Are you a fresh engineer graduate or about to graduate? Want to create an exceptional resume to highlight your key achievements and skills? If so, we have put together a few tips to help you write an engineer’s CV to compel the employer.
Review Similar Resumes for Engineer Industry
Before you start to create your CV, it is a good idea to do some research. Thanks to technology and search engines today, you can find anything and everything online. Once you search for a good resume for an engineer, you will come across several samples available online. Review these samples and note down important points that you observe in them, such as:
- How are they formatted?
- Have they used the applicant’s photograph?
- What font have they used?
- Are they in a simple format, or do they have a different design?
- What kind of personal statement do they have?
These are some basic things you need to note when reviewing the samples online. Doing so will help you create a resume that meets the recent criteria of CVs and resumes for the engineering industry. However, if you still cannot manage to write it on your own, opting for professional CV services would be a better option.
Use Proper Formatting
The formatting of your curriculum vitae is equally important as its content. Of course, your skills, experience, and achievements matter the most. But, when it comes to presenting your profile, you must do a great job. Aesthetics do play a role in helping employers choose the right candidate. So, make sure your profile is perfectly formatted such as:
- The line spacing is the same throughout.
- The font is simple and the same throughout.
- The page layout is moderate.
- It is left aligned.
- The file is in pdf format.
- Every section has a bold and clear heading.
Students who are not sure about how to write a CV often make mistakes with formatting their CV. It is because they ignore the importance of a properly formatted profile that makes it easy for the recruiter to skim the document.
Add Contact Information
It is essential to include all your contact information such as:
- Contact number
- Email address
- Mailing address
So that the recruiter can contact you in any way they want, when including this information, ensure you put it under your name on the top of the document.
Personal Profile
The first thing after your contact details in the document should be your brief personal profile. It includes:
- Outline of your job title
- Personal traits
- Professional skills, etc.
Here is an example:
“I am a motivated and results-oriented electrical engineer with six months of experience in the petrochemical industry. Since I am a fresh graduate, my experience is not vast enough, but my learning abilities and willingness to excel helped me hone my skills in various improvement projects within the tenure of my 6-month internship. And, I look forward to better opportunities that will help me grow professionally.”
Here is another example:
“I am a fresh chemical engineering graduate with a passion for contributing my skills in the pharmaceutical industry. I have completed three internships during my academic years that helped employ my knowledge and skills in the practical world and gain experience to become a better professional. I have always been known for my determination, positivity, teamwork, and problem-solving strategies. I believe I would bring the same personal attributes and enthusiasm to the company I join to become an asset for them.”
Education
Make sure your CV includes all your academic background and qualifications. Be it a degree you are pursuing or a certification you are enrolled in, all must be made part of the CV. Your educational track record must be listed in reverse chronological sequence. The most recently completed degree or the one you are currently pursuing should be at the top.
Moreover, when writing about education, you should highlight your areas of interest. For instance, mention the systems you have experience working on in case you are an automation engineer. Your professional development courses will also become part of this heading. Include all your personal and professional development courses, workshop certifications as well.
Also, include your certifications or courses you have taken so far for your professional growth. List your qualifications very wisely. Always keep an account of what position you are applying for. Update your certifications accordingly. The list of your certifications and courses also emphasizes your career approach and priorities. It shows how well equipped you are with the latest upgrade systems and changing technologies. It is all about how your educational background depicts your adaptive career roles.
Achievements
Once you have included your educational credentials, you should now list any awards, honors, and achievements you have earned or nominated for in the past professional years. Companies have an annual best employee, executive, and director-level awards and recognitions. Include all necessary information about your achievements in this section. You may also mention your association and affiliations with any engineering council or a renowned platform for that matter. Enlisting honors will add value to your portfolio and will have an impressive outlook on your engineering career. Think of a project you headed or worked on as an integral member. Include your experience and takeaway from that project. Let the employer know all your achievements.
In case you don’t have any of the awards or recognition, include your volunteered achievements as well as any other honorary membership you have. You may also add shields or souvenirs you received from engineering seminars and conferences. Make your CV as impressive as you may. All these value additions will hook the employer to your profile. It helps you in getting shortlisted for an interview. Your achievements are your badges of honor you should be proud of. The only thing to keep in mind is the relevance to your area of expertise.
Spell and Grammar Check
Last but not least, don’t forget to proofread your document. A great profile with spelling or grammar mistakes is surely a turn-off for most employers. Therefore, it is extremely important to check your document thoroughly and re-read it line by line. You may also opt to run a writing software such as Grammarly to make sure your document is error-free. Another great idea is to have someone else read it. It could be anyone with experience – a sibling, a parent, a neighbor, a teacher. Having someone else read and edit it will allow you to be sure that your CV sounds and looks just right.
To sum up, incorporate all the information mentioned in this article to land yourself your dream job. It is all about how great an impact your CV creates on the employer. So update your CV on these lines and witness the magic happening yourself.