Resume Tips for Development Professionals
Written by Tim Spindlove, Senior Recruitment Consultant, Real Estate Development
As a specialist recruiter in real estate development, I represent some very seasoned professionals with deep experience across multiple asset classes. However, some resumes we receive can often leave something to be desired in terms of detail and professionalism.
Creating an effective resume as a real estate development professional is crucial to showcase your skills, experience, and accomplishments. So, I thought I would share some resume tips tailored specifically for real estate development professionals. Here are 10 tips you can put into play right away:
1. Start with a Strong Summary or Objective
Begin your resume with a concise summary or objective statement that highlights your career goals and key qualifications. Mention your years of experience, specific expertise in real estate development, and your career objectives.
Example: “Development Manager with 7 years experience in multi-family and mixed-use projects across Metro Vancouver”
2. Highlight Relevant Skills
Emphasize the skills that are most relevant to real estate development. This may include skills such as:
- Site Selection
- Financial Modeling
- Zoning and Permitting
- Project Management
- Negotiation Skills
3. Showcase Your Experience
Describe your work experience in detail. Use bullet points to outline your responsibilities, accomplishments, and specific projects you’ve worked on. Focus on how your contributions added value to the projects and the organization.
4. Quantify Achievements
Whenever possible, quantify your achievements. Use metrics to showcase your impact, such as
- The number of successful projects completed
- The value of properties developed
- Percentage increases in property values
5. Highlight Real Estate Development Projects
Dedicate a section (or secondary attachment) to showcase the real estate development projects you’ve been involved in. Provide details about the types of properties (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.), project size, budgets, and outcomes. If you need inspiration, we share many projects in the industry monthly on our newsletter, you can sign up here.
6. Emphasize Financial Skills
Real estate development often involves financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting. Highlight your financial skills, including your ability to create pro forma financial statements and perform feasibility studies.
7. Use Action Verbs
Start each bullet point with strong action verbs to convey your accomplishments and responsibilities effectively. Examples include “managed,” “developed,” “negotiated,” and “implemented.”
8. Tailor Your Resume
Customize your resume for each job application by highlighting the skills and experiences that align with the specific requirements of the job posting. If you are applying for a Development Manager role that calls for experience with hi-rise projects, ensure that detail is front and center.
9. Keep It Concise
While you want to provide sufficient detail, keep your resume concise and focused. Aim for a length of one to two pages, with the most important information on the first page.
10. Include a LinkedIn Profile
If you have a LinkedIn profile that complements your resume, include a link to it. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is also up-to-date and professionally curated.
Remember that your resume should serve as a marketing tool to showcase your qualifications and make a strong impression on potential employers in the real estate development industry. Tailor it to your unique skills and experiences, and continually update it as your career progresses.
And for the record, my favorite tip is #5, highlighting your specific project experience. This will help a potential employer really zero-in on the skills and experience you have and how you bring value to their organization.
