How To Write a Computer Engineering Resume
Computer engineering is a lucrative, difficult-to-enter field full of professionals who have been in the business for years and aren’t looking to leave any time soon. You’ll be facing some stiff competition. Building a resume that stands out and is tailored to the needs of prospective employers can go a long way during the job search. In this guide, we’ll provide expert tips to help you enhance the effectiveness of your computer engineering resume.
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
1. Summarize your computer engineering qualifications in a dynamic profile
Craft a compelling summary of qualifications to make a strong first impression on the hiring manager. Start with an opening sentence that lists your title, years of experience, and three to four specializations that align with the job posting. Demonstrate your technical expertise and ability to collaborate with diverse teams in fast-paced business environments. Convey your ability to drive innovation and create value for prospective employers. If possible, include a key project or metric to highlight your proven track record of success within the technology industry.
Senior-Level Profile Example
An Engineering Manager with 10+ years of experience, specializing in release management, Agile methodology, cloud technology, and DevOps. A strong history of building and leading world-class engineering organizations to deliver scalable technology solutions and improve business operations for enterprise customers.
Entry-Level Profile Example
A Computer Engineering Professional with entry-level experience, specializing in hardware and software installation, troubleshooting, programming, and continuous improvement. Adept at identifying solutions to complex technical issues and enhancing hardware performance.
2. Add a compelling section featuring your computer engineering experience
Without hard metrics, numbers, and monetary figures, hiring managers will have difficulty discerning the full breadth of your professional experience. Leveraging data effectively from your engineering career will help employers see you have a background of generating value for the organizations you work for — this will go a long way in securing your next interview.
- Oversaw on-site and cloud support of 8,000 laptops, iOS, Android, and mobile devices across over 50 locations and four states and managed inventory valued at $3 million
Take note of how this bullet point draws attention to the number of devices and locations the job candidate was responsible for supporting as an engineer. This effectively paints a clear picture of how integral the job seeker was to daily operations on a multi-national scale. The applicant can also further highlight their importance to the organization by including a monetary figure for the inventory they managed and specifying they coordinated on-site and remote maintenance.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Computer Engineer, Hexagon Technologies, San Francisco, CA
May 2015 – Present
- Manage a global team of 35+ architects and engineers to build technology solutions and applications for enterprise customers, interface with stakeholders and C-level executives throughout the SDLC, and establish a collaborative, high-performance work culture
- Lead a change management initiative to transition from traditional engineering release models to a continuous delivery platform to reduce legacy costs by $300K per year
- Build test frameworks and tools to drive the development and rollout of cloud services, including identifying automation tools to reduce time to market
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Junior Computer Engineer, Marriott Hotel, Seattle, WA
May 2021 – Present
- Troubleshoot complex software, hardware, and network issues, identify root causes of failures, and conduct on-site maintenance for 150+ computers, tablets, and POS devices
- Resolve 15-30 trouble tickets per day remotely and on-site using ServiceNow and create documentation to expand the knowledge base of technical solutions to recurring issues
- Coordinate with technical teams to enhance internal processes to improve user support, resulting in a 10% improvement in resolution times for technical issues
3. Include education and certifications relevant to computer engineering
If you have any pertinent qualifications or certifications, include those on your resume in addition to educational requirements listed specifically in the job listing. While the job may not specifically require you to be Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) A+ certified, putting it on your resume can help show your credibility as a technology professional. A Project Management Professional (PMP) designation is also valuable, as it can help demonstrate your knowledge of Agile methodologies and project lifecycle management.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Computer Engineering
- Temple University, Philadelphia, PA | 2018
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) Solutions Architect | 2016
- Agile Certified Professional (ACP) | 2015
4. List key computer engineering skills and proficiencies
Employers often rely on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to identify qualified candidates. If your resume lacks specific requirements, you may be rejected automatically before your document reaches the hiring manager, despite being perfectly qualified for the job. Tactically integrating keywords that align with the job description into your work experience and skill section will help you stand out to the ATS benchmarks. It also makes a positive impression on prospective employers. Below is a list of potential keywords you may encounter during your job search.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Active directory | Automation |
| C++ | C# |
| Computer engineering | Computer science |
| Continuous improvement | Continuous integration |
| Cross-functional collaboration | Engineering management |
| Hardware | HTML 5 |
| Information architecture | Information technology |
| JavaScript | Maintenance |
| Network administration | Process improvement |
| Product development | Project management |
| Prototyping | Python |
| Quality assurance | Software |
| System administration | Technical support |
| Troubleshooting | |
5. Feature your leadership abilities
As you grow in your career, leadership qualifications will become more integral to your success as a computer engineer. Employers will want to see tangible examples of your ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve strategic objectives. Below, you’ll find another example from the senior-level resume example:
- Manage a global team of over 35 engineers and architects to build technology solutions for enterprise customers, interface with stakeholders and C-level executives throughout the release management cycle, and establish a high-performance work culture
At a senior level for a larger company, you may be tasked with leading globally dispersed engineering organizations. This bullet point effectively showcases the candidate’s experience in managing both on-shore and offshore personnel. The job seeker also showcases their ability to communicate with senior leadership throughout the release management cycle, further demonstrating their engineering leadership capabilities.
How To Pick the Best Computer Engineering Resume Template
When selecting your template, prioritize structure and readability over visual appeal. Heavy use of colors and bulky graphics may look nice, but they can distract the reader from your content. Seek a template that organizes your content effectively and fits your brand. Hiring managers will always be more interested in your achievements and qualifications than the style of your template.
Computer Engineering Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Sarah Morrison
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, New York, NY 12345
Profile
A Computer Engineering Professional with five years of experience specializing in Python, hardware design, automation, and prototyping. A strong track record of leading the design and build-out of technology solutions to automate testing processes and enhance the efficiency of manufacturing operations for medical device corporations.
Professional Experience
Computer Engineer, MedDevice Manufacturers Inc., New York, NY
May 2018 – Present
- Drive the development of automated testing and validation for hardware solutions supporting manufacturing production for a $30M medical device company
- Coordinate with cross-functional teams across mechanical engineering, QA, firmware, and software engineering to drive process improvement and reduce production costs by 10%
- Identify solutions to manufacturing obstacles and roadblocks, including the development and implementation of new hardware and software tools
Computer Engineer, Brooklyn Tech Partners, New York, NY
May 2016 – May 2018
- Support the build-out, design, and maintenance of cross-compilers and microcontrollers in embedded environments, including code reviews and bug fixes
- Coordinate with system administrators to install, maintain, and configure hardware, software, and application tools, including the delivery of system upgrades
- Interface with technical teams to identify opportunities to enhance application and system performance by conducting hardware and infrastructure upgrades
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Computer Engineering
University of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY September 2012 – May 2016
Key Skills
- Computer Engineering
- Automation
- Hardware Solutions
- Prototyping
- Manufacturing
Certifications
- CompTIA A+, 2016
- Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), 2016
Frequently Asked Questions: Computer Engineering Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for computer engineering resumes?-
It’s easy to get stuck when describing your professional experience, especially as a technical professional. You may run out of ways to describe your work, and it’s best not to repeat the same words and phrases. Below, you’ll find a list of common action verbs to build your professional experience section:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Built |
| Conducted | Constructed |
| Coordinated | Created |
| Designed | Developed |
| Diagnosed | Enhanced |
| Evaluated | Executed |
| Identified | Implemented |
| Led | Managed |
| Oversaw | Resolved |
| Spearheaded | Tested |
How do you align your resume with a computer engineering job description?-
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for computer engineering occupations was $128,170 in 2021. These positions are expected to grow by only 5% over the next decade, with only 5,300 new job openings each year. Due to the limited availability of computer engineering jobs on the open market and the lucrative nature of these roles, you’ll need to craft a strong accomplishment-driven resume to grab the attention of hiring managers.
You must incorporate appropriate keywords matching the organization’s needs to make a positive impression on prospective employers. By tailoring your resume to the job description, you’ll ensure your document is properly optimized to meet the ATS requirements and demonstrate how your expertise fits the company’s long-term goals.
When determining what skill sets and action verbs to include in your document, pay close attention to how the information is presented within the job description. Keywords that appear within the opening paragraphs tend to be highly valued by the organization and should be featured toward the top of your document. In addition, prioritize any key terms repeated throughout the job posting more than once.
What is the best computer engineering resume format?-
The best resume format for computer engineering is the reverse chronological resume format. This lets you feature your most relevant and recent work history at the top of your document. However, a combination approach may be more advantageous if you’re a recent graduate or pursuing an entry-level position. This lets you showcase your certifications, technical skills, and academic projects above your work experience.
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Once you finish your resume, adding a cover letter before sending it to your prospective employer is effective. A cover letter is an excellent opportunity to speak directly to your potential employer and make the case for why you’re a good fit for the position on offer.
A cover should be fairly succinct. Never exceed more than 400 words — 250 to 300 is ideal. For more information and ideas, view our computer science cover letter examples.
