Engineering Resume Examples and Templates for 2023

How To Write an Engineering Resume

To write a good resume for engineering jobs, you’ll need to show you can design complex systems based on deep technical knowledge. If you want to improve your engineering resume, the tips and examples below can be helpful. They provide guidance on what information to include in each section of your resume.

1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications

A strong Profile section will catch the hiring manager’s interest by giving the top reasons you excel as an engineer. What is your approach to the process of technical design? How has that helped you create sophisticated machines or structures in your engineering discipline?

Consider how you apply math or science principles to find real-world solutions. For instance, maybe you’ve built a reputation for working with cities on more eco-friendly infrastructure. Or perhaps you’re focused on developing robotics to help manufacturers raise efficiency. Whatever your key strengths as an engineer, feature them in your Profile section, and you can persuade the recipient of your resume to read it more closely.

2. Add a detailed experience section

The Experience section is where you can convince hiring managers you’re qualified by giving detailed examples of your success in engineering. For each relevant job in your work history, brainstorm the specific products, equipment, or processes you developed. How did these projects mark an innovation or technical advancement? What was their outcome, and how did they help solve practical challenges for your company or customers? By answering these questions, you can give hiring managers a sense of the impact you’d have as an engineer at their organization.

3. Include relevant education and certifications

With the Education and Certifications sections, you can assure hiring managers that your technical design work has a strong knowledge base. Give basic details on your college degree(s), along with any courses, dissertations, or academic projects relevant to your target engineering role. You’ll also want to show your expertise by specifying whether you’re an Engineer in Training (EIT) or Professional Engineer (PE).

The following are templates and examples to help you format your education and certification details on your resume. Note that optional template areas appear in [brackets].

4. List key skills and proficiencies

Include a “Key Skills” (or “Areas of Expertise”) section on your resume to show the various engineering tools and methods you use. With this section, you can also emphasize your branch of engineering and the general math or science concepts behind it. Below are some common terms to consider for your engineering skills section:

5. Keep your job descriptions jargon-free

One of the most common mistakes on engineer resumes is jargon, or using long technical words when a short one would do. A classic example: People use the words “utilize” or “utilization” when they should use “use.”

Jargon is tempting for engineers because the field is complex and technical. Whatever your branch of engineering, it probably has plenty of specialized terms with no simpler option (e.g., “mechatronics”). These terms are acceptable for your resume if they speak to your goals. The problem is when you trade out short, simple words for terms or phrases that are long and clunky – by doing this, you just make it harder for the hiring manager to read or understand your resume. Here are six more common examples of jargon:

change –> adjustment, modification
goal  –>  objective
launch  –>  establishment, implementation
law  –>  regulation
skill  –>  capability
task, duty  –>  responsibility

Don’t worry about jargon when you first draft each job description but keep it in mind later when you’re reviewing and editing what you’ve written. For any long word you’ve used, pause and ask: Is there a shorter synonym? This habit will help you make your resume a clear, concise record of what you offer employers.

How To Pick the Best Engineering Resume Template

As with most vocations, engineers should use a resume template that’s simple and straightforward. Opt for a visual template that lets the hiring manager quickly review your best career details. Select a clear resume font, and avoid any template with an overly colorful or elaborate design.

Engineering Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Years of Experience

Frequently Asked Questions: Engineering Resume Examples and Advice

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.