Economic Development Specialist Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Economic Development Specialist resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Economic development specialists are responsible for planning and implementing initiatives that boost the local economy. They typically work for municipalities or economic development agencies, helping businesses expand and create jobs in their communities.
Economic development specialists must be highly organized and have a knack for building relationships. They must also have a solid understanding of local regulations, policies, and tax structures. And they must be able to identify opportunities that will drive economic growth while still meeting the needs of the people they serve.
Here are some tips and an example resume to help you write a fantastic economic development specialist resume that will get you noticed by hiring managers everywhere.
How to Write an Economic Development Specialist Resume
Here’s how to write an economic development specialist resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
When you’re writing bullet points, it can be tempting to focus on the responsibilities of your job. But that’s not enough to make a compelling resume. Instead, you should focus on the results of your work.
For example, rather than saying you “managed social media accounts,” you could say that you “increased Twitter followers by 20% in six months, resulting in a 15% increase in website traffic.”
The second bullet point is much stronger because it provides specific numbers and details about the project. It also ties in the outcome of the project—increased website traffic—which is always a good thing to do when possible.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you submit your resume for an economic development specialist role, it’s likely that it will be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. This software looks for specific terms related to the job, like “economic analysis” or “marketing strategy,” in order to determine whether your skills and experience align with the job opening. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right terms, your application might not make it past the initial screening process.
To increase your chances of getting an interview, use this list of keywords as a starting point and then add, remove, and rearrange words as needed:
- Economic Development
- Community Development
- Local Government
- Local Government Politics
- Community Outreach
- Public Policy
- Economic Analysis
- Public Administration
- Program Evaluation
- Grant Writing
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Political Campaigns
- Economic Development Planning
- Community Engagement
- Public Speaking
- Research
- Strategic Planning
- Government
- Marketing
- Management
- Social Media
- Microsoft Access
- Event Planning
- Leadership
- Business Strategy
- Customer Service
- Teamwork
- Change Management
- Sustainability
- Social Responsibility
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As an economic development specialist, you need to be proficient in a variety of software programs and systems in order to effectively do your job. This might include programs like Microsoft Office Suite, QuickBooks, and Salesforce. You should also be familiar with economic development-specific software, like Economic Development Modeling System (EDMS) and the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Community Planning and Development System (CPDS). Additionally, you should have a solid understanding of economic development concepts and principles.