If you are just out of college and are looking for an engineering position, it can be challenging to know what to put in your resume. This blog will tell you what to put in your resume for your first engineering job and provide some tips on making your resume uniquely you.
Most of us know at this point that resumes may be run through an algorithm (ATS) before they reach the recruiter – and that algorithm is looking for the job description's keywords. That is why you must tailor each resume to each job you submit on. The time taken to parallel the language of the description in your resume will increase your chance of getting the interview.
You're an engineer, so put your high attention to detail to work.
The first person to look at your resume could be looking through a hundred resumes for one job position – which is why you may see that your resume only has “seven seconds” to be viewed.
Therefore, your engineering resume needs to be clean, clear, and easy to scan, not read.
If you are just graduating from college, your education may be your most recent, relevant professional experience. It should be at the top. You should list:
Make your education sound like it was a job with narrative—
You didn't just pursue a major in Civil Engineering; you experimented with multiple fields and decided engineering was your calling.
You engaged in specific courses that gave you viable, quantifiable world experience.
You spent months training on valuable software like Civil3D, AUTOCAD, or REVIT to deliver projects.
When pursuing an engineering position, your professional and relevant experience is always going to carry more weight than your education.
What should I list here?
How do I organize the information?
If you have space, include your "outside" interests to round out your personality.
Don't be afraid to show your experience that isn't strictly professional or just your education. Think of including:
Your resume shows how you can follow instructions and do impeccable work. If you have typos in a resume, the reader will not think you qualified to handle harder work. It’s that simple.
Have someone else read your resume and provide a review. Your eyes will stop seeing mistakes after a while, and you’ll get feedback on how a stranger would read your resume.
Unless the job description asks for a word document, then PDF your resume so it won’t get “jumbled” by the reader’s computer and submit!
Looking for some additional resources for writing your first post-grad resume? Check out some of the resources below:
Lauren Stearley
Lauren Stearley is our Marketing Coordinator. She writes the content needed to get Summit’s name out there. Born at 9:09 in February, Lauren has always lived in North Carolina, except for a brief stint in England. When she is not marketing Summit’s many different departments, Lauren enjoys gardening, taking naps in her hammock and reading historical fiction.