how to write resume for engineering students

Engineering Resume for 2024 [w/ Examples & Template]

Whether you’re a mechanical, electrical, civil, software, or chemical engineer, you’re great at solving problems.

And yet, when it comes to writing a job-winning engineering resume, you experience the equivalent of writer’s block.

You know you have the right skills, education, and work experience to land your next dream engineering position, yet you can’t seem to express all that effectively in your engineering resume.

And, for better or worse, a strong engineering resume is a prerequisite to land an interview and, eventually, land your next job.

Well, you actually have no reason to worry! 

Writing a job-landing engineering resume that shows off your professional background is not hard and we’re here to guide you through the process.

So, in this article, we will cover:

Engineering Resume Example

• How to Build Your Engineering Resume (Step-By-Step)
• 40 Skills For Your Engineering Resume

Like the look of the template above? Create your own modern and professional engineering resume in minutes with these easy-to-update templates.

If you were applying for a different position in this field, you might find one of our other resume examples more useful:

• Software Engineer Resume
• Artificial Intelligence Engineer Resume
• Computer Science Resume
• Data Scientist Resume
• Data Analyst Resume
• Data Entry Resume
• Java Developer Resume
• Web Developer Resume

Here are the elements that make this engineering resume example outstanding:

• Reverse-chronological format. This resume format puts your engineering work experience in the spotlight AND is the most popular resume format around the globe.
• Contact information. The engineering resume example above includes relevant contact information, such as the candidate’s email address, phone number, LinkedIn profile URL as well as Skype handle.
• Resume summary. The engineering resume example above includes an engineering resume summary that briefly introduces the candidate and his areas of expertise.
• Achievement-focused work experience section. This engineering resume example includes the candidate's professional achievements, making his engineering resume stand out among other candidates’ resumes.
• Brief education section. In the engineering resume example above, the candidate only mentions his highest degree details, such as his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
• Use of bullet points. The information in this engineering resume example is presented in bullet points to make the resume look well-organized and easy to skim through.
• Relevant engineering skills. The engineering resume example above mentions only engineering-related skills, including computer-aided design and project management.
• Use of additional sections. The candidate included relevant additional sections in the engineering resume example above, such as certificates and field-related interests. 

How to Build Your Engineering Resume (Step-By-Step) 

Now that you know exactly what makes an effective engineering resume, let’s put theory into practice and see how you can create a powerful engineering resume!

Here are the steps to building your engineering resume:

#1. Pick the Right Format For Your Engineering Resume 

Before you start filling in the contents, let’s address how you should format your engineering resume.

Now, there are 3 resume formats you can choose from:

• Reverse-chronological
• Combination  

You’re best off using the reverse-chronological resume format for your engineering resume. 

It’s the preferred resume format among recruiters worldwide, so it’s obviously the safest and most obvious choice for you!

And the best part? It starts off with your most recent - and relevant - engineering work experience, highlighting your achievements and skills first.

Here’s what it looks like:

Next, let’s talk about the resume layout . 

Here are the guidelines for making a great resume layout:

• Pick a professional font style . Choose a font that’s easy to read on a PDF file and use it throughout the length of your engineering resume.
• Choose the right font size. Use 11-12 pts for the body and 14-16 pts for headings in your engineering resume.
• Bullet points. Whenever possible, use bullet points to present the information and make it easy for the recruiter to skim.
• Mind the length. Recruiters shouldn’t go through a 3-page resume to see whether you’re the right candidate, so the optimal length of your engineering resume should be one page (unless you’re a professional with 10+ years on the job, that is).
• Save your engineering resume in PDF format . Unless asked to do otherwise, your best bet is to save your resume as a PDF file to ensure it looks the same on every device and OS.

Use Our Tried & Tested Templates

As an engineer, you should use every opportunity to show the recruiter how innovative you are and your engineering resume is your first chance to do that.

Like most people, you probably tried creating a Word resume… admit it, using 30+-year-old software is the opposite of being innovative.

Think about it. You can spend hours on formatting alone, but in the end, your engineering resume will still look boring and outdated.

Well, what if we told you there is an easy way to save time AND stand out with your engineer resume?

Just use a resume template !

Our resume templates are created in collaboration with professional recruiters, so they don’t just look fresh and modern - they’re also well-organized and easy to scan.

Want to check for yourself?

Here’s how our resume templates compare to basic text-editors resumes:

#2. Add Contact Information

Now that the formatting is out of the way, you can start filling in the contents of your engineering resume.

Let’s start with the basics - your contact information .

You don’t have to invent anything new here - just make sure to avoid making any mistakes (you don’t want the recruiter to think you aren’t capable of successfully providing your contact information - after all, attention to detail is key to being an engineer!).

So, simply include the following details:

• First name and last name
• Professional title
• Phone number
• Email address
• Relevant social media profiles, such as LinkedIn 

Here’s an example of the contact information section:

Sam Edwards

Mechanical Engineer

012-345-6789

[email protected]  

Sacramento, California

linkedin.com/in/samedwards71

#3. Write an Engineering Resume Summary or Objective

After including your contact details, you should add a 2-3 sentence resume summary or objective to your engineering resume to quickly decide that your engineering resume is worth taking a closer look at.

Here’s how to choose which one to use:

• If you have lots of engineering experience , write a resume summary to highlight your skills and achievements.
• If you lack engineering experience , use a resume objective to show your career aspirations and how you can benefit the company.

First impressions matter, so whether you’re writing a resume summary or objective, it must effectively show your professional background or how you can be an asset for the company you’re applying to. 

Otherwise, the recruiter might just move on to the next resume.

So, here’s what an impressive resume summary should include:

• Your position and years of experience
• Your most important engineering skills
• Your top 1-2 professional achievements 

And here’s an example of an eye-catching engineering resume summary:

Driven and detail-oriented Electrical Engineer with 4+ years of experience with the design and fabrication of integrated circuits. Excellent troubleshooting, problem-solving, and analytical thinking skills. Solved a long-standing testing bug at Company X which increased the average testing time by 17%. 

Now, if you don’t have the relevant experience and opt for a resume objective, this is what you need to include to make it as memorable as possible:

• Title of your engineering degree
• Any engineering-related experience
• Your motivation to work for the company

Specifically, it should look something like this:

Enthusiastic Software Engineering undergraduate student looking for an entry-level job at Company X. Experienced with Python, C++, and MATLAB programming languages. Looking to apply coding skills and creativity in educational game development.

#4. Make Your Engineering Work Experience Stand Out

Now, let’s move to the most important section of your engineering resume - your work experience .

First, let’s address the formatting.

Begin with your most recent/current job position and simply do this:

• Start off with the job title. This shows the recruiter what role you had in the company.
• Add company details. Include the name and location of the company you worked at. Optionally, you can briefly describe the company if it’s relatively unknown.
• Include the date of employment. Use the mm/yyyy format to write down how long you worked in each company.
• Add responsibilities and achievements. Use 5-6 bullet points for the most recent jobs, and 2-3 for older jobs.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about making the most out of your work experience section.

Of course, you want your engineering work experience to stand out among hundreds of other applications, so simply listing your responsibilities isn’t enough.

Luckily, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel!

Here are some tips to perfect your work experience section:

• Tailor your work experience section to the job. If you’re an engineer, your work experience section should show exactly that, so skip the barista job you had in university and use the space for your achievements or to include additional sections instead.
• Focus on achievements over responsibilities. Every civil, electrical, mechanical, or another type of engineer has the same responsibilities, more or less, but it’s your achievements that can really set you apart from the competition.
• Use action verbs to describe your achievements. Power words (e. g. developed, organized, operated, redesigned, assisted…) will spice up your engineering resume.
• Make your achievements quantifiable. Whenever possible, use numbers to drive the point home (e. g. “Led a team of 15 engineers” instead of “Led a team”).

And here’s an example of an effective work experience section:

02/2017 - 01/2022

• Worked with a team of 14 to design, build, and install industrial air compressors.
• Ensured compliance with safety rules and regulations.
• Increased production efficiency by 9% by strategically minimizing production bottlenecks. 
• Planned and redesigned equipment layout to optimize workflow, resulting in a 7% production capacity increase over the span of 3 years. 
• Consistently met the company's needs at 12% under budget.

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Now, if you’re a fresh engineering graduate or haven’t graduated just yet, you likely don’t have relevant work experience.

That’s totally okay - even Elon Musk didn’t have enough relevant work experience at one point in his life.

But the lack of work experience shouldn’t set you back from building a powerful engineering resume!

You probably have more engineering-related experience to choose from than you think - after all, engineering studies typically involve lots and lots of practice.

So, instead of your work experience, consider including your internships, assistantships, academic projects, and merits, or extracurricular activities.

Here’s an engineering experience example:

Electrical Engineering Experience

Teacher’s Assistant for Electromechanics II

University of Bristol, UK 

10/2019 - 03/2020

• Led problem-solving tutorials for 80+ second-year students.
• Created 10+ laboratory assignments for students using MATLAB Simulink and Adam Pluto transceivers.
• Took attendance, made questionnaires, and helped with other administrative work.

#5. List Your Education the Right Way

Nikola Tesla is a role model to many engineers. 

As such, you probably already know he dropped out of university .

Of course, the lack of an engineering degree didn’t stop Nikola Tesla from becoming one of the greatest engineers, but today the situation is quite different.

Most engineering jobs ask for a Bachelor’s degree at the very least, because engineering is a highly technical field, where theoretical knowledge goes hand in hand with your practical skills.

But, even though your higher education is important to the recruiter, let’s face it - they don’t care which high school you went to.

So, instead of wasting space, make sure to only include relevant education details in your engineering resume.

To keep your education section short and snappy, start with your latest degree and include the following:

• Degree title
• University/college/other institution
• Program location (optional)
• Years attended

And here’s an example of the education section on an engineering resume:

MSc in Electrical Engineering

Eindhoven University of Technology

10/2017 - 05/2019

Of course, you can also include relevant education details, such as your academic achievements, the courses you’ve taken, your GPA, projects, etc. - if they add value to your resume, that is. 

#6. List Your Engineering Skills

Skills are an important part of your engineering resume. They testify to your professional abilities, so you should only include the skills which are relevant to engineering.

Now, although engineering is a technical job, you’re also expected to have a variety of soft skills .

After all, no engineer works in total isolation, so communication and teamwork skills are must-haves for most positions.

So, here are some tips to better organize the skills section on your engineering resume: 

• Write your soft and hard skills separately. 
• Your hard skills largely depend on the type of engineering you do (mechanical, electrical, software, etc.), so make sure to customize the skill section to fit your engineering resume.
• If you're unsure which skills to include in your engineering resume, you can always check the job ad and see if you have the skills the company is looking for.

Need more ideas on which skills to add to your engineer resume? 

Check out our list of the 40 most in-demand soft and hard engineering skills!

Write down your hard skills as specifically as possible to give the recruiter a clear idea of your skills. For example, if you’re good at programming, make sure to include all programming languages (Python, C++, PHP, MATLAB, etc.) you know.

40 Engineering Skills to Put on Your Resume

25 soft engineering skills.

• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving 
• Communication skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Analytical thinking
• Active listening
• Prioritization
• Time management
• Emotional intelligence
• Organizational skills
• Adaptability
• Brainstorming
• Interpersonal skills
• Self-motivation
• Reliability
• Self-management
• Flexibility

15 Hard Engineering Skills

• Mechanical skills
• Project management
• Troubleshooting
• Prototyping
• Machine Learning
• Workflow development
• Web Development
• Computer skills
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes
• Knowledge of applicable laws
• Technical documentation
• Data Structures

#7. Add Your Engineering Certifications & Licenses

Your university diploma is just one part of engineering training, so the next step is to include your engineering licenses and certifications .

This part is especially important if you want to work abroad because each country has different rules on what kind of education, licenses, and qualifications you need to work in engineering.

So, if you’re a certified or licensed engineer, list your licenses and certifications in your engineering resume in reverse-chronological order and include the following:

• Certification/license name
• Name of agency 
• Year of obtainment
• Location (optional)
• Expiration date (if applicable)
• In progress (if applicable, and add the expected date of obtainment)

Here’s an example:

Professional Certificates

Certified Chemical Engineer (2019)

National Certification Commission in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

#8. Make Use of Additional Resume Sections 

Do you still have some space on your engineering resume?

Consider adding any of these additional sections to make your engineering resume stand out and paint the full picture of your engineering experience:

• Conferences , such as International Conference on Sustainable Energy Engineering, International Conference on Internet Technologies and Society, International Conference on Power Control and Embedded System, International Conference on Industrial Engineering, and others. 
• Associations and organizations , such as engineering societies, including your role in them (if applicable).
• Awards , no matter if they’re company-wide or nationwide.
• Publications , such as studies, scientific articles, interviews, etc.
• Personal projects , if any of them are related to engineering.
• Languages , especially if you’re applying to a company overseas.
• Hobbies and interests , especially if they’re related to engineering. 

And here’s what these extra sections should look like on your engineering resume:

Organizations

• Caspian Engineers Society (2018 - Present) - Board Member

Conferences

• Nanotech Eurasia 2021
• Nanotech Eurasia 2019

#9. Attach a Cover Letter to Your Engineering Resume

If you got this far, you’re just a step away from writing an effective engineering resume for yourself!

But before you get to it, there’s one more important element to your resume we need to address - writing a compelling cover letter.

The point of a cover letter is to convince the recruiter that you are the engineer they’ve been looking for. 

Essentially, you need to prove you’re a competent engineer and a great match for the company, its values, vision, and goals.

So, your cover letter is a chance to give a detailed description of your engineering experience and include any important information that didn’t make it to your engineering resume.

But how exactly do you do that?

Actually, it’s quite simple with the right guidance! 

Here’s how to write a job-winning cover letter :

• Include your contact details in the header.
• Address the cover letter directly to the recruiter.
• Grab the recruiter’s attention from the start by including your 1-2 top achievements in the first paragraph.
• In the body of your cover letter, give a detailed picture of your engineering background and explain why you want to work for this particular company.
• Lastly, end your cover letter with a call to action.

Want to make sure your cover letter is flawless? Check our cover letter writing tips and cover letter mistakes !

And here’s an example of a top-notch cover letter : 

Want your cover letter to catch recruiters’ attention? Match it to your engineering resume by picking one of our cover letter templates !

Key Takeaways

By now, you have all the tools and tips you need to write an outstanding engineering resume (and a cover letter, too!).

Before you go, let’s go over some of the main elements of an impactful engineering resume:

• Choose the reverse-chronological format to focus your work experience and make your engineering resume easy to read.
• Write an impressive resume summary if you have plenty of work experience, and an eye-catching resume objective if you lack engineering experience.
• Make your work experience section stand out by quantifying your achievements.
• Show off your unique engineering experience with licenses, certifications, associations, publications, and other additional information that fits your engineering resume.
• Don’t forget to add a compelling cover letter to your engineering resume to prove you’re the perfect candidate and a great asset to the company.

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Ultimate Engineering Student Resume Guide: Examples [+Pro Tips]

Crafting an engineering student resume can be daunting. You need to showcase your projects, skills , and education effectively. Interestingly, the demand for engineers continues to rise globally, with a projected increase of 140,000 engineering jobs by 2026.

Whether you're applying for internships or entry-level jobs, a well-written resume opens doors. Here’s how to make yours stand out.

All resume examples in this guide

Engineering Student Resume Example

Carl Johanson ‍ Electrical Engineer (Student) [email protected] (234)765-3245

Professional summary

A passionate electrical engineering student with over 8 months of industry experience in electrical system design and maintenance seeks to join an MEP company to further my expertise. In my internship at KLC Electricals, worked as a design engineer for a $20 million electrical installation project

Industry experience

Aug 2021 to Present KLC Electricals Electrical design engineer (internship)

• Led a team of supervisors and electricians in electrical installations
• Worked with purchasing department in procurement of electrical installation tools and equipment – analyzed quotations and product specifications
• Prepared BOQs for the client requirement and presented them in weekly meetings
• Used AutoCAD electrical for electrical system design and Ansys SpaceClaim for parameter optimization

Project experience

Developed an off-grid solar power system for domestic use which was 12% more efficient than the solutions in the market – patent pending

University of Wisconsin Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering 2018-2022 (Graduation in November 2022)

• Programming using Java, C++, SQL
• Microcontrollers
• PCB and PLC design
• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving
• Time management

After hundreds of sleepless nights, coursework, presentations, reports, and vivas for 45+ subjects later, you finally pulled it off – or at least you’re almost there.

Before celebrating your success as a graduate engineer, there’s one more thing – you need to find a job that pays – to pay back your student loan – to return the favor to your parents – to have the life you always dreamt of.

You need to create a solid engineering student resume to land your first job.

If you’re an engineering student trying to land a job before you graduate or you just graduated and looking to apply for your first job, this guide will take you through the steps to create a perfect engineering resume.

This includes:

• A guide to choosing the best resume format, layout, and templates for engineering students
• A complete Engineering Student resume example
• A step-by-step guide to writing each section of your resume
• To DOs and DON’Ts in writing your engineering resume

With Pro Tips to make yourself stand out from the rest of the applications.

If your university career day is close by and you want to create well-targeted resumes and cover letters for the potential recruiters, here’s a quick tip. Use our ready-to-fill resume templates to make your resumes and cover letters within minutes.

Let’s dive into the complete resume writing guide👇

We thought you were an engineering student. If you have completed your degree and looking for a more experienced engineering resume, have a look at these👇

• Software engineer resume
• Civil engineer resume
• Mechanical engineer resume
• Aeronautical engineer resume
• Data engineer resume
• Electrical engineer resume
• Robotics engineer resume

The Formula to Write a Winning Engineering Student Resume

We know for the last four years you didn't have time to think about writing your resume as you were busy solving the most complex engineering problems.

When you step out into the real world and start looking for your first career opportunity, you’ll realize it’s much harder than solving a mathematical problem because it involves real people – they judge you for everything you do – the way you’ve written your resume – the way you walk and talk in an interview.

The field of resume writing always evolves – it’s not what it was 5 years ago. New writing standards – templates – best practices – and that’s why it’s important to look at a complete resume writing guide before starting yours.

Let’s start from scratch .

Read through to the end and you’ll find a step-by-step guide guide to writing your engineering student resume for any field. We have also highlighted the DOs and DON’Ts in writing your student resume.

We’ll start with general guidelines for writing resumes. These apply to most beginner and experienced resumes and we will give you the most up-to-date standard practices in HR.

First, we should define the layout, format, and a template for the resume.

Engineering Student Resume Layout

The resume layout consists of the headings and subheadings you’re going to put on your resume. Defining them at the beginning saves you hours and makes sure you don’t miss any important information.

We recommend the following layout for an Engineering Student resume:

• Header: name and contact information.
• Resume objective summary.
• Work history.
• Project experience.
• Engineering skills.
• Additional sections (certificates, languages, and publications).

You could change the order of this information based on your strengths.

Professional resume format for Engineering Students

The format of a resume determines the way the information in each section is written – the order in which the information is presented.

What experience should you be writing about first?

Which academic qualification should you include first?

As an engineering student, we know you don’t possess much experience, but adhering to the standard resume writing norms will reward you. Remember, your resume is read by an expert hiring manager at the end. So use their language!

There are three standard resume formats named functional resume format, reverse-chronological format, and hybrid format. From these, we suggest you use the reverse chronological format as it’s the most popular among many recruiters.

In a reverse chronological resume format, you should write your most recent experience first – in your projects section, start with the most recent projects you completed – same for the education section as you should list your latest education qualifications first.

Employers are more concerned about the candidate’s latest experience at a time, the industry standards – tools & techniques – and engineering best practices are rapidly changing.

The right layout and the format will help the hiring manager to read your resume faster. You indeed spent four years to become an engineer but the recruiters don’t spend more than 5 seconds on your resume . Make it as easy as humanly possible for them to read and understand your resume – you’ll see plenty of interview calls coming your way.

Engineering Student Resume Template

The template defines the overall look and feel of your resume. Choosing the right template is half your resume writing – because the template makes the first impression – like the suit you wear for the interview.

You engineers are pro users of Microsoft Office. You can create your own resume template. Consider the following points while creating yours:

• Define the color theme that matches your personality.
• Determine the fonts type , sizes, and colors for headings, subheadings, and text.
• Keep margins from all sides – about one inch
• Try to present information in two or three columns for efficient utilization of space

If you’re looking for a perfect resume template created by professionals, check out our resume builder – we have plenty of modern resume templates suited for all industries. These templates are easy to fill up and tailor to your requirements – and guess what, recruiters love these!

Start Your Engineering Student Resume with the Header

Your resume starts with the header – it contains your name and contact information. Though this sounds straightforward, there are many ways candidates make deadly mistakes in the header which we have highlighted.

A good & a bad header

Trainee Mechanical Engineer

(234)675-2351

Engineering Student

13, main street, University apt 4,

Washington DC

Consider the following points while writing your header:

• Start your resume with your first and last names
• Put the job title
• Include your personal email address and a mobile number
• Put the link to your LinkedIn profile or the portfolio – make sure they’re updated
• Do not include your physical address

Demonstrate Your Experience as an Engineer: Though You Don’t Have Much

From a hiring manager’s perspective, whether they’re recruiting an experienced candidate or an entry-level candidate, they’re hiring an engineer – for a critical, technical position in the organization.

Therefore, their main concern would be your relevant experience. If you say you don’t have experience as you’re applying for your first proper job, that wouldn’t be an excuse.

The best experience you could put on your engineer resume is what you acquired in your internship. Most engineering internships focus on providing the candidates with the basic field experience, technical skills, and research skills while developing their teamwork, leadership, and communication – the skill combination that most recruiters are seeking.

Creating a killer experience section is all about your writing. Analyze the following examples to see the difference between a boring experience section and an exceptional one.

Example Experience section for an Engineering Student

Aug 2021 to Present

Mechanical engineering student

Aluco Manufacturers

• Proposed a new aluminum cutting process
• Designed machine parts using CAD
• Work closely with management and technical teams
• Proposed continuous improvement project
• Designed a new factory layout
• Machine downtime analysis

Mechanical Engineer (Intern)

• Carried out a feasibility analysis of a state of the art aluminum cutting process reducing the raw material wastage by 4%
• Introduced 5S in the factory premises – planned and implemented the project
• Played a major role in the company’s adaptation to Just In Time manufacturing – worked closely with the change management team
• Analyzed the current factory layout and presented the management with suggestions to improve the capacity based on industrial engineering principles
• Carried out a machine downtime analysis project that highlighted 3 key suggestions to reduce downtime by 7%

Most trainee engineer work involves carrying out analysis of existing organizational methodologies and presenting them to the management for decision making.

In your engineering experience, you should let your personality shine – use numbers to add credibility – write experience based on the actions – state the outcomes of each action.

Demonstrate the skills you developed:

• Communication skills through presenting your findings to the management.
• Teamwork through the projects you were involved in with other members.
• Leadership skills with the project initiatives you took.

Writing a list of roles and responsibilities on your job is what everybody else does – stand out from the rest and you’ll have a better chance of getting shortlisted for an interview.

Start each sentence with action verbs such as developed, designed, demonstrated, installed, carried out, and created.

Get Recruiters' Attention with Your Projects Experience

The essence of an engineering bachelor’s is the project experience the candidate acquires throughout the years. As an engineering student, you should have been involved in multiple group projects and individual projects as part of your studies.

This project experience is a great way to attract recruiters and communicate that you have the required expertise to carry out the tasks on the job. If the project data is not confidential, you could include some of them as well.

Project example:

Brand changeover analysis project for Coca Cola

Semester 6 Group project:

• Developed a brand changeover time analysis chart for the factory covering over 24 Coca cola brands
• Presented the findings to the management and highlighted the suggestions to reduce brand changeover time
• Proposed a demand-based data-driven methodology to reduce the number of brand changeovers by 12%

Write up the Mandatory Education Section

Your education plays a key role in your engineering student resume. In most cases, recruiters would mention the academic qualifications they are after based on the job description.

Certain jobs expect candidates from multiple engineering disciplines such as Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Material engineering, whereas, some other jobs require candidates specialized in a specific engineering field such as computer engineering.

Check the job advertisement to find out more about the academic requirements.

Place your education section just after or before your experience section based on the priority the recruiter has given to your academics.

Use a consistent format to list your education – start with the name of the degree, name of the university, graduation timeline, and key learning outcomes of your course. If you’ve got any academic achievements such as being selected to Dean’s list, you may mention them here.

2018-2022 (Expected in Oct 2022)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Structural engineering
• Building architect
• Engineering machinery

The Most In-Demand Skills for Engineering Students

Engineering student skills vary based on the discipline they specialize in – the technical skills of a civil engineer would be different from that of an electronic engineer.

Said that most soft skills expected from an engineer remain almost the same for all engineers.

Your resume needs a mix of both these skills. You should identify the hard skills required to perform the job and the soft skills required to stand out at your workplace.

Hard skills are technical skills: they are easy to measure. You could acquire hard skills through your studies, certification courses, and classes.

Soft skills are personality traits that anybody can claim they have – these are difficult to measure – your task here is to find the right skills the hiring manager expects from the ideal candidate.

Soft Skills for Engineering Students

• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership skills
• Analytical skills
• Presentation skills
• Organizational skills

Hard Skills for Engineering Students

The hard skills of an engineer depend on their specialized fields. There’re hundreds of technical skills related to different engineering disciplines and we’ve listed down few of them:

Hook the Reader with a Winning Professional Objective

The professional objective is the sales pitch on your resume. Make it so enticing that the hiring manager can’t wait to meet you in an interview.

This is a two-sentence statement – the first sentence emphasizes your key skills and your passion to join the new company – the second sentence describes your performance in the internship, your academic and professional achievements, and how that helped the industry, and society, or a particular employer.

An extraordinary professional objective is the most efficient tool to make sure the hiring manager spends more than average time reading your resume.

A dedicated chemical & process engineer specializing in manufacturing process design seeks to join a process design team to further my career. In my internship at BIL Food processing, involved in developing their chocolate cookie production plant

A chemical & process engineer with no previous experience seeks to join a manufacturing organization to provide my engineering expertise

What makes the first example exceptionally good compared to the second?

In the first professional objective, the candidate has clearly demonstrated their key skills – the type of job they’re looking for – and what they've been involved in in the internship. The information makes it clear to the hiring manager, whether the candidate is a fit for their requirement.

Additional sections for your Engineering Student Resume

Additional resume sections could act as key information for an engineering student’s resume. There’re a couple of benefits of using additional sections on a student resume:

• Small sections easily get the hiring manager’s attention.
• Candidates can include a variety of information under different headings.
• Easily to fill the resume space for a student who does not possess a strong experience section.

The trick here is to pick the right sections for your resume. Remember, anything that does not add value to your candidate profile or the job specifications should be avoided .

Here’re some of the additional sections you can include on your resume:

• Computer skills & certifications
• Extracurricular activities
• Publications and patents

Computing Skills & Certifications

The skills certifications are the most employable information you could include on your resume. Relevant skill certifications would depend upon the field of engineering you’ve specialized in. Do research, talk to your lecturers, and refer to the job advertisements to find out the certifications in demand.

Some of these certifications are free and most of them you can get online. Here are a few popular skill certifications for engineers:

• Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
• Business Process Reengineering (BPR) Certification
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• CAD/ CAM certification

Your IT skills would be given special priority by the recruiters, especially in entry-level jobs. Technical engineering jobs involve working with many software tools. Your experience in computer programming, Microsoft Office Suite, ERP systems, CRMs, and MRPs would add value regardless of the field of engineering you’ve specialized in.

Extracurricular Activities

Your first job would be the only time you will be including your extracurricular activities on the resume.

The sports you were involved in – volunteer work – work in recreational clubs – the memberships and posts you held would demonstrate your soft skills. Some sports, clubs, and volunteer activities develop candidates’ leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.

Most candidates write their interests as a filler on the resume. Recruiters often find resumes with interest sections that include information such as reading books, cycling, collecting dried flowers, etc that does not add any value to your job as an engineer – you should avoid them at all costs.

If you’re looking for a perfect cv template to include all these additional sections and still want to keep it to ONE PAGE resume standard, check out our ready-to-fill resume templates .

Tips to Improve Your Engineering Student Resume

We’ve already shared plenty of tips and guidelines to create a perfect engineering student resume. As a last note, consider the following pro resume tips as well.

• Get your friend to proofread your resume – also use Grammarly to check accuracy.
• Study the job advertisements and develop the skills they’re looking for – acquire relevant skill certifications.
• During the resume writing process, focus most of your attention on the professional experience section.
• Tailor your resume summary to different jobs – make it as captivating as possible to catch the reader's attention.
• Structure your resume sections effectively by using a professional resume template with multiple columns.

Key Takeaways: Writing a Winning Engineering Resume

• Your engineering student resume should start with the header.
• Write an objective summary describing your key skills and interest in the job.
• Be specific in your experience section – use numbers to add credibility – avoid writing roles and responsibilities.
• Use a clear format to showcase your academic qualifications – be descriptive of your academic qualifications and achievements.
• Write a mix of soft and hard skills.
• Use additional sections to give a pleasant surprise to the hiring manager.

Complement Your Resume with A Cover Letter

A cover letter explains why you are interested in the company and how you will be a great fit for the job. It is sent along with your resume. Even if the employer does not ask for one, as you’re applying for an entry-level engineering job with minimum experience, a cover letter would be a great way to get their attention.

Contrary to sending the same resume to multiple jobs, you should tailor your cover letter to each of the jobs you apply for – include specific details about the company – deliver targeted content based on the position.

Writing cover letters would be time-consuming when you’re actively applying for multiple jobs. It could be a daunting task if you are parallel doing your studies with exams and submissions. The solution is to create a structure for your cover letter and tailor it to different jobs.

Our resume & cover letter builder would be a great tool to try here. It enables you to create hundreds of cover letters with the same template as your resume – you just have to change the company, position, and body text on your cover letter.

Keep your cover letter to one page – body text to about 3 to 4 paragraphs. Describe the most important issues you could solve for the employer in your first paragraph – use the second paragraph to explain how you used your expertise and academic knowledge in your internship – in the last paragraph, state any particular interest in joining the organization.

How do you make an engineering student resume with no experience?

Even if you’re applying for an entry-level engineering position with no experience in hand, you shouldn’t mention that anywhere on your resume.

Think about why recruiters ask for experience. They need to make sure the candidate they select has the necessary soft skills and expertise to carry out the tasks. You can demonstrate the same by describing extensively the academic and professional projects you carried out and were involved in as an engineering student. Also, your internship would be considered work experience for your first job.

Can I apply for engineering jobs as a student?

There’re plenty of job positions advertised for entry-level engineering jobs – some of them specifically mention that they’re looking for fresh engineering graduates.

If you’re not yet graduated as an engineer, still you can apply for these jobs, provided that your university allows you to work. In that case, you should clearly mention the status of your engineering degree.

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• Engineering Student Resume Example

Resume Examples

• Common Tasks & Responsibilities
• Top Hard & Soft Skills
• Action Verbs & Keywords
• Resume FAQs
• Similar Resumes

Common Responsibilities Listed on Engineering Student Resumes:

• Design and develop engineering projects, such as bridges, buildings, and other structures
• Analyze data and create reports to present findings
• Develop and implement engineering plans and strategies
• Research and develop new technologies and materials
• Develop and test prototypes
• Monitor and inspect engineering projects
• Troubleshoot and resolve engineering problems
• Prepare and present technical reports
• Collaborate with other engineers and professionals
• Participate in design reviews and provide feedback
• Ensure compliance with safety regulations and standards

Speed up your resume creation process with the AI-Powered Resume Builder . Generate tailored achievements in seconds for every role you apply to.

Engineering Student Resume Example:

• Designed and developed a prototype for a sustainable building material, resulting in a 20% reduction in construction costs and a 15% increase in energy efficiency.
• Analyzed data from structural tests and created a comprehensive report highlighting areas for improvement, leading to a 10% increase in structural integrity and safety of buildings.
• Collaborated with a team of engineers to troubleshoot and resolve engineering problems in real-time, ensuring the successful completion of projects within tight deadlines.
• Researched and developed a new technology for water purification, resulting in a 30% improvement in water quality and a 20% reduction in water treatment costs.
• Participated in design reviews and provided valuable feedback, contributing to the development of a more efficient and sustainable bridge design that reduced construction time by 15%.
• Implemented safety regulations and standards during the monitoring and inspection of engineering projects, ensuring compliance and preventing potential hazards.
• Developed and tested prototypes for a renewable energy system, achieving a 25% increase in energy production and a 20% reduction in carbon emissions.
• Prepared and presented technical reports on the performance of engineering projects, effectively communicating complex data to stakeholders and facilitating decision-making processes.
• Worked collaboratively with a team of engineers to analyze data and identify performance bottlenecks, resulting in a 15% improvement in overall system efficiency.
• Prototype Design and Development
• Data Analysis
• Team Collaboration
• Problem Solving
• Research and Development
• Technology Innovation
• Design Review and Feedback
• Safety Regulations and Standards Implementation
• Renewable Energy Systems
• Technical Reporting
• Performance Analysis
• Sustainable Engineering
• Cost Reduction Strategies
• Energy Efficiency Improvement
• Structural Integrity Assessment
• Water Purification Technology
• Project Management
• Compliance Monitoring
• Carbon Emission Reduction
• Communication Skills
• Time Management
• Critical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Adaptability
• Leadership Skills

Top Skills & Keywords for Engineering Student Resumes:

Hard skills.

• CAD software proficiency
• Programming languages (e.g. Python, C++, Java)
• Mathematical modeling and analysis
• Circuit design and analysis
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Technical drawing and drafting
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Project management
• Materials science and engineering
• Quality control and testing
• Technical documentation
• Research and development

Soft Skills

• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
• Analytical Skills
• Technical Writing
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Time Management and Organization
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Creativity and Innovation
• Research and Information Gathering
• Self-Motivation and Initiative

Resume Action Verbs for Engineering Students:

• Implemented
• Collaborated
• Troubleshot
• Constructed

Generate Your Resume Summary

Resume FAQs for Engineering Students:

How long should i make my engineering student resume, what is the best way to format a engineering student resume, which keywords are important to highlight in a engineering student resume, how should i write my resume if i have no experience as a engineering student, compare your engineering student resume to a job description:.

• Identify opportunities to further tailor your resume to the Engineering Student job
• Improve your keyword usage to align your experience and skills with the position
• Uncover and address potential gaps in your resume that may be important to the hiring manager

Complete the steps below to generate your free resume analysis.

Related Resumes for Engineering Students:

Engineering intern, entry level engineering, junior software engineer, mechanical engineer, civil engineer, computer science engineering, biomedical engineer, chemical engineer.

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7 Engineering Resume Examples for 2024

Engineering

Best for senior and mid-level candidates

There’s plenty of room in our elegant resume template to add your professional experience while impressing recruiters with a sleek design.

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Like this template? Customize this resume and make it your own with the help of our Al-powered suggestions, accent colors, and modern fonts.

• Engineering Resume
• Engineering Resumes A-M
• Engineering Resumes N-Z
• Write Your Engineering Resume

No matter what type of engineer you are, you’re rigorously logical with a penchant for numbers.

You shouldn’t also have to be an expert cover letter writer or  resume maker to spotlight your abilities and land your next (or first) engineering job.

Getting started is the hardest part of building an engineering resume. Our seven engineering resume examples are helping engineers get interviews in 2024, so they’re an excellent starting place for inspiration and valuable  resume tips .

Engineering Resume Example

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Tailor it to each job by mentioning relevant keywords in the  job description  (which genuinely apply to you!) and list the target company by name.
• We recommend limiting the  web developer skills  section to no more than 10 since a long laundry list can be a red flag to employers.

Data Engineering Resume Example

• As a data engineer, quantify the size and scale of the data systems and pipelines you’ve tackled. For example, if you built a data pipeline for streaming data for a consumer app with 500,000 concurrent users, specifically state that.
• Did you help increase revenue, site speed, or reduce manual reporting time?
• By highlighting your business impact, you make it clear to the hiring manager that you’re focused on what really matters to the business.
• Feel like you need a bit more help? See several more  data engineer resume examples  for 2024.

DevOps Engineering Resume Example

• Keep your DevOps engineer resume to one page because real estate is gold.
• Sprinkle your work experience sections with numbers and metrics that quickly make a case for your qualifications.
• Use action verbs like “built,” “created,” and “owned” to show your leadership experience and prove you’ve had a meaningful impact in your previous roles.
• If you’d like additional ideas, we’ve got several more  DevOps engineer resume examples  for 2024.

Engineering Manager Resume Example

• And those are attributes that hiring managers will be quick to notice and appreciate.

Engineering Student Resume Example

• Also, don’t overlook your proficiency in tools like AutoCAD, Python, ANSYS, and so on because they prove your ability to leverage smart tools to improve performance.

Network Engineering Resume Example

• If you’ve worked hard to earn certifications (CCNA, MCITP, etc.), list them in a dedicated “Certifications” section on your network engineer resume. Doing so makes it clear to the hiring manager that you have the required technical skillset.
• This kind of leadership experience can set you apart from the competition.
• Our  network engineer resume examples  for 2024 can also help get you where you’re going with some added insight.

Software Engineering Resume Example

• As a rule of thumb, only include a programming language on your resume if you can whiteboard coding solutions in that language.
• If you’re worried you might miss something and want to see if your resume contains enough metrics, stack it up against our AI-powered  resume checker  for fast fixes.
• Need a little more detail? We’ve got you covered with our  software engineer resume examples  for 2024.

Related resume guides

• Civil Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Network Engineer
• Full-Stack Developer

How to Format an Engineering Resume

How you format your engineering resume can determine whether you get an interview. Your resume needs to be in a logical format that can be quickly reviewed and should include all necessary information. If you leave important details out of your resume, you won’t have the opportunity to prove yourself.

Let’s briefly explore our three best tips for resume formatting for engineers:

• Reverse-chonological, functional, and combination/hybrid formats
• Contact info and header
• ATS & readability

Reverse-chronological, functional, and combination/hybrid formats

Engineering Resume Formats

• It sounds more complicated than it is.  Reverse chronology  means the information listed on your resume begins with the most recent experience. For example, your current job, which you began five years ago, is listed at the top. The job you had before is listed right below it.
• The  functional resume  format focuses on your skill set over your experience. The functional resume is also known as a  skills-based  resume because it focuses on how your skills and abilities qualify you for a job. For example, you could focus on a skill set you’ve used for several jobs. Even if the job were 20 years ago, your experience would still help you today. Using MySQL in your very first job will still be relevant if the job for which you’re applying also requires MySQL.
• The  combination/hybrid  resume format is exactly what it sounds like. You combine the best parts of a functional resume with a reverse-chronology resume. This is done by including a skills section first, followed by your experience. It immediately shows employers your skill set and experience.

Engineering is definitely a field that has plenty of opportunities for career progression. in 2024, reverse-chronology formatted resumes are best for engineers because they show your most recent experience first, as well as an increase in responsibilities over time. Also, this format lets you include more details for more recent positions and less information for older jobs.

Formatting your engineering resume’s header and contact information

You’ll want your header to stand out professionally. Many of the  resume examples  we have show your name in large letters at the top of your resume. We recommend the following:

• Use a font size of at least 16 points.
• Use a Serif font like Times New Roman, Helvetica, or Bookman Old Style.
• Avoid cursive or curly fonts.
• Write your name in bold colors like black or dark blue.
• Avoid overly bright colors like purple or orange.

Also,  include the title of the position you’re applying for  directly under your name. Are you applying to be a DevOps Engineer? A Network Engineer? A Data Engineer? Your future employer should know the position you’re applying for right away.

Additionally, you’ll want your contact information close to your name. Some resume writers put this information directly under their names, but you can also place this at the top of the sidebar. Include the following information:

• Your phone number
• Your email address
• Your city and state
• Links to professional networking sites like LinkedIn or GitHub

When it’s all said and done, your engineering resume header may look something like this: 

Will your engineering resume make it through ATS?

Most employers use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to filter through resumes. If your resume is hard to read, the ATS could nix it from the system before employers ever have a chance to look at it. For this reason, you’ll want to take the following steps to ensure your resume is ATS-compatible:

• Don’t use charts or images in your resume.
• Use simple, round bullet points; complex graphics don’t make sense to ATS.
• Include keywords from the job listing in your skill set.
• Save your document in .pdf and .docx. 

To save you a headache, we think you’ll love using our  resume builder , automatically ensuring your resume is ATS-friendly.

How to Write an Engineering Resume

Writing your engineering resume may feel daunting. It feels like a lot to take on because a lot rides on it . It can be anxiety-inducing, to say the least. We understand this well, so we’re devoting this section to breaking down  how to write your resume .

Do you need an objective or summary for your engineering resume?

Your objective for your resume is to get a job. If you  write an objective , you’ll want to clearly discuss what type of job you’re seeking. A summary is different. Its focus is to give a brief synopsis of your whole resume. 

Poor resume summary example

Skilled DevOps engineer with 10 years of experience in nodes, infrastructure, and server management. Excellent at time management and saving companies money.

This summary is ineffective because the information can be gathered from other resume sections. It’s a waste of space that could be used for other things. Here are a couple of examples of strong objectives.

Good resume summary examples

Experienced developer with 8 years of experience in full-stack, consumer-facing applications. Wanting to transition to B2B applications to improve interactions between small and medium-sized businesses at a company like OpenEd.

Veteran data engineer with 5 years of experience in B2B applications. Looking to switch to DevOps engineering to focus on improving overall company efficiency by improving applications through user interface.

Both of these examples work because the objective is:

• Cleary written; we know what the applicant wants
• Experience is stated
• Desire for growth and change is appropriate
• A clear motive is evident; the applicant isn’t floundering

Work experience for an engineer

Your most relevant experience should be listed first. We recommend listing two to four jobs that best show your qualifications for the position to which you’re applying. You don’t need to list more than four jobs, nor do you need to list every job you’ve ever worked. The employers who review have limited time, and they want to quickly see what you have to offer.

Writing your engineer bullet points

It’s easy to sink or swim regarding job description bullet points. Check your resume for the following:

• Use action verbs and active language. This includes writing in the present tense and using verbs that show action. “Being” verbs (are, is, was, were) are not your friend here. “Action” verbs (collected, sampled, organized) show strength and a strong skill set.
• Avoid using personal pronouns. Saying “I” is superfluous since the recruiter already knows you’re talking about yourself. Instead, allow the action verb to drive your actions forward (Example: Collected samples of different websites…).
• Punctuation is optional. Either include punctuation  everywhere  or completely omit it.

Not every bullet point is created (or, rather, written) equally. Here are some poor bullet points:

• Designed the EmptyNest app
• Fixed bugs and looked at reviews for future app updates
• Updated the app coding once a month

These bullet points are weak because they don’t provide any information. What is the EmptyNest app? Who’s it for? What functions does the app perform? What kind of bugs did he fix? Why were user reviews important? What kind of coding updates did he make?

While you can’t include every single detail about your work, asking these kinds of questions will get you headed in the right direction. Here are the same bullet points, written strongly:

• Designed an app called “EmptyNest” to help parents transition to children moving out of the home
• Updated app to omit long loading periods for chat features to encourage 32% higher user engagement in the “Chat” feature
• Analyzed user feedback to implement monthly changes to the app, which increased users by 82% over a six-month period 

These bullet points work because they provide details that help recruiters understand the project, demonstrate accomplishment and success, and prove ability through numbers. Metrics are vitally important, so let’s dive into that next.

Quantify your impact as an engineer

For engineers, quantifying your impact is a crucial part of showing your success. The numbers tell the  whole story . While this is daunting, it works in your favor if you successfully implement quantities and qualifications. Try to include metrics in about 60 percent of your bullet points. 

We recommend the following steps to quantify your impact:

• Detected mechanical problems in wind turbines and developed repair methods to prevent loss of more than $7M
• Designed robotic arm to aid in gastrointestinal surgical operations, which cut surgery hours by 80%

Quantifying your impact will show employers how valuable your work is and why they should consider you for their position.

Top engineering skills to include

Including your skillset is essential for any resume. How you present  skills on your resume  is important. You want both your hard and soft skills to show.

Your  soft skills  are the ones you can’t easily show on paper. For example, managing conflict and communicating with others are imperative soft skills. Your  hard skills  include software you’ve mastered and programs you use. It’s easy to show proof of your work.

• Look for keywords from the job ad description. Implement them throughout your resume to pass ATS software.
• Include four to five hard skills relevant to the job.
• Include soft skills  if  they’re highly relevant to the position; you should list fewer of these than your hard skills.
• Limit the skills you share so that your best shines through. Extraneous info is not needed.
• List your skills based on your experience level.

There are countless types of engineers, so you’re an aerospace engineer, civil engineer, chemical engineer, etc., these skills are a broad overview of what will serve you well:

• Math and physics 
• Project management 
• Analytically minded 
• Interpreting blueprints
• Design  
• Data analysis 
• Research 

For instance, if you’re a civil engineer, the skills section on your engineering resume may look like this:

Additionally, software engineering is a rapidly growing, evolving field, and if this is you, here are some of the most sought-after skills:

• Python (Django)
• Java (Spring)
• Ruby (Ruby on Rails)
• PHP (Laravel)
• Javascript (Node, React, Vue, jQuery)
• SQL (MySQL, PostgreSQL, NoSQL)
• AWS, GCS, Azure

An engineer’s education and certifications

If you’re an engineer, you’ll have your bachelor’s degree at a minimum. You may even need a master’s degree, and some jobs even require a doctorate.

Education is important to being an engineer. Without it, you couldn’t perform many of the functions of your job. And in a constantly evolving world and workforce, high pressure is placed on engineers to stay at the top of their game. This includes continuing education and becoming certified in new programs as they come out.

Many states have strict requirements regarding continuing education. For example, a certain number of hours of continuing education may be required to keep certifications and licenses. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all requirement. In fact, these requirements can vary by state  and  by the job.

If you’re an Engineer-in-Training, list the following:

• Relevant class projects that will help in an entry-level position
• Internship experience
• EIT Certification
• Your degree and GPA (if it’s at least 3.2)

If you’ve been in the field for less than 10 years, list the following:

• All the relevant experience that should be included for ATS
• List your most recent jobs in reverse-chronology 
• Certifications should be job relevant, like for inspection, design, or reliability 
• Include your degree

If you’ve been in the field for 10 to 20 years, list the following:

• Detailed bullet points with job description keywords to satisfy ATS
• List the jobs that gave you specific experience for this job
• Advanced certifications, such as board certified 
• List your degree

When should you add projects, interests, or hobbies to your engineering resume?

Most engineering jobs don’t provide room for your  interests or hobbies on your resume . The exception to this is for entry-level positions. If you’re a brand-new college grad, you’ll need to list advanced projects from your collegiate experience. Discussing your interests and hobbies through your projects will show passion for your career field and encourage employers to give you a chance.

Listing interests and hobbies can help you nail a job if it’s a close call between you and another candidate. If you’re equally qualified, being a “better fit” for the company could work in your favor. You don’t have to include interests or hobbies, but doing so might benefit you when you’re starting out, especially if you’re looking for a trendy startup that’s likely to care more about cultural fit.

Tailor your engineering resume to each position

We know it would be easier to make one resume that you submit to dozens of different jobs. But this won’t result in success. In fact, you aren’t likely to score any interviews using this method. ATS will weed your resume out for missing job keywords.

You’ll need to tailor each resume to each job you apply for . Some drafts of your resume will be very similar to each other. Others may look quite different. Adjust your bullet points, skills, and objective/summary for each job. While it takes time, your efforts will be worth it!

Edit and proofread your engineering resume

Engineers are perfectionists by definition. Because of this, it’s important to have a flawless resume. This is where editing and proofreading come in. It’s often overlooked because most resume writers just want to be  done . After all, drafting a resume can take  hours , but using our  free resume tool  can save you lots of frustration and time. 

We recommend taking the following steps when editing and proofreading your resume:

• Take advantage of our  resume checker  to make sure your resume is complete and is using the best techniques. 
• Look for mistakes at least twice, preferably thrice!
• Get a second pair of eyes to look over your resume.

Land an Interview & Win Your Dream Engineering Job

Keep the following in mind:

• Format your engineering resume in reverse chronology.
• Include accurate, clear contact information.
• Consider whether you need an objective or a summary. 
• Use action verbs, and quantify your impact. 
• Include your top skills that are  most relevant  to the position.
• List additional info, like education, certs, projects, interests, and hobbies.
• Tailor your resume to the job with keywords from the job ad to pass ATS.
• Edit your resume to catch careless mistakes.
• Use our  resume creator  to start and finish in as little as 12 minutes.

Congratulations on  writing your resume . It’s the first and most important step to getting a job. Without a resume, you can’t submit any applications. But with the right resume and your engineering cover letter complementing it, you can score the perfect job.

• • Successfully completed a project on infrastructure design using AWS, Azure, and GCP, resulting in a 15% efficiency increase.
• • Developed a Python-based automation tool that reduced manual tasks by 20%.
• • Collaborated with a team of 5 students to design and implement a secure infrastructure model.

5 Engineering Intern Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your engineering intern resume must demonstrate a solid foundation in technical skills. Highlight any relevant coursework or projects that have prepared you for the role. Do not forget to include your proficiency in engineering software or tools. Experience from prior internships or extracurricular activities can also set you apart.

All resume examples in this guide

Traditional

Resume Guide

This engineering intern resume guide will teach you, how to write an impressive engineering intern resume, how to write a winning engineering intern resume header, engineering intern summary resume example: prove you’re right for the job, engineering intern resume experience: how to highlight it, engineering intern resume education section: what to include in it, how to include projects on your engineering intern resume, which skills do employers look for in an engineering intern resume, other sections to include on your resume, best engineering intern resume: takeaways.

You dream of becoming an engineer. You’ve been studying hard, acing your exams, preparing for this day to come.

It’s time to land your first engineering internship, and get the real-world experience you need.

But first, you need to write a winning resume that will set you apart from the list of other candidates.

If you want to intern for the best companies, your resume needs to do three things:

• Prove your passion for the engineering industry
• Highlight your educational success
• Present your skills

What’s the best way to prove you have what it takes?

In this guide, we’re going to show you how to do just that. Follow along, step-by-step, creating your own resume using one of our templates.

Let’s get started.

• 6 engineering intern examples and samples that prove passion for the industry
• How to show off your educational highlights and qualifications
• Ways to show your expertise without having direct experience
• How to include keywords from the Engineering Intern job description

Looking for related resumes?

• Engineering
• Entry Level Mechanical Engineer
• Software Engineer
• Chemical Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer

What’s one of the best ways to learn engineering skills quickly and potentially secure a job after graduation?

Nailing an engineering internship with a great company.

Engineering interns get hands-on experience, applying the concepts they learned in university to real-world projects.

But the only way to land a career-building internship is by writing the perfect resume.

The top engineering intern applicants have resumes that combine both their educational highlights and their proven passion for the engineering industry. We cover all of these points in this guide.

Highlight the courses you’re taking, the grades you’re getting, and the projects you’re working on.

Talk about your knowledge of the technical skills required, and you’re openness to learning more.

Since you’re just starting out, recruiters won’t expect that you know the ins and outs of engineering just yet, but they do want to see that you have the soft skills necessary to excel.

Do you work well with people?

Do you have direct experience working in groups to prove this point?

Are you doing anything engineering-related in your personal time that shows your passion for the industry?

For example, if you’re studying to become a software engineer, have you made any apps, games or open-source projects in your spare time?

Most importantly, tailor your Engineering Intern resume to the job’s industry and to the job posting itself.

Are they in the automobile industry?

Or do they need someone with a working knowledge of Python and C++?

Are they only hiring candidates pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering?

Take note of these details and make them the focus of your Engineering Intern resume.

How to choose the right engineering intern resume layout

What format should you use for your engineering intern resume?

Since you don’t have experience to show yet, you want your resume to highlight your education and skills.

The best format to achieve this goal is the functional resume layout. This format places the focus on your skills and abilities, rather than on work experience.

Here's what a recruiter will look for in your engineering intern resume

• Are you studying a relevant degree?
• Have you worked on any personal projects, such as open-source software?
• What soft skills do you have, and how have you practiced these in the past?
• What are your long-term career aspirations?

The most important sections of an engineering intern resume

• Resume header that grabs the recruiter’s attention
• Summary that highlights your knowledge
• Education section that details your degree and coursework
• Technical and soft skills - both are required

All of these Engineering Intern resume sections should prove to the recruiter that you have a genuine interest in engineering and the basic skills needed to excel in the role.

For more information on the best resume formats, read our guide: The Best Resume Formats You Need to Consider (5+ Examples Included) .

Let’s start with the top of the resume - the header.

You found the perfect engineering internship that you want to apply for. It’s time to create an impressive resume, starting with the header.

Here’s a basic header that most people start with:

This is fine… but it only includes the bare minimum.

Your header is your opportunity to make a great first impression with the hiring manager.

To stand out against other candidates, you should include links where the hiring manager can learn more about you. For example, you can input your LinkedIn profile. If you’re a software engineer, adding your Github profile where your projects are displayed is another bonus.

Let’s take a look at an example of a more compelling resume header.

Not only does this example include the university name, but it also lists the URLs of the candidate’s LinkedIn and Github profiles.

If you want more ideas for stand-out resume headers, read through our guide Perfecting Your Resume Header so You Get Noticed .

An Engineering Intern resume should prove that you have both the basic technical knowledge to succeed, while also being open to learning more.

Since you’re just starting out with an internship, you won’t be expected to have years of engineering expertise, but you do need to show that you’re studying relevant courses.

Hiring managers also place a huge emphasis on soft skills, such as being open to learning and being able to work in teams, since these are the goals of completing an internship.

Use the keywords in the job description to get an idea of what they expect from the ideal candidate, and mirror that language in your resume summary.

Let’s walk through two resume summary examples. The first one is what most candidates start out with, but it needs some work. Here’s why.

This summary will not land you an interview. Why not?

• There’s no mention of what kind of engineer you’re training to be.
• It’s not personalized to the specific internship you’re applying for.
• It doesn’t say anything about how you are the ideal candidate over other people.

Here’s an example of a summary that will get you noticed:

Now this is a summary done well. It includes all the main points, including:

• A detailed description of who you are (incl. year of study, degree name and university name)
• Highlights your background experience working in a team dynamic on engineering projects
• Personally mentions the internship you’re applying for and lists why you are the perfect candidate for the role

Highlight both your technical engineering skills and your soft skills, such as your eagerness to learn and your ability to work with a team. Hiring managers pick well-rounded candidates for top internship placements.

For more tips on crafting an attention-grabbing resume summary, check out our guide Resume Summary: How-To Guide (30+ Examples You Need To See) .

If you’re looking to craft a compelling resume objective instead, read our writing tips at 10 Resume Objective Examples You Need to Steal (How-to-Guide) .

After you have your summary written, it’s time to move onto improving the experience section of your engineering intern resume.

Emphasize two main points when writing about your engineering experience: your problem-solving skills and your ability to work closely with a team.

Problem-solving is the biggest part of your job as an engineer.

You need to identify opportunities for improvement in current processes, and then work with a team to solve for them.

In an internship, you will be working closely alongside other people.

You’ll be following instructions from directors, working with project managers, and collaborating with your fellow interns.

You must have strong communication skills as an intern, and you must be able to work in a team dynamic.

How do you prove you have what it takes to be a successful intern that the team can count on?

Show off the success of your past projects and highlight any relevant team experience you have.

We’ll compare a few engineering intern resume examples for what works and what falls flat in the experience section.

Here’s a handy checklist to run through when writing the summary for every former project or role you were involved in:

• What was the goal of the project you completed?
• What were the quantitative results of your work?
• How did you collaborate with a team to achieve your results?

Here’s an example of an experience section that doesn’t hit the mark.

• • Measured materials for compatibility
• • Completed professional research
• • Worked with a team to produce findings

This description of the candidate’s research experience covers the basics, but there’s no details about how many people they worked with, the purpose of their research, and the soft skills they practiced.

• • Collaborated with a team of 5+ students and 2 faculty members
• • Tested the biocompatibility of 100+ nanomaterials
• • Complied with professional research practices
• • Ensured legal, health and safety guidelines were maintained

This example displays real figures to show the magnitude of their research and how many people were on their team.

They also highlight their soft skills and their ability to comply with regulations, which is an essential factor of engineering success.

For more ideas on how to create an actionable resume experience section, check out our guide How to Describe Your Resume Work Experience .

Since you’re currently a student or a recent graduate, the education section of your resume is the most important part to get right.

You don’t have the experience yet to boast about. You don’t yet have a track record of excellent results spanning over years.

Your biggest asset to highlight is your educational background.

Here are the five things you should include in your education section:

• The name of your university
• The degree you are currently studying or have gotten
• The date range of your studying
• Notable projects or coursework completed

Including the name of your university, the degree you’re studying and the data range covers the essentials. Adding in your GPA will prove your success with your coursework.

Going above and beyond, adding in notable projects or coursework completed will show the recruiter how you can work hands-on with engineering, solving real-life problems and producing great results.

Let’s talk more in-depth about adding your projects to your resume in the next section.

Talk about the projects you completed as part of your coursework to prove to the recruiter that you have the skill-set to work on real engineering problems.

Browse more essential tips on how to feature education on your resume, in our guide Perfecting the Education Section on Your Resume .

Passion projects and university projects show the hiring manager that you have the skills, dedication and competence to solve engineering issues.

Whether you’re a software engineer building apps in your free time or a chemical engineer solving complex issues with dangerous chemicals at university, these are all impressive talking points for your resume.

While they can’t replace an engineering university degree, they do make a positive impact on your resume, since they show dedication to your industry.

Always list the certifications mentioned or required in a structural engineer job description first. Then, include other certifications you have.

When listing your projects, include a brief description of what you did and the impact of your results.

Include any relevant links if applicable (such as your Github profile for open-source projects).

The recruiter will appreciate seeing you go the extra mile, boosting your chances of getting selected.

Hiring managers are looking to see that you learned relevant technical concepts in your education.

They also want to see that you have the necessary soft skills to excel in an engineering role, working with a company.

To check both these boxes, you should list a mix of both technical and soft skills in your resume.

Depending on what kind of engineer you aspire to be, you should include technical skills that you have an understanding.

For example, if you’re a structural engineer, you should know how to do structure inspections and site visits .

If you’re a software engineer, your technical skills will be knowing different types of software and programming languages like Python and C++.

Aside from these technical skills, a huge component of being a reliable engineering intern is your ability to learn quickly, work with a team, and communicate your findings.

Since you’ll be working closely with the entire engineering team and the rest of the company staff, practicing your soft skills will go a long way in your career.

Tasks like producing helpful reports, problem-solving, managing budgets, and communicating issues during meetings are extremely important for the job.

Here is a complete list of both technical and soft skills to add to your resume.

We included technical skills from various types of engineering, so pick and choose the ones most relevant to you.

16 technical skills to include on an engineering intern resume

• AutoDesk Revit
• CAD drafting
• Structure inspections
• Specification writing
• Site visits
• Software development
• Biochemistry
• Proteotomics
• Machining and fabrication
• Geometric, Dimension & Tolerancing
• Engineering Product Data Management Software

11 soft skills to include on an engineering intern resume

• Decision making
• Problem solving
• Project management
• Mathematics
• Communication skills (written & spoken)
• Analytical skills
• Working with a team
• Commercial awareness
• Client liaison
• Producing reports

As a software engineering intern, you’ll spend a ton of time learning to write better code and level up your technical skills. However, great coding skills are only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to becoming a great software engineer. Communication skills are equally important. As such, you should spend part of your time thinking about how to become a great communicator in addition to a great coder.

Jonathan Maltz, Software Engineer at Yelp

Are you still not sure what skills will win recruiters over? Check out our guide on How to Create A Resume Skills Section To Impress Recruiters (+10 Examples You Need to See) .

Depending on the company, job seniority level and your location, you may want to include more sections to your Engineering Intern resume:

• Language skills
• Hobbies and interests
• Volunteer work
• LinkedIn on Resume
• Certifications
• Use a functional resume format to highlight your education more than your experience
• Include descriptions of your passion projects and university projects
• Prove you have the soft skills necessary to ace the internship
• Note the keywords used in the job description and use them in your resume text

Looking to build your own Engineering Intern resume?

• Resume Examples

How to Create a Combination Resume (+6 Unique Hybrid Resume Examples)

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Engineering Resume

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This resume example is designed to showcase the skills and experiences of an entry-level professional. Take a look at the format, layout, and content to get inspiration for your own resume.

Click on the “View Resource” button below to download a copy of this resume example to your computer.

Resume of Engineering Intern

Description

Aashi is a diligent Engineering Intern with a strong academic foundation in engineering principles and a keen interest in applying theoretical knowledge to practical challenges. She is currently pursuing a degree in Engineering with hands-on experience in using industry-standard tools and software, such as AutoCAD, MATLAB, and SolidWorks. She demonstrates excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, complemented by strong organisational and time management skills.

Related Categories

• BTech MTech
• Engineering

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Resume Skills and Keywords for Engineering Intern

An engineering intern assists the engineering team performing calculations, conducting research, and preparing reports. They help in the design, development, testing, and implementation of engineering solutions, collaborating with senior engineers to ensure project success. Interns also provide technical support, participate in troubleshooting activities, and assist with the preparation of technical documentation. In addition to office work, they may engage in fieldwork such as site visits and inspections. Through these activities, the intern gains practical experience, hones their technical skills, and learns to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world engineering challenges.

Skills required for a Engineering Intern role

• Mathematical Modelling
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
• Technical Drawing
• Simulation and Analysis Tools
• Prototyping Skills
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Time Management
• Strong Communication
• Flexibility
• Adaptability 
• Project Management
• Leadership Skills

What recruiters look for in a Engineering Intern resume: 

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (e.g., Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Software, etc.).
• Proficiency in engineering software and tools relevant to the specific field (e.g., AutoCAD, MATLAB, SolidWorks).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Basic knowledge of programming languages (e.g., Python, C++) is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong organisational and time management abilities.
• Ability to work well in a team and collaborate with others.

What can make your Engineering Intern resume stand out:

A strong summary that demonstrates your skills, experience and background in engineering

A motivated engineering intern with a strong academic background and a passion for applying engineering principles to real-world projects. Proficient in CAD software, programming languages, and mathematical modelling tools, with a keen interest in learning and developing new technical skills. Excellent communication and teamwork abilities, with a collaborative approach to problem-solving and a commitment to delivering high-quality work.

Targeted job description 

• Support engineering projects by performing calculations, preparing reports, and conducting research.
• Assist in the design, development, testing, and implementation of engineering solutions.
• Collaborate with team members to develop project plans and timelines.
• Collect and analyse data related to project performance and outcomes.
• Use engineering software and tools to model and simulate various scenarios.
• Generate reports and visualisations to communicate findings and support decision-making.
• Participate in fieldwork activities as required, including site visits, inspections, and data collection.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and suggest innovative solutions.

Related academic background 

• B.Tech at LNCT Group of Colleges, Bhopal | Pursuing
• 12th ICSE-90% at St. Mary's Convent School, Bhopal | 2022

Sample Resume of Engineering Intern in Text Format

Engineering Intern 

+91-9953776253 | [email protected] |Bhopal, India

SUMMARY 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Engineering Intern at Capital Engineering from Mar 2024 - Present, Bhopal

• Supporting engineers in the design, development, testing, and implementation of new products, processes, or systems.
• Assisting with technical tasks such as CAD modelling, prototyping, testing, and troubleshooting under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Conducting research, gathering data, and performing analysis to support engineering projects and decision-making processes.
• Documenting project progress, findings, and results accurately and comprehensively. Prepare reports, presentations, and technical documentation as required.
• Identifying opportunities for process improvement and contributing ideas for enhancing efficiency, productivity, and innovation within the engineering department.
• Proficiency in CAD at Udemy | 2023

Mathematical Modelling | Computer-Aided Design (CAD) | Technical Drawing | Simulation and Analysis Tools | Prototyping Skills | Problem-Solving Skills | Time Management | Strong Communication

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How To Write A Resume In 7 Steps (With Examples)

• How To Write A Resume
• Resume Skills Section
• Resume Objective Section
• Career Objective Section
• Resume Reference Section
• Resume Summary Section
• Resume Summary Example
• Resume Interests Section
• Address On Resume
• Relevant Work Experience
• Anticipated Graduation Date On Resume
• Education Section On Resume
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• Dean's List On Resume
• Study Abroad On Resume

Resumes are still the most important document in your job search . Generating a professional and interesting resume isn’t easy, but there is a standard set of guidelines that you can follow. As hiring managers usually only spend a short time looking over each resume, you want to make sure that yours has a reason for them to keep reading.

If you’re looking to write a resume, rewrite a resume you already have, or are just curious about resume format, then you’ve come to the right place. This article will go through the steps to writing an excellent resume, as well as offering examples for what sections of the resume should look like.

Key Takeaways:

A resume is a short document that details your professional history in a way that tailors your experience and skill set for the particular job you’re applying for.

Resumes follow a few standard formatting practices, which hiring managers and recruiters expect to see.

Highlighting your work experience, skills, and educational background with relevant keywords can help you get past applicant tracking systems and into more interviews.

How to write a resume

Writing a resume involves using the proper formatting, writing an introduction, and adding your work experience and education. Stuffing your entire professional life into a single page resume can feel overwhelming, but remember that you’re distilling the relevant parts of your professional experience in order to catch the eye of the recruiter .

Formatting your resume. To start, use a word processor such as Microsoft Word or Google docs. Standard resume formatting calls for:

1 inch margins

10-12 point font

A professional, commonly-used font

Additionally, there are three resume formats that are commonly used. Most people should stick with a chronological resume format , but the combination resume format and functional resume format can be effective for more advanced workers or those who have significant gaps in their resume.

Write a resume header . It doesn’t matter if you have the best resume in the world if the hiring manager can’t contact you. Every single resume should include the following contact information:

Your full name. First and last.

Your phone number. Use a personal phone number, and make sure your voicemail is set up properly.

Your email address. Nothing inappropriate — [email protected] is a safe choice.

Location. City, State, Zip Code is fine, but you can include your full mailing address if you think it’s appropriate.

Your social media (optional). LinkedIn is the obvious one you’d want to include, but make sure your profile looks good. If you have an online portfolio , either on a personal blog/website or on a site like Journo Portfolio , feel free to include that here as well.

Your job title. Also optional, but can be useful for applicant tracking systems.

Resume introduction. You have four options for your resume introduction: a resume objective, summary statement, resume profile, or qualifications summary. For most job-seekers, a resume summary statement is the best choice. Regardless of which resume introduction you choose, avoid first-person pronouns (I/me/my).

Resume objective. A resume objective is the goal of your resume. Since the objective of every resume is to land a job, this is not the most original or impressive opener you can have.

On the other hand, it’s a good choice for an entry-level applicant or someone who is changing career paths . This should be a 1-3 sentence summary of why you’re motivated to get the position you’re applying for.

Who should use a resume objective: Entry-level applicants, career-changers, and recent college graduates.

Resume summary. This is the best opener for most job-seekers. As the name suggests, a resume summary highlights the most salient aspects of your resume.

It should include your current position, how many years of experience you have, some of your biggest achievements, and possibly your career goals. This should be a 1-3 sentence spiel and should include some quantifiable experiences.

Who should use a resume summary: Most job seekers; anyone with quantifiable accomplishments to emphasize and a broad range of skills.

Qualifications summary. A bullet point list (4-6 points is the sweet spot) of your qualifications for the position. It’s best used by applicants going for jobs that require a fixed skill set. It’s not a great choice for entry-level applicants who lack quantifiable achievements.

You’ll notice that a qualifications summary takes up more space than a resume objective or summary, but it can actually save the hiring manager time if you provide a bunch of valuable information right off the top.

Who should use a qualifications summary: Those applying to a job with requirements for certain skills and job-seekers who have a lot of experience in their industry and/or field.

Resume profile. A resume profile is similar to a resume summary, but goes into more detail about your accomplishments at your current or former job, while also telling the reader about your career goals. Think of a resume profile as a section that pulls all the best parts of your work experience section into one place.

Who should use a resume profile: Anyone with significant accomplishments under their belt, expertise in a niche field, or applying to a job in the same industry that they have lots of experience in.

Resume headline. Resume headlines aren’t necessary, but you can include one alongside any of the four types of resume introduction listed above. A resume headline comes between your contact information and the resume introduction of your choice.

Headlines can be used by entry-level applicants and experienced job-seekers alike. The important point is that your headline should be short and to the point. Additionally, you should use title case when writing your resume headline (capitalize words as you would for a book title).

Who should use a resume headline: Any job-seeker who wants to showcase their experience or unique value right off the bat.

Work experience. Your work experience section is the place to let hiring managers know that you have relevant experience that would allow you to handle the job you’re applying for.

If you’re using the chronological resume format, your work experience section would come after your resume summary/objective. In a funcitonal reumse, it would follow your skills section. Either way, work experience should be listed in reverse-chronological order (most recent experience at the top).

When listing your work experience, you should include all of the following information:

Job title. Start by stating the position you held at the company. These are easy cue for the hiring manager to look at and determine whether your past positions would help you succeed at their company.

Company Info. Include the name of the employer, the location where you worked, and perhaps a brief description of the company, if it isn’t a well-known name.

Dates Employed: Use the mm/yyyy format if you want to be sure that most applicant tracking systems (ATS) will pick it up. Whatever format you use for dates, be consistent, or your resume will look sloppy.

Job Description. Don’t just list your job’s responsibilities; hiring managers and recruiters already have an idea of your duties based on the job title. Instead, list your most important and impressive responsibilities/achievements at the job with bullet points. Determine which of these are most relevant for your new role based on the job description.

Ideally, each bullet should be no longer than a single line. However, two lines is acceptable, if used sparingly.

Always start with a strong action verb, followed by a quantifiable achievement and a specific duty. For example: “Developed ad campaigns for clients, increasing sales by an average of 27%.” Each job title should include 3-5 bullet points.

The order that you include this information can be changed around, as long as you are consistent throughout your resume. However, the bullet points detailing your job’s achievements should always be the last item for each entry.

It’s important that you tailor your resume’s work experience section to the job you’re applying for. We recommend reading the job description carefully and highlighting the action verbs in one color and the skills, adjectives, and job-specific nouns in a different color.

Educational background. In almost all cases, your education section should come after your professional history. If you’re a recent college graduate with limited work experience, you may choose to put your educational achievements first.

Like the section on your professional history, educational experiences should come in reverse-chronological order, with your highest level of education at the top. If you have a college degree, you don’t need to add any information about your high school experience. If you didn’t finish college, it’s okay to give a list of what credits you did complete.

Each educational experience can be listed in the following format:

Degree/Program Name College/University Name Dates attended

You don’t need to add anything else, especially if your resume is already impressive enough. But if you’re struggling to fill up the page, or you feel that aspects of your educational experience will help make you a standout, you may consider also including:

Minor. If you think it rounds out your not-exactly-relevant-to-the-job major nicely.

GPA. Only if it was 3.5 or higher. Otherwise, it’s not going to do you any favors to include this.

Honors. Dean’s List, Cum Laude, etc.

Achievements. If you wrote a killer thesis/dissertation that showcases intimate knowledge relevant to the job to which you’re applying, you can include its title and a very brief description.

Extracurricular activities. Only include if they’re relevant. For example, if you’re applying for a management position and you were president of your student government.

Certifications/Licenses. If the job you’re applying for requires/likes to see certain certifications or licenses that you have, you may include them in this section as well.

Skills section. Your impressive skills should be scattered logistically throughout your professional history section, but you should also include a section solely dedicated to highlighting your skill set . Skills can be broken down into two categories:

Hard skills are skills you learn through training and indicate expertise with a technical ability or job-specific responsibility.

Soft skills are your personality traits, interpersonal abilities, and intangible qualities that make you more effective at your job.

Your resume should have a healthy mix of hard and soft skills, as both are essential to job performance. However, since soft skills are harder to prove in the context of a resume, we recommend leaning more toward hard skills. Additionally, whenever you list a soft skill, make sure that it has a correlating item in your work experience section.

For example, if you say you are skilled in collaboration, you should mention a time when a team project was a major success somewhere in your work experience section.

Optional sections. If you still have space left or there’s more you want to show off that doesn’t quite fit in any of the above sections, you may consider adding an additional section covering one or more of the below categories:

Language . Being bilingual is always impressive, and can be included on a resume for any company. Highlight this more if your position involves liaising with international distributors and/or clients. Don’t lie about your proficiency level.

It may be best to not mention it if you’re not particularly proficient speaker . Such as if you took courses in school, or haven’t really managed to gain fluency. It can end up looking like an attempt to inflate your credentials, which you want to avoid.

Volunteer experience . Always a good thing to include. It shows you’re a team player who behaves in a way that promotes the greater good, without thought of personal gain. Especially good for entry-level candidates and those applying for jobs at a non-profit. If you have gaps in your work history, you can also consider including volunteer experiences in your work history section instead.

Personal projects. A personal blog, published works, or a portfolio of your past projects are all good things to include. They show you take initiative, enjoy and take pride in your work, and that you can handle the responsibilities of the job, if relevant.

Certifications/licenses. If you didn’t include these in your education section, this is another good place to list relevant certifications or licenses that you have.

Interests . This is largely just a space filler if your resume is light in other areas. However, if your hobbies are directly related to the job that you’re applying for, it’s not a bad idea to include them. And it might draw a recruiter’s attention if you end up sharing some of the same interests as they do.

If you have several seemingly random items that are valuable, but don’t warrant creating a whole separate section for, you can also make a section called “Additional Experience.” Here you can include all of the above categories in one place. Just make sure that each item is clear and easy for readers to understand.

Resume samples

Now that we have a good idea of how to write a resume, let’s take a look at some example resumes:

Jack Pilgrim Washington , DC 14015 – (555) 444-3333 – [email protected] – www.linkedin.com/jpilgrim Resume Summary Graphic designer with 3+ years of experience creating and implementing promotional materials and social media graphics. Worked with sales and marketing teams to increase inbound calls by 23% YoY through compelling digital media. Adept at planning, managing, and prioritizing multiple deadlines at once, and thrives in fast-paced work environment. Work Experience Creative Designs | Washington, DC Lead Graphic Designer | June 2018-Present Worked with sales and marketing teams to create landing pages, sales proposals, and supporting media elements to drive sales by over $250,000 per quarter Trained, managed, and mentored team of 4 junior designers to fulfill 40+ project orders on a weekly basis Conducted UX research through surveys, usability testing, and data analysis to plan content marketing strategy, driving organic search traffic by 12% Presented proposals, results, and status updates to set of 4-7 clients, ensuring customer satisfaction at or above 95% for 3 years straight Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Junior Graphic Designer | July 2016-May 2018 Translated client needs and branding strategies into design and content strategy, increasing client retention by 22% Reduced project turnaround time by 8% by Utilizing web-based ticket system for completing and archiving finalized pieces Posted digital artwork to network IPTV using web interface to produce high-end info-graphics and other materials Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Marketing Intern | September 2015-July 2016 Assisted marketing team with data collection, analysis, and presentation using Google Analytics Drew up storyboards for new marketing campaigns alongside sales team, increasing brand awareness through social media Wrote 500-1000 word articles to pair with graphical elements on page, leading to a 40% boost in engagement on company website Education Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, Georgia May 2016 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design Skills Adobe Creative Suite Typography HTML/CSS WordPress Collaboration Organization

Allison Neederly Chicago, Illinois , 60007 | (333) 222-1111 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/allison.neederly Resume Summary Dedicated customer service representative with 4+ years experience resolving customers’ needs in-person, online, and over the phone. Top achiever at XYZ Inc. with a 100% customer satisfaction rate for Q1 of 2020. Friendly personable, and knowledgable about company’s products and services. Relevant Skills Customer Service Responded to upwards of 200 customer queries daily with XYZ Inc., reducing the average wait time by 56% and increasing customer satisfaction rates by 13% Ability to resolve conflict and create a positive atmosphere for shopping for both new and existing customers through technical proficiency Expert product knowledge and communication skills, and experience training and mentoring new customer service staff Web Chat and Phone Skilled in 3 web chat platforms for helping online customers resolve their queries quickly and accurately Achieved fastest call resolution rate at XYZ Inc., with an average resolution time of under 5 minutes per customer Performed outbound calls for customer satisfaction surveys, as well as writing web-based surveys for 10,000+ customers Troubleshooting Detailed product knowledge allowed for customer technical issues to be resolved at rate within top 5% of all customer service associates at XYZ Inc. Created manual for step-by-step directions for troubleshooting that was implemented for team of 100+ customer service reps Positive attitude took average tech-related negative response from 1/5 stars to 4/5 stars, increasing trust in brands and services Work Experience XYZ Inc. | Philadelphia, PA Customer Service Associate New Look Global | Burlington, VT Junior Customer Service Representative L.L. Bean | Burlington, VT Sales Associate Education University of Vermont | Burlington, VT May 2012 Bachelor of Arts in Humanities

Priya Laghari New York, NY | (222) 111-0000 | [email protected] | www.priyabizdev.com Resume Profile Strategy Development: Grew John Deere’s international sales by 13% by tapping into undeserved countries in Southeast Asia Management: Oversaw a team of managers representing marketing, sales, and product teams. Streamlined collaborative, cross-functional communications through agile and scrum management system CRM: Developed, customized, and implemented new customer relationship management database for accounts totaling over $10M in value Work Experience Business Development Manager 01/2015-Present Microsoft | Redmond, WA Developed product strategies and roadmap for Google AdWords, increasing inbound traffic by 26% YoY Reduced time training on new software by 50% for new and existing employees by implement e-learning programs Spearheaded digital marketing campaign worth $1M that saw a return of 200% in first year by qualifying leads earlier in the sales funnel Regional Sales Manager 11/2012-01/2015 Big Things Inc. | St. Louis, MO Managed territory encompassing 29 regional locations with an annual revenue of approx. $55M Worked with C-level executives to plan business strategies, resulting in 20% reduction in overhead costs Increased client retention by 12% in first year by implementing a CRM approach based on account profiling and elevating levels of relationship selling Account Manager 02/2009-11/2012 Solutions Corp. | Chicago, IL Implemented and developed CRM strategic plans, increasing retention of long-term clients by 22% Maintained 50+ accounts totaling over $35M in value Generated leads through one-on-one consultation via phone inquiries, online check-ins, and meeting office walk-ins Relevant Skills CRM: Proficient with Salesforce, Zoho, and HubSpot; some experience with Keap. Used various CRM software over a decade to successfully manage customer relations and quick to adapt to new software and tools that aid in quality of customer experience. Salesmanship: Negotiated and closed over several deals worth $1M+ and skilled in upselling and cross-selling. Adept at working closely with marketing and product teams to maximize the efficiency of the sales funnel for both inbound and outbound traffic. Presentation: Represented Microsoft Northwest Region at quarterly board meetings, ensuring all stakeholders were kept abreast of new developments and opportunities. Also deliver monthly presentations to big clients and vendors to maintain positive relationship. Data analytics. Expert at integrating data from various analytics platforms, including Google, Microsoft Power BI, and SAP BusinessObjects Education Colgate University | May 2008 MBA Fordham University | May 2006 Bachelor’s Degree in Business

For more resume examples and templates:

Resume examples by job

Google docs resume template

Resume templates

Resume builder

Resume Headers Samples:

Tip : Never put your contact info in the header of your document; some applicant tracking systems might miss it.

For more on how to write a resume header:

Resume Header

Resume Titles

Resume introduction examples

Entry-Level Resume Objective.

Recent graduate with a bachelor’s in Marketing from the University of Virginia seeking an entry-level role in content marketing. Excellent copywriter with 2+ years experience editing content as a member of the UVa Writing Center.

Career Change Resume Objective.

Eager to apply 7+ years of experience with customer success management to make successful outbound B2B calls, deliver customized business solutions to new and existing customers, and provide expert product knowledge in the role of Account Manager for XYZ Inc.

Example Resume Summary Statement.

Accountant with over 8 years of experience in the medical industry. Adept at advising on management of cash deficits, reconciling departmental accounts, and creating new accounts and codes. Coordinated invoice preparation system for ABC that reduced contractor overhead by 19% YoY.

English teacher with a love of language and 6 years of experience teaching high school students. Developed new curriculum that boosted freshman reading comprehension scores by 12% and created after school book club for AP Lit class, resulting in 100% of participating students achieving a 5 on the AP Lit test.

Example Qualifications Summary.

Executive assistant with 5+ years experience helping maintain efficiency in an office of 25 employees Communicated directly with internal and external stakeholders, helping Senior Vice President manage projects worth $5M+ Proactively managed office schedules, identifying and prioritizing changes to ensure client satisfaction Recognized in a company of 500 for “Outstanding Achiever” in May 2019

Example Resume Profile.

Detail-oriented IT Specialist with 4 years of experience overseeing and improving the infrastructure of IT systems. Adept at building and running troubleshooting systems and testing services. Decreased security risk by 47% through continual optimization, while also improving the speed of client portal by 22%. Excellent communicator both internally and for client-facing discussions. Achieved 98%+ customer satisfaction ratings through weekly and monthly check-ins with accounts valued cumulatively at $500,000.

Entry-Level Resume Headline.

Bilingual College Graduate with 80 WPM Typing Speed and Tutoring Experience

Experienced Resume Headline.

Business Development Specialist with 6+ Years Experience Scaling Start-Up Tech Teams

For more on resume introductions:

Resume objective statement

Resume summary statement

Resume summary statement examples

Qualifications summary

Sample resume work experience sections

Work Experience XYZ Industries | Seattle, WA Marketing Associate | May 2019-Present Delivered weekly presentations to client-base to communicate brand messaging, increasing client retention by 11% Served as liaison between marketing and product teams, resulting in projects finishing 2 weeks early, on average Leveraged Excel skills to create and maintain spreadsheet to track consumer insights, emergent trends, and inform decisions of marketing team through competitive analysis Managed team of 5 contractors to juggle multiple priority projects simultaneously, never missing a deadline Initiated an affiliate referral program that PR team went on to turn into a revenue-generating stream valued at $30,000 annually ABC Corp | Seattle, WA Marketing Intern | September 2018-May 2019 Developed, maintained, and processed 20+ digital consent forms and distributor forms Worked collaboratively with a team of 10 marketing professionals, closely aligning our goals with the PR team Provided data analysis using Google Analytics and performed keyword research to increase blog traffic by 56% over six months Answered up to 50 customer queries by phone and email each week

For more on building the perfect resume work experience section:

Resume work experience section

First resume (no experience)

Examples Of Education Resume Sections

Graduated recently from a 4-year program.

Western Illinois University | Macomb, Illinois May 2020 Bachelor of Arts in Sociology | Minor in Psychology 3.95 GPA magna cum laude Dean’s List all semesters

Two degrees.

Fordham University | Bronx, New York April 2016 Master of Chemical Engineering Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, New York April 2014 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Anticipated graduation date (not yet graduated).

DePaul Univeristy | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Arts in History – Degree anticipated May 2021 Current GPA: 3.8

Older job seeker (graduated 10+ years ago).

University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Business Administration

High school graduate (no college degree).

Johnston High School 2016-2020 Head of Computer Club

More on crafting the perfect resume education section:

Education resume section

GPA on resume

Dean’s list

Magna cum laude

Examples Of Skills For Resume

Examples of hard skills include:

Examples of soft skills include:

Here’s more information on how to incorporate skills into your resume:

Resume skills section

Hard skills

Soft skills

Top skills for professionals

Skills-based resume

Resume writing FAQ

What is a resume?

A resume is a one to two-page document that focuses on professional experience, past achievements, education and certifications, and specific skills tailored to the job you’re applying for.

Almost every job application requires a resume, and hiring managers use them as a first impression in determining which applicants get a shot at an interview.

Whether you’re fresh out of college or have 30 years of professional experience, this guide should help craft a resume that stands out from the crowd and get you one step closer to landing your dream job.

What is the format for writing a good resume?

Most people will want to use a chronological or reverse-chronological resume format. This format is compatible with most applicant tracking systems (ATS) and is easy for employers to read. Additionally it helps highlight your experience, which helps prove your qualifications.

How far back should a resume go?

A resume should go back no further than 10 to 15 years. However, it is important that all your information is relevant. Therefore, do not include job experience that is irrelevant to your application, even if it’s fewer than 10 years old. Save that information for later discussions.

Should you personalize your resume for each job?

Yes, you should personalize your resume for each job you apply to. Many recruiters use ATS now, which will search for keywords in a resume and reject those that don’t have them. That means that the skills you choose to highlight as well as your opening, such as your resume summary, should be altered to suit each job you apply to.

You don’t need to rewrite the entire resume for each job, but it does show attention to detail and initiative to make sure that your resume is customized. It also makes it more likely that you’ll get past the first step of the process.

State of New York Department of Labor – Resumes, Cover Letters and Job Applications

Harvard University – Create a Resume/CV or Cover Letter

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Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.

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