Overview
Town planning is a profession where your degree accreditation matters almost as much as your experience. An RTPI-accredited degree is usually the minimum requirement, and local authorities and planning consultancies want to see that you have already handled real applications, conducted site visits, and understood the policy framework.
Rhys Evans is an urban planning graduate from Cardiff University who completed a year-long placement at the Vale of Glamorgan Council. His resume is effective because it demonstrates hands-on development management experience with specific application volumes, site visits, and committee involvement.
What Makes This Resume Work
Local authority placement with application numbers. Assessing 60 planning applications across different categories shows Rhys has practical experience with the full range of cases a junior planner would encounter. It tells the employer he can hit the ground running.
Decision notices drafted under delegated authority. Drafting 20 decision notices is a specific, high-value task. It means Rhys has written formal planning documents that carry legal weight, which is exactly what planning teams need from their staff.
Site visits with documentation. Conducting 35 site visits and preparing appraisal reports shows Rhys can assess sites independently, take measurements, photograph the context, and summarise findings for colleagues. This is core planning work.
Community consultation experience. The neighbourhood plan project involved 3 consultation sessions with 85 residents, demonstrating that Rhys can engage with the public on planning matters, a skill that is increasingly important in modern planning practice.
Key Takeaways
For graduate town planner roles, describe the number and types of applications you assessed, the site visits you conducted, and any committee or public consultation work you were involved in. Name the planning system (Welsh, English, Scottish) you worked under. Mention your RTPI accreditation status, GIS and mapping skills, and any report writing experience. If you completed a placement at a local authority, describe it in detail because it is the strongest evidence you can offer that you understand how planning works in practice.
