Building an impressive engineering resume can be a complex task. But fret not. Through this guide, equipped with practical tips and solid examples, we'll empower you to piece together a resume that will truly command attention. 

Aeromobil Design Engineer Resume Example

Hired by:

Hired by: Aeromobil

Amazon Software Development Engineer Resume Sample

Hired by:

Hired by: Amazon

Structural Engineer Resume Sample

Hired by:

Hired by: Atkins

See more examples like these

Ready to build your career blueprint? Read on and learn how to:

• Properly format your engineering resume
• Write an engaging resume summary or objective
• Present the best engineering skills
• Craft a strong work experience and key projects section
• Include relevant extra sections in your engineering resume
• Avoid common resume mistakes
• Find the best resources for job seeking engineers

1. Properly format your engineering resume

Just like having the right blueprints for an engineering project, the format of your engineering resume holds immense importance. 

The right format will not only offer a structural backbone to your resume but also guide the reader's eye towards pivotal details. Let's check out the three primary types of resume formats: 

• Chronological: This approach documents your work history in reverse chronological order, beginning with your most recent role. If your engineering career has followed a notably consistent trajectory, the chronological format can highlight your stable work history and showcase your role-specific experiences. 

For example, if you worked as a Civil Engineer and steadily progressed to Project Engineer and then Chief Engineer, this format would effectively highlight that progression.

• Functional: If you've had a mix of positions, or if you're looking to transition into a slightly different field within engineering, a functional resume might be your best bet. This format focuses mainly on skills rather than work history. 

For instance, if you've held roles in both Electrical Engineering and Risk Assessment and wish to meld these into a career in Safety Engineering, a functional resume can emphasize your diverse set of competencies.

• Hybrid: The Hybrid format, as its name implies, combines the strengths of the chronological and functional resumes. This format suits candidates with a wide array of skills stemming from different engineering roles and a rich career history to showcase. 

For instance, a candidate who’s had substantial years of experience in Mechanical Engineering and has also developed strong project management skills can use this format to highlight both their career trajectory and diverse skill set.

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2. Write a strong resume summary or objective

The first thing a recruiter notices on your resume should be an engaging summary or objective. But which one should you use and how?

• Resume objective: Opt for this if you're a recent graduate or transitioning to a new field in engineering. This statement should outline your career goals and how they tie to the job you're applying for. However, broad or generic objectives won't cut it.

Why is this example weak? This objective is too vague. It fails to provide specific details about your relevant qualifications or the particular engineering field you're interested in.

Why is this example correct? This objective nails it because it clearly identifies your engineering specialty, highlights your experience, and relates your career goal to the specific role you're applying for. 

• Resume summary: If you're a seasoned engineer, a summary should summarize your skills, experiences, and key achievements. However, remember to avoid using fluffy language or unnecessary jargon.

Why is this example incorrect? This summary doesn't hit the mark as it is unspecific and fails to convey any meaningful information about your skills, experience, or the type of role you're seeking.

Why is this example strong? The correct summary is on point as it showcases your specialized engineering field, quantifies your experience and highlights your achievements while clearly stating the kind of role you aim for.

In deciding between a summary or an objective, make sure it is brief, specific, and job post-aligned.

3. Select the best skills for your engineering resume

Choosing the right skills to feature on your engineering resume can make a substantial difference. These skills can be divided into two categories: hard skills and soft skills. Both are important, but how you choose and feature them matters greatly.

• Hard skills refer to technical knowledge or training you have acquired through experience. These are often job-specific and quantifiable.
• Soft skills, on the other hand, are transferable attributes or traits that affect your ability to work and interact with others. 

Always ensure that the skills you highlight on your engineering resume are relevant to the role. A handy tip: List the skills that are directly mentioned in the job ad first. This can help pass resume scanners (ATS) and show the recruiter that you possess the exact skills they’re seeking.

Here are some skills that might be included in your engineering resume:

All in all, selecting the right skills for your resume is more than simply listing what you can do. It's about clearly showcasing that you possess a balanced mix of hard and soft skills that perfectly align with the engineering role on offer. 

Tailor your skills section to reflect the requirements listed in the job ad; this will significantly aid your path to the interview shortlist.

4. Make your work experience and key projects section count

Your work experience and key projects play a leading role in your engineering resume. They demonstrate your applied skills and provide insights into your past roles and contributions.

Typically, work experience is presented in a bulleted list format where each role is set out separately. Each job should include:

• Job title
• Company name and location
• Employment date
• Key responsibilities and achievements

Remember to start each bullet point with strong verbs to highlight your actual role, and interesting adjectives to add color to your contributions. Verbs like developed, managed, led, and adjectives such as significant, innovative, effective come in handy.

Why is this example weak? This example fails to impress. It gives no specifics about what projects you worked on, what your role was, the outcome of your tasks, or how your participation influenced the projects.

Why is this a strong example? It makes a strong impression. It uses strong verbs (Directed, Innovated, Oversaw, Spearheaded), adds specifics about your role, and provides outcomes. Furthermore, key projects are defined, highlighting your respective roles and the impact it made.

In summary, the work experience and key projects section can narrate a compelling tale of your professional engineering journey. Using concrete details, strong verbs, and engaging adjectives will help your story captivate the reader.

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5. Craft a great education section for your engineering resume

Degree or not, your educational background certainly matters in your engineering resume. It confirms your academic understanding of engineering principles and, if properly presented, can also speak volumes about your dedication, perseverance, and the depths of your knowledge.

If your education is not directly related to the engineering field you're venturing into, don’t let that dampen your spirits. You can awaken the recruiter’s interest by drawing attention to transferable skills, relevant courses, or projects you've undertaken during your studies. 

Why is this example strong? The focus on relevant coursework indicates a strong basis in areas important to engineering. The key project demonstrates the application of these areas to solve a real-world issue, mirroring the problem-solving aspect of engineering roles. 

On the flip side, if your education is directly related to the engineering field you're aiming for, highlight your degree, specialized courses, academic achievements, or crucial projects demonstrating your prowess in the subject.

Why is this an effective education section? The degree instantly affirms a specialized understanding of the field. The specialized coursework provides a snapshot of the relevant skills honed. And the academic achievement serves as a testament to the applicant's persistent performance. Lastly, the key project demonstrates leadership and application of skills to design an impactful engineering solution.

In a nutshell, the education section of your resume, regardless of how related your degree is, can be cleverly presented to boost your appeal. It's about spotlighting those elements of your academic journey that show you're up for the job. So, polish this section to make it shine!

6. Choose relevant extra sections for your engineering resume

An engineering resume doesn't end with your work experience or education. Adding relevant extra sections can help you stand out. These sections can show you’re a well-rounded individual and not just about work. 

It's important to select extras that resonate with your career trajectory and complement what’s expected in your field of engineering.

• Participating in volunteering efforts can showcase your commitment and leadership skills.
• A “Certifications and licenses” section is where you can build up your credentials as a credible professional engineer. 
• A “Languages” section could communicate your adaptability, especially relevant for multinational companies or roles requiring international collaborations.

By listing relevant extra sections, you're painting a richer picture of your skills and experiences. These "extras" illustrate your depth and range as a candidate, making you more memorable to a hiring manager.

7. Bolster your engineering resume with a cover letter

While your engineering resume presents an overview of your qualifications, a cover letter is your opportunity to delve deeper into your unique story. It allows you to expand on specific experiences or projects and clearly connect your skills and qualifications to the job's needs. 

A cover letter is especially relevant when:

• The job posting specifically requests for one
• You're transitioning into a new engineering field and need to explain how your current skills translate
• You're relocating and need to clarify it

Your cover letter is different from your resume in that it's a narrative, a compelling story arguing why you're the ideal candidate. It's more personalized and displays your passion, communicative style, and why you're drawn to the particular engineering role.

On the other hand, a resume is a formal, succinct listing of your work history, education, skills, and achievements. It emphasizes hard facts and quantifiable information.

Remember: A well-crafted cover letter can serve as a powerful advocate, reinforcing the profile painted by your engineering resume. It not only adds a human touch to your application but also allows a deeper insight into the professional behind the credentials. So, consider including a tailored cover letter whenever you submit your engineering resume.

8. Average salary and job outlook for engineering occupations

Engineering occupations offer exciting career prospects, both in terms of job growth and compensation. According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average yearly salary for engineering occupations was $83,700, which stands well above the median annual wage for all occupations, set at $46,310.

Moreover, the job outlook for engineers also seems promising. The overall employment in architecture and engineering occupations is projected to grow at a pace higher than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032. 

During this period, approximately 188,000 job openings are projected each year, on average, in engineering fields.

These figures indicate that pursuing a career in engineering can be both rewarding and stable. It's a field where your unique skills are likely to be in demand and fairly compensated, promising a strong career growth trajectory in the years to come.

9. Engineer's resources: Valuable aids for job seekers

Navigating your job search as an engineer can be more manageable with the right resources at your disposal. From professional organizations to online platforms, here are some resources to guide you on your engineering job hunt.

• Job boards: Websites like Engineering.com, or iHireEngineering focus specifically on engineering roles across the globe. They can be valuable for finding job listings and getting a sense of what qualifications are in demand.
• Professional organizations: Associations such as the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and IEEE offer resources, networking opportunities, professional development, and industry news updates.
• Certification programs: Not only can these enhance your knowledge and credentials, but they also indicate your dedication to the field. Consider pursuing certifications like Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Manufacturing Engineer, or any other relevant to your subfield.
• LinkedIn: Creating a standout LinkedIn profile can expand your network, enable you to connect with industry professionals, and access job listings. What’s more, you can now turn your LinkedIn profile into a polished resume within seconds.
• Online courses: Websites like Coursera, Udemy, and MIT OpenCourseWare offer a wide array of engineering courses in various subfields. They could help you stay on top of the latest industry trends or learn new skills.
• Engineering blogs and podcasts: Following industry-specific blogs and podcasts such as 'Engineering.com' or 'The Engineering Career Coach Podcast' can provide valuable insights into current industry trends and give advice on career growth. These sources often also highlight emerging job opportunities and connect you to a broader professional community.

In essence, utilize these resources to polish your skills, network with professionals, stay updated with the industry, and yes, land your dream engineering role. These resources could essentially serve as the scaffolding that supports your engineering career progression.

10. Avoid common mistakes on your engineering resume

Even seasoned engineers can trip over small mistakes while drafting their resumes. By avoiding these prevalent pitfalls, you can enhance your chances of catching a recruiter's eye. Here are several tips:

• Being too vague: Don't just state that you worked on a project. Specify your role, the tools you used, and its impact. Use numbers and facts where possible. 
• Ignoring keywords: Many companies use automated tracking systems (ATS) to filter applications. Make sure you use relevant keywords from the job description in your resume to pass these scans.
• Listing irrelevant skills: Your ice carving skills may be impressive but might not be relevant for a Civil Engineering role. Prioritize hard skills that are directly pertinent to the job at hand, but do remember to sprinkle in some soft skills too. 
• Focusing on responsibilities over achievements: Don't just list what you were supposed to do; mention what you actually achieved. Did you streamline the process? Reduce costs? Increase efficiency?
• Poorly organized layout: Make your resume easy to read with a clean layout. Use bullet points, concise sentences, and responsive formatting that’s comfortable to navigate on any device. 
• Typos and grammar mistakes: Proofread your resume multiple times and consider having a friend or a mentor review it as well. Minor errors can project a lack of attention to detail.

By dodging these common resume missteps, you can make your engineering resume clearer, sharper, and more attuned to what employers are looking for. It can make a big difference in receiving that anticipated interview call email.