoration ecologists:

communication
observation
data analysis
physical stamina
research skills
problem-solving
agricultural and zoological knowledge.

6. Include your qualifications and certifications

Academic qualifications demonstrate that you have the training and knowledge necessary to introduce biodiversity with plants and animals to restore damaged ecosystems. These qualifications tell a hiring manager that you're capable of researching and understanding the impact of native species on ecosystems, assessing complex data to determine the level of environmental damage and conducting assessments of the most damaging causes of environmental damage, such as urbanisation or pollution.

Typically, you require a bachelor degree in a biology-related field, such as environmental science, zoology or biology. You can also pursue additional postgraduate degrees in biology to further your environmental expertise. Add your academic titles next to your place of study and graduating year.

Resume template

Here's a resume template you can follow when creating one for a restoration ecologist's role:

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

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

Education
[Degree and Major] | [Date of graduation]
[Name of School or University]

Optional

[Certification Name], [Host Organisation], [Year completed or expiration date]

Experience

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

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

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

Resume example

Here is a resume example for an entry-level restoration ecologist:

Sarah Phillips, Master of Environmental Science +61 594 875 3555 | sphil@mail.com | Melbourne, Victoria

Professional Summary
Dedicated restoration ecologist with over two years of professional experience working in urban settings to restore biodiversity. Through my work and research, I have effectively reintroduced native species of water rats in regions where population numbers fell below the normal level, giving me valuable research findings I'm hoping to bring to this role. With successful reintroduction of appropriate foliage and removing waste, population numbers increased by 10% in just two years.

Education
Master of Environmental Science | 2021
Tasmania University

Bachelor of Environmental Science | 2019
Tasmania University