Forestry and Natural Resources Resume Guide

Ten Tips and Advice

for a current undergraduate or recent graduate

1. Avoid using templates, such as the ones in Microsoft Word. You could run into

formatting issues.

2. Make your resume stand out – make sure your name is in a larger font than the rest

of your resume, and don’t be afraid to add a little color, such as blue or green.

Avoid bright colors like red or orange.

3. Use fonts that are easy to read (such as Times, Arial, Calibri) and keep the font

size at 10pt or higher. Also, keep page margins no smaller than 0.5”.

4. If your resume goes over 1-page, that’s ok. With the competitiveness of the

market, highlighting as must relevant experience as possible is a requirement. In

addition, FNR majors tend to have more experience to include on their resume due

to practicum, internships, volunteering and other hands-on experiences.

5. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date. Depending on the time of year,

employers need to know where they can best reach you.

6. Include the following sections on your resume:

a. Objective

b. Education

c. Work Experience

d. Educational Experience

e. Relevant Skills

7. Use bullet points for easy readability

8. Put sections on your resume from strongest to weakest. Example: If you feel your

experiences stand out more than your education, put that section first.

9. Have others read your resume to catch typos, grammatical errors, and to check for

consistent formatting.

10. Don’t include references on the resume. Those should be on a separate document.

DID YOU KNOW

You can get assistance with writing your resume by using several online resources,

including Upkey. In addition, The Society of American Foresters (SAF) website has a

link where you can upload your resume and get a free review!

Forestry and Natural Resources Employer Feedback

Are you wondering what employers are looking for when they’re reading your resume

or talking to you at a career fair? Below are some responses and tips from employers

who’ve recruited Purdue students.

Flexibility is important. If you’re looking for a standard 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. position that doesn’t

involve much travel, that’ll be difficult to find in the FNR field.

Dependability is a key trait to most, if not all, employers. If you say you’re doing to do something or be

somewhere at a specified time, will you actually do it/be there?

Tailor your cover letter and resume to each job you’re applying to. Having one standard resume could be

a disadvantage if relevant experience isn’t listed.

Employers want to see what you’ve been doing outside of the classroom. What internships have you

done? Research projects? Volunteer work? Student organizations? Even work outside of the field (such

as working at a dining hall) is beneficial – this can show time management skills.

If you’re interested in working in a state or federal position, a resume more than 1 page is a requirement.

However, many organizations outside of federal and state resumes have stated page length isn’t as

important as content. They’re looking for relevant experience versus how much experience.

Many organizations provide on-the-job training, so though you may lack some skills, apply to a position

anyway.

When you’re applying to a position, make sure your cover letter (or conversation if at a career fair)

really displays your personality and sincere interest in the position – that can help get your foot in the

door.

10 skills and traits employers find beneficial:

1. Initiative

2. Communication (this is a big one!)

3. Problem solving

4. Personable, people skills

5. Well spoken

6. Adventurous

7. Go-getter

8. Self-starter

9. Wanting to learn/continuous learning

10. Confidence

Below are resumes from past FNR graduates (names and contact information have been

replaced) that will help you develop your own resume. See the CCO Handbook or visit

the Purdue OWL for additional resume tips and layout ideas.

PETE B. PURDUE

715 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907

(765) 494-3631 | purduepete@purdue.edu | https://purduepete.weebly.com/ | www.linkedin.com/purduepete

EDUCATION

Purdue University

B. S. in Fisheries and Aquatic Science August 2014 – May 2018

Coursework includes: Limnology, Fish and Marine Populations Dynamics, Aquaculture, Marine Biology Practicum,

Statistics

Awards and Recognitions:

Honorable Mention – Department of Forestry and Natural Resource’s April 2016

Poster Competition, Undergraduate Division

Recipient, Agricultural Council Grant November 2016

Recipient, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Grant December 2016

EXPERIENCE

Aquaculture Research Lab, Purdue University

Aquaculture Technician September 2014 – Current

Husbandry of approximately 7,000 fish of various freshwater species including endangered and invasive

species.

Assist manager on research projects, including: training technicians, harvested farm ponds using seines,

assisting at live fish sales, conducing water quality tests, and constructing recirculating and flow-through

aquaculture systems.

Launch Social Living, West Lafayette, IN

Community Assistant December 2016 – Current

Conducted tours of property, served as a liaison between residents and management staff, participated in

and planned community-building events.

Research Lab, Purdue University

Fisheries Technician December 2016

Assisted a Master’s student collecting Lake Trout egg traps on Lake Huron by grappling, harvested eggs

off of traps.

Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association, Kodiak, AK

Fisheries Technician I April 2016 – July 2016

Lived and worked at a remote field site in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge monitoring sockeye smolt

outmigrations from Spiridon Lake.

Maintained Canadian fan traps and performed general maintenance of cabin and trails.

Trained for crew leader position and communicated with management daily about daily operations.

Research Lab, Purdue University

Undergraduate Research Assistant October 2015 – August 2016

Assisted in and ran trials testing for evolved resistance to TFM in larval sea lamprey, conducted an

independent research project looking at the effects of experimental procedures on larvae mortality.

Research Lab, Purdue University

Undergraduate Research Assistant August 2015 – April 2016

Maintained a population of approximately 120 zebrafish and 50 Japanese medaka, spawned both

species, conducted weekly water quality assessments and water changes, trained lab members on

standard protocols for fish husbandry.

Illinois – Indiana Sea Grant, Purdue University

Fisheries Data Analyst Intern May 2015 – August 2015

Analyzed and maintained large data sets, analyzed angler data to update the online Fish Atlas,

conducted analyses to understand spatial and temporal patterns of fishes and catch rates in the glacial

lakes of Indiana, utilized R Studio and Excel Pivot Tables.

The Department of Theatre and Dance, Ball State University

Teaching Assistant – Aesthetics of Theatre I August 2013 – December 2013

Assisted a group of ten undergraduates in understanding course expectations and materials.

Facilitated group discussions, graded papers and group presentations.

MEMBERSHIPS

President, Purdue Student Chapter of the August 2016 – August 2017

American Fisheries Society

Vice President, Student Chapter of Environmental Education September 2014 – August 2015

Treasurer, Student Chapter of Environmental Education September 2014 – August 2015

Member, The Wildlife Society August 2014 – April 2016

Member, Aquaponics Club August 2015 – April 2016

CERTFICIATIONS

Wilderness First Aid

CPR

Project Learning Tree

SKILLS

Grant Writing

SPSS

R Studio

Microsoft Office

Seine Netting

Hook-and-Line Sampling

Fyke Nets

Cast Nets

Crab Pots

Canadian Fan Traps

Cage Culture

Recirculating Aquaculture

Systems

Mist Netting

Satellite Phone

Bear Safety

Firearms Safety

Indiana Driver’s License

Centrifuge

PCV

Blood Smears

Use of Power Tools

Microfiche

Aging using scales and

otoliths

Snorkeling

Note:

If you have a digital portfolio, make sure to provide the web

address to it on your resume. You should also link to your LinkedIn

profile if it’s up-to-date (which you should do at least once a

semester).

Pete P. Boilermaker

715 West State St., West Lafayette, IN 47906 ⸰ (765) 434-3631 ⸰ pboilerm@purdue.edu

May 2015

GPA 3.50/4.00

EDUCATION

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana Bachelor of Science, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Minor: Food and Agribusiness Management

Recognitions and Awards: Pearl W. Smith Scholarship; Martell Scholarship

Relevant Skills: Seine Netting; Cast Netting; Gill Netting; Drift Boat Maneuvering; Load and Unload Boat from Trailer;

Chainsaw; Clearing Saw; ATV and UTV Driving; Driving Manual Vehicles; Firearms; Extracting DNA from Fin Clips;

Coordinating Gel Electrophoresis Processes; Proficient with Excel

Certifications: Hunter Education; Driver’s License

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Aquaculture Research Lab Technician February 2013 - Present

Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana

Feeding, grading, and moving fish in accordance with production goals

Spawned tilapia and placed eggs into incubation chambers to ensure proper growth

Tested water quality of recirculating systems using key indicators such as nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, dissolved

oxygen, pH, electrical current, and temperature to ensure proper water quality parameters for each fish species

Experience with basic plumbing, tank construction, and biofilter construction for assemblage of new systems

Attended Indoor Shrimp Farming workshop at Kentucky State University to gain knowledge on shrimp

aquaculture

Independent Research Project August 2012 – Present

Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana

• Determining if invasive channel catfish in the San Juan River are consuming endangered Colorado Pikeminnow

so that proper management methods can be put in place

• Experience using computer programs such as MEGA and DECIPHER to build DNA primers for traditional PCR

• Performing DNA extractions from tissue samples, PCR of extracted samples, and gel electrophoresis techniques

to test primers against non-target species

Private Pond Management Intern June 2013 – December 2013

Purdue Extension West Lafayette, Indiana

Hauled largemouth bass and bluegill and stocked them in research pond so that further experiments can be done

on determining proper stocking density, proper fish stocking size, and ability of the pond to persist without

restocking

Wrote a Purdue Extension publication on “Stocking Fish in Indiana Ponds” using research results from

published journals and university extension programs across the United States in order to educate private pond

owners

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Costa Rica Tropical Biology Study Abroad March 2012

Operated electrofishing backpack in a creek at La Tirimbina Biological Reserve to determine species diversity

and health of the aquatic ecosystem

Toured riverine, oceanic and forested ecosystems to compare flora and fauna present and learned about

management challenges facing each system type

Fisheries Summer Practicum in Iron River, MI May 2013 – June 2013

• Navigated terrestrial landscapes using a compass and GPS unit to learn proper techniques used in orienteering

• Conducted boat electrofishing, barge electrofishing, gill netting, light trapping, and plankton netting to learn

how to capture fish species using all these different gear types

• Viewed fish otoliths and scales under microscopes to practice aging different species in lotic and lentic systems

• Toured private and government-owned hatcheries to compare the pros and cons of each

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources Ambassador August 2012 – Present

Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana

• Communicate with alumni and prospective students about opportunities and events within the department to

gain connections and conserve connections already present

• Chaperone on Learning Community trips for backpack electrofishing and to the Aquaculture Research Lab to

assist in teaching students

Volunteer in Dr. Reuben Goforth’s Lab November 2011 – May 2012

Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana

• Sampled via an electrofishing drift boat on different reaches of the San Juan River throughout the Navajo Nation

to collect channel catfish for an experiment

• Harvested stomachs from channel catfish and flannelmouth suckers for diet examination

• Used microscopes to photograph larval fish to determine age based on number of myomeres present

• Conducted macroinvertebrate sampling in the Wabash River to determine health of the benthic ecosystem

OTHER ACTIVITES

• American Fisheries Society, Member August 2012 – Present

• Indiana Aquaculture Association, Member August 2013 – Present

• Marine Biology Practicum, Student August 2012

Note:

The order of sections on your resume is your

preference. If you feel it’s important for the

employer to see your educational experience

first, include that at the top. If you feel it’s

more important to showcase your work

experience first, put that first.

Pete Purdue715 West State Street purduepete@gmail.com

Lafayette IN, 47905 (765) 494-3631

EDUCATION Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN May 2017

Bachelor of Science in Forestry GPA: 3.25/4.00

Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Relevant Coursework: Dendrology; Ecology, Systematics, and Identification of Fish, Mammals, Amphibians,

Reptiles, and Birds; Natural Resource Information Management; Introduction to Environmental Policy; Technical

Writing; Fundamental Remote Sensing; Forest Soils; Natural Resource Measurements; Human Dimensions of

Natural Resources; Resource Management and Culture; World’s Forests and Society; Forest Ecosystems; Forest

Economics; Urban Forest Issues; Fundamentals of Planning; Forest Resources Management; Quantitative Methods

for Resource Managers

Relevant Skills and Certifications: ESRI: Learning ArcGIS Desktop (for ArcGIS 10) – 24 Hour Training;

Microsoft Office Suite; CITI Human Research Basic Course; Invasive Species Identification and Removal

Training; Trees Fall For Me, Safely Chainsaw Training; Worker Protection Standards Training

EXPERIENCE

Indiana DNR – Prophetstown State Park West Lafayette, IN

Interpretive Naturalist October 2016 – Present

Educated park visitors about the prairie ecosystem and history of Prophetstown

Re-organized and updated park operations and history binders to improve the resources available for park

officials to reference

Assisted with growing and selling approximately 40,000 native plants in park greenhouses

Led the park’s annual “First Day Hike” and interacted with 260 visitors who attended

Managed invasive species removal throughout park property to promote a healthy ecosystem

Forest Ecology, Silviculture, and Soils Lab West Lafayette, IN

Greenhouse Assistant September 2016 – Present

Cared for and maintained the health of several hundred endangered butternut seedlings in university

greenhouses

Arranged homes for the leftover seedlings not needed for research

Designed insulation systems to be used in temperature experiments

Collected measurements on height, diameter, and bud counts for seedlings used in research

Oklahoma Forestry Services Goldsby, OK

Forestry Intern June 2015 – August 2015

Taught forestry and forest product lessons at a three day youth camp for ages 9 to 11

Kayaked the Illinois River with Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission to discuss water quality, erosion,

recreation, and other common concerns with the river

Gathered water samples on Lake Wister to test water turbidity, plankton counts, and other water quality

parameters

Worked with a GIS specialist to learn new technologies being used by Oklahoma Forestry Services

Natural Resource Social Science Lab West Lafayette, IN

Research Assistant July 2014 – August 2014

Compiled survey responses sent out to collect public opinions on agriculture and local ecosystems

Conducted in-person surveys to evaluate effectiveness of a two-year program designed to change public

opinion on local fauna

Prepared surveys to be sent out in the mail and organized incoming, completed surveys

Purdue University Department of Biological Sciences West Lafayette, IN

Data Analysis Assistant December 2014

Coded videos of zebrafish to analyze response to social stimuli

Entered data into excel documents to track responses of zebrafish

University of Pittsburgh Linesville, PA

Field Technician May 2014 – July 2014

Drew blood samples from birds to examine stress levels in different species

Measured wing cord, tarsus, tail length and determined age, sex, and breeding data from birds

Recorded and managed the collected data in excel documents

Indiana DNR – Turkey Run and Shades State Parks Marshall, IN

Interpretive Naturalist May 2013 – September 2013

Developed and presented programs to educate visitors about the park history and local ecosystems

Roved campgrounds and spoke to campers in all weather conditions to highlight upcoming programs

Interacted with hundreds of guests each day to create a welcoming atmosphere in the park and answer

questions

Taught visitors about park flora and fauna through daytime and nighttime hikes

Updated the park’s Facebook page daily to connect with visitors via social media

ACTIVITIES Purdue Student Society of Arboriculture February 2016 – Present

o Treasurer (Current)

American Fisheries Society, Purdue Student Chapter August 2014 – May 2015

Society of American Foresters August 2014 – May 2015

The Wildlife Society August 2012 – May 2015

Forestry and Natural Resources Student Council August 2012 – May 2015

o Vice President (2014 - 2015)

o Sophomore Representative (2013 - 2014)

o Freshman Representative (2012 - 2013)

Student Chapter of Environmental Education January 2014 – December 2014

Note:

You can include relevant coursework on your resume if

you’re still enrolled in school or recently graduated. About

one-two years after getting your degree, you should remove

the school work add replace it with more job experience.

PURDUE B. PETE715 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47906 ppurdue1@purdue.edu

(765) 494-3631 www.iampurduepete.wixsite.com/portfolio

SUMMARY

I have known I wanted to work with animals all my life. I am a hard worker and always willing to learn

something new. I always put all I have into everything I do and am always willing to step out of my comfort

zone.

EDUCATION

Purdue University

Bachelor of Science in Wildlife August 2011 – December 2015

Minor in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

GPA: 3.00

SKILLS

Workplace Skills:

Communication

Teamwork

Problem solving

Initiative

Planning and organizing

Learning

Technology

Self-management

Wildlife Skills:

Technical writing

Time management

Statistical analyses

Animal handling

Animal identification

Plant identification

Conservation knowledge

Enthusiasm

Mark-Capture-Release

EXPERIENCE

Purdue University

Marine Biology Summer Practicum, Student August 2015

Learned basic principles and techniques associated with sampling organisms in coastal environments.

Demonstrated practical knowledge by actively participating in activities and group discussions.

Columbian Park Zoo

Seasonal Zoo Educator March 2015 - August 2015

Taught week-long children’s camps, ages ranging from 3-14, with varying group sizes.

Lessons included learning about different animals, environmental issues, and cultures around the

world

Created lesson plans that were designed to excite the children to learn more about environmental

education.

Occasionally traveled to off-site programs at nursing homes and preschools to teach them about

different types of animals.

Columbian Park Zoo

Zoo Educational Intern May 2014 - August 2014

Worked with several different species of birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals in various learning

environments.

Provided excellent customer service; communicating with a wide range of patrons for various reasons.

Delivered off-site animal programs to nursing homes and preschools for fun education.

Trained and supervised Zoo Teens by teaching them about animals and how to interact with patrons.

Promoted to a seasonal position for the summer of 2015.

Purdue University

Forestry and Natural Resources Summer Practicum, Teaching Assistant May 2013 – June 2013

Assisted with the preparation and planning of the trip as well as the return trip home.

Worked alongside professors and guest teachers to educate and guide students through different tasks

they were assigned.

Provided office hours to help students with homework questions.

Arranged review sessions for quizzes and exams.

Purdue University

Forestry and Natural Resources Summer Practicum, Student May 2013 – June 2013

Operated a compass, map, and GPS system to find my way through the woods to learn new navigation

techniques

Utilized Tomahawk and Sherman traps to capture small mammals, learn how to handle animals in a

safe environment and how to use ear tags for mark-recapture population measurements.

Gained experience in using mist nets to capture birds and how to attach leg bands for mark-recapture.

Worked with turtle traps and shell notching for mark-recapture of painted and snapping turtles.

Set up scent stations and how to identify different animal prints in the sand for diversity estimations.

Expanded my knowledge in how to take different measurements on the animals we captured for better

identification.

Note:

Skills such as communication, leadership, team work, etc. should be listed in your responsibilities. Phrase

them in the format of what you did and how you did it, and use power verbs.