Write the Top Engineering Resume (Examples and Tips)

engineering resume example
Created by CakeResume

Engineering is a field that comes with immense scope of applicability. Many engineers are equipped with the knowledge in math and science to provide solutions to different technical problems. Designing and drafting blueprints to solutions are also one of the specialties of engineers. 

However, crafting a professional and structured engineering resume is also relatively important to engineers, especially if they want to land themselves a dream job in today’s competitive market.

This article will be specifically tailored for engineers, providing all sorts of information from engineering resume examples, engineering resume format, to some useful tips.

How to Write a Killer Engineering Resume

Step 1: Understand the differences between a CV and a resume.

The main differences between a CV and a resume lie in the content, purpose, and length. A CV is largely used for academia, and the content elaborates more on the professional life of the applicants. A resume is often used for general job applications and is a tailored version of applicant information depending on the job specification.

While a CV could be lengthy and consists of a lot of information, a well-written engineer resume should not exceed 2 pages.

Step 2: Choose the right resume format.

There are 3 most commonly seen resume formats:

  1. Chronological resume format:
    This is an ATS friendly resume format that adopts reverse chronological order to easily show the recruiter your work experience (from latest to oldest).
  2. Functional resume format:
    This format is preferable for those who have gaps in their work history as it categorizes work experience into different skills sections.
  3. Combination resume format:
    It is as what it is called, a combination of the chronological and functional resume formats. This format is suitable for those who have a substantial amount of work experience.

Step 3: Look up resume templates & examples online for reference.

Use the internet to your advantage. You could use a lot of different keywords to look at engineering resume samples. You might also refer to some resume format for freshers engineers or resume format for experienced engineers to look at the differences and adopt some of the goods into your engineer resume.

Step 4: Tailor your resume for the job.

The purpose of a resume is to gain the chance for an interview for a specific job opening. Therefore, it is advisable to adjust the content of the engineering resume according to the job descriptions. The more correct keywords you have, the more likely you are to meet the requirements of the company.

Step 5: Proofread.

This sounds trivial but is often neglected by many applicants. It is very important to have someone proofread your engineering resume to check for any grammatical errors. Luckily, someone might also provide some additional insights during the process.

What Should an Engineering Resume Look Like?

1. Resume Header (Personal Information)

A resume header generally consists of applicants’ details to let the hirer grasp the important details and information. 

You should include these:

  • Full name
  • Professional title
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Address or location
  • LinkedIn (Optional)
  • Personal website (Optional)

You should not include these:

  • Sexual orientation
  • Race
  • Gender
  • Photograph
  • Age
  • Religion/belief
  • Marital status
  • Salary

Example of resume header & profile:

PONY JONES

Principal Engineer

[email protected]
San Francisco, CA
+666 332221
linkedin.com/in/pony-jones

2. Resume Title

Also known as a resume headline, a resume title is positioned at the top section of the resume to let the recruiter have a comprehensive view of your engineering resume.

To have a well-crafted resume title, you need to choose catchy and creative words to grasp the attention of the recruiter. Please also include your best achievements and qualifications. 

Example of a resume title for an engineer:

Detail-oriented Certified Information Security Manager

3. Resume Summary

An engineering resume summary or profile summary for engineers consists of 30-50 words explaining the relevant skills and capabilities of the applicant. It is best used as a section to sell yourself to the company. 

Example of a resume summary for an engineer:

Focus-oriented network professional with 5+ years of experience analyzing network issues with Cisco.  

4. Resume Objective

An engineering resume objective is a section consisting of 2-3 lines that explain the goal and objective of the applicant. Career objectives in resumes for engineers are often located on the top section of the resume.

Example of a resume objective for an engineer:

Looking for an information systems security position with ABX Company to apply  problem-solving and analytical skills. 

5. Skills

Hard skills are the pride of any engineer, yet the value of soft skills should not be undermined as they might allow you the chance to stand out among the best.

A good selection of engineering skills on the resume could let the company know if you have got what it takes to work with them.

Examples of hard skills for an engineering resume:

  • MATLAB
  • AutoCAD
  • Tinkercad
  • Prototyping
  • Workflow development

Examples of soft skills for an engineering resume:

  • Leadership
  • Creativity
  • Enthusiasm
  • Critical reasoning
  • Resilience

6. Work Experience

A great experience section for an engineering resume should be able to highlight the relevant  experience. 

The work experience section for an engineer resume could be written by including these several aspects:

  • The name of the company
  • The location of the company
  • The title and/or position
  • Employment dates:  include the month and year
  • Responsibilities and achievements

Example of work experience on an engineering resume:

PPOP Company | Pittsburgh, PA
Technical Support Specialist
01/2012 - 01/2018

  • Solved 100+  first-tier technical troubles
  • Maintained the machines budget at under 20% from 2015 to 2017

7. Education

For fresh engineering graduates with little experience, the education section often appears on the first half of the resume.

In the resume for experienced engineers, the education section comes in second right after the work experience section. 

The education section should cover these few elements:

  • Degree
  • Major(s) and/or minor(s)
  • The graduation year
  • The school’s name and location
  • Honors or awards

Example of education on an engineering resume:

Carnegie Mellon University, PA
B.S in Engineering

2016 - 2020

8. Additional Information

Besides all the basic requirements to include in your engineering resume, there are also several additional pieces of information that could make your resume more complete. 

  1. References:
    Reference from people you had great working chemistry and relationships with will do more good than harm to your future job search.
    
    Some companies still required the applicant to attach some references to help them further evaluate the candidate.
    
  2. Hobbies:
    You could include hobbies in your resume if the hobbies are closely related to engineering or beneficial to the position you are applying for. 
    
  3. Declaration:
    The declaration section is pretty common for some formal applications, especially for traditional companies, governmental sectors, and academic institutions.
    
    Simply put down the applicant’s signature and date to assure that the provided information is correct and trustworthy.

Example of hobbies on an engineering resume:

Photography

✏️ Note: Photography is a hobby suitable for someone who is applying for a mechanical engineering position in the camera and optical sensor industry to put on the resume.

Tips for Writing the Best Engineering Resume

👍 1: Customize the resume for the job.

A well-customized engineer resume will increase your likelihood of getting an interview. First, read through the job description and tailor the resume in accordance with the job requirements. Include only relevant previous work experience and relatable skill sets. 

👍 2: Quantify results on resumes.

The hirers would be pleased to see any supporting numbers on your resume since it will give them a basic idea of your capabilities and previous achievements as an engineer. 

👍 3: Craft an ATS-friendly resume.

Many competitive global companies have integrated the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to do a preliminary screening of candidates before their resumes reach the hirer’s desk. 

How to create an ATS-friendly resume format for engineers:

  • Follow the common structure and labeling for sections in your engineering resume.
  • Use a chronological resume format.
  • Utilize keywords that match with work descriptions.
  • Avoid using unnecessary visual aids.
  • Opt for commonly used fonts (Arial, Calibri, and Times New Roman).
  • Convert the engineer resume into  a PDF file.

👍 4: Adopt resume action words.

Action verbs show that an applicant is ready and made for the job opening. It also made the overall  tone of your engineering resume sound more confident and straightforward.

👍 5: Create your own resume template for engineering jobs.

Sometimes, you might need to send out hundreds of engineering resumes in order to get your dream job. However, it might take forever to write  them one by one to the specific job descriptions. 

Therefore, you could create your own outline and resume structure, and a list of useful and relatable skill sets for engineering jobs and make small adjustments to your template for each job you’re applying for.

Extra Tips on a Perfect Resume for Engineering Freshers

It might be a little tricky and brain wrecking for fresh graduates with little to no experience in creating their first entry-level engineering resume.

Below is some advice to make your engineering resume with no experience look professional:

✅ Advice 1: Use skill-based (functional) resume format.

The functional resume format is recommended for fresh engineering graduates since it focuses more on the specific skills one attains from certain experiences or volunteering activities. 

The hirer’s attention will be diverted directly to certain skill sets and expertise of applicants.

✅ Advice 2: Include a career objective statement.

A well-written career objective statement could  distinguish you from other applicants. By writing your goal and what you can provide for the company, you could show the hirer your dedication, willingness to learn, and value.

Besides, it could also provide a brief overview of your key strengths..

✅ Advice 3: Highlight your educational qualifications.

Unlike experienced engineer's resumes, a recent graduate’s resume should underline the education section since the applicant lacks professional experience.

Therefore, fresh engineers could instead put emphasis on academy-related experience, for example, the school, major(s), GPA, club activities, relevant courses, and achievements on their resumes. 

Engineering Resume Sample

James Flinn

Mechanical Engineer

[email protected]
Seattle, WA
+222 99332211

Professional Statement

Hardworking LEED-certified Mechanical Engineer with 3+ experience in troubleshooting and maintenance.  Solved multiple technical errors daily and engaged in 15+ one-to-one basis project management cases. 

Work Experience

LALA Company | Seattle, WA
Senior Mechanical Engineer
January 2016 - January 2021

  • Trained and mentored 100 junior engineers annually.
  • Completed 10 projects with budgets of over $10 million 
  • Collaborated with Cisco to create computer-aided design

MAX Company | Seattle, WA
Junior Mechanical Engineer
January 2012 - December 2015

  • Assisted in developing system security network
  • Supervised 10 engineer interns

Hard Skills

  • AutoCAD
  • Revit
  • Python
  • SketchUp
  • MATLAB

Soft Skills

  • Creativity
  • Problem-solving
  • Observation skills
  • Communication
  • Interpersonal skills

Education

Northeastern University
B.S in Engineering (2008 - 2012)

CakeResume provides the right engineering resume templates & formats for you to showcase your skills and experiences. Sign up to create and download the best engineering resume Now for free!

--- Originally written by Fedrick Hansen ---

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