Overview
Environmental engineering consultancies need graduates who can carry out site investigations, contribute to EIAs, and produce GIS maps and technical reports. The environmental sector is growing with increasing regulation around SuDS, water quality, and net zero, so employers are actively recruiting. But they still want evidence that you can work on site as well as behind a desk.
This resume belongs to Emma Griffiths, an environmental engineering graduate from Cardiff University who completed a summer internship at Stantec. She worked on SuDS design for 450 homes, conducted 20 site investigations, and prepared sections of an EIA for a water treatment works upgrade. Her practical GIS skills and site survey experience make her a strong candidate for graduate consultancy roles.
What Makes This Resume Work
Site-based and desk-based experience are both covered. Emma includes both field work (20 site walkovers) and technical work (EIA sections, GIS maps, SuDS calculations). This balance is exactly what consultancies need, because graduate engineers typically split their time between office and site.
Project scale gives context. Specifying that SuDS designs were for developments of 450 homes tells the reader that Emma has worked on meaningful projects, not just academic exercises. Scale matters in consulting because it indicates the complexity of the work.
Environmental volunteering reinforces professional identity. Organising 15 beach cleans and collecting 200kg of litter shows genuine environmental commitment. Clients increasingly expect consultancies to demonstrate values alignment, and having staff who care about environmental protection beyond their day job supports this.
Key Takeaways
Junior environmental engineers should highlight internship or placement experience with specific project numbers, site investigation counts, and the types of assessments contributed to (EIA, contaminated land, flood risk). GIS proficiency is increasingly essential, so describe what you produced rather than just listing the software. ICE or CIWEM membership and a CSCS card should be clearly stated, and any environmental volunteering adds authentic context.
