Science and engineering

Cartographer and GIS specialist CV: example

This example is for cartographers and GIS specialists working in public offices, surveying and planning firms, map publishers and tech companies, and for surveying and geoinformation graduates.

The employer wants to know which maps and databases you have built, in which software and whether you automate your work. We show you how to describe this on your CV and in a portfolio.

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Example CV: cartographer and GIS specialist

All the details in this example are fictional. Treat it as a model of layout and wording, and replace the content with your own experience.

Michał Bielecki

Cartographer, GIS specialist

Warsaw +48 123 456 789 michal.bielecki@example.com map portfolio: michalbielecki.pl

Professional profile

Cartographer and GIS specialist with 6 years of experience at a planning firm and a map publisher. I produce thematic maps, manage spatial databases and run analyses for local plans. I automate repetitive tasks in Python, which halved the time needed to prepare maps for plans.

Work experience

GIS specialist

02.2021 - present

Urban planning studio, Warsaw

Maps and spatial analyses for local plans and studies, about 15 projects a year.
Managing spatial databases in PostGIS and QGIS.
Automating map preparation in Python, halving the work.
Preparing data for publication in municipal map services.
Working with planners and authorities on data exchange.

Cartographer

07.2018 - 01.2021

Map publisher, Warsaw

Editing tourist maps and city plans.
Updating map content from official data.
Preparing maps for print.

Education

Surveying and cartography, master's degree

2013 - 2018

Warsaw University of Technology

Skills

QGIS and ArcGIS
Spatial databases, PostGIS
Cartographic editing
Spatial analysis
Python for automation
Official data and standards

Training

ArcGIS Pro training, 2022
Python for GIS course, 2021

Languages

English: C1

Additional information

Map portfolio at the link

I hereby consent to the processing of my personal data for the purposes necessary to carry out the recruitment process, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 (GDPR).

How to write a cartographer CV

Professional summary

Give the maps and analyses you produce, in which software and for whom. Add automation or databases, because these skills set a GIS specialist apart from someone who only draws maps.

Geoinformation graduate with a placement at a municipal office. I prepare thematic maps in QGIS, clean spatial data and am learning Python. Map portfolio at the link.

Experience: duties and achievements

Describe the types of projects, data, software and results. The number of maps, database size and time saved show the scale of your work better than general descriptions. A portfolio link shows the quality of your editing.

Weaker: Making maps.

Better: Maps and spatial analyses for local plans, about 15 projects a year.

Weaker: Working with data.

Better: Managing spatial databases in PostGIS and QGIS.

Weaker: Improvements.

Better: Automating map preparation in Python, halving the work.

Skills worth listing

List software, databases and scripting languages. Under personal skills, show accuracy and an eye for a readable map. If you work with official data, say which datasets you know.

Professional skills

GIS software
Spatial databases
Map editing
Spatial analysis
Automation
Data standards

Personal skills

Accuracy
An eye for readability and design
Independence
Working with experts
Solving data problems

Training and portfolio

List training in GIS software and programming. A portfolio with a few maps and a description of the data and methods is very important in this job.

GIS specialist CV after graduation

Describe university projects, your thesis and placements. Prepare 3 or 4 maps for your portfolio using public data.

Add Python or SQL, if you are learning them. Companies increasingly look for people who combine cartography with programming.

Tailoring your CV to the job offer

A public office looks for knowledge of official data and the rules, a tech company for programming and databases, and a publisher for editing and print preparation. Move what the job ad is about to the top.

The most common mistakes on a cartographer CV

No link to a map portfolio.
A list of software without projects.
Leaving out databases and automation.
No audiences or purposes for your maps.
An overly graphic CV that an ATS cannot read.
Revealing restricted data.

Questions and answers

What should a cartographer put on a CV?

Types of maps and analyses, GIS software, databases, automation, audiences, training and a portfolio link.

Should a cartographer know how to code?

Not necessarily, but Python and SQL are increasingly required and clearly improve your chances.

How do I show my skills in a portfolio?

Choose 3 or 4 maps and describe the data, methods and purpose of each.

Is a cartographer the same as a GIS specialist?

The roles overlap. A cartographer more often edits maps, while a GIS specialist works with data and analysis.

Create a cartographer CV in the builder

In the CV Majster builder you enter your details step by step and see right away what the document looks like. You can copy the wording from this page and adapt it to yourself. The finished CV as a PDF costs a one-off PLN 5, with no subscription, and you see the preview before you pay.

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