Planning employers read a lot of CVs, and most get a quick first look before anyone reads them properly. A good planning CV makes three things obvious straight away: what level you work at, what kind of planning you do, and the schemes or plans you can point to. This guide covers what councils, consultancies and developers look for, and ends with an example layout you can adapt.
What planning employers look for first
- Your level and your planning type. "Senior Planning Officer, development management" or "Planner, strategic land" tells the reader in seconds whether you fit the role.
- Membership status. Chartered (MRTPI), Licentiate, or working towards chartership. Put it next to your name or in the first lines.
- Casework or projects with scale. Numbers of units, floorspace, site size, the type of applicant and the outcome. "Case officer for a 250-home outline application, approved at committee" says more than "handled major applications".
- Evidence of judgement. Appeals, committee reports, negotiated improvements, policy drafting, examination hearings.
- Location and right to work. Where you are based and how far you can travel, especially for hybrid roles that still expect site visits and committee nights.
How to structure it
Two pages is right for most planners. Three is fine for very experienced planners with a long project list, but put the detail in a project schedule at the end rather than in every job.
- Name, membership and contact details. Phone, email, your town or area. No need for your full address, date of birth or a photo.
- A short profile. Three or four lines: level, years of experience, type of planning and what you're looking for next.
- Key skills or areas of expertise. A short list that matches the job: major applications, appeals, Section 106, design review, heritage, local plan evidence, and so on.
- Experience, most recent first. Employer, job title, dates, two or three lines on the role, then bullet points for the schemes and results that matter.
- Qualifications and membership. Degree, accredited masters, RTPI status, any relevant training.
- Optional: selected projects. A short table of schemes with location, size, your role and outcome.
Writing about casework and projects
Most planning CVs describe duties ("responsible for determining applications"). Employers want outcomes. For each role, pick the cases that show the level you work at and describe what you did:
- "Led pre-application and application stages for a 120-bed care home in the Green Belt, approved under delegated powers after negotiating reduced massing."
- "Prepared the council's housing topic paper and appeared at the local plan examination hearings."
- "Managed planning for a 40-hectare residential promotion site through allocation, outline consent and reserved matters."
Use real numbers where you can and keep client names out if your employer would mind. Councils' decisions are public, but a consultancy CV should respect client confidentiality. "A national housebuilder" is fine.
If you move between council and private practice, say what each side gave you. Council experience brings decision-making and committee work. Consultancy experience brings strategy, client management and appeals from the other side.
Common mistakes
- A long list of every application. Pick the best examples and summarise the rest ("a caseload of around 60 minor and other applications").
- Burying the RTPI status. If you're chartered, put it at the top. If you're working towards it, say which route and when you plan to submit.
- Unexplained gaps or short jobs. A line of explanation is enough: a fixed-term contract, study, a career break.
- The same CV for every job. Reorder your skills and examples to match the person specification, especially for council roles that score against set criteria.
- Typos and planning jargon misused. Planning is a writing job. A CV with errors suggests reports with errors.
Example layout
This is an example for a fictional planner, to show the structure. Swap in your own details.
Alex Example MRTPI
Senior Planning Officer, development management · 07000 000000 · alex@example.com · Based in Reading, open to hybrid roles in Berkshire and Oxfordshire
Profile
Chartered planner with six years' experience in development management at two district councils. Handles major residential and commercial applications from pre-application to committee and appeal. Looking for a Principal Planner role with a focus on strategic sites.
Key skills
- Major residential and mixed-use applications
- Committee reports and presentations
- Section 106 negotiation and viability review
- Written representations and hearing appeals
- Mentoring Planning Officers
Experience
| Dates | Role | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 to now | Senior Planning Officer, Example District Council | Case officer for five major schemes (up to 300 homes); 12 committee reports; defended two appeals at hearing, both dismissed |
| 2020 to 2023 | Planning Officer, Sample Borough Council | Caseload of around 60 householder, minor and other applications; led the council's work on householder design guidance |
Qualifications
MSc Spatial Planning (RTPI accredited) · BA Geography · MRTPI since 2023
Frequently asked questions
Should a planning CV include a cover letter?
For council roles, the application form and supporting statement usually take its place, so put your effort there. For consultancies and developers, a short covering email that names the role and your two strongest examples is enough.
How long should a town planner's CV be?
Two pages for most people. Add a project schedule at the end if you have a long list of schemes.
Should I include my salary?
No. Discuss pay when you're asked, and check the advert first, since most council adverts state the grade.
What if I'm not chartered yet?
Say which RTPI route you're on and your target date. Employers often support candidates through chartership, and it shows you're progressing.
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