17 Ways To Boost Your Resume: Landscape & Horticulture Industry

Are you missing out on job opportunities because your resume doesn’t stand out? The key to a winning resume is highlighting the skills and experiences that make you the best fit for the job.

In this article, we’ll show you 17 essential additions to your landscape or horticulture resume, making it more attractive to potential employers. Not all of these skills will apply to you, but incorporating even a few can boost your chances of landing your dream job.

1. Relevant education, certifications and awards

The first addition to your resume is an obvious one. You worked hard to earn your qualifications, tickets and awards, so be sure to list these prominently on your resume, along with any relevant coursework or training you’ve completed.

2. Industry experience

List out each job, the dates you’ve worked there, and skills or responsibilities, but keep it brief. You don’t have space to waffle on about things employers don’t care about. Be sure to include each role’s responsibilities and any accomplishments or successes you had.

3. Volunteer Experience

Most employers value candidates who are involved in their communities, whether through industry-relevant volunteer work or other community services. You could have a “Volunteer Experience” section, or you could give each volunteer position the same layout as your paid roles.

4. Diverse Experience

Landscape and horticulture jobs tend to require the ability to work with a variety of plants in different environments and climates. That’s why you should emphasise your ability to work under different circumstances, rather than making all of your previous roles look the same.

5. Metrics and Statistics

Sometimes you can re-word your responsibilities with metrics, which can sound more impressive. For example, “lawn mowing team leader” becomes “team leading 80-120 lawns per week.”

6. Visual Elements

Adding visual elements such as a photo of your face or a portfolio of previous work can showcase you and your skills in a more engaging way. Most resumes don’t include visual elements, which is crazy.

7. Software and Technology Experience

You might have been trained in the use of specialised software and technology, such as scheduling software, GIS, or landscape design software. Make sure you name any programs or technologies you’ve used that could be relevant for the role.

8. Language Skills

If you speak any other languages, be sure to mention them on your resume. You never know if the employer works with clients that also speak that language, too.

9. Health and Safety

These days, most landscape and horticulture jobs require knowledge of safety protocols and regulations. You can showcase your understanding of this by inputting “working in accordance with SWMS” within each role description, or you can have a separate “Health and Safety” heading.

10. Management & Leadership

Supervision of a team doesn’t have to mean hundreds of people; if you’re running a vehicle with one other person under you, you’re in a leadership position. Showcase that leadership background, especially if your ambition is to move into a role with more responsibility.

11. Project Management

Managing projects from start to finish is a valuable skill, because it shows you can balance budget, logistics, leadership and time constraints. Highlight any project management experience you have on your resume, and be sure to mention any specific tasks or responsibilities you had in those roles.

12. Budgeting and Cost Management

Highlight your budgeting and cost management experience by including specific examples of how you successfully managed financial resources in previous landscape or horticulture roles. Emphasise your ability to analyse financial data, create and stick to budgets, and minimise costs to maximise profits in your landscape or horticulture experience section.

Cost management and budgeting metrics could include specific budgets you’ve adhered to, and costings saved.

13. Ability to Work with Limited Resources

If you don’t have budgeting experience, show your ability to work with limited resources. Landscaping and horticulture jobs can often involve tight budgets or limited equipment. Highlighting this experience can make you more attractive. Mention any specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

14. Other Technical skills

Employers don’t want to guess how much training you’ll need. By listing specific technical skills, such as knowledge of plants, irrigation systems, and equipment operation, you’re making it easy for them to offer an interview. Here’s a short list of skills you might’ve forgotten you have:

• plant identification and selection
• soil testing
• irrigation system installation and repairs
• drainage installation
• hard/soft landscape construction
• measuring beds & calculating mulch needed
• design
• propagation
• integrated pest management
• integrated weed management
• planting
• pruning
• fertilising
• turf management
• tool sharpening
• equipment operation and maintenance
• machinery repairs
• welding and fabrication

15. Other Soft Skills

They say that technical skills get you in the door, but soft skills are what keep you in the job. Be sure to highlight a few from the list below that apply for you:

• attention to detail
• customer service
• teamwork
• working by yourself
• ability to work in most weather conditions (which is another way of saying you don’t mind working in rain)
• training staff
• leading toolbox meetings

Writing that you have attention to detail doesn’t mean that you have attention to detail, however it can indicate that you’re aware of its importance within the industry. It can’t hurt to mention it somewhere on your resume, just don’t waste too much valuable space on it.

16. Industry-Specific Language

The landscape and horticulture industry has its own set of technical terms and jargon. Use these terms throughout your resume to show that you’re fluent in the industry language and have a deep understanding of the field.

17. Passion for the Industry

Don’t forget to showcase your passion for the landscape and horticulture industry. Highlight any extracurricular activities that demonstrate your interest in the field, such as following the Plants Grow Here podcast, membership to gardening clubs, home veggie patches, etc.

These may go under a “Hobbies” heading, or under a “Passion for the Industry” heading.

Just Don’t Lie

Exaggerating your abilities can make you sound better, but outright lying can backfire. It’s better to miss an opportunity than to be caught in a lie or be unable to fulfil false claims.

Conclusion

By following these expert tips, you can create a standout resume that will help you land a job in the landscape and horticulture industry. Remember to keep your resume clear, concise, and visually appealing.

Also make sure to tailor it to the specific job you are applying for, and highlight the skills and experience that make you the best candidate for the role. There’s no point emphasising your experience with customers when you’re applying for a production nursery role where you’ll be out the back planting seeds and cuttings all day.