Civil Engineer Cover Letter Examples and Templates for 2023

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Studies from the Bureau of Labor Statistics project an eight percent growth rate for civil engineer positions over the next decade. The median income for these roles is $88,570, which is much higher than the average for other occupations. To generate traction on the job market, you’ll need to craft a compelling cover letter to supplement your resume. Your cover letter serves as your opening introduction and can help you to stand out from other job seekers. Below, you’ll find cover letter examples for entry-level civil engineers and professionals with years of experience in the field.

Downloadable Cover Letter Examples

Entry-level
Civil-Engineer_Entry-level.pdf

Example #1 Entry-level

Mid-career
Civil-Engineer_Mid-career.pdf

Example #2 Mid-career

Senior-level
Civil-Engineer_Senior-level.pdf

Example #3 Senior-level

Civil Engineer Cover Letter Examples (Text Format)

Years of Experience
  • Entry-level 0
  • Mid-career 2-10
  • Senior-level 10+

Urvish Singh
Civil Engineer | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | 123 Address St., New York, NY 12345

January 1, 2022

Arnold Smith
Hiring Manager
New York Energy Inc.
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]

Dear Mr. Smith,

As you can see from my attached resume, I have three years of professional experience within the utility industry. During my time as a civil engineer at Brooklyn Water Company, I created designs and construction plans for a variety of multi-million-dollar infrastructure projects to maintain roadways and build sewer pipelines. I am confident that this experience will provide valuable contributions to your initiatives.

New York Energy Inc has a reputation for excellence within the utilities space that draws me to apply for the civil engineer position. I believe that my ability to refine construction plans and strategy will be a strong asset for your organization based on the following achievements:

  • Translated designs into technical drawings for project stakeholders and provided recommendations to improve construction plans for infrastructure projects valued at up to $2M
  • Conducted inspections of project worksites and led initiatives to improve compliance with safety policies and procedures, resulting in a 20% reduction in safety incidents
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with laborers, architects, and project coordinators to define project strategy and identify potential roadblocks throughout all phases of construction

I would like to schedule an interview to tell you more about how my background in the utilities space will improve project execution at New York Energy Inc. I am available for any questions you may have at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Urvish Singh

Mary Summers
Civil Engineer | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | 123 Address St., Philadelphia, PA 12345

January 1, 2022

Harold Johnson
Hiring Manager
Septa
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]

Dear Mr. Johnson,

As a senior civil engineer with seven years of experience, I’ve acquired significant expertise in executing large-scale infrastructure projects valued at over $50M. During my role as a civil engineering consultant with Amtrak, I was tasked with creating construction drawings and specifications for the build-out of a new train line to New Jersey.  I am confident that my expertise within the transportation industry would be a valuable asset to Septa in the civil engineer position.

I have a great deal of admiration for Septa’s mission to provide safe and affordable transportation for Philadelphians. I believe that my background can help advance your long-term infrastructure goals based on the following accomplishments from my career:

  • Led a team of 35 architects, civil engineers, and construction workers to develop and implement designs for a multi-million-dollar project to build a new train line from Philadelphia to Jersey
  • Liaised with stakeholders and project managers across all phases of the project lifecycle to ensure alignment with technical requirements and infrastructure goals
  • Conducted risk assessments, calculated project cost, and developed proposals and strategies to ensure alignment with budgets valued at up to $20M

I look forward to telling you more about how my experience within the transportation industry can help your organization. Feel free to contact me for additional information at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Mary Summers

Daniel Carradine
Civil Engineer | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | 123 Address St., Newark, NJ 12345

January 1, 2022

Theresa Matthews
Hiring Manager
Newark City Construction Inc.
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]

Dear Ms. Matthews,

With over 10 years of experience as a civil engineer, I’ve had the opportunity to support over 20 large-scale projects for the development and maintenance of highways and roadways. While serving as a senior civil engineer at East Coast Road Builders, I created high-quality engineering solutions for multi-million-dollar initiatives. I believe that my extensive background in civil engineering would be a strong asset to Newark City Construction Inc.

Your company’s reputation for innovation in engineering designs firmly aligns with my career and professional background. I believe that I can assist your company in continuing to deliver innovative engineering solutions based on the following achievements:

  • Oversaw cross-functional teams of up to 50+ personnel to execute roadway and highway development projects valued at up to $40M
  • Liaised with C-level executives and stakeholders to secure necessary permits from local ordinances and ensure strategic alignment of designs with infrastructure goals
  • Delivered direct supervision at construction sites to ensure compliance with OSHA safety standards and identify engineering solutions for project obstacles

I would like to schedule an interview to provide more insights into how my background can refine engineering solutions for Newark City Construction Inc. You may contact me via phone or email for any additional follow-up questions at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Daniel Carradine

Civil Engineer Cover Letter Checklist

A well-built civil engineer cover letter has five main elements:

1. Heading. Improve the visibility and aesthetic of your document by using a stylized template. Be sure your heading includes:

  • Your name, title, and contact info
  • The date you sent it
  • The addressee’s details

2. Salutation. Greet the hiring manager by Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use “Dear Hiring Manager” instead.

3. Introduction. You want to develop a strong introductory paragraph highlighting one of your key accomplishments. Focus on showcasing an achievement that has large numbers and metrics behind it. This will immediately grab the reader’s attention and ensure that your document stands out from the competition.

4. Body paragraphs. Next, you’ll build out body paragraphs that continue to feature specific achievements from your career. This is also where you’ll mention something regarding the company’s work culture, mission statement, or reputation within your industry. Showing familiarity with the organization is a great way to show hiring managers that you’re engaged. You’ll also want to consider implementing a list of three bullet points detailing your accomplishments to break up the text.

5. Closing section. Include a call to action (CTA) in your final paragraph asking the hiring manager to schedule an interview. This is a great tactic that can often make all the difference in making it to the next phase of the application process. Be sure to thank the reader for their time in the last sentence.

Introduction

The introduction is your first chance to make a positive impression on the hiring manager, and you’ll want to make the most of it. Be careful not to focus solely on detailing your years of experience. Instead, you should build your opening sentences around a specific career achievement that demonstrates your expertise in civil engineering. Quantifying this accomplishment will help to maximize the impact on the reader. Below, you’ll find examples of how to create a compelling introduction paragraph.

Good


Developing construction plans and technical designs for the build-out of Delaware Memorial Hospital valued at $60M was one of my greatest career achievements. I hope to aid your organization in executing similar construction projects in the civil engineer position.

Bad


I have more than five years of experience as a civil engineer. I have long been seeking an opportunity to work with your company and further refine my engineering skills. I am certain that I’m the right person for the job based on my qualifications.

Body Paragraphs

In the body paragraphs, you’ll want to continue to brand yourself as an expert within your field by providing additional achievements from your professional history. Express interest in the position and provide a piece of information relevant to the company’s history or reputation. However, be conservative in how much time you spend talking about the organization, as you don’t want the reader to lose focus on your qualifications.

The next step is to create a list of three bullet points that further demonstrate your civil engineering background. Providing context and tangible examples is key for painting a picture in the hiring manager’s mind, so add specific numbers and details. If an accomplishment doesn’t have a number backing it, you run the risk of delivering information that sounds generic. Below, you’ll find an example of how to build compelling body paragraphs.

Good


Chester Water Authority’s mission to provide clean and affordable water to Delaware County residents strongly resonates with me as a member of the community. With over 12 years of experience as a civil engineer within the utilities industry, I believe that I can help support this mission based on my career achievements:

  • Created engineering designs for capital improvement projects valued at $20M-$40M, including the development of new water distribution and drainage systems
  • Led a team of engineers, project personnel, architects, and contractors to coordinate build-outs and prevent project delays, resulting in a 10% improvement in delivery times
  • Delivered presentations on engineering proposals to senior leadership and provided recommendations to reduce project expenditures by up to 20%

Bad


I have a passion for civil engineering that I believe makes me the ideal candidate for this position. My many years of experience have allowed me to grow as a leader within the field. I am excited to continue to advance my career as the new civil engineer with your company.

Some of my job duties in my current role include:

  • Creating construction designs for large capital projects
  • Managing various teams of project personnel to prevent delays
  • Presenting proposals to executives and recommending improvements

Closing

Your closing paragraph should include a call-to-action (CTA) that invites the hiring manager to take the next step in the application process. By asking to schedule an interview or offering to provide more information, you can improve your chances of advancing to the next hiring phase. It’s important to remember to thank the hiring manager for their time in the last sentence of the paragraph, as you want to brand yourself as a polite and professional candidate. Below, you’ll find some examples of how to create these examples.

Good


I’d like to schedule an interview to provide more insights into how my civil engineering background within the transportation industry can accelerate your long-term success. You may contact me for any additional follow-up questions at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Jane Doe

Bad


I am excited about the opportunity to work with your organization and hope to learn more about the position in the future. Thanks for taking the time to review my cover letter.

Best,

Jane Doe

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).