Farmer Resume Example
If you're hoping to start a career as a farmer, you'll need experience in managing livestock health and operating farm machinery. A professional resume for farmer applications will showcase your relevant skills and career achievements, to help you stand out from the crowd. In this article, we'll discuss how to create a farmer resume that catches the eye of employers, with tips and examples to help you write your own.
The aim of this article is to equip you with all the knowledge required to create a resume that positions you to succeed in your farmer applications. You'll learn how to show employers you've got the relevant qualities, skills and experience for the job, all presented in a format that employers prefer to see. The article also includes tips for formatting your resume according to your experience and strengths. Continue reading to find expert tips and advice from Jobseeker that will help you with your farmer resume.
Main elements of a farmer resume
Most resumes contain similar key sections, with a farmer resume being no different. For junior candidates with little work experience, other sections of the resume take on more prominence and might be placed before the work experience section. These could include education, skills, projects, hobbies and volunteer work.
Your resume layout and structure may differ depending on your experience levels, but make sure your resume includes the following:
Resume Header with Contact Details
A farmer resume header contains your name and contact information. Add your first and last name, your phone number and your email address. Include your address or location, but avoid adding any other personal information. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can add the URL to your header so the hiring manager can get a better understanding of your work history and experience. Make sure your resume header is as brief as possible and doesn't take up too much valuable space. Choose a clear, professional design that sets the tone for your application.
Only include professional, name-based email addresses in your resume header. If you have an old email address that uses nicknames, puns, references to your personal interests or anything else that could appear unprofessional, set up a new email just for your job applications. Finally, always double-check your contact details are correct and up-to-date before sending your resume.
Ariana Bailey
ariana.bailey@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 48
10 Downing Street, London, CA
linkedin․com/in/ariana–bailey123
Resume Profile
In your resume summary, write a short paragraph that highlights two or three of your key achievements and skills for farmer roles. You could also call this section 'resume objective' or 'personal profile'. A resume summary covers your career experience to date, while a resume objective focuses more on your ambitions for the future. However, make sure you keep your resume summary short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description.
Alternatively, use this summary to introduce your personal career ambitions and explain why farmer roles are a good fit for you at this stage of your career.
A strong resume summary focuses on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for farmer roles in a clear, quantifiable way. It also gives an insight into your personal qualities, to help the reader understand why you're a suitable candidate. See below for some great examples of how to approach your farmer resume.
Good example:
Experienced Agricultural Manager with a strong background in farm operations and crop management. Skilled in overseeing agricultural processes, optimizing resource use, and implementing sustainable farming practices. Proven track record in team leadership, budget management, and enhancing productivity through innovative techniques. Adept at coordinating with suppliers, managing schedules, and ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations. Passionate about driving efficiency and profitability in agricultural enterprises
Bad example:
Agricultural manager with some experience in running farm activities and managing crops. Worked in roles where I oversaw processes and tried to use resources well. Have experience leading teams, handling budgets, and trying new methods to improve work. Coordinated with suppliers and managed schedules while keeping safety and environmental rules in mind. Focused on making farming operations more efficient and profitable
Conversely, a bad resume summary might be too generic, lacking focus on the specifics of the job description. It will also fail to provide any useful insights on what makes you a unique candidate. See above for some examples of things to avoid when writing your farmer resume summary.
Skills
The skills section of a farmer resume is a chance to list any skills you have that match those of the job description. You could include pest control strategies, problem solving or any other skills that show you're a suitable candidate. Again, refer to the farmer job description for an indication of the types of skills the employer is looking for, and make sure your skills section reflects these.
Showcasing hard skills on your farmer resume
Under hard skills, add any specialist skills you possess that are specifically required for farmer jobs. These tend to be technical skills and industry knowledge essential to the position. Furthermore, these skills are essential for a farmer resume as they showcase your expertise in the field. If possible, add four or five hard skills that reflect the requirements of the job description. These will boost your chances of success in your applications.
The best resume hard skills sections focus on specific technical skills necessary for the job, showcasing skills that you have particular expertise in. There are some examples of valuable hard skills for a farmer resume below.
- Crop management techniques
- Soil health analysis
- Pest control strategies
Listing soft skills on your farmer resume
In your soft skills list, include any personal characteristics that make you a good fit for a farmer job. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, but they're no less important. Indeed, transferable skills are growing in importance in the modern world of work, so make sure you include several of these in your resume. It's best to aim for four or five soft skills that match the job description and reflect your strongest personal qualities.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for a farmer resume.
- Time management
- Problem solving
- Attention to detail
Education and Qualifications
In your education section, include details of your most relevant farmer qualifications and educational achievements.
You don't tend to need a degree for farmer roles, but you'll still need to list any relevant qualifications, or your relevant educational achievements. If you have Certified Crop Advisor, add this here, along with any other education that shows your equipment operation proficiency or GPS-guided machinery.
For each entry in this section, add the name and level of your qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study. You can also add some bullet points outlining any high grades, awards you won or specialist subjects you studied. Adding this information will show the employer your dedication to learning and your areas of specialist knowledge.
If you were a member of any clubs or societies, or volunteered for any causes while studying, you could also mention these in your education section.
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science, 2017 - 2020
University of Maine, Orono
Certifications and Training
Under certifications and licenses, add any further qualifications that show you're a good fit for the job. These might be licenses that show you're qualified to operate certain equipment, or certifications that give you the edge over candidates with otherwise similar career history. Therefore, list any official licenses and certifications, along with their dates, so employers can assess whether you've got the necessary qualifications to work as a farmer.
Below you can find several examples of certifications for a farmer resume:
- Certified Crop Advisor, 2022
- Organic Farm Certification, 2022
- Pesticide Applicator License, 2022
Employment History
In the next section, list your employment history focusing on the most relevant previous roles and achievements that showcase your farmer skills. For each entry, list the job title, the name of the employer, its location and the dates you worked there. Add each job in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to farmer roles.
A successful resume work experience section will always showcase skills and experience relevant to the job description, and how you put each to good use in your previous roles. Offering quantifiable evidence in a farmer resume proves you're a strong candidate for the job, such as client feedback, project outcomes, KPIs or financial results. Take a look at the examples below for some guidance on what works best for your work experience section.
Good example:
Agricultural Manager, January 2022 - Present
GreenHarvest Farms, El Paso
- Successfully increased crop yield by 30% through implementation of advanced farming techniques and precision agriculture technologies
- Managed a 1,500-acre farm, optimizing resource allocation and reducing operational costs by 25% within two years
- Led a team of 50+ employees, achieving a 98% on-time harvest rate and maintaining high-quality standards across all produce
Bad example:
Agricultural Manager, January 2022 - Present
GreenHarvest Farms, El Paso
- Improved farm operations and productivity
- Managed a large team effectively
- Enhanced agricultural processes and outcomes
See above for some of the pitfalls to avoid with your resume work experience section. Poor examples of resume work experience sections tend to be vague and fail to quantify your achievements and the impact you've made in your career to date. They may also focus on responsibilities above relevant skills and how you've used them.
Expert Tip:
Optional Sections
To provide further information on your suitability for the role, you could add some optional sections to a farmer resume. Add any of the sections below that help you showcase your key skills and experience.
Hobbies and Interests
Including your hobbies and interests can be a valuable way of showing your key skills and qualities. These are particularly useful for your resume if you're short of work experience and need to showcase a particular skill or experience. Just make sure any hobbies and interests you include in your resume add genuine insight into your personality, in ways other sections of the resume can't.
Volunteer Work
Listing volunteer work is another useful way to prove your relevant experience for farmer roles. List your volunteer job title, the organization you volunteered for, its location and the dates of your involvement, alongside a brief explanation of your responsibilities in the role.
References
Standard farmer resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Before adding any referees to your resume, ask them for their assistance and prepare them for contact by the employer.
References can be provided upon request.
Best words to use in a farmer resume
Using strong action verbs in your work experience bullet points can make a stronger impression on employers and show the value you added to your previous roles. Choose from the list of words below to increase the impact of your work experience section.
- Plant
- Harvest
- Cultivate
- Irrigate
- Fertilize
- Prune
- Plow
- Sow
- Manage
- Operate
If you need help creating a resume that impresses HR managers, take a look at Jobseeker's professional resume templates. You can also access beautiful cover letter templates that help your application stand out.
Example resume for farmer applications
Now that you know everything that needs to go into your farmer resume, let's review an example resume that you can use as a guide when creating your own:
10 Downing Street, London, CA
•
ariana.bailey@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 48
•
linkedin․com/in/ariana–bailey123
Experienced Agricultural Specialist with a strong background in crop management, soil analysis, and sustainable farming practices. Adept at implementing innovative agricultural techniques to enhance productivity and efficiency. Proven track record in farm management, pest control, and resource optimization. Skilled in using advanced agricultural technology and data-driven decision making to improve yield and quality of produce
Agricultural Specialist
2020
-2022
GreenFields AgriSolutions (Los Angeles)
- Developed and implemented sustainable farming practices, increasing crop yield by 30% over two years
- Conducted comprehensive soil health assessments, leading to a 25% reduction in fertilizer usage and improved crop quality
- Led a team in pest management research, reducing pest-related crop losses by 40% through innovative biological control methods
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
2017
-2020
University of Maryland, College Park (College Park, MD)
- Crop management techniques 
- Soil health analysis 
- Pest control strategies 
- Time management 
- Problem solving 
- Attention to detail 
- Certified Crop Advisor 
- Organic Farm Certification 
- English - Fluent 
- Spanish - B2 
Key tips for a farmer resume
Simple tips for creating a winning resume
- Order your work experience in a reverse-chronological timeline, starting with your most recent position.
- Mention key skills that show you're suited to the job throughout your resume, as well as in the dedicated skills section.
- Use action words that show how you've made an impact in different farmer jobs (e.g. harvest, prune, manage).
- Quantify the impact you've made in different roles by offering evidence of your key abilities and your contribution.
- Create a positive impression with a well-written resume summary or objective that highlights your key strengths for farmer roles.
Avoid these common mistakes on your resume
- Don't use passive language because it's less engaging for the reader. Change phrases like 'the target was exceeded' to 'I helped the team exceed the target'.
- Don't use an email address that creates an unprofessional impression. Instead, create an email address for job applications based on your name.
- Don't use complex and elaborate formatting that can make your farmer resume less readable and more difficult for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan.
- Don't lie or exaggerate on your farmer resume, as this can create false expectations in employers and harm you in the future.
- Don't include personal details beyond your name, location and contact details. Adding your age, gender, nationality or a photo can create unwanted hiring bias.
How to make your resume ATS compliant
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is just one of the tools employers and recruiters can use to streamline their hiring practices. This typically includes screening candidates by scanning and ranking their resumes based on their likely suitability for any vacancy. When you're writing your farmer resume, there are several things you can do to make sure your resume stands the best chance of passing the ATS stage.
Follow these simple rules when writing your resume, to make sure it's ATS compliant:
- Opt for an established, traditional resume format such as a reverse-chronological or functional structure. These will ensure your resume includes all the necessary details ATS systems scan for.
- Add keywords throughout your resume that help ATS software match your application to the job description. A higher match means your application is more likely to proceed to be reviewed by human eyes.
- Include clear headings in each section that match the traditional resume structure and format. This will make it easier for the ATS software to scan your resume.
- Use design elements that help make your resume more readable. These might include white space, clear, professional fonts and subtle color accents to help certain elements stand out.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
For tips and ideas to help you draft a professional resume to get noticed by employers, read our expert career articles and check out our detailed resume examples.
Frequently Asked Questions about a farmer resume
Accompanying your resume for farmer applications, you'll want to produce a cover letter that similarly leaves a positive impression on hiring managers.
In some situations, a full, professional cover letter may not be necessary. Check the job advert and decide whether to write a formal cover letter, or if a brief email is more suitable.
For a full, traditional cover letter, follow formal letter-writing conventions with your header, address line and greetings. The main text of the letter tends to be split into three short paragraphs. Firstly, introduce yourself, confirm the role you're applying for and explain why you're applying for the farmer role. In the second paragraph, highlight your skills and experience that are most relevant to the job description. The third paragraph gives you the opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and your gratitude to the employer, while leaving a call to action which encourages them to make contact with you.
For help creating an eye-catching cover letter that impresses recruiters and hiring managers, use Jobseeker's professional cover letter templates.
If you're an experienced farmer, your resume should focus on your extensive work experience and the achievements in your career to date. You may wish to include a longer-than-average work experience section in your farmer resume, to emphasize your career experience to date and showcase relevant achievements in work. In your farmer resume, think about any optional sections you could add to help prove your standing and reputation in your industry. Sections such as awards, achievements and projects can build a picture of your career successes to date.
A resume headline can catch the attention of the reader and give them a strong first impression about your suitability for farmer jobs. A well-written resume headline is also a way to increase your chances of passing the ATS resume scanning stage, by referencing keywords that match the job description. Write a short, concise resume headline incorporating the job title, one or two key skills that match the job description and a reference to your reputation or track record.
See below for an example of a well-constructed resume headline:
- Aspiring Junior Farmer Seeking Opportunities
- Experienced Agricultural Operations Manager
- Experienced Senior Agricultural Professional
The best resume format for you depends on two things. Firstly, it depends on your experience level. Secondly, it depends on the type and level of position you're applying for. For roles where you're lacking experience, such as graduate jobs or career changes, you could use a functional or skills-based resume format. This places your skills and education above your work experience. If, however, you have experience in your chosen profession, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format might be the way to go. This showcases your relevant skills and achievements in your work experience section.
Takeaways for a winning farmer resume
An effective resume is a concise, professional summary of your relevant skills and career achievements, showcased through a chronology of your career history. Use a suitable resume format and tailor your resume for every application you submit.
Remember, Jobseeker resume templates and other tools make it easy to create a resume and cover letter that leaves a positive impression on hiring managers. Sign up now to start building your perfect resume. Whatever job you're applying for, a professional cover letter can make all the difference to your chances. Use Jobseeker's HR-approved tools and cover letter examples to inspire your applications.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resumes, Cover Letters and Job Applications, New York State Department of Labor: https://dol.ny.gov/resumes-cover-letters-and-job-applications
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