Engineering CV Example & Writing Guide

There are many different types of engineering, and where your career path leads will ultimately depend on your qualifications and interests. 

When creating your engineering CV, it is vital that your experience and skills across to the hiring manager, as well as your desire to work in the position being sought.

CV guide for an engineering CV

With dozens of occupation-specific CV examples and writing guides, Resume.io is an expert resource for job seekers in every field and at every experience level. You can also check out our dedicated CV builder to help you along the way.

This CV writing guide, along with our engineering CV example, will cover:

• How to write an engineering CV
• Choosing the right CV format for engineering
• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Adding your engineering experience
• Listing education and relevant experience
• Picking the right CV design/layout
• What the engineering market looks like, and what salary you can expect.

How to write an engineering CV

It is a good idea to plan your CV content before you put pen to paper. It should contain these five essential sections.

• CV header
• CV summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• Employment history section
• CV skills section
• Education section

Adding other CV sections, such as professional honours or hobbies, is optional. Only do so if you think this information is relevant to the role.

Within engineering, there are many areas you can choose to specialise in. For instance, a civil engineer might want to specialise in road or rail design. There is also the option of working within large or small organisations. No matter what, it is vital to tailor your CV to suit the role you are applying for. Hiring managers always want to be sure you have a desire to work in that position, for that specific employer.

These are the general guidelines to keep in mind when writing your CV:

• Understand the type of role and the company you are applying to make sure you tweak your CV for the target recruiter.
• Focus on the main elements of the role that are important and ensure these are reflected in your CV.
• Incorporate keywords to avoid rejection by an applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Your CV should be easy to read and understand. It helps to plan the content carefully and divide into appropriate sections.

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Choosing the right CV format for engineering

There are three main types of CV formats: reverse chronological, functional and hybrid. 

Reverse chronological is the most traditional format, centering around your professional experience in employee roles. This is the best choice for engineers since it allows you to highlight what you’ve learned and accomplished in each of your previous positions. 

This guide will explain instances where alternative CV formats may be appropriate. You can also check out our CV templates to help you get the layout right.

To help you along the way, we have a selection of CV templates using the reverse chronological approach. Simply choose one that appeals and get to work.

Include your contact information

An attractive CV header is intended to catch the reader’s attention for positive reasons. In effect, it serves as a personal brand to distinguish your job application from those of other engineering job candidates. The impact is reinforced if your cover letter and CV headers have matching header designs.

Here's what you need to include: 

• Name and job title. Kick things off by including your first name, surname, and the job for which you are applying.
• Email. Include a professional email address.
• Phone number. List a phone number where you can be reached.
• Address or location. You don't need to include your whole address if you don't want to. Instead, include your city and country.
• LinkedIn. If your LinkedIn page is up to date, include a link to it here.

Don't include: 

• Personal details. The hiring manager doesn't need to know if you are married, for example.
• Your age. This can lead to age discrimination.

Make use of a summary

Just as the first stage of an engineering project involves planning, the first section of your CV gives hiring managers a snapshot your skills and expertise. 

The purpose of your CV summary — sometimes called the profile or personal statement — is to give them a great initial impression so they are keen to read more. 

Focus on the significant aspects of your employment or education, depending on whether the target role is for recent graduates or more experienced engineers.

For more inspiration and ideas, check out these other CV examples and writing guides from our collection: architect CV example, mechanical engineer CV sample, electrical engineer CV example, lead engineer CV example, software engineer CV example, and civil engineer CV sample.

You can find adaptable car sales resume examples summary below:

Outline your engineering work experience

The employment history section is where you show hiring managers all the relevant experience that has led you to this point in your career. Using the chronological format discussed previously, start with your current or most recent job and then work back to the earliest. 

Use bullet points to describe the key aspects of each role. Focus on accomplishments and beneficial contributions rather than merely listing responsibilities. Quantify the positive outcomes with facts and figures wherever you can.

Here are examples of what it means to merely list job duties: 

• "Oversaw a team of workers"
• "Completed regular site visits"
• "Kept within budget"

If you want to really 'wow' the hiring manager, you need to take things a step further. You can do that by adding more detail and supporting evidence. For example:

• "Oversaw major rail projects within Manchester including the £2.9bn Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) project."
• "Visited 10 + sites to check on the progress of projects every week and liaised with contractors."
• "Made substantial budget cuts leading to 13% lower project cost without sacrificing quality."

Take a look at the engineering employment history CV sample below:

How to write an engineer CV with no experience

If you are just starting your engineering career, you can still write a CV that turns heads. The key here is to focus on your transferrable skills. 

You may have picked these up during other roles, voluntary experiences, or whilst at school. For example, if you previously worked in retail, you will have learned how to manage your time, organise, and work as a team. 

Since you lack direct experience, the weight of your CV will be in your education. Highlight the qualifications that you have plus any additional training you have undertaken, too.

Remember that every engineer has to start somewhere. Having no experience does not need to hold you back when it comes to writing a compelling CV.

Include the relevant key skills that make you a great engineer

Always think of your CV's skills section in terms of what you can bring to the job you are seeking. 

Engineers are expected to have great technical abilities, and they are problem solvers with strong critical thinking skills. Use the advertised job requirements as your base for creating the skills section of your engineering CV and tailor it to suit. 

Key hard skills include proficiency in CAD software, programming languages, simulation tools, and other engineering software. Soft skills may include communication, collaboration, time management, and organisation.

Check out the engineering CV skills sample below.

Detail your education & relevant engineering certifications

Engineers are professionals who invariably require a degree to qualify for positions in their field. That’s what should appear first in your CV’s education section, again listed in reverse chronological order from highest to lowest level. Include the following: 

• College education. For example, you may have a Level 3 Certificate in Engineering or a BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Engineering, both of which are vocational college-level qualifications. Include your grade.
• Higher National Certificate. You can gain a HNC (Higher National Certificate) in Engineering at either a college or university.
• Degree. Include either your bachelor's or master's degree in engineering.
• Industry training. If you are a life-long learner, shout about it. Include any additional training, such as a certificate from the Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Here is the education section from our engineering CV example.

Pick the right CV layout and design for an engineering CV

The design of your CV is almost as important as the wording. While you shouldn’t go over the top with colour or graphic imagery, a clean and professional-looking layout shows the hiring manager you are serious about the position. 

Make sure to balance the amount of white space to text for ease of reading, notably with wide enough margins. Legibility should also guide your font choices. and create an attractive header to catch the reader’s attention. 

Using a professionally-designed CV template is the easiest and fastest path to a well-designed and formatted document.

Engineering job market and outlook

Engineers are in high demand in the UK, and that uptrend is expected to continue. Additional pressure has come from the UK leaving the EU, and not being able to recruit talent from other European countries as easily as it was pre-Brexit. Satisfying the demand for engineers could bring an extra £27 billion in revenue into the UK economy.

If you are qualified in engineering, your outlook will be bright, as there will continue to be many vacancies in the sector. The demand for engineers is not confined to the UK. The job is also on the skills shortage list in many other countries, including Australia. If you want to travel, there are a wealth of opportunities for engineers.

What type of salary can you expect in engineering

The future is bright for engineers. The average salary for an engineer in 2024 is £48,000 gross per year. That is 62% higher than the UK's national average salary.

Key takeaways for an engineering CV

Ready to get started? Be clear about how closely your career goals and qualifications match the target engineering job requirements. Tailor your CV to suit the role and make sure the hiring manager is left with no doubt about your value as an engineer.

Check out our engineering CV sample for more ideas on creating an eye-catching page layout and design. Get started now by using our CV builder tool.