Wildlife Biologist Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Wildlife Biologist resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Wildlife biologists study the relationships between living things and their environment. They’re often called upon to assess the health of an ecosystem and figure out ways to protect it from destruction or overpopulation. Wildlife biologists can work in government agencies like the EPA or USDA, or in private consulting firms. Some work directly with animals—like researchers at zoos or aquariums—while others work with plants or other aspects of the natural world.
Because wildlife biologists have such a wide range of responsibilities, resumes can be tricky to write. But by following these tips and an example below, you’ll be able to create a resume that highlights your relevant experience and skills.
How to Write a Wildlife Biologist Resume
Here’s how to write a wildlife biologist resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
When you’re writing bullet points, it can be tempting to focus on the tasks and duties you performed. But that’s not always the most effective approach.
Instead, you can use your bullet points to showcase your skills and qualifications. So rather than saying you “conducted surveys,” you could say you “conducted surveys to gather data on population size, distribution, and habitat preferences of endangered species.”
The second bullet point paints a much clearer picture of what exactly you did and the type of work you did. And it also provides some context by mentioning the endangered species involved.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a wildlife biologist role, your resume will likely be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. ATS programs rank each resume against other candidates by scanning the document for certain keywords that are relevant to the job. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right terms, the ATS might not forward it to a recruiter.
The best way to make sure your resume makes it past the ATS is to include relevant keywords throughout all sections of your resume. You can find a list of common wildlife biologist keywords below, but keep in mind that this is just a starting point. You should also take into account the specific duties and responsibilities of the role you’re applying for.
- Wildlife Biology
- Wildlife Conservation
- Wildlife Management
- Wildlife Research
- Conservation Biology
- Wildlife Rehabilitation
- Endangered Species
- Herpetology
- Natural Resources
- Research
- Environmental Science
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Wildlife Law
- Biology
- Ecology
- Wildlife Management Planning
- Habitat Conservation
- Nature Conservation
- Land Management
- Forestry
- Environmental Compliance
- Environmental Compliance Auditing
- Auditing
- Environmental Management Systems
- Environmental Awareness
- Environmental Sustainability
- Environmental Protection
- Environmental Issues
- Environmental Compliance
- Microsoft Access
Showcase Your Technical Skills
Wildlife biologists need to have a strong understanding of the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it. They also need to be proficient in the use of technology, as they often use computers to track data, create models, and conduct research.
Some of the programs and systems that wildlife biologists are typically expected to be proficient in include: Geographic Information Systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), and statistical analysis software.